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A Guide to Pokemon Rom Hacks & Fan Games
- Thread starter Synohan
- Start date
Radical Red has everything up to gen 9, but it's really hard, even if you play the lowest difficulty.
I'm not sure if there's any other rom hacks that go up to gen 9 yet.
The only Pokemon Rom Hack I have ever tried is Ash Grey, which follows the anime storyline. I have also been curious to try Pokemon Orange, set in the anime's Orange Islands region.
But this OP is a great primer.
But this OP is a great primer.
This sounds excellent.
Some really solid ones I've played in the past.
Uranium
Vega (Although I played this nearly 8 years ago, so unsure how it holds up. I remember it being HARD though)
Solarlight and Lunardark
Clover (Be wary, it was created by guys from 4chan, and all that entails....It's still a solid game though)
Uranium
Vega (Although I played this nearly 8 years ago, so unsure how it holds up. I remember it being HARD though)
Solarlight and Lunardark
Clover (Be wary, it was created by guys from 4chan, and all that entails....It's still a solid game though)
Copying my post from another thread.
Really cool hack landed recently - Fire Red/Leaf Green Geneneration 1 style
It's a complete (and completed) demake of FRLG down to Red and Blue. It's using the original music, tilesets, sprites, etc - but with the resolution of the GBA and FRLG's gameplay features. Multiplayer even seems to work with vanilla FRLG.
I have been looking for a place to start with Pokemon games that is true to the old school experience and also has some solid QoL updates and I think this might just be it. Up to now I was thinking I would just go with FRLG but was also kinda wanting that original Game Boy feel so … yeah.
I like all of that except the sprites and battle screen. Why not go with Yellow's?
A couple more spin offs:
Pokemon Pinball: Generations adds a Gold/Silver table and all 251 Pokemon, plus some fixes to the game so a smoother experience
Pokemon TCG: Neo replaces all the cards with Gen 2 ones, the sprite artwork is amazing
Pokemon Pinball: Generations adds a Gold/Silver table and all 251 Pokemon, plus some fixes to the game so a smoother experience
Pokemon TCG: Neo replaces all the cards with Gen 2 ones, the sprite artwork is amazing
I tend to be pretty picky with my ROM hacks that I play; I prefer simpler ones. Here is a nice, but basic, Gen 1 mod that adds full GBC color.
Pokemon Red Full Color
Pokemon Red Full Color
The author has said he's releasing the first update in 5 years this year
I can vouch for Crystal Clear and Red Full Color.
The amount of stuff in CC is staggering and it's very enjoyable.
Red Full Color is basically Red/Blue w/GBC colors and Gen 2 Sprites & Battle UI (though if you're picky, there's a patch that keeps the Gen 1 Sprites/UI).
Makes the Gen 1 games look a lot better.
The amount of stuff in CC is staggering and it's very enjoyable.
Red Full Color is basically Red/Blue w/GBC colors and Gen 2 Sprites & Battle UI (though if you're picky, there's a patch that keeps the Gen 1 Sprites/UI).
Makes the Gen 1 games look a lot better.
My SteamDeck is arriving tomorrow and I have a HANKERIN' to play HGSS again (haven't played the game for a decade at this point). What mods are worth checking out?
If you're looking for essentially enhanced editions of HGSS, I'd recommend: Refined Gold. Essentially makes most Pokemon available without trade, Wi-Fi events have been integrated into the main game, and a bunch of other QoL features. There's also the overhaul, but there's more substantial changes made, like breaking the linearity of areas in the original game.
If you want a difficulty hack with cross-generation wild Pokemon, type changes, and a bunch of remixed elements: can't do better than Sacred Gold/Storm Silver. There's some overlap with Refined Gold, but this is basically the entirely of Gen 4 set into one game.
Thank you so much for the thread Synohan, I was thinking on doing a similar thread but focused on other ROM Hacks, but this one is really detailed and with great recommendations!
Speaking of which, does anybody has a preferred or a good ROM Hack for Pokemon Yellow? I'm looking for something similar to Shin Poke Red/Blue, but I don't mind any good suggestion.
Speaking of which, does anybody has a preferred or a good ROM Hack for Pokemon Yellow? I'm looking for something similar to Shin Poke Red/Blue, but I don't mind any good suggestion.
Looking thru this thread and im kinda shocked Crystal Legacy isnt here. It's basically crystal but with jotho mons in jotho,some move changes (cut is bug type) and a reworked level curve along with level differences for the three gyms after Morty depending on the order you do them in. Pretty fun game and i highly reccomend it. Right now the guy and his team are working on a Pokemon Yellow Romhack that fixed a lot of that game as well.
View: https://youtu.be/zaqZGGSKFtI?si=Tb2Nb8lEBwwnLdrg
View: https://youtu.be/zaqZGGSKFtI?si=Tb2Nb8lEBwwnLdrg
I came to this thread to say exactly what you said. I don't play many rom hacks but I would recommend Crystal Legacy even as a first time experience with the game, it's that good.
Like the only criticisms I have of the rom hack are the final elite 4 thing being a bit repetitive and some of the new dialogue really sticking out as new dialogue in terms of writing style.
So if anyone here has played both of them, out of the two beta Johto ROM hacks, which one would you recommend?
Gold and Silver Reforged or Super Gold 97?
I've been wanting to play through one of these for a bit now, but don't know which one people lean towards.
Gold and Silver Reforged or Super Gold 97?
I've been wanting to play through one of these for a bit now, but don't know which one people lean towards.
OP
OP
OP has been updated. The majority of games have has a Media section added. They either have screenshots or a video to a review or trailer.
More projects were added:
Pokemon Pinball Generations
Pokemon Crystal Legacy
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I also wanted to highlight some projects that are in-progress that look incredible:
Pokemon Legends Arise - Trinity Aenigma
An in-progress hack of Pokemon Platinum with Generation V graphics. Taking place in an alternate Sinnoh, where you impersonate the protagonists of D/P/PT, set to investigate happenings in Sinnoh. Some of the features are really cool, the creator is also a composer, so a lot of new music is being made for the game.
Pokemon Odyssey
An in-progress hack of Pokemon Fire Red. Based off of the Etrian Odyssey series, there's no Gym challenge. Instead it's focused on it's core plot, exploring new Stratums, naval exploration and side questing. It also introduces new forms for Pokemon, the Etrian types.
More projects were added:
Pokemon Pinball Generations
Pokemon Crystal Legacy
------
I also wanted to highlight some projects that are in-progress that look incredible:
Pokemon Legends Arise - Trinity Aenigma
An in-progress hack of Pokemon Platinum with Generation V graphics. Taking place in an alternate Sinnoh, where you impersonate the protagonists of D/P/PT, set to investigate happenings in Sinnoh. Some of the features are really cool, the creator is also a composer, so a lot of new music is being made for the game.
Pokemon Odyssey
An in-progress hack of Pokemon Fire Red. Based off of the Etrian Odyssey series, there's no Gym challenge. Instead it's focused on it's core plot, exploring new Stratums, naval exploration and side questing. It also introduces new forms for Pokemon, the Etrian types.
OP has been updated. The majority of games have has a Media section added. They either have screenshots or a video to a review or trailer.
More projects were added:
Pokemon Pinball Generations
Pokemon Crystal Legacy
------
I also wanted to highlight some projects that are in-progress that look incredible:
Pokemon Legends Arise - Trinity Aenigma
An in-progress hack of Pokemon Platinum with Generation V graphics. Taking place in an alternate Sinnoh, where you impersonate the protagonists of D/P/PT, set to investigate happenings in Sinnoh. Some of the features are really cool, the creator is also a composer, so a lot of new music is being made for the game.
Pokemon Odyssey
An in-progress hack of Pokemon Fire Red. Based off of the Etrian Odyssey series, there's no Gym challenge. Instead it's focused on it's core plot, exploring new Stratums, naval exploration and side questing. It also introduces new forms for Pokemon, the Etrian types.
Pokémon Odyssey looks incredible. I absolutely am keeping an eye on that.
FYI, the original post has a bug, some of the games are hidden in spoilers for other games.
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Vega has really cool Fakemon, but it is absurdly hard. You legit have like four catchable Pokemon before the first gym and that shit has rollout and leftovers on one of her Pokemon. Luckily, an easy version was made for people who suck at the game.
Clover is a tragedy. It has some genuinely amazing Fakemon and at times is genuinely funny. Completely ruined by about every kind of negative trait you can imagine. Racist, sexist, anti-Semitic, islamaphobic, homophobic, transphobic, and so on. I get the recommend, but I don't even think it's worth it to get through all the fucked up shit to get to the actual quality content.
Has anyone played Theta Emerald Ex?
I'm in the mood to replay Emerald, but with the physical/special split and some of the other modern QoL improvements. I'm fine with there being extra Pokemon included and maybe some increased difficulty, but ideally it would be pretty faithful otherwise.
Altered Emerald is listed in the OP, but it lists features such as redesigned routes, story changes and some Pokemon have had their typings changed. Blergh. It seems Theta Emerald would be the purer experience?
I'm in the mood to replay Emerald, but with the physical/special split and some of the other modern QoL improvements. I'm fine with there being extra Pokemon included and maybe some increased difficulty, but ideally it would be pretty faithful otherwise.
Altered Emerald is listed in the OP, but it lists features such as redesigned routes, story changes and some Pokemon have had their typings changed. Blergh. It seems Theta Emerald would be the purer experience?
I can't speak for Theta Emerald, but Inclement Emerald has the PSS and QoL improvements and it still follows the normal Emerald plot. It's a difficulty hack, but it's a fair one IMO, as somebody that bounced off of Radical Red twice due to its difficulty.
Oh shit, missed this response, but this sounds like the one I've been looking for. Cheers!
The Eevee expo just concluded. A lot of neat games out or someone out
I've been tinkering with a fan game with Pokemon Essentials in RPG Maker XP. Does anyone know if there's a way to start from a "base game" (like a RMXP version of FireRed) to use as a starting point? That would be a lot more manageable for me to learn with before jumping all the way in and making something from scratch. It's hard to find the time to learn all of the different aspects.
I'm currently playing Pokemon Kanto Expansion Pak and it's kinda fucking awesome.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0zXtEKX89Y
I'm 6 badges in and it's basically an expansion of Gen 1 with some slight changes to the map, Beta Pokemon are added in, evolutions of Gen 1 Pokemon from later gens, regional variants are available, and even Pokemon that are gen 1 adjacent like Sandy Shocks and Scream Tail. The balance is tweaked but it's really well done, still feels like a real Pokemon game and not a difficulty hack. Feels like a total love letter to Gen 1.
Summary from the author of the hack:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0zXtEKX89Y
I'm 6 badges in and it's basically an expansion of Gen 1 with some slight changes to the map, Beta Pokemon are added in, evolutions of Gen 1 Pokemon from later gens, regional variants are available, and even Pokemon that are gen 1 adjacent like Sandy Shocks and Scream Tail. The balance is tweaked but it's really well done, still feels like a real Pokemon game and not a difficulty hack. Feels like a total love letter to Gen 1.
Summary from the author of the hack:
Great thread! I recently started a Radical Red playthrough, since it's been over a decade since I last visited Kanto and thought to try out a ROM hack that doesn't change too much.
But man, there is so much stuff here. New clever challenges and events, QoL stuff that's just too good and different difficulty modes. It's pretty challenging, but very fair.
Only think I'm not really convinced of is having every Pokémon in there. I'm only in Mt Moon and I've already seen over 120 Pokémon. Though, if you want to have newer Pokémon in your party this might be a positive for you. I personally am aiming to use gen 1 Pokémon only, which is why it's pretty hard to find them when there are over a 1000 Pokémon here.
They do make it a bit more doable by adding lots of different patches of grass where you can find Pokémon, so it's not that bad.
I'm also planning to play Emerald Rogue, which sounds like a genius twist to the Pokémon formula.
The Pokémon rom hacking community is amazing!
But man, there is so much stuff here. New clever challenges and events, QoL stuff that's just too good and different difficulty modes. It's pretty challenging, but very fair.
Only think I'm not really convinced of is having every Pokémon in there. I'm only in Mt Moon and I've already seen over 120 Pokémon. Though, if you want to have newer Pokémon in your party this might be a positive for you. I personally am aiming to use gen 1 Pokémon only, which is why it's pretty hard to find them when there are over a 1000 Pokémon here.
They do make it a bit more doable by adding lots of different patches of grass where you can find Pokémon, so it's not that bad.
I'm also planning to play Emerald Rogue, which sounds like a genius twist to the Pokémon formula.
The Pokémon rom hacking community is amazing!
I know it's not the same thing since it's just a fan translation, but fuck, the Pokémon TCG sequel on gameboy is great. So much faster and snappier than the original and yet it feels like a direct continuation. Really loving this, kicking Nintendo for not releasing it stateside. Kid me would have devoured this game.
I'm surprised no one's attempted to craft a "third" PKMN title (Emerald, Platinum, etc.) that combines and expands on Fire Red and Leaf Green (Ocean Blue?) or at least turn the player character gender you don't choose to play as into another (friendlier) rival with the leftover starter.
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If you want something that is as vanilla as possible, minimal amount of changes at all, try Pokemon Emerald Complete National Dex Edition and use the Light Patch.
I discovered this a few days ago, it's a Pokemon roguelike on your browser:
www.pokerogue.net
PokéRogue
A Pokémon fangame heavily inspired by the roguelite genre. Battle endlessly while gathering stacking items, exploring many different biomes, and reaching Pokémon stats you never thought possible.
www.pokerogue.net
I've been playing this hack recently.
unknown.foobear.org
At its core it's FRLG but with the same updated engine as Radical Red and Unbound, so a bunch of QoL improvements and backports out of the gate. The main draw is that every mon you encounter is randomized, but in a logical way and not the typical "Mewtwo on Route 1" way. Trainer teams are also dynamically randomized on the fly, so if you reset the game during a battle the team will be different next time.
Pokémon Unknown
At its core it's FRLG but with the same updated engine as Radical Red and Unbound, so a bunch of QoL improvements and backports out of the gate. The main draw is that every mon you encounter is randomized, but in a logical way and not the typical "Mewtwo on Route 1" way. Trainer teams are also dynamically randomized on the fly, so if you reset the game during a battle the team will be different next time.
Thank you! Complete novice, how do you patch the games if you're using the Delta iOS app?
OP
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Yeah, sadly this is a hard one. Most 251 rom hacks hide the Johto Pokemon behind post game, pretty much just in the Sevii Islands. The others I can think of are 386, so Hoenn Dex Pokemon would be scattered around Kanto.
Me and my SO have been doing soul link nuzlocke runs of Crystal Legacy and it is a real fucker of a romhack. Furthest we've gotten is beating Whitney so far, although it ate up most of our team and we failed shortly afterwards.