FireRed hack: Cubone and the Power Crystal

[Spherical Ice]

Intro

Instead of working on a full-length hack, I've chosen to do a series of smaller, more compact hacks. This series will be called Pokémon Miniventures, and the first one, Cubone and the Power Crystal is a light-hearted game that sees the player, one of the last remaining Team Rocket members, discover the secrets of a deserted island for eternal power. Oh and a talking Cubone is involved.

Background Story

Last year, a prodigious Pokémon Trainer by the name of Red rose from nowhere and became the Indigo League Champion, taking down Giovanni's evil Team Rocket organisation. You were part of said organisation, but don't believe that because the team has been disbanded you should stop doing what you do best. That all goes wrong, however, when you're discovered. The police pursue you, and you manage to escape until you arrive at Seven Island, where, if all had gone to plan, you would have been home-free.

It seems, however that the bridge that led to your getaway is broken (why does that keep happening to you?). Determined not to go away for life, you (stupidly) jump into the fast-flowing currents and, assuming you had drowned, the police leave. However, after what appears to be days of being pushed and pulled by the seas currents, you find yourself being awoken by a Cubone on a mysterious island, who appears to be trying to communicate with you...

Screenshots

Note: The player's OW is tentative to change. The backsprite also hasn't been edited yet.

Videos

Tile errors in these videos have probably been noticed and fixed by me already. :D

Features

• A completely different story!
• Talking Pokémon via the Mystical Bone.
• A deserted island with a mysterious past.
• Cubone! (yes that's a feature)
• Three completely different dungeons complete with bosses and mini-bosses.
• Mastermind_X's Ruins of Alph puzzle!
• Time travel!

Awards

Because I love rubbing stuff in yo face

Credits

• DrFuji and Giradialkia

Listening to me ramble ideas, script help, etc. DrFuji also helped a ton inserting the Iron Pyramid's area image.

• HackMew, Lu-Ho, VBA Team, Wichu, link12552, mh-nexus

Tools.

• Neti, Thrace and Fangking Omega

Snow ROM base - some tiles are partly edited by me.

• diegoisawesome and Mastermind_x

Helping me insert Mastermind_X's Ruins of Alph puzzle.

• cuddlesthefatcat

Awesome tiles.

Closing Word

Thanks for reading so far. Please don't take this hack too seriously, I'm well aware it has some features that are less then believable but hey, it's just for fun. I think that's what's missing from the Hacking community: people aren't trying to make their games fun, they're trying to make them the longest, prettiest, best scripted, deepest storyline'd game and it leads to failure most of the time. Just chill out and make something cool ;D

[giradialkia]

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. This pleases me to no end! :D I love it! The entire concept of a 'microhack' (let's see if that sticks) is pretty awesome, and I think you have a valid point when you say:

Just chill out and make something cool ;D

And this certainly looks cool. The story hints at something amazing, and the screens, though they don't give all that much away, certainly look promising. Keep up the awesomeness Haroun, great job so far buddy :)

[kebbles]

Great idea, i was thinkin of doing the same thing justbased on the pokemon movies, but i never got around to it good luck mate u got my support.
oh i think the destroyed deck looks cool as.

[DrFuji]

Oh wow, this thread went up fast :P

Anyway, I know this hack is in its early stages, but it definitely looks like it is on the right track. Like gira I also like the idea of a 'microhack' where you can just have some fun for an hour or two with a short game. Anyway, are you going to be sticking with the default tiles for the entire game or will you also add some more to make it look a bit more like a jungle? I like the fact that you also recognise that Cubone is a feature unto itself.

Anyway, keep on broin' it up with this hack :P

[Spherical Ice]

Originally Posted by giradialkia

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. This pleases me to no end! :D I love it! The entire concept of a 'microhack' (let's see if that sticks) is pretty awesome, and I think you have a valid point when you say:

And this certainly looks cool. The story hints at something amazing, and the screens, though they don't give all that much away, certainly look promising. Keep up the awesomeness Haroun, great job so far buddy :)

Haha, I'm glad you like it. Thanks :3

Originally Posted by kebbles

Great idea, i was thinkin of doing the same thing justbased on the pokemon movies, but i never got around to it :) good luck mate u got my support.
oh i think the destroyed deck looks cool as.

Nice! Of course, there's nothing stopping you doing those movie hacks too :D Thanks!

Originally Posted by DrFuji

Oh wow, this thread went up fast :P

Anyway, I know this hack is in its early stages, but it definitely looks like it is on the right track. Like gira I also like the idea of a 'microhack' where you can just have some fun for an hour or two with a short game. Anyway, are you going to be sticking with the default tiles for the entire game or will you also add some more to make it look a bit more like a jungle? I like the fact that you also recognise that Cubone is a feature unto itself.

Anyway, keep on broin' it up with this hack :P

Thanks broseph. I'm definitely adding some custom FR tiles but I'm not really gonna bother too much with a whole new graphical style because I'm lazy.

Anyway:

Update!

A few screenshots from the first dungeon: when you step on the green buttons, it will open any green doors and close any pink doors. Stepping on the pink buttons with close any green doors and open any pink doors. The idea is to get the key in the chest and proceed onto the next level, to eventually beat the boss and miniboss.

[Tropical Sunlight]

This looks very good :D
I think you've got a lot of potential playability here

[Fireworks]

This looks awesome, HotY candidate already, if you manage to pull this off, which I have no doubts you will.
Anyway, like I sad on MSN, I think the text colours should be changed just for extra coolness, maybe green or something? Jut because it's a Pokémon, and it's the humans that use blue/red.
Anyway puzzle idea is nice.
'k I posted in yours go post in mine.

[Spherical Ice]

Originally Posted by Tropical Sunlight

This looks very good :D
I think you've got a lot of potential playability here :)

Thanks!
What exactly do you mean by playability? :0

Originally Posted by Fireworks

This looks awesome, HotY candidate already, if you manage to pull this off, which I have no doubts you will.
Anyway, like I sad on MSN, I think the text colours should be changed just for extra coolness, maybe green or something? Jut because it's a Pokémon, and it's the humans that use blue/red.
Anyway puzzle idea is nice.
'k I posted in yours go post in mine.

Lol HOTY. In my dreams at least :P
As their are really no humans in this except for the policemen in the beginning, who have green text anyway, I don't plan to change the colour for Cubone etc. It seems like a bit too much effort for something so minor imo. Thanks anyway, and sure thing.

The next update is either a video or a preview to the dungeon's miniboss. Or both. Or neither. Idk.

[chrunch]

This is looking great! I love the concept of a microhack with just a short, fun game. The custom FR tiles and puzzles are also looking great. I agree with Fireworks though, maybe you should change the Pokemon's text to green and the policeman's text to blue? Good luck! :)

[Tropical Sunlight]

Playability is a quality of a game that makes it playable (makes the player enjoy but still provide a decent amount of difficulty) :D
This hack is bound to be very playable

[Potent]

Originally Posted by Spherical Ice

People aren't trying to make their games fun, they're trying to make them the longest, prettiest, best scripted, deepest storyline'd game and it leads to failure most of the time. Just chill out and make something cool ;D

Probably the best statement I have ever seen in this section. Totally agree with you mate. I love the idea of this hack and hope it goes far! I cant wait to play it and its many sequels!

[Spherical Ice]

Update!

A video of the beginning scenes of this hack. Any tile errors have been fixed, rest assured ;D.
Also I ended up changing the text of Cubone to green, happy now? ;D

Originally Posted by chrunch

This is looking great! I love the concept of a microhack with just a short, fun game. The custom FR tiles and puzzles are also looking great. I agree with Fireworks though, maybe you should change the Pokemon's text to green and the policeman's text to blue? Good luck! :)

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Tropical Sunlight

Playability is a quality of a game that makes it playable (makes the player enjoy but still provide a decent amount of difficulty) :D
This hack is bound to be very playable :)

Thought that was what you meant. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Potent

Probably the best statement I have ever seen in this section. Totally agree with you mate. I love the idea of this hack and hope it goes far! I cant wait to play it and its many sequels!

Glad to see I ain't alone~
Thanks though technically they won't be sequels, just separate hacks.!

Anyway, I've updated the first post with some updated screenshots.

[Potent]

I absolutely love the video and can't wait to play this hack As for my comment earlier I didn't really mean a sequel to this story I just meant more Pokemon MiniAdventures.

[Truality]

Wahahahahahawesome. Yes, he's back! And with a great hack idea, too!

Great stuff there, Haroun. Keep it up! I hope the best for this! God I don't know how to compliment you right now.

[Omega Zero]

Originally Posted by Spherical Ice

Haha, I'm glad you like it. Thanks :3

Nice! Of course, there's nothing stopping you doing those movie hacks too :D Thanks!

Thanks broseph. I'm definitely adding some custom FR tiles but I'm not really gonna bother too much with a whole new graphical style because I'm lazy.

Anyway:

Update!

A few screenshots from the first dungeon: when you step on the green buttons, it will open any green doors and close any pink doors. Stepping on the pink buttons with close any green doors and open any pink doors. The idea is to get the key in the chest and proceed onto the next level, to eventually beat the boss and miniboss.

I like the concept, but those green and pink tiles look like you ripped them from one of the canes in Loz Lttp.

[onelifeleft]

This looks like a good one! I'll definately play this when it comes out.

[Spherical Ice]

Originally Posted by Potent

I absolutely love the video and can't wait to play this hack:) As for my comment earlier I didn't really mean a sequel to this story I just meant more Pokemon MiniAdventures.

Thanks, and I was just clarifying ;D

Originally Posted by Truality

Wahahahahahawesome. Yes, he's back! And with a great hack idea, too!

Great stuff there, Haroun. Keep it up! I hope the best for this! God I don't know how to compliment you right now.

Hey dude! Thanks!

Originally Posted by Omega Zero

I like the concept, but those green and pink tiles look like you ripped them from one of the canes in Loz Lttp.

I see where you'r e coming from, but:

You can see the Zelda tiles were much better tiled than mine. Which were custom.

Originally Posted by onelifeleft

This looks like a good one! I'll definately play this when it comes out.

Thanks!

[Ash493]

Wow, great concept you made here!
I gotta agree that the concept of mini-hacks is something worth trying.
And by looking at the video, I really got the urge to play :D

[miksy91]

The video is veeery nice :D

(Somewhat familiar to hack of my own where you also need to explore and find stuff like Keys to get through some parts of the game)

[Potent]

Hey I was going to mention this earlier but by any chance do need (or want) A website developed for the MiniAdventures. I'm currently developing for two clients a yt channel with near 3000 subs and one with near 1000. I'm willing to take on a third client and I am wanting to do it for someone developing hacks this time round. Let me know if you are interested.

[Spherical Ice]

Originally Posted by Ash493

Wow, great concept you made here!
I gotta agree that the concept of mini-hacks is something worth trying.
And by looking at the video, I really got the urge to play :D

Thanks!
Hopefully I'll be able to release a demo soon, though the first dungeon is taking a bit of time to chew through (lolol).

Originally Posted by miksy91

The video is veeery nice :D

(Somewhat familiar to hack of my own where you also need to explore and find stuff like Keys to get through some parts of the game)

Thanks!

(Haha, it's not exactly an exclusive idea, it's been done in, like, every dungeon game ever XD)

Originally Posted by Potent

Hey I was going to mention this earlier but by any chance do need (or want) A website developed for the MiniAdventures. I'm currently developing for two clients a yt channel with near 3000 subs and one with near 1000. I'm willing to take on a third client and I am wanting to do it for someone developing hacks this time round. Let me know if you are interested.

Thanks for the offer, if I do I'll keep you in mind. Though if it does come to it I'd be able to add it to my own website (been HTML'ing and CSS'ing for years now lol) but I'll keep the offer in mind. Though I'd reccommend leaving that stuff to VMs just in case Gira get's pissed 8D

I apologise for the slow pace I've been working at, all I've got to show is a quick screen from floor two of Dungeon 1 (btw, any suggestions for this name? the dungeon boss is related to rocks and stuff, and the dungeon's got an ancient contraption/indiana jones theme).

[Spherical Ice]

Update!

So! I've finally worked my way through the first dungeon (which is still unnamed >:), so work can finally begin on the main chunk of the hack. These screens show you the oss of the dungeon, and a new team member. So yeah!

[hinkage]

This looks good. Good luck :D (and try to finish)

[DeagleAc3]

Loooks sooooo good, please finish this soon! =P

[Spherical Ice]

Originally Posted by hinkage

This looks good. Good luck :D (and try to finish)

Originally Posted by DeagleAc3

Loooks sooooo good, please finish this soon! =P

Thanks to you both, and I'm working as fast as I can! :D

Anyway, quick mini-update-thing:

Just some "trainer" sprites I've edited/inserted. The first one is the sprite of those statues you see in some of the other screens and the second one is, obviously, a Pikachu.