Emerald hack: NEW RELEASE: Pokemon Emerald Imperium

[maihuychuong]

why is my keldeo did not change form ?

 

[Xufiie]

why is my keldeo did not change form ?View attachment 173373

1) Resolute Form is unobtainable

2) It's just a cosmetic change even when if it gets implemented (assuming they going the RR route)

 

[Manta1972]

It's supposed to be hard, it's inspired by Radical Red.

Yes the game is quite hard I agree, they seem to be very hard fights with hard level caps. Hisu Qwilfish is pretty hard to kill especially with the moveset it has... Try the easy mode, though this is still probably quite hard but at least you can use potions in battle

 

[Vicor]

View attachment 170722


Download link for the current version of Pokemon Emerald Imperium.

Join the Discord server for updates, gameplay discussion, bug reports, feedback, and more!

Folder containing all documentation.

Pokemon Emerald Imperium
I am here to announce the release of version 1.0 of the romhack I've been working on for the last year or so, Pokemon Emerald Imperium! I'll try to cover the most important points up front: this is a difficulty/QoL hack of Emerald that is fully complete and beatable through the Champion battle with some post-game content. The download for the current version of the game has been linked above, and I plan to keep past versions of patches there as well as I make updates in the future.

My goal in creating this hack was pretty simple: I wanted to create an experience in Emerald that is as close to the experience that Pokemon Radical Red delivers as possible by porting all of the balance changes from RR into a new game and by creating a whole bunch of new battles with increased difficulty. These balance changes include new abilities, stat changes, type changes, learnset changes, evolution method changes, etc. I want to be clear here that I am NOT affiliated with RR in any capacity; I am merely a person who has spent many hours playing RR, and who, like many other romhack players I've encountered, wished for more games just like it in other regions. I want to give full credit to its creators for all of the ideas behind the balance changes mentioned, QoL changes, and many other features that I brought over into this game. With all that being said, let's get into the features and changes you can find in Pokemon Emerald Imperium!


Features

Spoiler:

• Almost all Pokemon from Gens 1 - 9 available (still need to add some Legendaries)
• Vastly improved battle engine with modern mechanics and much smarter AI
• Configurable Minimal Grinding Mode (MGM, described later)
• Built in Difficulty Modes: Easy and Normal for now, would definitely be open to adding more options if there is interest (described later)
• Built in Randomizer with configurable species and ability randomization (described later)
• Built in Level Caps
• Mega Evolution
  • New custom Megas added for several Pokemon, including Gen 4 starters, and several Gigantamax forms converted to Megas
• Several Gen 4 characters added, including Dawn as an additional rival, all the Gym Leaders (only Roark is a required battle), and more!
• DexNav
• Toggleable following Pokemon
• Gen 5 style party menu and Pokemon summary screen
  • Includes built in functionality to view EVs and IVs
• Type icons displayed in battle
• Move power calculator in battle
• Sleep Clause
• Heart Gold / Soul Silver style Pokedex
• Form-changing Key Items for Rotom, Genies, Shaymin, and Hoopa
• Form-changing NPC scripts for Silvally and Genesect (still requires their held items)
• Cheat code system (available cheats listed in documentation)
• Increased difficulty of trainer battles, with focus on Gym Leaders/Elite 4, Rivals, Team Aqua/Magma battles, route Mini Bosses, and optional Mini Bosses (over 100 of these battles in total!)
• Several additional optional Boss Trainer battles (with hopefully good enough rewards to incentivize the player to actually want to do the battles!)
• Some music from Gen 4
• Balance updates for Pokemon to match Radical Red, which includes type-changes, stat updates, ability updates, learnset updates, etc. Differences from the RR balance changes are explicitly noted in the documentation, but the goal for this was to be able to match the data on https://dex.radicalred.net/ and to be able to reuse the damage calculator at https://calc.radicalred.net/.
• Some fairly small story tweaks, mostly with the goal of lining up difficult battles
• Post game Legendary events including access to Mystery Gift locations from vanilla Emerald

QoL Improvements

Spoiler:

• Not needing to teach HMs to use them, and they are forgettable if taught
• Reusable TMs
• Held Items are restored after battles
• Expanded Bag pocket size, added Mega Stones pocket
• Bag sorting by Name and by Amount per pocket
• Capability to register multiple Key Items
• PokeVial with infinite uses to heal your party from anywhere
• Access to the PC from anywhere
• Time changer
• Stat Editor (for EVs and IVs) given in Mauville
• IV Perfecter NPC in Mauville
• Hidden Power type changer NPC in Mauville
• Toggleable Infinite Repel
• Toggleable Auto Run
• Hold R to speed through NPC dialogue
• Option to rename a Pokemon in the party menu
• Option to relearn level-up moves and egg-moves for a Pokemon in the party menu
• Move Pokemon around in the party menu more easily with the Select button or the R button
• Move-tutor moves converted to TMs so they can be taught anywhere, no more move tutors in game
• Item care packages
  • Includes Infinite Candy, type-boosting Hold Items, type-resisting Berries, plus many more
• Ability Capsules and Ability Patches to easily change between abilities for a Pokemon
• In every Pokemon Center, a 2nd Nurse has been added who can:
  • Change Pokemon's natures
  • Swap genders for Pokemon with gender-specific evolutions
  • Set Pokemon directly to the Level Cap
• "Quick throw" option for Poké Balls in battle
  • Can scroll through options easily by holding the L button

Minimal Grinding Mode

Spoiler:

• It's the same as RR's. With MGM enabled, all Pokemon are guaranteed to have perfect IVs, and EVs are not obtainable for the player nor for NPC trainers. With MGM disabled, IVs are random, EVs are obtainable, options for instant EV and IV customization are still provided, and NPC trainers will still have perfect IVs and will be EV trained.

Difficulty Modes

Spoiler:

• Normal: the intended difficulty of this game, and the one it was balanced for. Boss battles will be difficult, you cannot access the Bag during trainer battles, and the battle style is forced to Set.
• Easy: this experience should still be harder than a vanilla Pokemon game, but should be considerably easier than Normal mode. All Boss Pokemon will be 2 levels lower than in Normal mode. Additionally, you can access the Bag during trainer battles, and you can change the battle style to Shift if desired, but it will still be Set by default.

Randomizer

Spoiler:

• Accessed in game.
• The player can choose between normal species randomization (fully random), scaled species randomization (Pokemon randomize into Pokemon with similar base stats), and Legendary-aware species randomization (fully random, but ensures Legendaries get randomized into Legendaries), all of which applies to encounterable Pokemon as well as regular NPC trainers' Pokemon. Boss NPC trainers will never be randomized.
• Ability randomization is also configurable and is independent from species randomization.
• List of abilities that are included/excluded from the randomizer is in the documentation.

Info for Stat Editor, IV Perfecter NPC, and Hidden Power type changer NPC

Spoiler:

In Minimal Grinding Mode:

• IV Perfecter NPC is not enabled, you can just use the Stat Editor to perfect your IVs
• Stat Editor can only change IVs, can change them freely. Cannot change EVs.
• Hidden Power type changer NPC can change HP type freely, no limitations.

NOT in Minimal Grinding Mode:

• IV Perfecter NPC: You get to perfect the IVs of 5 Pokemon per Gym Badge earned. After all 8 Gym Badges are obtained, you can use the IV Perfecter NPC freely.
• Stat Editor: You can edit EVs of any Pokemon freely. You can only change IVs of a Pokemon who has had their IVs perfected by the IV Perfecter NPC, and you can change those Pokemon's IVs freely.
• Hidden Power type changer NPC: can only change the HP type of a Pokemon who has had their IVs perfected by the IV Perfecter NPC.

Credits and Special Thanks
There are SO many people that I need to credit and give special thanks. The full credits can be found here which lists all of the artists, feature creators, and people who have helped me along the way, but I will specifically credit here:

• pret, for the pokeemerald decomp
• RHH, for the pokeemerald-expansion hack base
• The Team Aqua's Hideout Crew, for everything :)
• Pokemon Radical Red and its developers, for being the inspiration for this game and for the ideas behind the majority of the balance changes made in this game

Future update plans
My general approach to updates is going to be to prioritize fixes and polish of existing content before adding any more new content. With that in mind, the plan for future updates that I foresee is something like:

• I definitely want to spend the first few updates fixing bugs that get discovered. That will be my top priority, and I'm sure the most bugs will be found upon initial release, so I will try to be very active with those updates.
• Address immediate feedback for the game's balance as necessary.
• Continue polishing any non-bug issues (any typos, grammar issues, decapitalization efforts)
• Revamp battle UI
• Add the rest of the unobtainable Pokemon, with potentially more areas to make the encounters feel less crammed.
• Add new custom regional forms, I already have a few ideas in mind.
• Add a harder difficulty mode if there is interest.
• Break save compatibility as little as possible, but I know in the future I want to expand the number of Pokemon storage boxes, and that change would break saves.

Steps for patching the ROM and playing the game:
1) Download the patch file (.bps) from the link at the top of the post or from the Discord server.
2) Provide your own unmodified Pokemon Emerald ROM (which is a .gba file). I cannot provide a download link for that.
3) Go to the online ROM patcher and enter your unmodified Emerald ROM and your patch file there, then click "Apply Patch".

Please do NOT use VBA or MyBoy, as they are known to have some visual bugs and crashes running this game.
The recommended emulators are: mGBA on PC, PizzaBoy/Lemuroid/RetroArch+mGBACore on Mobile.

In case you missed it, the link for the download is at the top of the post, as well as the link to the Discord server and the link to the Google Drive that has all the info about the game (documentation for the Boss battles, wild encounters, items, walkthroughs, known bugs, differences between this game and RR, etc).

Final note, my project is open source, so if you are a romhacker and you see anything in this game that you like, feel free to grab it for your own project. Please just be sure to credit appropriately, especially in the case of any artwork, and feel free to message me on Discord for any questions about that!

Is there any way to get this to run on a DSi? I've been trying over the past few days to get it up and running, but GBArunner2 is stuck on a white screen and unfortunately I can't find any serious GBA emulators for the DSi. Thanks!

 

[zkid24]

1. Originally an oversight, but now an intended feature.

2. Weather Ball is currently bugged, and right now it looks like it's completely random. A few of the testers have tried to replicate it, with no success, but people are still encountering it.

I see I see, also some of the EV spreads in the calc seem to be wrong (though it's really cool we even have a full calc for this)

 

[loheb]

Does this use the same trainer AI that Radical Red has?

 

[Xufiie]

I see I see, also some of the EV spreads in the calc seem to be wrong (though it's really cool we even have a full calc for this)

That I don't know about, you can report it in the Discord. I don't even know who made the calc xD

Does this use the same trainer AI that Radical Red has?

The underwriting battle/AI code is completely different - dev in the discord

 

[Arrancar88]

Only at Flannery currently, but I have been enjoying it. Yeah the difficulty gets up there at times, lotta head scratching too at times. I originally thought the InfiniteCandies would be a horrible idea and remove the challenge from the game. But seeing the level differences from a Wild to a Trainer fight, it made a lot more sense and it really doesn't remove the difficulty at all as you can still get served a plate of butt kicking (looking at you Route 114). The game does get more manageable once you hit Mauville and get your Stat Editor as well. I really enjoy either using Pokemon you really wouldn't bother with because that matchup is just great for it, hard countering a problem Pokemon for your team, or even just using the odd choice in berry selection to gain an edge that matters. Looking forward to play more of this when I can.

I am currently at route 114 and sudden difficulty spike is insane. First random fisherman kept kicking my ass and now random picnicker. These ice types are crazy strong and fast lol.

 

[Xufiie]

I am currently at route 114 and sudden difficulty spike is insane. First random fisherman kept kicking my ass and now random picnicker. These ice types are crazy strong and fast lol.

Change the weather

 

[adraido]

It's supposed to be hard, it's inspired by Radical Red.

Is this the easy mode or the normal mode?

 

[Xufiie]

Is this the easy mode or the normal mode?

...what?

Both modes are hard, Easy just lowers levels a bit and let's you change the battle type (set or switch), and let's you use items in battle.

 

[Cloudman15]

I've been playing this for the first time and I love it, however, even though I don't use cheats, a shiny nidorina that I had, turned into a bad egg; is there any way I can fix this?

 

[Xufiie]

I've been playing this for the first time and I love it, however, even though I don't use cheats, a shiny nidorina that I had, turned into a bad egg; is there any way I can fix this?

Bad egg means your save file got corrupt, usually by using unsupported cheats, an unsupported emulator, or using save-states incorrectly/too much.

You can try to revert to a previous save before you got the bad egg and hope it doesn't occur again, or restart completely for save measures.

 

[DoctorSlamtasm]

I'd like to report a bug. Prankster isn't working. I have a prankster whimsicott and am trying to use it for the back to back battle with Shelly and Matt. But instead of getting the priority from prankster to set up trick room, I get one shot instantly. Trick Room is classed as a status move and should be boosted by Prankster. does Sharpness grant priority now or something? Because I have checked his abilities, moves, and held item but he still hits first.

 

[Xufiie]

I'd like to report a bug. Prankster isn't working. I have a prankster whimsicott and am trying to use it for the back to back battle with Shelly and Matt. But instead of getting the priority from prankster to set up trick room, I get one shot instantly. Trick Room is classed as a status move and should be boosted by Prankster. does Sharpness grant priority now or something? Because I have checked his abilities, moves, and held item but he still hits first.

Report it in the Discord, dev is mainly active there. You can also see if it was already reported or if it's an actual bug.

 

[Void Needs Sleep]

I'd like to report a bug. Prankster isn't working. I have a prankster whimsicott and am trying to use it for the back to back battle with Shelly and Matt. But instead of getting the priority from prankster to set up trick room, I get one shot instantly. Trick Room is classed as a status move and should be boosted by Prankster. does Sharpness grant priority now or something? Because I have checked his abilities, moves, and held item but he still hits first.

Not a bug, trick room has -7 priority and with prankster it still has -6 priority which means you will still move last, except in some niche circumstances.

 

[lulz1212]

found a new glitch: when I try the Battle Frontier challenges, everytime I end up in a double battle the game freezes, and since I have to restart it counts as a DQ. sure, not every facility has double battle in it, but I had to restart 3 times in the Battle Pyramid and the first time I tried the Pike I got a double battle in the first room.

also, something about the Cynthia dialogue doesn't click with me because as difficult as she can be, her dialogue pre-battle doesn't sync with her character at all. I'm not saying this out of spite, I get some characters can have that kind of arrogance, but in her case I make an exception

 

[Sprenzy]

ive only watched chuggaaconroy play pokemon years ago i just got a 3ds and im starting pokemon from FRLG, i played 2 hours of that and switched to Firered+. i love all the QOL features i dunno if that rom hack is for a complete newcomer like i am, as i dont even know half the features of firered+ but you said it's the definitive version and stayed lose to the original now when i finish this should i jump into emerald vanilla or imperium

 

[Xufiie]

found a new glitch: when I try the Battle Frontier challenges, everytime I end up in a double battle the game freezes, and since I have to restart it counts as a DQ. sure, not every facility has double battle in it, but I had to restart 3 times in the Battle Pyramid and the first time I tried the Pike I got a double battle in the first room.

also, something about the Cynthia dialogue doesn't click with me because as difficult as she can be, her dialogue pre-battle doesn't sync with her character at all. I'm not saying this out of spite, I get some characters can have that kind of arrogance, but in her case I make an exception

This bug was fixed in 1.2

Can't speak for the dialogue, thought it was good.

ive only watched chuggaaconroy play pokemon years ago i just got a 3ds and im starting pokemon from FRLG, i played 2 hours of that and switched to Firered+. i love all the QOL features i dunno if that rom hack is for a complete newcomer like i am, as i dont even know half the features of firered+ but you said it's the definitive version and stayed lose to the original now when i finish this should i jump into emerald vanilla or imperium

While some people have played Imperium as their first ROM Hack or even their first Pokemon game, I personally wouldn't recommend it. It's a difficulty hack first and forth most, and it's very clear from early on the game isn't going to be cakewalk, even with MGM and easy mode.

But it's your choice of course.