Pokémon GBA ROM Hack – Game Overview
Game Information
Hack Name: Pokemon Gaia Version
Original Game (ROM Base): Pokemon Fire Red
Hack Status: Beta v3.2
Language: English
Release Type: Fan-made ROM Hack
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
Pokémon Gaia Version is a well‑known fan‑created ROM hack of Pokémon FireRed for the Game Boy Advance. It’s built on the FireRed engine but expands it into a completely new adventure with updated mechanics, a fresh storyline, and features normally found in later Pokémon generations.- The most widely used and stable release is v3.2 (Beta), considered complete through the main story and Pokémon League.
- The version includes a full progression with gyms, Elite Four, and Champion battle.
- There’s no major official post‑game content in v3.2, though fans often explore side quests and secrets.
Story Overview
In Gaia, you begin your journey in the Orbtus Region, a land once ruled by an advanced civilization that built temples, statues, and monuments to honor their gods. Catastrophic earthquakes brought that society to ruin, leaving only ruins and mysteries scattered across the region.In the present day, Professor Redwood (an archaeologist and Pokémon researcher) detects abnormal seismic activity threatening Orbtus. To investigate and help protect the region, he recruits you — a young Trainer from Celanto Town, a coastal settlement near enigmatic totem poles. Alongside your rival, you’ll explore the region, uncover ancient secrets, and strive to prevent disaster.
Key Features
- Pokémon Gaia Version features the Physical, Special, and Status split, which modernizes combat strategy.
- The game includes Pokémon from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos, offering a wide variety of species to catch and train.
- Many new moves and updated move sets have been added, with effects and animations accurate to Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
- Players can use modern competitive items, such as Choice Specs, Assault Vest, Ability Pill, and more.
- The game incorporates modern abilities, ranging from Mega Launcher to Sheer Force.
- An in-battle Mega Evolution system is implemented, with Mega Stones hidden throughout the region for players to find.
- The Fairy type has been added, along with an updated type chart for improved balance.
- Pokémon sprites have been updated for a fresh look throughout the game.
- Trainer sprites have been updated as well, including accurate overworld representations.
- Original music tracks have been added, including Windmist City’s theme and the battle music for the Elder Knights.
- Exploration is enhanced with Rock Climb and climbable walls.
- Dive and underwater maps have been fully ported from Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.
- Players can discover Hidden Grottoes and Secret Temples, which reward exploration with rare items and Pokémon with unique move sets.
- The Bug-Catching Contest has been included as a fun side activity.
- The Battle Marsh, a facility similar to the Battle Maison, allows for challenging battles.
- Sideways stairs have been added for more navigable environments.
- Several quality of life improvements have been implemented, such as:
- Trainers now face the player before battles.
- Running Shoes can be used indoors.
- Pokémon, item, and location names are written in title case.
- A bonus Premier Ball is given for every purchase of ten or more Poké Balls.
- Repellents prompt the player for reuse upon expiration.
- Experience Points are gained upon Pokémon capture.
- Technical Machines (TMs) are reusable.
- Field moves have faster animations.
Known Bugs & Issues
- A full and updated list of known bugs is maintained on the Gaia Discord server in the #known-bugs channel.
- This list also highlights internally fixed bugs that will appear in future updates.
- Players are encouraged to report any new bugs either in the PokeCommunity thread, Gaia’s Discord server, or other official channels.
- Common minor issues may include sprite overlaps, text glitches, or rare battle animation errors, but these do not typically affect overall gameplay.
Screenshots
Download Links
Mediafire
Documentation
Developer Information
Developer / Team: Spherical Ice
Credits:
- Touched - ASM.
- FBI - ASM.
- daniilS - ASM.
- Frysinger - Ideas, testing and feedback.
- Ijkee - Ideas, testing and feedback.
- Cuddlesthefatcat - Tiles.
- Mateo - Tiles.
- Fangking Omega - Tiles.
- Kyle-Dove - Tiles.
- LunaMaddalena - Tiles.
- Neslug - Pixel art.
- Coronis - Pixel art.
- GeoIsEvil - Pixel art.
- Avatar - Pixel art.
- DoesntKnowHowToPlay - The Generation 4 physical / special / status split patch, the Generation 6 capture experience hack, hazards code, abilities and inverse battle code.
- Darthatron - The Generation 4 physical / special / status split icon hack and the B2 / W2-styled Repel port.
- Jambo51 - The player-facing routine, the Rival-naming routine, the NPC gender routine, the Wild Battle music routine, the Trainer Class music routine, the Trainer Encounter music hack, and abilities.
- karatekid552 - Abilities.
- JPAN - Parts of his hacked engine, number input box hack.
- knizz - Very tall grass, ashy grass and short grass fixes.
- HackMew - Running indoors hack and the Pokédex classification name bug fix.
- Chaos Rush - Battle backgrounds, battle code.
- Skeli- - Various battle code.
- AkameTheBulbasaur - Various battle code.
- Chacha Dinosaur - Various battle code.
- Navenatox - The dynamic overworld palettes hack.
- Squeetz - Dive routines.
- Zeturic - Various code.
- Crazy_chu - Support banner.
- KeyRogue - Support banner.
- RedPrime - Support banner.
- KLM_SpitFire - Fan art.
- Porto - Fan art.
- AllTimeIndie - Support banner.
- Contributors to the Ability Resource Thread - Abilities.
- Contributors to the Move Resource Thread - Move scripts and animations.
- Contributors to The DS-style 64x64 Pokémon Sprite Resource - Pixel art.
- Contributors to the Gen VI: DS-Style 64x64 Pokemon Sprite Resource - Pixel art.
- Contributors to The DS-Style 64x64 Trainer Sprite Resource - Pixel art.
- Contributors to The FireRed Overworld Sprite Resource - Pixel art.
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: Pokecommunity
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use my save from previous versions of Gaia in v3?A: No. Saves from versions prior to v3 are not compatible due to significant updates and changes. You will need to start a new game in v3.
Q: Will saves from v3 be compatible with future releases?
A: Yes. The developers plan to maintain forward compatibility for v3 saves in upcoming versions.
Q: How can I play Gaia on a Windows computer?
A: Download a GBA emulator such as VisualBoyAdvance-M, obtain a clean FireRed ROM, and apply the Gaia patch using an IPS or UPS patching tool.
Q: How can I play Gaia on a macOS computer?
A: Use a compatible emulator like OpenEmu, then apply the Gaia patch to a FireRed ROM following the same patching procedure as Windows.
Q: Can I play Gaia on Android devices?
A: Yes. Use a GBA emulator like My Boy!, then patch a clean FireRed ROM with the Gaia IPS/UPS file.
Q: Can I play Gaia on iOS devices?
A: Yes, provided you have a GBA emulator for iOS. Apply the patch to a FireRed ROM using standard patching methods.
Q: What should I do if I encounter a bug?
A: Visit the Gaia Discord #known-bugs channel or report it in the PokeCommunity thread. The channel lists known bugs, fixes pending in future updates, and encourages community reports.
How to Play
Requirements
- A Game Boy Advance emulator
- A compatible ROM base
- Patch file (IPS / UPS / BPS)
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