Pokemon Grape GB ROM Hack – Detailed Game Overview
Game Information
Hack Name: Pokemon Grape
Original Game (ROM Base): Pokemon Red
Hack Status: v1.6, Final, 25.12.2021
Language: English
Release Type: Fan-made ROM Hack
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
Pokémon Grape is an ambitious Game Boy / Game Boy Color ROM hack of Pokémon Red created by 80C. It overhauls the original game with expanded content, new regions, new Pokémon types, and many modern mechanics that weren’t present in the base game. Despite being built on a Game Boy foundation, it pushes the limits of what a Gen 1 hack can do.
Story Overview
The story takes place in 1999, where the protagonist (a former baseball player) is drawn into a deadly competition between two regions, Frejo and Kelgo, for ownership of the Pokémon League. In addition, remnants of Team Rocket who fled Kanto after past failures have joined a secret cult plotting disruption. The player must compete, catch Pokémon, complete the Pokédex, and unravel the conspiracy to save the world.Key Features
🌍 World & Exploration
- Two major regions: Frejo and Kelgo, with Frejo being larger than the original Kanto region, and additional parts of Altek are present.
- Completely new maps and dungeons, with detailed tilesets and environmental design.
- Side‑scrolling puzzle areas and a variety of hidden secrets, optional dungeons, and unlockables.
- 248 Pokémon from Gen I through Gen VI, including two Fakémon.
- 25 total Pokémon types, including canonical (Dark, Steel, Fairy) and unique ones such as Atom, Wood, Wind, Gas, Sound, Light, and Bone.
- First Gen I hack to include Physical/Special split, adding deeper battle strategy.
- 70+ new moves, including type‑exclusive attacks with new animations and effects.
- Dual‑typing, custom type effectiveness, and new type matchups not seen in the original game.
- New Legendary encounters and roaming events.
- New items and utilities — e.g., Lighter, Mining Pick, Magic Hammer, and more, with specialized uses outside battle.
- New Poké Balls: Fast, Net, Nest, Dive, Dusk, Timer, Repeat, Heal, Dope Ball (boosts stats), Shiny Ball, and Snag Ball (lets you catch other trainers’ Pokémon).
- The repel system is adapted from later-generation games for avoiding wild Pokémon.
- Holdable items in battle and EXP bar (similar to Gen II+).
- Kart instead of Bicycle, capable of moving at 4× normal speed for faster traversal.
- Animated mechanics such as waterfalls, magma flows, and ice sliding (inspired by Gen II).
- Hot spring events, puzzles, traps, and side quests for varied exploration.
- Unique scripts & hidden quests: First Quest (Pokémon League), Second Quest (Post‑League), and Hidden Quest.
- NPC specialists: Move Tutor, Move Deleter, Pokémon Barber (for evolution and aesthetics), and unique item systems.
- Humorous, pop culture–laced dialogue with intentional parody elements and occasional self‑censored profanity.
- Side activities like trap puzzles and secret palace explorations.
- Multiple Fly points per region and teleport options.
- Expanded trainer rosters and challenges well beyond Gen I difficulty norms.
- Various QoL improvements not originally available in Pokémon Red.
Known Bugs & Issues
- Some items and mechanics may not work properly even in the final build.
- Being a Gen 1 base, certain modern mechanics may still feel limited compared to newer generation hacks.
- Some parts may be incomplete or unpolished according to community reports.
Screenshots
Download Links
Download: Mediafire
Documentation
Developer Information
Developer / Team: 80C
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What ROM base is required to play Pokémon Grape?A: Pokémon Grape is a ROM hack of Pokémon Red (USA) designed for Game Boy or GBC emulation.
Q: How many Pokémon can I catch?
A: You can encounter and catch 248 total Pokémon species, spanning many generations, including legendaries and a couple of Fakémon.
Q: Are new Pokémon types functional?
A: Yes — types like Atom, Gas, Wood, Sound, Light, and Bone are implemented with moves that interact competitively using the game’s type system.
Q: Does the game include shiny Pokémon?
A: Yes, Shiny Pokémon are present and catchable in the Final release.
Q: Is the Physical/Special split fully implemented?
A: The Physical/Special split is implemented and functional — a significant first for a Gen I hack.
Q: What are the evolution methods?
A: Pokémon evolve via traditional methods plus additional ones: place‑based evolution, move‑based evolution, item evolution, and unique in‑game triggers handled by NPCs (e.g., Pokémon Barber).
Q: Are there side quests or extra content?
A: Yes! There are multiple quest chains, puzzles, hidden areas, and optional secrets beyond the main campaign.
Q: Do all new features work perfectly?
A: Many community reports note that while major features are implemented, some item effects and advanced mechanics may behave unpredictably or with quirks, typical for large Gen I hacks.
Q: Does the hack fix rewired bugs from the original Pokémon Red?
A: Yes — several original bugs have been fixed, and quality of life improvements (EXP bar, repel system, updated sprites) were added.
Q: What’s the overall difficulty and experience like?
A: Community feedback suggests significant exploration, difficulty swings, backtracking, and strategic depth, making it deeper and more complex than the original Red gameplay.
How to Play
Requirements
- A Game Boy Color or GBA emulator (e.g., VisualBoyAdvance, mGBA)
- A compatible Pokémon Red (USA) ROM base
- Patch file (e.g., IPS / UPS)
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