Pokemon Orange Islands GBA ROM Hack – Full Game Overview
Game Information
Hack Name: Pokemon Orange Islands
Original Game (ROM Base): Pokemon FireRed
Hack Status: v5.7, Completely finished, including the Movie 2000 Event on Shamouti Island.
Language: English
Release Type: Fan-made ROM Hack
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
Pokémon Orange Islands is a fan‑made ROM hack of Pokémon FireRed that faithfully adapts the Orange Islands saga from the Pokémon anime into a playable GBA adventure. Created and shared through the PokéCommunity project page, this hack reimagines the events and locations that Ash Ketchum experienced in the anime after becoming the Indigo League Champion.Rather than strictly retelling episodes one‑by‑one, the hack blends narrative moments, character interactions, and gameplay into a cohesive journey. It features custom maps, new mechanics, and scripted events designed to evoke the feel of the anime within the constraints of a FireRed engine.
The current public release, Beta 5.7, is considered feature‑complete and includes the Movie 2000 event on Shamouti Island.
Story Overview
You play as Ash Ketchum, beginning in Pallet Town immediately after your victory in the Indigo League. Professor Oak receives a package that cannot be delivered through the PC system, and sends Ash to Valencia Island to retrieve it. Ash willingly accepts this simple task, unaware that it will lead into a series of adventures depicted in the Orange Islands anime.Throughout the game, nearly all episodes from the anime’s Orange arc are represented in some form. Some episodes are integrated as major plot events, while others are implemented as miniquests or side stories. Players will:
- Travel across multiple islands in the Orange Archipelago
- Encounter familiar locations and anime‑specific challenges
- Meet recurring characters from the show
- Battle regionally themed trainers and Gym Leaders
- Experience the Movie 2000 event on Shamouti Island
The story balances Miyazaki‑style adventure with classic Pokémon exploration and battle progression.
The Orange Archipelago:
The game world includes several themed islands, each with its own geography, NPCs, wild Pokémon, trainers, and puzzles. Key islands include: Valencia Island, where the adventure begins, and early exploration unfolds
A: Speak to the old lady in Sunburst Island’s Pokémon Center. NPCs often provide hints for exploration.
Q: How do I pass the whirlpools to reach Fairchild Island?
A: After defeating Rudy on Trovita Island, you will receive the Whirlpuller. Always check with nearby NPCs for guidance.
Q: How can I reach New Island?
A: Talk to Tracey in Pallet Town after completing the Shamouti Island event; he will guide you further.
Q: Why are Pokémon in Valencia Park shiny?
A: They are colored differently to match their appearance in the anime.
Q: Why can’t I climb up waterfalls?
A: The Waterfall move is purely combat-focused; its field effect has been removed intentionally.
Q: How can I catch the Crystal Onix?
A: It becomes available after defeating the Orange League.
Q: Why are anime challenges replaced with regular Pokémon battles?
A: The hack adapts the anime into a playable GBA ROM format. Gym battles replace non-Pokémon challenges (like Wave Races or Sled Races) to maintain consistent gameplay mechanics.
Q: Why don’t some Pokémon evolve through trading?
A: To make the Pokédex fully completable without trading, Kadabra, Graveler, Haunter, and Machoke evolve at level 40 instead.
Q: Do I need to bring Ash’s anime Pokémon with me for events?
A: No, events are scripted independently of anime Pokémon availability.
Q: Which generation are Pokémon moves based on?
A: Movesets are mostly Generation III, except for certain anime-specific Pokémon which have modified movesets (e.g., Charizard learns Seismic Toss, Butterfree learns Gust earlier).
- Pinkan Island: Recognizable from the anime for rare Pokémon
- Sunburst Island: A central location with NPC hints and unique Pokémon
- Fairchild Island: Accessible later with the Whirlpuller
- Shamouti Island: Host to the Movie 2000 event
- New Island: Unlockable after progressing the main story
Key Features
- Explore the Orange Archipelago with detailed maps and new overworlds.
- Challenge 4 Gym Leaders and earn Badges, adapted from the anime’s events.
- Pikachu is your starter, with the possibility of acquiring Ash’s other Pokémon early in the game.
- All Generation I Pokémon are included, plus Tracey’s Marill from Generation II.
- Introduces a Physical/Special/Status split for moves, similar to modern mechanics.
- Pokémon capture is adjusted so no Pokéball is consumed on failed capture attempts.
- Collect items to use field moves like Dive, Whirlpool, Rock Smash, and Rock Climb.
- Includes new tiles, sprites, and maps for an immersive experience.
Known Bugs & Issues
- The surfing Lapras sprite occasionally overlaps with other overworld sprites or may not appear on some emulators.
- Occasionally, a supereffective Thunderbolt can trigger a looping sound effect; restarting the game resolves this.
- Certain minor events or sprite animations may behave inconsistently depending on the emulator used.
- The game is fully playable on GBA emulators such as mGBA or VisualBoyAdvance-M, but some older or unofficial emulators may cause visual or audio glitches.
Screenshots
Download Links
Mediafire
Developer Information
Developer / Team: kalarie
Credits:
- Alcanthite Team – Tiles
- Alucus, Avara, Kyledove, Wesley FG – Tiles
- Chacha Dinosaur – Light Ball Routine
- Daman – Sprites & Support
- Diegoisawesome – Triple-Layer Blocks
- DoesntKnowHowToPlay – Physical/Special/Status Split
- FamiliaWerneck – Pokéball Routine
- FBI – Various Tweaks
- Fire Red Overworld Sprite Resource – Sprites
- Ghoulslash – Surfing Lapras Routine
- Jiangzhengwenjz – Titlescreen Transition
- JPAN – Hacked Engine
- MrDollSteak – DS-style 64x64 Pokémon Sprites (Sugimori Palettes)
- Navenatox – Dynamic Overworld Sprites
- Spherical Ice – Various Tweaks, Dive ASM Routine
- TaniJ – Sprites
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: Pokecommunity
Community Link: Orange Islands Discord
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I get onto the cliffs of Pinkan Island?A: Speak to the old lady in Sunburst Island’s Pokémon Center. NPCs often provide hints for exploration.
Q: How do I pass the whirlpools to reach Fairchild Island?
A: After defeating Rudy on Trovita Island, you will receive the Whirlpuller. Always check with nearby NPCs for guidance.
Q: How can I reach New Island?
A: Talk to Tracey in Pallet Town after completing the Shamouti Island event; he will guide you further.
Q: Why are Pokémon in Valencia Park shiny?
A: They are colored differently to match their appearance in the anime.
Q: Why can’t I climb up waterfalls?
A: The Waterfall move is purely combat-focused; its field effect has been removed intentionally.
Q: How can I catch the Crystal Onix?
A: It becomes available after defeating the Orange League.
Q: Why are anime challenges replaced with regular Pokémon battles?
A: The hack adapts the anime into a playable GBA ROM format. Gym battles replace non-Pokémon challenges (like Wave Races or Sled Races) to maintain consistent gameplay mechanics.
Q: Why don’t some Pokémon evolve through trading?
A: To make the Pokédex fully completable without trading, Kadabra, Graveler, Haunter, and Machoke evolve at level 40 instead.
Q: Do I need to bring Ash’s anime Pokémon with me for events?
A: No, events are scripted independently of anime Pokémon availability.
Q: Which generation are Pokémon moves based on?
A: Movesets are mostly Generation III, except for certain anime-specific Pokémon which have modified movesets (e.g., Charizard learns Seismic Toss, Butterfree learns Gust earlier).
How to Play
Requirements
- A Game Boy Advance emulator
- A compatible ROM base
- Patch file (IPS / UPS / BPS)
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