Pokemon Sirius Minus (GBA) – A Balanced Classic of the Japanese ROM Hack Scene
Game Information
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
Pokémon Altair & Sirius Minus is a difficulty rebalancing patch for Pokémon Altair and Pokémon Sirius, two landmark ROM hacks that are often considered the foundations of the Altair–Vega–Procyon/Deneb series.
Originally released in Japan around 2010, Altair and Sirius earned a legendary reputation in the Japanese ROM hacking scene and are often referred to as “grandfathers of ROM hacking.” However, like later entries such as Vega, their difficulty curve could be overwhelming, frequently requiring excessive grinding or EV training.
The Minus version was created to address this issue, bringing the games’ difficulty closer to mainline Pokémon standards while preserving their identity, structure, and content.
Story Overview
Pokémon Altair & Sirius Minus does not alter the original story.
The narrative remains identical to the base versions of Altair and Sirius, which depict a reimagined Hoenn-like region affected by meteor-related phenomena, original Fakemon species, and powerful Meteoric Legendary Pokémon.
All story progression, events, and lore remain intact.
Key Features
- Rebalanced Difficulty Curve: Trainer and boss levels adjusted to reduce grinding.
- Main-Series Inspired Progression: Early-game difficulty closer to Emerald, with later sections scaling toward BW2 levels.
- Trainer Adjustments: Important trainers receive revised movesets and levels for fairer battles.
- Reduced Tedium: Various minor gameplay tweaks made to streamline progression.
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Legendary Pokémon Tweaks:
- Higher catch rates for Legendary Pokémon
- Meteoric Legendary Trio now uses their Vega battle theme
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Quality of Life Improvements:
- Easier traversal in several overworld areas
- Ability to escape or Fly from the top of Sky Pillar
- Pokémon Availability Tweaks:
- Some extremely rare Pokémon now have improved encounter rates.
- Evolution Updates:
- Dusclops can now evolve into Dusknoir at Level 48, matching Vega.
- Visual & Audio Enhancements:
- Back-ported move animations from Pokémon Vega
- Improved sprite animations (e.g., Scizor, Dusknoir)
- Bug Fixes: Several long-standing issues from the original games were addressed where possible.
Known Bugs & Issues
- Some bugs are inherited from the original Altair & Sirius games.
- A “Pretty Stone” event in Alto Mare may already appear completed under unknown conditions.
- Re-entering the Hall of Fame can reset certain dungeon progression in Sphere Ruins.
- Alto Mare ending may reset items in Regirock’s ruins.
- Some fixes were attempted, but side effects are not fully confirmed.
- Link compatibility issues exist with certain Pokémon (e.g., Dusknoir, Ampharos, Scizor, Asphere forms).
Screenshots
Download Links
Documentation
- Gym 1: Lv13-16 -> Lv12-15
- Gym 2: Lv18-21 -> Lv16-18
- Gym 3: Lv23-28 -> Lv20-24
- Gym 4: Lv29-34 -> Lv27-31
- Gym 5: Lv34-37 -> Lv30-33
- Gym 6: Lv40-44 -> Lv37-40
- Gym 7: Lv49-51 -> Lv42-45
- Gym 8: Lv55-59 -> Lv46-51
- Elite 4 + Champion: Lv59-74 -> Lv52-60
- Postgame: Lv74-80 -> Lv57-63
- Lv100 battles -> Lv80
Developer Information
Developer / Team: kisekisifr
Credits:
- Original Altair/Sirius/Vega Development Team
- Dr. Akimbo & Translation Team (English translation and support)
- pret (pokeemerald disassembly resources for animations)
- Community contributors and documentation sources
- Tool developers (AdvanceMap, XSE, PGE, NTME, etc.)
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: pokecommunity
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is this hack/game for?
A: This hack is for players who want to experience Altair & Sirius without excessive grinding, while still enjoying a balanced challenge.
Q: Is this easier than the original Altair & Sirius?
A: Yes, the difficulty has been reduced to be more in line with official Pokémon games.
Q: Does this hack change the story?
A: No, the story remains exactly the same as the original versions.
Q: How difficult is the game now?
A: It’s similar to mainline Pokémon games, with a slightly higher challenge but no extreme spikes.
Q: Are Fakémon still included?
A: Yes, all original Fakémon and content are fully preserved.
Q: Is the game complete?
A: Yes, the Minus version is fully complete and only receives minor updates if needed.
Q: Can I trade with the original Altair & Sirius?
A: Partially, but some Pokémon are incompatible due to balance changes.
Q: Do I need to grind a lot?
A: No, grinding has been significantly reduced compared to the original versions.
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