Pokemon Sirius Minus GBA ROM – Detailed Hack Overview
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.
Legendary Pokémon Tweaks:
- Higher catch rates for Legendary Pokémon
- Meteoric Legendary Trio now uses their Vega battle theme
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
- Certain Alto Mare quest items may appear pre-collected under rare conditions
- Re-entering the Hall of Fame may reset Sphere Ruins progression
- Viewing the Alto Mare ending can reset items in Regirock’s ruins
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 team
- Dr. Akimbo & translation team
- Pret (pokeemerald disassembly, animation references)
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: pokecommunity
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this a new story or sequel?
A: No. It is a difficulty rebalance of the original games.
Q: Are Altair and Sirius different games?
A: Yes. They are parallel versions with version-exclusive Pokémon and minor differences.
Q: Is this hack still in development?
A: No. The Minus versions are finished, with only possible future bug fixes.
Q: Is this easier than Vega?
A: Yes. Altair & Sirius Minus are significantly more forgiving than Vega, even compared to Vega Minus.
Q: Are these link-compatible with the original versions?
A: Technically yes, but not recommended due to Pokémon data differences.
How to Play
Requirements
- A Game Boy Advance emulator
- A compatible ROM base
- Patch file (IPS / UPS / BPS)
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