Pokémon Pekin’s Ruby Hack – Fakemon-Driven Pokémon Ruby Overhaul with New Types, Expanded Hoenn, and Experimental Early ROM Hack Design
Game Information
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
Pokémon Pekin’s Ruby Hack is an early ROM hacking project built on Pokémon Ruby that focuses heavily on introducing a fully original Fakemon ecosystem into the Hoenn region. It represents one of the creator’s first attempts at a full-scale ROM hack and is openly described as a rough, experimental, and partially unfinished design.
The main concept was ambitious: to completely replace all official Pokémon with custom Fakemon. While the project did not fully achieve that goal, it still introduces a large number of original creatures and experimental mechanics that reshape the feel of the original Ruby experience.
The creator also notes that this project has been fully superseded by a later, more polished work (Fakemon FireRed), and that Pekin’s Ruby Hack is essentially a finished prototype rather than a refined final product.
Despite its rough edges, the hack serves as an important early example of Fakemon-focused ROM hacking in the Ruby engine.
Story Overview
The story in Pekin’s Ruby Hack largely mirrors the original Pokémon Ruby narrative. Players take the role of a trainer in Hoenn, aiming to defeat Gym Leaders, thwart Team Magma, and become the Pokémon Champion.
While the core story is intact, the presence of Fakemon throughout the region significantly changes team-building, battles, and strategy. Additionally, new areas have been added to the Hoenn map to explore, providing a slightly expanded adventure beyond the original Ruby experience.
Key Features
- Fakemon Replacement: All original Pokémon have been replaced with 197 new Fakemon, each with unique designs, stats, and abilities.
- New Types: Three brand-new types have been added: Cosmic, Digital, and Fairy, each with type advantages and weaknesses that alter battle strategies.
- Day/Night System: Time passes in-game, affecting encounters, NPCs, and certain events.
- Running Indoors: Players can now run inside buildings, speeding up navigation and exploration.
- Reusable TMs: TMs are no longer single-use, allowing for greater flexibility in team-building.
- Expanded Moves & Evolution: New moves have been added, and existing moves, TMs, and HMs have been adjusted. New evolution stones are included to evolve specific Fakemon.
- Extra Areas: Additional locations beyond the standard Hoenn map expand exploration possibilities.
- Quality-of-Life Improvements: Features such as improved interface, movement, and gameplay tweaks enhance the player experience.
- Challenge: Fakemon with balanced stats and diverse abilities require new strategies compared to the original Ruby Pokémon.
Known Bugs & Issues
- Certain Fakemon may have incomplete movesets or stats due to the hack being a first project.
- Minor graphical inconsistencies may appear in Fakemon sprites or tiles.
- Some patches may not work if applied to incorrect Ruby ROM versions. The hack requires Ruby (U) v1.0 or the alternative “MUGS” version.
- Older patches applied to an already modified ROM may cause glitches or crashes.
Screenshots
Download Links
Download: MediafireDeveloper Information
Developer / Team: Pekin
Credits:
- Fakemon Design & Implementation: Pekin
- Additional Resources & Support: N/A
- ROM Hacking Tools: Standard GBA patching tools (e.g., IPS patching utilities)
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: https://ruby-hack.fandom.com/wiki/Pekin%27s_Ruby_Hack_Wiki
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is this ROM hack for?
A: Players interested in Fakemon-based ROM hacks and experimental early-stage Pokémon Ruby modifications.
Q: Does this hack replace all Pokémon with Fakemon?
A: Not completely. While the goal was full replacement, only a large portion of Pokémon were replaced with Fakemon.
Q: How many Fakemon are included?
A: The hack features 197 original Fakemon designs.
Q: Does the story change from Pokémon Ruby?
A: No, the main Ruby storyline remains mostly unchanged, with focus placed on gameplay alterations.
Q: What new types are added?
A: Three new types are introduced: Cosmic, Digital, and Fairy.
Q: Is this a finished and polished hack?
A: It is marked as completed but rough, with no further updates planned and some unfinished ideas.
Q: Are there gameplay improvements beyond Fakemon?
A: Yes, including day/night system, reusable TMs, new evolution stones, and indoor running.
Q: Is this recommended compared to the creator’s other projects?
A: The creator themselves recommends playing Fakemon FireRed instead, as it is more polished and complete.
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