Pokemon Sun Red GBA ROM – Detailed Hack Overview
Game Information
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
Pokémon Sun Red is an Alola-inspired overhaul of Pokémon FireRed that reimagines the Kanto journey using Alolan Pokémon, modern battle mechanics, and massive movepool expansions. Instead of adding every generation, the hack focuses on Gen I, Gen II, and Gen VII (Alola) to keep the experience tight while still feeling fresh.
Hoenn Pokémon are removed and replaced with Alolan species, and nearly every Pokémon has been reworked with new stats, moves, typings, or evolutions, creating a balanced but highly varied gameplay experience. This is not designed as a difficulty hack, but as a feature-rich alternate way to play FireRed.
Story Overview
The main storyline remains rooted in the classic FireRed Kanto adventure, including the Gym Challenge, Team Rocket plot, and Sevii Islands. However, the Pokémon ecosystem is dramatically different.
Players begin with Alola starters (Rowlet, Litten, Popplio) and encounter Alolan variants, Johto Pokémon, and custom legendary events throughout Kanto. With new forms, items, and evolution methods, the region feels like a fusion between Kanto nostalgia and Alola innovation.
Key Features
- Alola Starters in Kanto: Players choose Rowlet, Litten, or Popplio as their first partner Pokémon.
- Alolan Pokémon Integration: Hoenn Pokémon are replaced with Alolan species across the region.
- Form Switching System: Specific Pokémon can freely switch between Kanto and Alolan forms using a Form Changer item.
- Physical/Special Split: Modern move categorization system replaces Gen 3 mechanics.
- 400+ New Moves Added: Hundreds of custom and updated moves expand strategy and diversity.
- Fairy Type Implementation: Fairy type replaces the unused ??? type with new balance adjustments.
- Day and Night Cycle: Time-based system affects atmosphere and possibly encounters.
- Major Pokémon Stat & Moveset Reworks: Nearly every Pokémon receives balance adjustments or new signature-style moves.
- Custom Evolution Methods: Trade evolutions and special evolutions now use stones or alternate mechanics.
- Mega Evolution System: Select Pokémon evolve into custom Mega-style forms using special stones.
- Legendary Event Encounters: Mythical and Legendary Pokémon like Marshadow, Magearna, Celebi, Necrozma, and Mew are obtainable through events.
- Expanded In-Game Trades: Unique trades allow access to rare Pokémon such as Cosmog, Zeraora, and Type: Null.
- Silvally Multi-Type System: Silvally can cycle through multiple type forms using the Type:Plate item.
- Extensive Type Chart Changes: Several type interactions have been rebalanced, including Fairy and Steel adjustments.
Known Bugs & Issues
- Pokédex capture screen glitch for some Gen I Pokémon
- Text encoding issue when a newly added move is Disabled
- Minor evolution level irregularities on certain Pokémon (partially fixed)
- Some visual or interface inconsistencies due to expanded data
Screenshots
Download Links
Download: MediafireDocumentation
- Alola Starters: You now begin the game with the Alolan Starters to choose from. You can also receive the starters you did not choose as "In-Game Trades", using the Johto Pokemon that are gifted to you.
- Johto Starters: You will encounter several aides of Professor Oak that gift you with a Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile.
- Kanto Starters: You can trade for the Kanto starters at several of the "In-Game Trades" at the normal locations.
- Abra > Cosmog
- Raichu > Zeraora
- Horsea > Squirtle
- Ditto > Type: Null
- Cyndaquil > Litten
- Growlithe > Charmander
- Oddish > Bulbasaur
- Chikorita > Rowlet
- Totodile > Popplio
Event Encounters:
- Legendary Johto Trio: Can now be encountered at specific location on the map.
- Marshadow: Can be encountered in the Pokemon Tower after finishing the Mr. Fuji event.
- Magearna: Can be encountered in Diglett's Cave at any time but is LVL 50.
- Celebi: Can be encountered in Viridian Forest after receiving Surf.
- Necrozma: Can be encountered in the Sevii Island caves where Moltres is. Must have Rock Smash ability.
- Mew: Can be encountered after receiving the Mystic Ticket in the Sevii Islands after beating the Elite Four. The ticket can only be received on one of the Sevii Islands. After using the ticket in Vermillion City, you can find Mew.
Evolution Items:
- Dawn Stone - Location: Fuschia City
- -Use: Eevee > Espeon, Rockruff to Lycanday, Oricorio line to Pa'u Style (Oricoriu)
- Dusk Stone - Location: Lavender Town
- -Use: Evolve Misdreavus > Mismagius, Murkrow > Honchkrow, Gligar > Gliscor, Sneasel > Weavile, Eevee > Umbreon
- Shiny Stone - Location: Vermillion City
- -Use: Evolves Togetic to Togekiss, Dunsparce to Drampa
- Ice Stone - Location: Celadon City
- -Use: Evolve Alolan Vulpix into Alolan Ninetails, Alolan Sandshrew to Alolan Sandslash, Piloswine > Mamoswine
- Trade Stone - Location: Cinnabar Island
- -Use: Evolve Kadabra > Alakazam, Machoke > Machamp, Graveler > Golem, Haunter > Gengar, Poliwhirl > Politoed, Slowpoke > Slowking, Onix > Steelix, Scyther > Scizor, Seadra > Kingdra, Rhydon > Rhyperior
- Form Changer - Location: Celadon City
- -Use: Change Kanto Form to Alolan Form - Vulpix, Rattata, Sandslash, Exeggutor, Marowak, Grimer, Raichu, Geodude. (No Diglett because visually I think it didn't change much.) Also changes Mega Charizard Forms (Charagon > Charyvern)
- Mega Stone - Location: Pokemon League
- -Use: Evolve Venusaur > Venustar, Charizard > Charagon (Use Form Changer to change Charagon > Charyvern), Blastoise > Blastiking, Butterfree > Butterflow, Beedrill > Beedrillix, Pinsir > Panzer, Scizor > Swarmzor, Heracross > Heracrash, Gyarados > Gyaratros, Steelix > Ironix.
- UP-GRADE2.0 – Location: Trade, Sevii Island Hideout
- -Use: Evolve Porygon > Porygon2 and Porygon2 > PorygonZ
- Type:Plate – Location: Pewter City
- -Use: Change Sylvally type forms
Evolution Changes:
- Use Water Stone on Pikachu to change into Surfing Pikachu (Alola Pikachu). Form Changer will change it back. Using a Thunder Stone on Surfing Pikachu will evolve it into Alolan Raichu.
- Electabuzz Magmar and Tangela evolve with Thunder, Fire, and Leaf Stones respectively now
- Eevee evolves with Dusk Stone for Umbreon and Dawn Stone for Espeon
- Magneton evolves with a Thunderstone
- Lickitung evolves into Lickilicky through happiness
- Dunsparce now evolves into Drampa w/ a Shiny Stone.
- Yanma evolves into Yanmega at Lvl 36
- Azurill has been replaced by the Bounsweet line, so don't breed Marills (Not sure what will happen)
Type:Null & Silvally
- Type:Null evolves into Silvally through Happiness
- Silvally changes forms using the Type:Plate item or into Dragon type at LVL 45.
- Silvally has 17 forms, one for each type (no Fairy). Use the Type: Plate to access the new types.
- The Type:Plate item begins changing Silvally's forms starting with Fighting type and moving down a sequence of all other types. An example is normal Silvally will evolve with the Type:Plate into Silvally:F (Fighting type) Continually using a Type:Plate will change to the next type in the sequence.
- The sequence of types is Fighting, Flying, Poison, Ground, Rock, Bug, Ghost, Steel, Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Psychic, Ice, Dragon, Dark. (no Fariy)
- A Shiny Stone will skip a typing in the sequence.
- Lastly, each Silvally type can also evolve with the stone of the type it is weak to.
Developer Information
Developer / Team: joedram0
Credits: FeraligatrMaster, Jambo51, HackMew, Chaos Rush, MrDollSteak, PGE contributors, and the FireRed ROM hacking community
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=421907
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pokémon Sun Red a full story remake?
No, the Kanto storyline remains, but gameplay systems and Pokémon availability are heavily modified.
Can you catch Alolan forms in the wild?
Yes, many Alolan Pokémon replace Hoenn species and appear naturally.
How do you switch between Kanto and Alola forms?
A special Form Changer item allows certain Pokémon to swap forms.
Does the game include Mega Evolution?
Yes, select Pokémon evolve into custom Mega-style forms using Mega Stones.
Are Fairy types and modern mechanics included?
Yes, Fairy typing and the Physical/Special split are fully implemented.
How many new moves are in the game?
Over 400 new or reworked moves have been added.
Are trade evolutions still required?
No, most trade evolutions now use stones or alternate evolution methods.
Is this hack harder than normal FireRed?
Not specifically; it focuses more on variety and fun than difficulty.
How to Play
Requirements
- A Game Boy Advance emulator
- A compatible ROM base
- Patch file (IPS / UPS / BPS)
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