Pokémon Sapphire in Reverse (GBA) – Hoenn Gym Challenge in Reverse Order
Game Information
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
Pokémon Sapphire in Reverse is a completed ROM hack that reorders the entire Hoenn Gym Challenge and Elite Four, forcing players to battle Gym Leaders and Elite Four members in reverse order compared to the original game.
Rather than simply swapping trainers, the hack carefully redesigns teams so that each leader’s Pokémon fits their new position in the game, maintaining balance and progression while delivering a fresh take on the Hoenn journey.
This hack stays close to vanilla Pokémon Sapphire in structure, making it approachable while still offering a distinctly new experience.
Story Overview
The main story follows Pokémon Sapphire’s original narrative, but the Gym and Elite Four progression has been completely reversed.
While the overall plot remains familiar, the context and challenge of each major battle are entirely different, encouraging players to rethink team building and strategy from the very beginning.
Key Features
Reversed Gym & Elite Four Order: Gym Leaders and Elite Four members are encountered in reverse order, with teams redesigned to fit their new placement.
Rebalanced Trainer Teams: Each leader’s Pokémon roster is rebuilt to reflect their adjusted difficulty level rather than copied directly from vanilla.
Updated TM Rewards: Gym Leader TM rewards have been changed to better match each leader’s Pokémon type.
Steven Replaces Roxanne in Story Events: Steven appears in Rustboro City and related cutscenes, aligning better with the revised progression.
Cheap Rare Candies: Rare Candies can be purchased in all Poké Marts for 1 Pokédollar, allowing fast leveling and experimentation.
Evolution Stones Availability: Evolution Stones are sold in the Lilycove Department Store.
TM Location Adjustments:
- Ice Beam and Thunderbolt TM locations have been swapped
- Glacia now awards Ice Beam for the New Mauville-related plot
Enhanced Early Rival Battle: The first Wally fight has been slightly upgraded to better fit the revised flow of the game.
Known Bugs & Issues
- The hack appears to only work correctly when patched to Pokémon Sapphire Version 1.1
- No other major bugs or crashes are currently documented
Screenshots
Download Links
Developer Information
Developer / Team: OKreations
Credits:
- Rom Hack Development - OKreations
- New Dialogue from Leaders - OKreations
- Gym Team Compositions - OKreations, @killua481, @crimsontrickster
- Rom Hack Software - Hex Maniac Advance
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: Pokecommunity
Community Link: https://discord.com/invite/PmThHtDGFq
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is this hack for?
A: Players who want a fresh Hoenn experience without extreme difficulty or mechanical overhauls.
Q: Is this a difficulty hack?
A: Not primarily. Difficulty is adjusted for balance rather than increased dramatically.
Q: Does this change the story?
A: The main story remains the same, but character placement and progression order are altered.
Q: Are Gym Leaders’ Pokémon just swapped as-is?
A: No. Teams are redesigned to suit their new positions.
Q: Can I grind easily?
A: Yes. Rare Candies are extremely cheap and widely available.