Touhoumon World Link: Revised – Enhanced Touhou Puppet Play Experience with Modern Mechanics and Quality of Life
Game Information
Original Game (ROM Base): Pokémon Emerald
Hack Status: v2.1.1
Language: English
Content Type: Touhou Conversion, Gameplay Overhaul, Quality of Life, Story Enhancement
Table Of Contents
About This ROM Hack
Touhoumon World Link: Revised (WLR) is a comprehensive overhaul of the original Touhoumon World Link hack, modernizing one of the best-known Touhou Puppet Play projects while preserving its expanded story and core identity. Built on the Pokémon Emerald engine, the hack blends traditional Pokémon gameplay with the universe of the Touhou Project, replacing Pokémon with collectible Boneka—puppets representing Touhou characters.
Unlike simple sprite replacement hacks, Touhoumon completely reworks many of Pokémon's mechanics, including types, moves, abilities, battle systems, and progression. World Link: Revised aims to refine the original experience by addressing long-standing issues that plagued older Touhoumon 1.5 hacks, such as severe level spikes, inflated stats, frustrating trainer battles, and questionable map design.
Rather than redesigning Hoenn itself, the project focuses on improving gameplay with modern mechanics, extensive balance changes, polished visuals, updated audio, and numerous quality-of-life features. The result is a version of World Link that remains faithful to the original while being significantly more enjoyable and accessible.
Story Overview
Touhoumon World Link: Revised retains the expanded storyline introduced in the original World Link hack while refining the overall gameplay experience surrounding it.
Key Features
- Complete Touhou Character Roster: Features an updated cast including every Touhou character up to Touhou 20 (or up to Touhou 14 in the legacy v1.10.3 release).
- 411 Obtainable Boneka: Every Boneka can be obtained within a single playthrough without requiring trades.
- Modern Repel System: Implements the Black 2 & White 2 Repel system for smoother exploration.
- Improved Boneka Sprites: Many sprites have been replaced with higher-quality artwork sourced from Touhoumon 1.8 projects or created specifically for Revised.
- Custom Battle Cries: Every Boneka has its own custom cry adapted from later Touhoumon projects.
- Custom Type Effectiveness: Battle mechanics feature a redesigned type chart unique to the Touhoumon series.
- Faith Type: Introduces the Faith-type, replacing the awkward Dragon-type implementation traditionally found in older Touhoumon hacks.
- Physical/Special Split: Modern battle mechanics separate physical and special attacks, accompanied by additional moves that fully utilize the new system.
- New Moves and Abilities: Numerous moves and abilities have been added or updated to improve battle variety and balance.
- Day and Night System: Time-based gameplay adds additional atmosphere and gameplay variety.
- Reusable TMs: Technical Machines can be used indefinitely.
- Deletable HMs: Hidden Machine moves can be removed without unnecessary restrictions.
- Colored Natures: Nature displays have been enhanced with color coding for easier stat evaluation.
- Ability, IV, Nature, and Egg Move NPCs: Special NPCs allow players to customize Boneka by changing abilities, IVs, natures, and even teaching Egg Moves.
- Updated Soundtrack: Features music sourced from various Touhoumon projects to better match the Touhou atmosphere.
- Contest and Battle Frontier Updates: World Link: Revised updates both Contests and the Battle Frontier to properly support the hack's expanded mechanics.
- Numerous Typo Fixes: Dialogue and text throughout the game have been polished for improved readability.
- Extensive Quality of Life Improvements: A wide range of gameplay refinements modernize the overall experience while preserving the original adventure.
Known Bugs & Issues
Known Issues:
- Evolution Stone Freeze: Evolving a Boneka with an Evolution Stone after another Boneka has already evolved may freeze the game or briefly hide the evolution sprite.
- Day/Night Colors: Entering certain areas during time transitions may temporarily reset colors to daytime until entering a building.
- Intimidate/Fascinate: In Switch mode, these abilities may affect the fainted Boneka instead of the one switching in.
- Light Clay & Scarlet Rock: These items only work correctly when held by the player's Boneka.
- Link System: Can malfunction in the Boneka League (AW) and Battle Dome (WL).
- Choice Item + Pivot Moves: Switching in via Flip Turn, U-turn, or Volt Switch can incorrectly lock a Choice item holder into that move.
- PSS Icon Glitch: Viewing the EV/IV screen before the moves page may glitch PSS icons until the summary is refreshed.
Screenshots
Download Links
v2.1.1: Mediafire
Documentation
Documentation: Google Docs
Developer Information
Developer / Team: BluShell
Credits:
- Game Freak / Nintendo: Original Pokémon games.
- ZUN: Creator of the Touhou Project.
- HemoglobinA1C: Creator of Touhou Puppet Play and numerous Boneka sprites.
- AichiyaSanae: Original creator of Another World and World Link.
- AGSMGMaster64: Move animations, sprites, and development assistance.
- machomuu: Creator of Another World: Remix and major inspiration for Revised.
- Zeta Sukuna: Inspiration through Touhou Puppet Play Enhanced: Reloaded.
- DoesntKnowHowToPlay: Physical/Special Split implementation and trainer IV/EV systems.
- haven1433: Hex Maniac Advance and numerous gameplay tools.
- Spherical Ice: Colored stat routines.
- DizzyEgg: Dizzy's Hacked Engine and Black 2/White 2 Repel implementation.
- HackMew: Advance Trainer and XSE.
- LU-HO: Advance Map.Kiy, usigusom, (), and 黒インク: Party selection screen modifications.
Source & References
Official Thread / Website: Pokecommunity
Community Link: https://discord.gg/2uDesdbatF
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is this hack for?
A: Touhoumon World Link: Revised is ideal for players who enjoy both Pokémon and the Touhou Project, especially those looking for a polished Touhoumon experience with modern gameplay improvements.
Q: What is Touhoumon?
A: Touhoumon is a series of ROM hacks that replaces Pokémon with Boneka, puppet versions of Touhou Project characters, while also redesigning moves, abilities, typings, and battle mechanics.
Q: Is World Link: Revised different from the original World Link?
A: Yes. Revised modernizes the original hack by improving balance, adding quality-of-life features, updating mechanics, polishing visuals, and addressing many issues found in the original release.
Q: Can every Boneka be obtained without trading?
A: Yes. All 411 Boneka are obtainable during normal gameplay without requiring trades.
Q: Does the hack include modern Pokémon mechanics?
A: Yes. Features such as the physical/special split, reusable TMs, removable HMs, updated abilities, custom typings, and the Black 2/White 2 Repel system are all included.
Q: What is the Faith type?
A: Faith is a custom elemental type adapted from later Touhoumon projects, replacing the traditional Dragon-type implementation used in older versions.
Q: Does the game include Battle Frontier improvements?
A: Yes. World Link: Revised updates both the Battle Frontier and Pokémon Contests to work with the hack's expanded mechanics and gameplay systems.