WARNING!!!

REPOSITORY UNDER DEVELOPMENT!

NO RELEASES WILL BE AVAILABLE ANYTIME SOON

MODERN Heart & Soul

Modern Heart & Soul is a small modification of the original Pokémon Heart & Soul version 1.2.2 that includes missing options and features from its base game engine, Pokémon Modern Emerald. It has been created to become the base game of a future romhack.

You can get more information about Modern Emerald at Pokécommunity and at Github.

The Modern feature list is:

• Updated to the lastest Modern Emerald base (HnS 1.2.2 uses Modern Emerald 3.2 base; current Modern Emerald is 3.4).
• FRLG Pokémon sprites for Gen 1, but using double animation (mostly hand-made*).
• Map previews for dungeons and special maps, like FRLG and HGSS. Based on HGSS, also contains FRLG (but are unused).
• FRLG font (with colored text, but unused in this game) and Battle Terrain (including night versions).
• 31 trainer rematches added throughout Johto and Kanto routes (trainers are registered after battling). They scale with badges, and offer a fair challenge.
• Difficulty options (Easy, Normal, Hard). Same as Modern Emerald, it is NOT a difficulty hack-rom, it only adjusts levels, catch rates, badge boosts, and some other small stuff.
• Removed GameFreak intro.
• Restored trading: Only in Ecruteak City Pokémon Center. Can trade with: Modern Emerald 3.3+, or original games.
  • Pokémon that have been put in new Pokéballs (Loveball, Lureball, Friendball, Heavyball, Moonball, Levelball or GSball) can't be traded initially, and will show up as BAD EGGs.
    • In order to fix that, there's an NPC in the Ecruteak Trade Center which will fix (aka, remove from the special Pokéballs) your Pokémon data.
• Restored missing options in the Options Menu, from Modern Emerald
  • Difficulty option
  • Bike Music option
  • Surf Music option
  • Wild Pokémon Music option
  • Trainer Battle Music option
  • Frontier Trainer Battle Music option
  • Sound Effect option
  • (Moved to Challenges Menu) Gen 1 Recharge
  • (Removed, not needed) Nuzlocke Infinite Rare Candies
• Restored missing options in the Challenges Menu, from Modern Emerald
  • Type Chart (Gen6 / Improved)
  • Pokémon Stats (Original / Modern)
  • Pokémon Types (Original / Modern)
  • (Moved from Options Menu) Gen 1 Recharge
  • Lock Difficulty
  • Hard Mode Exp. (80% in Modern HnS)
  • Catch Rate
• Restored a "Disable challenge NPC after beating the game" in the Battle Frontier, after beating Red.
• Add missing legendaries:
  • Arceus Egg can be bought for 999BP at a Battle Frontier house.
  • Regis: All six Regis can be caught at Artisan's Cave, in the Battle Frontier.
• Legendaries do not respawn after beating the Elite Four like in base HnS.
• EVs are now up to 255 (from 252, for trade compatibility reasons)
• Added cheating items (Infinite Rare Candies, Infinite Repel, Healing Heart and IV/EV editor in party menu). Talk to the Cheating Girl in Cherrygrove.
• Added IV setter (includes Hidden Power changer), EV resetter, and EXP. NURSE in Saffron Dojo.
• Revert Hold B to Run, instead of being able to run just by pressing.
• Safari Zone is now NOT infinite in Nuzlocke modes, and it has been divided in different zones (Johto -> 6 zones; Kanto -> 4 zones). Each zone is one encounter when playing Nuzlocke.
• Pokenav condition menu returns!
• You can now decorate your Room!
• TMs affected by modern moves, meaning that choosing Original will use original TM learneset.
• Restored grass and footprints and other metatile behaviour from Modern Emerald.
• Large amount of bugfixes to the HnS base (1.2.2):
  • Tons tiles and collision fixes and improvements to match Gen 3-like & FRLG map and tile design.
  • Text and typo fixes.
  • Rocket Takeover music loop fix.
  • Pokegear Map fixes.
  • Tons of bugfixes from Modern Emerald 3.3+.

*Squirtle, Wartortle, Kakuna, Arbok, Nidoqueen, Nidoking, Vileplume, Geodude, Grimer, Muk, Onix, Scyther, Magikarp, Gyarados, Eeevee, Articuno, Mew second frame taken from the "Gen 3 Resource Sprite Project", so credits to them.

ORIGINAL Heart & Soul readme.md

Pokémon Heart & Soul

Pokémon Heart & Soul brings the classic Johto Region and its iconic story to the world of modern GBA decomp hacking. Built on the Modern Emerald decomp, this project offers a fresh take on the GSC/HGSS experience, blending key aspects of the Gen 2 and Gen 4 games, while incorporating many modern QoL features, as well as some familiar Gen 3 mechanics. Not only is Heart & Soul (HnS) a first-of-its-kind, fully completed, playtested, and largely faithful GSC remake / HGSS demake, it's also completely open source, and is intended to be a base for a new generation of Johto rom hacks.

Developer's Note:

Development for this project was primarily (95%) a solo-effort that consumed almost all of my free time for the last year. I am not a professional programmer, but I did my best to make the game that I wanted to play. If you'd like to improve, expand upon, or make your own version of HnS, feel free to take advantage of the open source! Please direct any questions to the Heart & Soul Discord. Also, the github link in the download section of this post is the ONLY place you will EVER find an official download of this project, and our devs do NOT accept donations. I hope you enjoy!

About the game:

Features

• Generation 1-3 Pokémon, plus their later gen evolutions (excluding the Regis and Jirachi)
• Full Johto story and Kanto postgame from HGSS, including the Kimono Girls and Eusine
• Following Pokémon
• Overworld background Pokémon allow you to easily see the notable encounters on each route
• Overworld background Pokémon in cities, towns, or areas with no encounters are just for the vibes
• Day/Night System with variable encounters
• Dynamic overworld palettes
• HGSS Music
• Highly varied trainer teams and encounters, based on Crystal Legacy
• HMs do not need to be taught to a Pokémon in order for it to be used
• Apricons replaced with berries, Kurt will use them to make unique Pokéballs
• Timekeeping does not track days of the week, Everything is progression based
• 16 Gym leader rematches
• Two Safari Zones
• Unique surfing Pokémon sprites
• Customizable shiny rate
• Physical/special split is toggleable
• Fairy type is toggleable
• AutoRun and FastSurf are toggleable
• Quick run from wild battles using button combination
• Ball prompts for quick catching
• ... and much more!

Setting Expectations:

• Heart & Soul was designed as a traditional Pokémon experience, akin to the main-series games. It is not a difficulty hack, and does not have built-in features for non-traditional playstyles. Do not expect to see features like infinite rare candies, or built-in randomization or nuzlocking rules.
• Heart & Soul stands on the shoulders of giants. I am not an artist or a professional programmer, so much of the art and some of the code for this project was drawn from open source assets. I did my best to credit all sources below and in the game credits, but if you find any that I missed, please let me know in the Heart & Soul Discord.
• Heart & Soul has been rigorously playtested, (shoutout to the playtesters) but there still may be some small bugs. If you find any, please report them to the Heart & Soul Discord.
• There are a few GSC/HGSS features that were too complex or time consuming for me to implement in this project. See differences section below.

Differences from GSC/HGSS:

• Radio is a standalone Key Item with limited functionality instead of a menu in the Pokégear
• Trainers will not offer their phone numbers, no way to rematch them
• Level curve is greatly improved
• Apricorns replaced with berries, berry ball catch boost is based on Type
• Strength boulder-in-hole puzzles replaced with Emerald Mach Bike puzzles
• No itemfinder and no hidden items
• Only 50 TMs (The ones from emerald)
• Swarms are replaced with a 5% Hoenn encounter on each route in Kanto
• Mom does not take your money
• No unique Kanto battle music for trainers and gym leaders, only Johto
• Ruins of alph back room requirements are slightly altered
• No pokéathalon dome
• No Battle Frontier
• Yes Battle Tower (ported straight from emerald, not extensively tested so be careful)
• No trades in Kanto

Download

Download the .ups patch file in the (Releases) Section.

• pokemonHnS_v1.0.ups (to be patched onto a Pokemon - Emerald Version (U) ROM)

Patching your ROM

Use Rom Patcher JS to patch the files. You will need to provide your own legally obtained copy of Pokemon - Emerald Version (U).

• Upload the Pokemon - Emerald Version (U).gba file to the "ROM file" section
• Upload the HnS patch file to the "Patch file" section
• Look for a green checkmark and hit apply patch. This will automatically download your new Heart & Soul GBA ROM (pokemonHnS v1.0.gba) for you to play!

Recommended Emulators

• For PC/Mac: mGBA
• For Android: pizzaboy, Lemuroid, Retroarch w/ mGBA core.
• For IOS: Delta, Retroarch w/ mGBA core, Ignited.
• For Linux Handheld Devices: Retroarch w/ mGBA core.

Support

For further assistance, join the discord!

Future Plans

I plan to take a step back from this project once the initial wave of inevitable post-release bugs are fixed. Over the course of the playtest, the dev team has grown from 1 to 6, and an effort to port the whole project to pokeemerald expansion is underway. For more concrete plants, join the discord!

Credits

Special thanks to the playtesters and devs who joined me late in development. Their work greatly improved the stability and quality of HnS. They inspired me to add new features for all of you to enjoy, and they made the whole process way more fun. HnS would be a mess without them.

Lead Developer / Game Director

• Lil Dill

Developers

• TixoRebel
• InfiniteBacon42
• Exclsior
• Phantonomy
• DaniRainbow

Open Source Assets Used:

Engine & Codebase

• pokeemerald - pret
• Modern Emerald — Resetes12
• pokeemerald-expansion

Art — Sprites

• Cesare_CBass
• AveonTrainer
• PurpleZaffre
• BatimaTheBat

Art — Tilesets

• Crystal Advance — Kertra
• Ekat99
• TheDeadHeroAlistair
• Johto Redrawn Team

Maps / Mapping References

• Crystal Advance — Kertra
• Fire Gold — blackfragrant
• SkidMarc25

Gameplay

• Crystal Legacy — TSP (TheSmithPlays)

Special Systems / Visuals

• Surfing Pokémon overworlds - slawter666, wally-217

Playtesters

MearaTheDigger · Kingofrocks · Ferropexola · Scarred-Healer13 · ShigyNinja · Liquid Justice · aktatertot · Faintful · piobrando · Shortino · Chronotakular · NoVa x CerberuS · Czarwardy · Phantonomy · TeggyDave · HenryChess · Inner Rhymes · Astralaria · GPie · BillyNaing · Penkachu · Emma M · Casper · Marzi · leob0505 · Sayu · RavePossum · Brick · KinoKuma · BlackBelt Jiraiya

For Developers

If you are a developer interested in forking this repository and making your own modifications to Heart & Soul, you may want to read up on the base that was used, Modern Emerald. Information on that project, and pret's pokeemerald decompilation project, continue reading below!

• Note: This project is not yet compatible with Porymap 6. Use Porymap 5 instead.
• Also Note: devkitARM version 65 or older is required.

---

Pokémon Modern Emerald

This project is based on the decompilation of Pokémon Emerald, edited to be "Pokémon Modern Emerald". You can get more information about Modern Emerald by resetes12 at Pokécommunity and at Github.

If you want to compile:

Please follow Pret's guide on how to build the rom but using this branch instead of theirs. When you compile, use the modern compiler with "make modern". Compiling using the old compiler won't work.

Modern Emerald Features: (not all present in Hns)

Selectable options (at the start of the game):

Gamemode

• Choose between a "Classic" or "Modern" preset, or customize it to your liking.
• Modern Spawns: You can now capture the 423 new Pokémon available. Only changes wild Pokémon, not trainers. Modern Spawns have also a Night encounter version for each route, making certain Pokémon night exclusive.
• Modern Typings: Some Pokémon have their types changed to buff them.
• Add Fairy Type: Adds Fairy Type to Pokémon that had it added in Generation 6.
• Better Stats: Some Pokémon have their stats changed to buff them.
• Extra Legendaries: Adds new legendaries that weren't available in vanilla Emerald.
• Legendary abilities: Buffs some legendaries giving them a better ability than "Pressure".
• Modern Movepool: Adds 15 new moves, and modifies all Pokémon movepool to add them.
• Nature mints: Adds nature mints to the game, available after the 4th gym.
• Synchronize: Choose if this ability works like in modern games or like in Gen 3.
• Sturdy: Choose if this ability works like in modern games or like in Gen 3.
• Reusable TMs: Choose between a faithful usage of TMs or a simplistic option that makes TMs infinite. All TMs can be bought in the Battlefrontier PokéMart only if you have Reusable TMs off, and makes Move Tutors one time only just like in the original (Move tutors are infinite if you enable Reusable TMs).
• Citrus berry: Choose if it works like Gen 3 or like Gen 4+.
• Survive Poison: If enabled, your Pokémon will survive poison damage with 1hp when outside of battle.
• Features
• RTC Type: Choose between using a real clock, or using a fake clock. Fake clock rate is 1h irl, 1 day ingame.
• Shiny Chance: 8192 (Emerald default) - 4096 (Gen VI+) - 2048 - 1024 - 512.
• Item Drops: Items held by wild Pokémon, when defeated, will be dropped and obtained by the player. Forget about catching it or using Thief!
• Pokémon Faint: Your Pokémon will stay in the FAINTED status, meaning that you can't use them again. CAREFUL as it could end your adventure if you lose all your Pokémon (Previously known as Perma Faint).
• Uncaped wondertrade.
• Easier Feebas: If enabled, Feebas have a 5% chance to appear around all Route 119.

Randomizer: (not implemented in HnS)

• Includes every option that any randomizer can have, and it's completely modular.

Nuzlocke: (not implemented in HnS)

• Any option that any Nuzlocker would want to use. (not implemented in HnS)

Difficulty:

• Lock difficulty: locks the current select option that was selected during Birch's Speech and can't be changed ingame. Hard sets "Battle Style" to "Set" always. Beating the game disables the lock.
• Number of Party Members limit: From 1 to 5
• Level caps
• Exp. Multipliers
• Player items
• Trainer items
• Player IVs: Sets all IVs from wild Pokémon to 31, or if you choose "No (HP) , between 30 and 31 to allow for different Hidden Powers.
• Trainer IVs: If hard is selected together with "Player IVs", you'll completely remove IVs from the game.
• Player EVs
• Trainer EVs
• Play without Pokémon Centers

Challenges: (not in HnS)

• PC doesn't heal
• Evolution limits
• One type only challenges
• Stat equalizers
• Mirror Mode
• Mirror Mode Thief

Story related: (not in HnS)

• Gym rematches are easier to trigger. After 10 wild battles won, or 5 trainer battles won, there is a 50% chance of getting a rematch.
• The Elite Four can be rematched after battling with Steven, and they are double battles.
• After completing the Elite Four Rematch, a rematch with Steven will be available. You will get a unique, special prize.
• The Sealed Chambers puzzles have changed slightly. Learn braille and find out what changed!
• Also, there are 6 Regis. Try to discover where are the new 3!
• All the trainer rematches scale up a lot more than in the original game, and their parties have been changed.
• All the trainers in the Battle Frontier have new Pokémon in their teams and have been buffed or modified.
• All the gym leaders, Elite Four, the 2 champions, Wally, Magma / Aqua leaders, and Red and Leaf will appear during the Battle Frontier challenges.

Pokémon related:

• Following Pokémon (Optional, with a second option to enable or not Big Followers like Rayquaza).
• 40 new Pokémon species, mostly from Gen. IV and 3 from Gen 9 (Annihilape, Dudunsparce, Farigiraf, Ursaluna).
• 1 new box space since 2.0.
• Day/Night encounters. Some Pokémon only appear during day or night.
• (Not in HnS) All the buffs from later generations are in (optional).
• (Not in HnS) Extra buffs for other Pokémon are in. Includes stats, abilities and/or typings. (Ex. Arbok is now POISON / DARK and Meganium is now GRASS / FAIRY). You can have a look at them in my personal document, on the "3. Pokémon changes" tab.
• All the move buffs AND nerfs from later generations are in, with small changes to make them work in a 3rd gen game (optional).
• All Egg moves and tutor moves have been improved with data from later generations.
• New evolution methods.
• Pokémon inherit 5 IV's from their parents, no item needed.
• Everstone works on male or female Pokémon and guarantees nature.
• Gen. VIII Synchronize (optional).
• Shuckle can make berry juice just like in Gen. II!! Yay?
• Nature Mints are available to buy in the Flower Shop after the 4th Gym (optional).
• Deoxys forms can be changed.
• Custom Shiny forms for some Pokémon.

Battle related:

• (Not in HnS) Modern Battle Frontier, Battle Tents and Trainer Hill. Your Pokémon will be limited to level 50 when playing in those battle facilities, even if your level is 100.
• 15 new moves from Gen IV to buff typings that didn't have a certain Physical / Special move. (Ex. Dark Pulse, as Dark type didn't have a Special Dark type move). (Now optional).
• Fairy type introduced.
• (Not in HnS) 3 New abilities for Regidrago, Regieleki and Arceus.
• (HnS EXP SHARE is different) Gen. VI EXP. SHARE and Gen III EXP. SHARE in the same game. "EXP. SHARE S" can be obtained at the Slateport Mart after obtaining the "EXP. SHARE" at Devon Corp.
• (Not in HnS) HM01 Cut is now Grass type, NightShade does 50 static damage, Hidden power is now 60 always, and shows the type in the summary screen and in battle, Charge now ups Sp. Def.
• (Saffron in HnS) EV Training available in Lilycove.
• (Not in HnS) IV Maximizer available in Lylicove, after beating the game. Needs a lvl.100 Pokémon.
• (Not in HnS) A nurse NPC is available after beating the game to farm EXP in Lilycove.
• Faster battle intros. Enable "Fast Intros" option in the options menu.
• Faster-paced battles. Enable "Fast Battles" option in the options menu.
• 3 beeps when low-health, then it stops.
• Press START while selecting a move to open a new Submenu with information about the selected move.
• Trainer class-based Pokéballs.
• Catching EXP.
• Macho Brace multiplies EV gain * 5.
• Gen. IV Sitrus Berry (optional).

UI related:

• New Pokédex! You can now see important information on the new "Stats" page. It's very, VERY useful and it's like having the game documentation in-game.
• Faster battle transitions ported from Fire Red.
• Hold L+R, then A when entering a Wild Battle to instantly run.
• You can now register 2 key items: Pressing (as usual) and holding SELECT!
• Swap Pokémon pressing SELECT.
• Colored Stats (red = good, blue = bad).
• Pressing L in the stats section of a Pokémon will bring the EVs, pressing R will bring the IVs, and pressing START will bring the default stats.
• HM moves don't need to be taught anymore. If you have a Pokémon that can use a certain HM, if you have the correct HM in the bag, and if you have the required badge, you will be able to perform an HM move.
• HM moves can be deleted since they are not that important anymore.
• TM had their price changed, especially if you are not using Infinite TMs.
• The bag now holds up to 90 items, and item capacity has been upgraded to x999.
• When the bag is full, items go to the PC.
• You can change the ball your Pokémon is in using a different ball from the bag.
• Reusable repel prompt.
• The time on the clock can be changed.
• Two pages with additional options in the options menu.
• Debug menu can be enabled by everybody so you can cheat or modify whatever you want. To enable it, just hold "SELECT" then press "START" inside the options menu and you'll hear a noise. Pressing "START" to open the menu from that moment will show a "DEBUG" option at the bottom. It can also be opened with "R" + "START". Be careful, using certain options can break your save so I'm not responsible for any misuse.

Gameplay related: (Not in HnS)

• Wonder-trade on the second floor of the Pokémon Center, available after the 5th badge (unless you are doing a randomizer, which makes it available from the start, or a challenge, which enables WT after beating the game). Can be uncapped now.

• 3 difficulty modes (EASY, NORMAL and HARD). Selected at the start of the game, can be changed anytime from the options menu. EASY mode: Makes the game quite a lot easier by scaling levels down, and obtaining more EXP (+20%).

  • Trainer Pokémon and Wild Pokémon scale down to 10 levels compared to the original game. More badges, less level.
  • There are no restrictions on the Battle Frontier.

  NORMAL mode: Vanilla.

  • No changes, except rematches and small things (also on EASY mode).

  HARD mode: Makes the game a bit more difficult by scaling levels up, and obtaining less EXP (-40%). This mode does not intent do be a "super difficult" hack-rom. It only tries to be a bit more difficult than vanilla.

  • Trainer Pokémon and Wild Pokémon scale up to 10 levels compared to the original game. More badges, more level.
  • Certain ace Pokémon have had their abilities or items changed to make everything a bit more difficult. This mode does not change anything else in trainer parties, or their strategies.
  • SET MODE is automatically selected and can't be disabled if you lock the difficulty.
  • There are more restrictions on the Battle Frontier.
  • The GEN VI Exp. Share will give less Exp. to the battling Pokémon.
  • Legendaries will have higher stats WHILE battling, to make it more challenging.
  • (OPTIONAL but recommended) Use in combination with scaling IV/EV trainers from the Challenge Menu at the start of the game for an interesting challenge. You can also lock the difficulty in the Challenges menu at the start of the game.

• Optional and recommended PHYSICAL / SPECIAL MOVE split from Gen. IV. Selected in the options menu, second page.

• New Challenge Menu at the start of the game.

• Bag capacity increased to 90,

• Day / Night System with Day / Night encounters. Now Daytime is from 6AM to 20PM. Night-time is from 20PM to 6AM. For (2 new) evolutions, Morning is from 6AM to 9AM. Also includes cool lighting at night!

• Run everywhere.

• Autorun (in the options menu).

• HM moves text and interaction is way faster.

• Link with Fire Red / Leaf Green available from the start.

• One-time tutors are infinite, but you have to pay now (only if Infinite TMs is on).

• Trainer HIll prizes are the berries that were not available in the GBA games.

• Match and Acro Bike are now one. Change between them by pressing "R".

• Chain fishing has been added.

• Easier fishing has been added to the options menu (FR/LG fishing).

• All tickets are available to buy, together with its events.

• Faster nurse Joy healing, and now with an even faster version in options.

• Daily money event with Meowth (post-game).

• You can check the Soot Sack to know how much ash you have.

• Interacting with berry trees is faster, berry trees that are in rainy routes don't need to be watered, and berry trees don't decay.

• Higher berry yield (6 max, 4 min).

• A new "Growth Mulch" item which makes berries instantly grow.

• New Self-trader to force trade evolutions (trading with another game still works).

• PokéMarts items change with every badge.

• AI improvements.

• Amulet coin works always, doesn't matter who has it.

Map related: (not in HnS)

• Altering cave is now an Unown cave.
• A few new maps to introduce the new Regis and the legendary events.
• Mirage Island can be forced with a certain Pokémon in the party, apart from its unusual rate.