PokePlay #3: My Thoughts on Pokemon Flora Sky

In today's post of PokePlay we look at yet another awesome Pokemon hack that focuses on the awfully cute Shaymin!

Pokemon Flora Sky

Base Rom: Pokemon Emerald

Pokemon Available: Kanto/Johto/Hoenn/Sinnoh/Unova

Regions Available: New Hoenn





Crowned the Hack of the Month for May 2010, Pokemon Flora Sky is an Emerald hack rom that comprises of Pokemon from all 5 generations. There are two versions to this game: Main Dex and Complement Dex. The main difference between both versions is the Pokemon that can be found. In addition, for the Complement Dex, some levels of the trainers are altered and the base stats of some Pokemon are also adjusted.

The adventure starts in Small Town, where the protagonist has to go search for Professor Birch in Mt. Fullmoon, where you get the Sinnoh starters (or Kanto starters in the Complement Dex version). From here, the protagonist embarks on an adventure across New Hoenn. Meanwhile, Team Magma and Team Aqua have their own plans of conquering Hoenn, and it is up to the protagonist to put a stop to their plans.

Difficulty Level: 3.5/5 mousepads thrown

Not a very challenging game overall, as the trainers levels and Elite 4 are not obscenely high. Interestingly, you get a chance to get the first in-game legendary Shaymin, the titular character of Flora Sky only after 4 badges. The norm in Pokemon games is that legendary events often occur after 7 badges, so it was more of a surprise to me. You are highly recommended to catch it, because it is after all a shiny Pokemon (and a legendary at that).

However, the post game is where the honeymoon period ends though. Levels have been greatly elevated after defeating the Elite 4 for the first time, which can prove to be quite tough for underleveled teams. There's apparently a post-post game if you are interested in getting all the legendaries, but it can be very long and is optional.

A Lvl.46 FEMALE Braviary?!
 I call shenanigans! :0

Gameplay Level: 3.5/5 slickness

Be warned: without a walkthrough or guide you can easily get lost and not sure where to proceed next in the game. This can prove a bit frustrating as you wonder aimlessly not knowing what to do next. There are also minor glitches here and there, but none that are game-damaging fortunately. 

Winter is coming...

Graphics Level: 4/5 Beauty Ribbons

As expected from Gen III games, the hack has maintained the same standard as that of RSE. In terms of Pokemon sprites, B/W sprites have been used and this greatly adds to the aesthetics of the game.





Overall, the gameplay experience has been an enjoyable one. It should keep players occupied to the game for a very long time, in part due to the post game and post-post game events.

My team for Pokemon Flora Sky (as of defeating Elite 4 for the first time):


- Infernape
- Flygon
- Ludicolo
- Ampharos
- Staraptor
- Gardevoir




Link(s):
http://pokemonflorasky.com/

PokePlay #2: My Thoughts on Pokemon Light Platinum

Apparently, 4 months+ of rest has resulted in me making truckloads of spelling errors in the previous post. I will try to cut down on the spelling errors.

That aside, today's review will be on another Pokemon hack that I have played. Introducing Pokemon Light Platinum, which is by far one of the greatest hacks made. Most of the hacks that I have tried so far have utilised graphics and texture packs of the base roms. However, the developer of the game, WesleyFG, has incorporated new sprites similar to that of Gen IV games while using Pokemon Ruby as the base rom.

Base Rom: Pokemon Ruby

Pokemon Available: Kanto/Johto/Hoenn/Sinnoh/Unova

Regions Available: new regions Zhery and Lauren







4 legendaries in the first 2 minutes,
and you wonder why Arceus sounds like a puppy...

Pokemon Light Platinum starts out in a whole new region called Zhery. As with all Pokemon games, the protagonist is entrusted with a starter Pokemon (in this case either Charmander, Bulbasaur or Squirtle). For those who are wondering, it is possible to get the starters from other regions. The protagonist then heads on an adventure across the Zhery region and eventually facing the Elite 4, while coming head to head with the evil organisation Team Steam. With new gym leaders, Elite 4 members and new rivals, this game promises to be one of the best hack roms ever played.

Difficulty Rating: 3.5/5 computer screens broken



A difference of 18 levels. Overpowered much. :/

Not the hardest rom I have played so far, although another set of 8 gyms and Elite 4 in the Lauren region after completion of Zhery region does pose a pretty nifty challenge. Expect to be heavily underlevelled against the Elite 4 of both regions, but with the right moves and Pokemon you should be able to get through easily. (Spoiler: Garchomp is still OP in a game where only moves up to Gen III are available, and it did take a couple of misses and 3 Max Revives to finish it off.)

Gameplay Rating: 3.5/5 slickness


Most of the storyline is quite linear so it shouldn't pose too much of a problem for newer players. One interesting aspect of this game is the presence of new TMs, such as Ice Smash (which replaces Brick Break) and Fire Blow (which replaces Overheat). This turns out to be a double-edged sword. While it is always good to have newly created TMs, it can get a bit cumbersome because most of these new TMs are required to clear obstacles throughout the journey. This means you are forced to use these TMs how matter how bad they are when used in battle. In addition, there are some glitches that should be fixed. One example is that when Electabuzz evolves into Electivire at Lvl.40 (this is because the Electirizer is not available in Gen III so they came up with an alternative evolution method), its level drops to Lvl. 37 and its gender changes and the Nature changes to Quiet (-10% Speed and +10% Sp. Atk). I have also read that users of Pignite will be in shock to find that it evolves into Scolipede instead of Emboar. Turns out the pig was a centipede in disguise after all.

Graphics Rating: 4.5/5 Milotics evolved

One of the game's main attraction is the graphics and sprites used in the games. It gives me a feel of playing a Gen IV game in a Gen III rom. Pokemon sprites in battles are also updated to that of Gen V. Expect to be awed by the beauty of the game.





Overall, Pokemon Light Platinum is a very interesting game if you want a whole new Pokemon game. So far, I have completed both the Zhery and Lauren leagues and will be going for the World Championship. If you love Pokemon and have not played any hack roms yet, this is a good rom to start with.

My team:
- Venusaur
- Electivire
- Milotic
- Typhlosion
- Swampert
- Swellow

Links:
http://pokemonlightplatinum.com/