Pokemon Ultra Violet emerges as a meticulously crafted ROM hack of the beloved Game Boy Advance title, Pokemon Fire Red. Designed to elevate the gameplay experience while staying true to the essence of the original Nintendo release, Ultra Violet distinguishes itself by enabling players to capture all Pokemon from the first two generations within a single playthrough. This guide will navigate you through the key features and enhancements that make Pokemon Ultra Violet a must-play for both seasoned trainers and newcomers seeking a comprehensive Pokemon adventure in the Kanto region and beyond.
Key Enhancements in Pokemon Ultra Violet
Pokemon Ultra Violet isn’t just a reskin; it’s a thoughtful expansion that addresses limitations of the original Fire Red and Leaf Green versions. The developer aimed to create what feels like a true third title in the Game Boy Advance generation, focusing on enriching the gameplay without straying from the core experience.
Catch ‘Em All: Generations I & II in One Game
The defining feature of Pokemon Ultra Violet is the ability to catch all 251 Pokemon from the first two generations (Kanto and Johto) within a single game save. Unlike the original Fire Red and Leaf Green, which required trading between versions or attending special Nintendo events to complete the Pokedex, Ultra Violet strategically places all Pokemon within logical locations throughout the game world.
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Expanded Pokemon Encounters: Areas that previously hosted version-exclusive Pokemon now feature both counterparts. For instance, Route 24, known for Oddish in Fire Red and Bellsprout in Leaf Green, now allows trainers to encounter both Pokemon in Ultra Violet.
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Fossil and Gift Pokemon Availability: Ultra Violet removes the either/or choice associated with certain in-game gifts. In Mt. Moon, you can acquire both the Dome Fossil (Kabuto) and Helix Fossil (Omanyte). Similarly, in Saffron City, defeating the Karate Master grants you both Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, eliminating the need to choose. This ensures no Pokemon are missed due to early-game decisions.
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Starter Pokemon in the Wild: The Kanto starter Pokemon (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle) are no longer limited to Professor Oak’s lab. They can be found in the wild in logically placed, albeit rare, locations, rewarding exploration and patience.
Streamlined Evolutions and No More Trading
Understanding the limitations of trading in a single-player ROM hack experience, Pokemon Ultra Violet eliminates the necessity of trading for evolution. Pokemon that originally required trading to evolve now evolve through alternative methods:
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Trade Evolution Alternatives: Pokemon like Kadabra, Machoke, Graveler, and Haunter now evolve via level up or using evolution stones. This ensures players can access their evolved forms without needing to trade.
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Eevee’s Day and Night Evolutions: Espeon and Umbreon, previously unavailable in Fire Red due to the absence of a real-time clock, are now obtainable. While Ultra Violet doesn’t introduce a clock, these evolutions are triggered through alternative means, likely using evolution stones or specific items, making them accessible within the game.
Gen II Pokemon and Event Legendaries Accessible In-Game
Pokemon Ultra Violet goes beyond the original Fire Red and Leaf Green by incorporating Pokemon from the second generation that were previously exclusive to trading or special events.
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Sevii Islands Expansion: The Sevii Islands, already present in Fire Red and Leaf Green, become a crucial location for acquiring Gen II Pokemon. Pokemon that belonged in Altering Cave and other Gen II exclusives are now found throughout the Sevii Islands in appropriate habitats.
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Event Pokemon Obtainable: Legendary Pokemon like Ho-oh, Lugia, and Deoxys, originally locked behind Nintendo events, are now integrated into the game’s storyline. Players can access the islands where these Pokemon reside by purchasing tickets at Pokemarts and traveling by boat, effectively simulating the event experience within the game.
Mystical Dogs and Roaming Legendaries
The legendary beasts Raikou, Entei, and Suicune are also made fully obtainable in Pokemon Ultra Violet, regardless of the player’s starter Pokemon choice.
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Catch All Three Legendary Dogs: Instead of only one roaming legendary dog appearing based on your starter, Ultra Violet introduces specific locations for encountering and catching all three. The roaming dog in Kanto will still be determined by your starter, but the other two can be found in fixed locations, ensuring a complete legendary beast collection.
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Starter Pokemon and Legendary Dog Locations: The locations of the stationary legendary dogs are subtly linked to the starter Pokemon choice, adding a layer of depth to the legendary encounters. For example, choosing Charmander might lead to Suicune roaming Kanto, while Raikou and Entei are found in specific locations.
Quality of Life Improvements
Beyond Pokemon availability, Ultra Violet includes several quality-of-life enhancements:
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Updated In-Game Text and Stores: Text modifications and updated Pokemart inventories reflect the expanded Pokemon availability and new gameplay mechanics. For example, Sun Stones, essential for evolving certain Pokemon introduced in Gen II (like Sunkern), are now available for purchase in Pokemarts, eliminating a previous bottleneck in evolution.
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“Catch Your First Pokemon” Option: Version 1.10 introduced a feature allowing players to catch a Pokemon in the wild before receiving a starter from Professor Oak. By speaking to Oak without choosing a Pokeball, players can opt to catch their first Pokemon, offering a unique starting experience.
Post-Game Content and Updates
Pokemon Ultra Violet has received several updates, expanding the game even further:
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Version 1.20: 4-Points Isle and Gen III Pokemon: A significant update introduced 4-Points Isle, accessible via Vermillion City. This new area houses Pokemon from the third generation (Hoenn), adding another layer of collectibility and extending the Pokedex beyond the first two generations. This update includes new events and areas to explore within 4-Points Isle.
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Version 1.21: Final Update and Player’s Guide: Marked as the final update, version 1.21 focused on polish and completeness. Every Pokemon was re-verified as obtainable, new events were added (including a Celebi event in Berry Forest), and an official player’s guide was released. This guide serves as a comprehensive resource, detailing Pokemon locations, item locations, TM locations, and in-depth walkthroughs for all events. The player’s guide is available at: https://lsaentertainment.yolasite.com/resources/Pokemon%20-%20Ultra%20Violet%20%281.21%29%20Official%20Players%20Guide.rar
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Version 1.22: Post-Elite Four Skip: The final update, version 1.22, addressed a minor inconvenience by adding a way to skip the game reset after defeating the Elite Four for players who cannot utilize in-game saves. Additionally, the National Pokedex becomes available simply by entering Professor Oak’s lab, streamlining post-game Pokedex completion.
Getting Started with Pokemon Ultra Violet
To experience Pokemon Ultra Violet, you will need a ROM of Pokemon Fire Red and a Game Boy Advance emulator. Applying the Ultra Violet patch to your Fire Red ROM will create the enhanced game. Detailed instructions and patching tools can be found in online Pokemon ROM hacking communities.
Conclusion: A Definitive Fire Red Experience
Pokemon Ultra Violet stands as a testament to the dedication and creativity within the Pokemon ROM hacking community. By addressing the limitations of the original Fire Red and expanding upon its content, Ultra Violet offers a richer, more complete, and ultimately more satisfying Pokemon adventure. Whether you’re aiming to catch ’em all, relive the Kanto journey with enhanced features, or explore new content in the Sevii Islands and beyond, Pokemon Ultra Violet is a definitive way to experience the Fire Red engine with a wealth of improvements and additions. Dive into Pokemon Ultra Violet and embark on the ultimate Kanto and Johto Pokemon quest!
