Pokemon Unova Red ROM

Pokemon Unova Red is a Game Boy ROM Hack by Azure_Keys based on Pokemon Red. It was last updated on March 08, 2025, by uprate which added a bunch of quality of life features.

Description

Pokemon Unova Red is a re-imagining of Generation 1, but using the Pokedex from Generation 5. This is because the Unova Pokedex was designed to stand alone without any Pokemon from additional regions, much like the original Pokedex. The plot is effectively identical to the Generation 1 games, the only major change is in the Pokemon available. There is also a challenge mode patch which provides a more difficult version of the same hack.

Features

• All 156 Generation 5 Pokemon exist in this game.
• Trade evolutions and friendly evolutions have been changed to either regular level up evolutions, or a certain item. All stone evolutions use stones available in Gen 1.
• Due to the shorter length of a Kanto playthrough compared to a Unova playthrough, some Pokemon have had their evolution levels decreased to fit better within the Gen 1 games.
• The Dark and Steel types have been added. The type matchup chart has been updated to its usage in Gen 5.
• Attacks still determine physical or special damage based on type, though Ghost has been changed to special, and Dark has been changed to Physical.
• New moves have been added, either to add move coverage to Dark and Steel, flesh out certain underrepresented types, or serve as signature moves for certain Pokemon. An equivalent amount of Gen 1 moves have been removed from the game, either signature moves of Gen 1 Pokemon, or moves that did not fit well with the Gen 5 Pokedex.
• A few TMs have been changed. However, as in Gen 1, TMs are still one-time use, and the good ones are quite valuable.
• Moves have, in general, been updated to match their stats from Gen 5, including base power, PP, accuracy, and side effects. Gust, Karate Chop, Bite, and Sand-Attack are no longer Normal type. Also, Focus Energy has been fixed and now works properly.
• Notably, the hack attempts to maintain the ‘feel’ of a Gen 1 game. This includes Pokemon learning pretty few STAB moves overall, and TMs being at a premium. Most other wonky attributes of Gen 1 have been kept in place, including type effectiveness sometimes not displaying properly (though it is always calculated properly).
• There have been a few adjustments to certain locations to accommodate for the large amount of legendary Pokemon in Gen 5. For example, Cerulean Cave / Unknown Dungeon is no longer an end-game area, and there is no longer a guard blocking it. Keep an eye out for changes!

Challenge Mode Features:

• All trainers have higher levels than usual, along a steady curve.
• A few new trainers have been added to the early game.
• Battle Style is always on SET, regardless of options.
• HP restoring items (Potion, Super Potion, Hyper Potion, Max Potion, Fresh Water, Soda Pop, Lemonade) and Revives cannot be used in battle. Max Revives can still be used in battle due to their inability to be purchased. Full Restores can also be used in battle, though they can no longer be purchased. Status and PP restoring items can also be used in battle.

Changelog

V08-03-25

• Faster Nurse Joy
• Can’t run from ghost with PokeDoll
• EXP All more like Gen 5 and togglable
• Press B to go to Run option in battle
• Bag Sorting
• Trees get Cut Forever
• Added running
• TMs are reusable
• HMs can be forgotten
• Added Field Moves and can be used if a Pokemon can know the move
• Flash and Fly are in the menu for any Pokemon who can learn it
• TM name gets displayed
• Added a perfect Cleanse Tag and PokeDoll can be used to make trainers not see you
• Expanded Bag
• Razor Wind and Skull Bash boost stats
• Poison moves buffed
• Added PokeVial and portable Teleporter
• Added Thief Balls which allow stealing non-Indigo Plateau/Gym enemy Pokemon. If used on Rival, then Rival’s future battles will not include the stolen mon.
• Press Select opens bicycle
• Faster text scrolling
• Safari Zone has 750 steps
• Abandon learning is now continue learning
• Selecting already out Pokemon when in shift mode will continue the fight
• Removed Low-Health Beep
• Attack after waking from sleep
• Poison, burn and leech seed do an 8th of max HP
• Celadon Hotel PC restored
• Removed missingno glitch
• Lt. Surge’s gym trash cans do not use the proper trash cans for the locks
• Fixed healing moves will fail if max HP is 255 or 511 points higher than current HP
• Fixed Focus Energy
• Fixed moves that have 100% accuracy will miss in 1/256 uses
• Fixed CoolTrainerFAI switches all the time at 10-20% health instead of 25%
• Fixed PP restoring items do not account for PP Ups when used
• Fixed Moves that have a 100% chance to critical hit will not crit in 1/256 uses
• Removed Missingno glitch

Useful Links

Pokecommunity

Reddit

Github