Pokemon Core Crystal is a Completed GBC Rom Hack made by Sakaysen. Explore a reimagined journey through Johto and Kanto with quality-of-life upgrades, new Pokemon, battles, and features.
Pokemon Core Crystal Completed GBC Rom Hack
- Author: Sakaysen
- Hack Off: Crystal
- Language: English
- Released on: September 10, 2025
- Latest Version: v1.0.3
- Last Updated: September 19, 2025
- Status: Completed
Description
Pokemon Core Crystal is Strongly influenced by Pokemon Crystal Legacy that was made by TheSmithPlays long with lots of guides available on PRET’s Repo of PokeCrystal on GitHub. This rom is likely to give you crystal legacy experience with some changes and improvements. The goal of the ROM hack is to provide the original Crystal experience with quality of life improvements.
Full Features & Changes
General Features
- Suicune’s base stats are slightly improved as a nod to the games namesake.
- Blue color palette priority to match the game theme (Male sprite is now also blue).
- Lugia and Ho-oh can be caught before fighting the Elite-4.
- Celebi Encounter is restored
- Ruins of Alph Fossil Pokemon added
- Legendary Birds have been added back
- Mewtwo and Mew encounters
- Pick your starting pokemon options by region (Johto or Kanto)
- View Shiny pokemon in the Pokedex
- TM Names now visible
- Gen 6 Exp. Share (Toggleable Key Item)
- Shiny Pokemon calculation updated after encounter with Suicune. From: 1/8192 -> To: 1/1024
Pokemon Changes
- GHOST type is now SPECIAL
- DARK type is now PHYSICAL
- FAIRY type added to the game as SPECIAL.
- Trading is no longer required for evolution, new ways to evolve have been added.
- Evolution moves have been added
- Move menu for the party menu shows more information
- Stat Screen page for DV’s
- Happiness increases quicker and is displayed on the pokemon stat page
- Base Stats reworked for certain pokemon
- Certain Pokemon Moves have had some rebalancing.
- Pokemon Route Encounters have been changed.
- Shiny ditto has been added as an option for the Odd Egg (1%).
- New Pokemon Additions
- Togekiss
- Honchkrow
- Sylveon
- Mismagius
- Weavile
- Pokemon Type Updated
- Typhlosion to Fire/Ground
- Meganium to Grass/Fairy
- Feraligatr to Water/Dark
- More type changes listed in the guide
Changes to Gym Leader, Rival, E4
- Gym Leader Parties reworked. Feature more Johto mons.
- Gym Leader Rematches added
- Rival Party has been improved
- Elite 4 Rematch Teams
Pokemon Battle Changes
- Gym Badge Stat Boosts removed
- Gym Badge Type boosts only apply to STAB attacks
- Removed the -30% chance for enemy pokemon to land status moves
- Weather Icons in battle
- Time of Day Icons in battle
- Only Berry items can be stolen from the Players pokemon via the move thief
- Kurts pokeballs actually work as intended (Bugs fixed)
- HM Moves can be forgotten
- When a pokemon levels up, its stat increases are displayed
- The move menu in battle shows additional information about the move.
Overworld Changes
- Viridian Forest has been added back
- HM moves no longer need to be taught to be used in the Overworld
- Evening has been added as a time of day
- Faster Nurse Joy Healing
- Item bag can hold more items (50)
- Berry bag addition
- Blackthorn Move Deleter also has a Move Relearner
- Berry bushes provide 1-3 berries
- Berry Bushes have berry sprites to show when they can be picked.
- You can fish while surfing
- Items in the overworld have updated sprites
- Pokemon in the overworld look correct rather than generic sprites
- Berry shop in Goldenrod
- Auto reuse repel prompt.
- I did not add running shoes since the only option I could easily find moves the player at the same speed as the bike.
Pokemon removed from the Dex
- Lickitung
- Shuckle
- Aipom
There are plenty of other bug fixes, improvements, and changes that have been implemented that I have not mentioned. Mostly everything should be available in the guide that I linked. This has been play-tested by myself, my father, my wife, and a few friends but that does not mean it is void of bugs. Please let me know if you find them, I cant guarantee a fix but I will be happy to take a look. If you take an opportunity to play through it please let me know what you think.
Screenshots
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