Pokemon Golden Shield is a Completed NDS Rom Hack made by cos_mino. Explore Johto with a modern twist, featuring a full Gen 8 Pokedex, updated mechanics, and refreshed trainer battles.
Pokemon Golden Shield Completed NDS Rom Hack
- Author: cos_mino
- Hack Off: HeartGold
- Language: English
- Latest Version: v1.5
- Released on: November 15, 2025
- Status: Completed
Description
Pokemon Golden Shield is a modern NDS Rom Hack that brings a fresh twist to the classic HeartGold game. This hack swaps the original Gen 4 HeartGold Pokedex with a Gen 8 Pokedex, introducing a new lineup of Pokemon, including Galarian forms. Players can experience the familiar Johto region, but with updated mechanics and a completely different roster. The hack also offers a unique take on how Johto’s Gym Leaders and the Pokemon League would interact with and use these new Gen 8 Pokemon. It’s a nostalgic yet modernized experience for fans looking to explore Johto in a whole new way.
The game features the hg-engine Battle Engine, bringing in modern mechanics along with new moves, items, and abilities all the way up to Generation 9, giving battles a fresh and updated feel. It introduces an entirely new Johto Pokédex based on the Sword and Shield Pokédex, reshaping the regional lineup with Pokémon from Generation 8. Players will encounter Gen 8 Pokémon in the wild, as well as through trades, gifts, and eggs, ensuring a consistent Galar-themed experience throughout the journey. All trainer teams have also been updated to include Pokémon from the Galar Pokédex, adding new matchups and challenges.
The hack includes full documentation, covering the Pokédex, location encounter tables, boss trainer details, Headbutt encounters, item updates, and more—making it easy for players to plan their playthrough. It maintains compatibility with native hardware, allowing you to enjoy Pokémon Golden Shield directly on a 3DS. Quality-of-life features include reusable TMs and the removal of most HM requirements, with only Surf and Fly still needed, plus early access to Rock Climb for smoother exploration.
The story remains faithful to the original HeartGold, though scripts have been adjusted to fit the new Pokédex and new Pokémon distribution. The hack is fully playable through the main story and into the post-game. To enhance immersion, the game also includes subtle visual and interface touch-ups inspired by the Gen 8 GUI, giving the adventure a more modern aesthetic while keeping the charm of the original.
Features
- hg-engine Battle Engine with updated mechanics, including new moves, items, and abilities up to Generation 9.
- New Johto Pokédex reworked to match the Sword and Shield Pokédex, giving the region an entirely fresh Pokémon lineup.
- Generation 8 wild encounters, allowing players to find Galar Pokémon throughout Johto’s routes, caves, and special areas.
- Gen 8 Pokémon available through trades, gifts, and eggs, ensuring consistent access to Galar species across the game.
- Trainers updated with Galar Pokédex teams, providing new strategies, battles, and challenges.
- Full documentation included, covering the Pokédex, encounter locations, boss trainers, Headbutt encounters, item changes, and more.
- Compatible with native hardware, allowing the ROM to run smoothly on real devices such as the Nintendo 3DS.
- Reusable TMs, removing the need to repurchase or conserve technical machines.
- Reduced HM requirements, with only Surf and Fly still necessary; Rock Climb is available early for improved exploration.
- Story kept faithful to HeartGold, with script adjustments made to reflect the new Pokédex and Pokémon distribution; fully playable through the main game and post-game.
- Minor visual and UI enhancements inspired by the Gen 8 interface, giving the game a more modern aesthetic while preserving the classic feel.
Known Bugs
- On DeSmuME, the overworld may appear scrambled or completely black. This isn’t game-breaking and can usually be fixed by opening/closing the Bag or Party menu, or by entering/exiting a building. Likely an hg-engine issue.
- In Tohjo Falls, you are forced to use Surf under the waterfalls to reach TM13 (Ice Beam). Waterfall/walking permissions appear to be scrambled.
- Glastrier and Spectrier overworld sprites may appear incorrectly due to limitations in how they can be coded.
- A double battle before Ecruteak City caused a crash on a 3DS during testing.
- The National Park Bug Contest and the Safari Zone have not been modified and may generate Pokémon outside of the Golden Shield Pokédex.
- Battles may run very slowly on a DS Lite when using an R4 card.
Screenshots
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