This page contains the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Platinum Kaizo. It answers common questions players may have about the game, including gameplay mechanics, difficulty, features, emulator compatibility, and other important details.
If you are new to Platinum Kaizo or need clarification about certain mechanics, this section provides quick and helpful explanations to ensure you have the best possible experience while playing the game.
Pokemon Platinum Kaizo – Frequently Asked Questions
Note: The FAQ file is also available in Google Docs format, which you can access through this link. The FAQs below are taken from that document.
How do I play Platinum Kaizo?
To play Platinum Kaizo first download the game then use an NDS Emulator to play the game.
Which emulator(s) do you recommend?
We recommend players use Desmume while playing Platinum Kaizo. If you have issues with one, the other might not have the problem you are experiencing. Any emulator that uses the MelonDS core will NOT work as emulators using the MelonDS core cannot save.
What kind of quality-of-life features can I expect in Platinum Kaizo?
Platinum Kaizo implements the following quality-of-life features for players:
- The player may check the IVs of their Pokémon via the stat screen by pressing the ‘R’ Button in the summary screen.
- The early game is significantly expedited; There is no backtracking. Within 60 seconds, you’ll be able to choose your starter. Within 90, you’ll be in your first fight. After that, you can start getting encounters immediately.
- Most Pokétch apps are given to the player in Jubilife City.
- The player can ‘edge’ their Pokémon to 1 experience point below leveling up by interacting with gym signposts
- A number of Rare Candies are provided in the player’s bag from the start, along with Pokeballs, Money, and a special type-resist berry.
- Trainers designed for applying pre-status or pre-damage can be found in the Jubilife Trainer School, along with every Pokémon Centre from Floaroma Town onwards
- The Move Deleter has been relocated from Canalave Town to Solaceon Town
- Rare Candies can be spammed from the party menu, for fast and easy leveling.
- Upon entering Solaceon Town, the player receives every Ball Seal. Suffer in style!
Are HMs required?
Yes. HMs must be taught to player Pokémon to surmount overworld obstacles through the game, in much the same way as the vanilla version of Platinum. They also cannot be deleted freely – the Move Deleter must be used.
Are all 500+ enemies in Platinum Kaizo mandatory to defeat in order to progress?
Platinum Kaizo features a perilous overworld that is intended to punish those who do not pay attention. As such, a number of the game’s trainers are not mandatory and exist to serve this goal; they lurk in readiness for unsuspecting players, but those who are vigilant will be able to avoid some of them.
The game also hosts a few sections with branching paths for progression. In these cases, if you take one path through, it will not be necessary to also traverse the other path and therefore those trainers can be skipped. Items or other rewards may be missed as a result, however, so it will be up to the player to decide how to progress.
In addition, we have over 50 “Contest Trainers”. These are not mandatory, but the prize for achieving a Master Rank ribbon is a special Pokémon with a unique moveset!
Will all Pokemon available in base Platinum be obtainable to the player?
With 100 unique headers through a main game playthrough, many Pokémon will be available to the player. However, some Pokémon will be inaccessible. These include:
- Chansey
- Articuno
- Zapdos
- Moltres
- Dragonair
- Mewtwo
- Mew
- Unown
- Smeargle
- Blissey
- Suicune
- Raikou
- Entei
- Lugia
- Ho-Oh
- Celebi
- Nincada
- Ninjask
- Shedinja
- Latias
- Latios
- Kyogre
- Groudon
- Rayquaza
- Jirachi
- Deoxys
- Hippopotas
- Hippowdon
- Bronzong
- Dialga
- Palkia
- Heatran
- Regigigas
- Giratina
- Cresselia
- Manaphy
- Darkrai
- Shaymin
- Arceus
Does the game have a mobile/pocket PC?
No. Platinum Kaizo makes use of gauntlets, as well as some battles having been designed under the premise that the player will be carrying Pokémon knowing particular HMs. A Pocket PC would have removed this design space; therefore, the decision was made to not implement one. If the community develops a Pocket PC patch, using it would be disqualifying for the official Platinum Kaizo Hall of Fame. Additional PCs and checkpoints have been added at various places in the game to make things easier on the player. (Try checking out any Nintendo Wiis you see!)
What are the level caps for a Platinum Kaizo hardcore nuzlocke?
The level caps are as follows:
- Roark: 16
- Gardenia: 28
- Fantina: 38
- Barry #3: 42
- Maylene: 47
- Wake: 54
- Barry #5: 63
- Byron: 65
- Candice: 74
- Volkner: 84
- Elite Four / Mt. Coronet: 100
The game uses ‘soft’ level caps. This means that the game does not prevent the player Pokémon from exceeding the current level cap. However, the Gym Leaders and Barry will refuse to battle if any party Pokémon are above the level cap. As such, the player will have to manage their experience gain so as to not end up overleveled unintentionally.
An important note; the level caps for Barry #3 and Barry #5 work slightly differently. While they are enforced by the game on the fights themselves, for Hall of Fame viable hardcore nuzlockes, the player will be allowed to bring Pokémon above the Barry level caps to fights before Barry. This is not the case for Gym Leader level caps, where if the player brings an overleveled Pokémon to a prior battle, that will be considered a wipe as normal.
Will you be providing documentation on release?
Yes. We will provide official documentation of every Enemy, Item, and Stat change upon release. However, Overworld map changes/Puzzle solutions will NOT be provided to the player upon release. It’s up to you to figure them out. In addition, the Hall of Fame will be available for viewing and submission on the same day. (Thank you to zuils, Drazerk, MlemDota, JackedRipper, and sparky for their contributions to the official documentation)
Will you be providing a damage calculator on release?
Yes. We will be providing an official calculator on the day of release. In addition, we will also be providing a new tool “PlatKaizoHeX” to analyze and edit your game as you see fit. If you’re interested in doing a nuzlocke for submission to the Hall of fame, please read the rules to see how using these tools can affect your run.
(Thank you to Anas for developing the PK calculator, and zuils for creating PlatKaizoHeX)
Can I save state pre-starter selection for my Nuzlocke?
Although you are free to play your game however you choose, if you wish to attempt a nuzlocke for submission into the official Hall of Fame, save-stating starters or early game encounters will not be allowed. All runs that do so will be disqualified. In addition, new attempts MUST START FROM A NEW GAME AND GENERATE A NEW TRAINER ID.
How does the Piplup Waterfall mechanic work? Will I be able to use Waterfall as soon as I can reach a waterfall with Surf?
The player will be able to use Waterfall in the overworld the moment they teach their starter Empoleon the move Waterfall, allowing them to explore additional areas of the map early. However, the player must have picked Piplup as their starter for this to occur. Players who select Chimchar or Turtwig as their starter will be unable to perform this feat, even if they acquire a Piplup through other means in their journey, and will have to wait to acquire the Waterfall HM. In exchange, Turtwig and Chimchar will have their own overworld perks, being able to use Cut and Rock Smash respectively without learning the requisite HMs, as long as they have met the badge requirements and are in the player’s party.
Do I have to stream my run to get into the Hall of Fame?
Any Hall of Fame viable attempt must be fully livestreamed to prevent foul play. Ideally with VODs uploaded to YouTube since Twitch no longer stores VODs indefinitely. If possible, we recommend backing up your VODs to an external hard drive also. Any runs submitted with missing footage may be disqualified.
How do I pre-status in PlatKaizoHeX?
Click the bottom-left-hand corner to pull up the status menu. Click the status, then right-click the Pokémon in the party and click ‘Set’. Note: Any save-modifying function of PlatKaizoHeX must only be used in ways that do not allow the player to circumvent game mechanics, and must align with legal gameplay, for Hall of Fame viable attempts. Pre-status? Fine, so long as you would be able to do it legally in-game at the time. Changing IVs, as an example? Obviously, a no-go for the Hall of Fame.
How exactly do in-game trades work?
Link Trade Pokémon have static natures, abilities, IVs, Sheen, and the met location of “Link Trade”. The trade Pokémon’s level will be identical to the level of Pokémon traded in, and carry movesets based on the standard level-up learnset. With one slight exception, players can use any Pokemon for these Link Trades. For the purpose of a nuzlocke, we have decided to rule these as their own individual encounters, regardless of the met location so long as you trade for it with a legal, alive encounter. Please read the Hall of Fame rules for more information about encounters.
How does the Veilstone Game Corner work?
The Game Corner will provide a gift Pokémon with the met location of “Veilstone City”. After each gym badge the player acquires, the list of available Pokémon will grow. A full list of Pokémon will be provided in encounter documentation.
Will the player be able to edit the IVs / Natures of Pokémon?
No.
The provisional rules implied that Heart Scales are a limited resource. Are these infinitely replenishable at any point and how do I use them?
No. Like many things in Platinum Kaizo, Heart Scales are a finite resource. They can be exchanged in Pastoria City to teach a Pokemon a move from earlier in their level up learnset, or as currency for entering Master Kaizo Contests!
Can I manipulate the in-game clock to access time or date specific events?
The player may change their system clocks, use RunasDate, or other means of time manipulation while playing Platinum Kaizo.
Can I save and reset to solve overworld puzzles and still have a viable Hall of Fame attempt, if it doesn’t result in me having to re-fight a trainer etc.?
No. Using save states or cheats to manipulate your position in-game will be considered an automatic wipe. Solve the puzzles, and if you’d like, share the solutions with one another.
Do you plan to expand the Hall of Fame to other games in the Kaizo series?
We have no plans to expand the Hall of Fame system to other games at this time. However, The recently released Yellow Kaizo does contain an in-game Hall of Fame for the Hardcore Nuzlocke winners of “Blue Kaizo” and space available for anyone who beats the game. If you complete a Nuzlocke of Yellow Kaizo, your name will be added in-game.
How do you plan to address public disagreements to the Hall of Fame rules?
The Hall of Fame is a showcase of the community and as such we are always open to feedback on how we operate it. Once the game has been out for a while, and enough time has passed for people to truly understand the game, Drazerk will be presenting the community with a petition system for rule changes. More details on this after the game’s release.
