Pokemon Red ++

Creator: JustRegularLuna

Game: Pokemon Red

Version Reviewed: 3

Download: Github

Documentation

What Is it?

Red++ is a modernization hack of Pokemon Red, trying to be a definitive version of the original. It brings the physical/special split, dark/steel/fairy types, some new pokemon from later generations, genders, some item descriptions, unlimited TMs, a few new locations, and a lot of quality of life features around items, faster movement, and general bug fixes.

There's also a hard mode version of the ROM that changes up the levels and teams of trainers and gym battles, as well as a 'snow' version of each that just makes it look like winter time in Kanto if you want to just slightly change up the look of the game.

Major Features

Fixes most major bugs from gen 1
Gender Selection for the player character
Running Shoes, faster surfing and a faster bicycle
Full color! (It's now a Gameboy Color game)
Physical/Special split is backported from gen 4
Dark, Steel, and Fairy Types
Some new pokemon backported from future generations as well as future evolutions for gen 1 pokemon
Movepools mostly match Pokemon X and Y
Berry Trees
Pack is much bigger
New “event” locations
Breeding
An offline “wonder trade” feature that allows you to trade a pokemon for a randomly chosen other pokemon that is obtainable at its level.
Shiny Pokemon
Move Tutors
Move Deleters
Move Relearners

Screenshots

Quick Hit

Don't Want to Read?

It's Pokemon Red with the physical/special split, all future typings, some future evolutions, unlimited TMS and all sorts of other improvements to bring it more in line with modern games. Also there's a hard mode version!

Tons of great modernization features that still keep the Gen I feel.
Hard mode isn't too hard and provides some fun changes to a classic game.
Wonder Trade and expanded Pokemon roster allow for a lot of variety in team comp. through multiple playthroughs

Score

5/5 Stars

Review

I really enjoyed this one, particularly because it offers an offline “wonder trade” that will let you trade out any pokemon for another randomly chosen (non-legendary) pokemon that could be found at that same level at a PC in every Pokemon Center. I think I'm going to come back to this one day in the future to do a challenge run where I wonder trade out after every gym battle.

I played through on the hard mode that changes up the level curve and some of the enemy teams and some areas were challenging, but by the end I was steamrolling again (Sylveon is OP). I did appreciate a slightly higher challenge throughout the game though.

All of the ease of use features are welcome around having a larger pack and movement speed especially. I always appreciate Gen I-III games having the physical/special split as well since it really does allow for a lot more interesting team composition. Especially in this hack since it is a catch 'em all hack that adds a few more Pokemon throughout the game.

Some of the changes are different enough that I wouldn't call this the “definitive version of Red” as I feel like something more faithful to the original experience would better hold that title. However, it's a great version of Red and definitely worth a playthrough and I would 100% recommend this hack to anyone.