The Pokémon series is so massive at this point, it’s like a runaway train. There’s so much media set in the same universe that it’s expanded far beyond the original game series, encompassing a wide range of mixed-media projects, as well as fan creations.
Pokémon Crystal Clear has been around for a bit, but with recent leaks mentioning an “open world Pokémon,” it’s worth reminding people that there’s a fan project out now.
Pokémon Crystal Clear Is The Ultimate ROM Hack
Based On One Of The Best Pokémon Games
As someone who holds the second generation of Pokémon near and dear to my heart, I still consider Pokémon Crystal one of the more definitive entries in the series. Given that it was never properly remade (as is customary with “third/enhanced” editions), it’s still a fantastic, authentic Game Boy cartridge to own, especially if you take care of the cart’s save battery.
So it makes perfect sense that a team of people would want to recreate it in all its glory, which still features one of the best post-game stories in any Pokémon game. Considered by some in the Pokémon community to be one of the best fan creations for the series, Crystal Clear is a full open-world take on the second generation games.
The Kanto (Gen 1) and Johto (Gen 2) regions are combined, which is still one of the best gimmicks of any Pokémon game to date. But having it unlocked from the very start with Crystal Clear makes a huge difference. Now you don’t need to do Johto to get to Kanto, as you can choose to start in a random area.
Don’t worry, gym battles scale (high-level gym leaders can even get legendary Pokémon like Zapdos), and you can tackle them in any order. It’s basically the same formula that Scarlet & Violet used, but better, and encourages replay value.
Pokémon Crystal Clear goes a bit further than that, offering up real-time looks at EVs and other hidden stats for your Pokémon, on top of the ability to customize their look.
You Can Play The Entire Game Now
It’s Pretty Easy To Find
If you’re interested in Pokémon Crystal Clear, you can get it from the official website, which will give you the link to the Crystal Clear Discord (which has over 80,000 users, and is its own community). An important note: Crystal Clear is a patch for the game, and you’ll need to get your own copy of the vanilla Crystal version.
One of the creators, ShockSlayer, considers building it out with a team a “life-changing experience,” and they subsequently learned a lot about game development via the game’s “trial by fire” creation. They’re currently working on another project that’s in early development. If you’re looking for your next Pokémon game, this might be it.
- Created by
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Satoshi Taijiri, Ken Sugimori, Junichi Masuda
- Latest Film
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Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle
- First Episode Air Date
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April 1, 1997
- Current Series
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Pokémon
