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@ClickingMaster ClickingMaster released this 14 Oct 06:38
· 15 commits to main since this release
v0.1.0
9f606c6

The first public version. Playable from the start of a new game through the
early routes, towns and gyms; the rest of the game has not been played through
with it yet.

No ready-made download. A built program would contain the game's code, so
releases are source only: run ./setup.sh with your own copy of Pokémon
SoulSilver (US) as described in the README.

What's in it

  • Static recompilation of the game's ARM9 code from pret/pokeheartgold's
    build output, running on the melonDS core. Checked against melonDS's
    interpreter instruction by instruction (--lockstep).
  • One screen, no switching. Each situation has its own layout that takes the
    useful parts of both DS screens: the overworld with dialogue, the X menu beside
    the overworld, the bag, party, Pokédex, Pokégear, PC, shops, the intro and the
    starter choice.
  • Widescreen overworld: the 3D world is drawn across the whole 16:9 view at
    a higher resolution (540–1440 lines, "WORLD DETAIL" in the pause menu); trees
    and buildings at the sides are drawn instead of popping in.
  • Battles across the whole screen, with the touch-screen buttons as a strip
    along the bottom: FIGHT / BAG / POKéMON / RUN and the four moves, chosen with
    left and right, A to pick, B to go back.
  • 60 fps: in-between frames for the 3D scene, which the game updates 30
    times a second.
  • Controller first: everything is reachable with buttons; a pause menu (Guide
    button or Esc) holds the settings, save states and fast forward.
  • Runs well: about 9 ms of a 16.7 ms frame at 2560×1440 on a 6-core desktop
    CPU; the picture is composed on the graphics card.
  • setup.sh installs what is missing, builds the game with the
    decompilation, checks it against the retail ROM's SHA-1 and compiles
    everything in one step.

Known limitations

  • Linux only so far (tested on Ubuntu 24.04 in a container on Bazzite).
    Windows, macOS and Android builds do not exist yet.
  • Only Pokémon SoulSilver (US). HeartGold and other regions are not supported.
  • Later parts of the game, and some screens (radio, contests, the Pokéathlon,
    wireless features), have not been checked and may show a generic two-screen
    layout.
  • The widescreen picture has no edge-marking outlines; battles, menus and the
    intro stay 4:3 apart from the battle sides.
  • The recompiled code is not yet faster than melonDS's own interpreter; making
    it so is future work.
Assets 2
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