Pokemblem: What Happens When Kanto Becomes a Fire Emblem Map
Take the first generation of Pokemon, strip out wandering through tall grass, and turn every fight into a grid-based tactics battle. That is the idea behind Pokemblem, a community project by Vesly that sits on top of Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones for the Game Boy Advance. The complete version was announced on the Fire Emblem Universe forum in mid-2020, and the project has kept being updated since.
At a glance
- Based on: Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (GBA), with Pokemon Generation 1 as its theme
- Created by: Vesly, with system patches from several community contributors
- Released: complete version in 2020, updated since
- Genre: tactical RPG
- What sets it apart: Pokemon act as unit classes, and you can catch them
How it reimagines Kanto
- Kanto is rebuilt as a Fire Emblem-style map where you walk around like in an RPG and enter grid battles when you meet trainers or wild Pokemon.
- Pokemon work as classes, with level-up moves, TMs, skill scrolls and equippable accessories.
- You can catch Pokemon, face trainer battles, and use type advantages such as super-effective and resisted attacks, plus area-of-effect moves. Fainted Pokemon are revived at Pokemon Centers.
- Fast travel works through route signs, and experience is capped by the levels of the gym leaders.
- Dialogue is sparse. Only Generation 1 Pokemon are in, and the quest ends with the Elite Four and the champion.
- It includes a randomizer and a choice of difficulty.
How people reacted
Community responses to the release were mixed. One reviewer on the thread found it more grind-heavy than strategic, while another listing for the game says grinding has only a small effect and that swapping team members helps when you are stuck. The thread links to a Discord server of about 5,000 members.
Several systems in the project were built by other hackers, including a danger-zone display, a capture and effectiveness rework, and free movement.