Discover the most played and best Pokemon ROM Hacks of the year based on mentions, downloads, game ratings and recommendations from real users.
Without a doubt, the internet has given plenty of opportunities for passionate individuals to express their feelings and sharing their creativity through great creations.
If you are into Pokemon gaming, there are plenty of Pokemon game titles released available for different gaming consoles, but none of these are for free. Although purchasing a game is always an excellent approach, this is not always an option for some.
If you ever heard of Pokemon ROM hacks you may not want to miss the opportunity to play any of these classic Pokemon games. ROM hacks are video games that have been modified by fans to create an entirely new looking and improved version of a game. See Also: How To Play ROM Hacks on Android
I did thorough research for the best Pokemon ROM Hacks from different sources such as Reddit, Youtube, PokemonCommunity, Facebook, Twitter and came up with ten most mentioned and most played ROM hack titles of the year.
Best Pokemon ROM Hacks for 2019
1. Pokemon Glazed
Pokemon Glazed is an Emerald based ROM hack with plenty of new features, stunning effects, amazing new tiles, and sprites. I bet you want to see all legendaries from Kanto to Sinnoh and eight from Unova or catch at least one of them? Also check: Pokemon Glazed cheats.
Pokemon Glazed lets you pick from the five starter Pokemon instead of three and even capture all five starters and there are other more features waiting for you to discover. Glazed got tons of positive feedback with high ratings coming from different online sources which makes it in the first spot of the best Pokemon ROM hacks in the list.
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2. Pokemon Prism
You might hear the phrase saying, “Do not judge a book by its cover” but with Pokemon Prism, you cannot judge the game by its design and oldie looking. Pokemon Prism is a Pokemon Crystal based ROM hack, despite the title’s low-quality looking tiles, effects, and color, Pokemon Prism has outstanding gameplay.
Unfortunately, for some reasons or maybe due to Prism’s growing popularity, Nintendo sent a cease & desist order to stop the development of the game. However, the Pokemon Prism’s build file has leaked online, making it available for download but has missing features from the final version, yet the game is fully functional.
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3. Pokemon Adventures: Red Chapter
Pokemon Adventures Red Chapter is a FireRed based ROM hack with a story that follows almost similar with Pokemon Adventures Red Manga but with some changes and improvements to make the game more entertaining.
Also, what’s the best with Adventures Red Chapter is that you can play with new Pokemon from the newest generations as well as Dragon and Fairy type Pokemon. Day and night system is in the game and a perfect match for the weather effect. If you have read and like the Pokemon Adventures Red Manga you will like this even more.
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4. Pokemon Liquid Crystal
You cannot go wrong when you decide to play Pokemon Liquid Crystal. Liquid Crystal is a FireRed based ROM hack that follows the plot of Pokemon Crystal but with plenty of unique and entertaining features.
If you find the Day and Night magnificent, you will surely also love the real weather effects plus the updated graphics (see screenshot) and maps. It takes months of hard work to create a game like this and needs serious dedication, persistence, and yet the author successfully made it as one of its kind Pokemon game.
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5. Pokemon Gaia
Can’t argue with this game, Pokemon Gaia is one of the top ROM hacks and my personal favorite one. It has plenty of new features, breathtaking storyline, new tiles, new Pokemon, colorful battle scenes and more. Gaia got the second spot for PokemonCommunity Hack hall of fame in the year 2014 and achieved the first position for the year 2015 with hundreds to thousands of positive reviews.
Who does not like Mega Evolution? The original FireRed does not have Mega evolution, which makes it too boring for some but with Pokemon Gaia, everything has changed. All you have to do is obtain the mega ring, get the right mega stone for your Pokemon and enjoy the mega evolution.
The game development is still in progress, and there’s a rumor that the version 3 is coming out soon so this would be so much exciting.
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6. Pokemon Ash Gray
Play as Ash Ketchum and begin your adventure as a new Pokemon trainer in Pokemon Ash Gray. Although the game has not updated for several years; but still one of the most popularly played ROM hack.
Sometimes you may need more fun with your Ash Gray game, here are some of the most popular and handy Pokemon ash gray cheats.
Ash Gray follows the same plot as the Pokemon anime story but with new maps, sprites, tiles, and other modifications which make it look very different from the original Pokemon FireRed version game. Pokemon Ash Gray is a must download ROM hack, you will never regret when you play it with your favorite Gameboy Advance emulator.
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7. Pokemon Clover
Pokemon Clover is a no ordinary ROM hack, and the team behind it made an enormous effort to create the game, and it is a phenomenal creation.
Clover is for you if you seek a unique Pokemon gaming entertainment experience. Pokemon Clover has a funny storyline, jokey characters and has 386 fresh new weird looking fakemons with strange names.
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8. Pokemon Cloud White
Pokemon Cloud White is another FireRed based ROM hack with tons of new and cool unique features. Cloud White also has mega evolution which fans would love. Also, you will surely enjoy battling or catching the 540 Pokemon from gen 1 to 6 while beating the new evil teams.
Almost everything has updated which you will never know it is a FireRed game. If you haven’t done so, download Pokemon Cloud White today and play it with your GBA favorite emulator.
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9. Pokemon Dark Rising
Some say the game is just too hard to complete, but it is not always the case. In fact, this is one of my most favorite ROM hacks I ever played. If Dark Rising is too hard for you, the improved version called Kaizo would fit your needs.
Pokemon Dark Rising has sequels which are worth to check out, Dark Rising II, Pokemon Dark Rising: Order Destroyed and Pokemon Dark Rising Origins: World Collide are pretty amazing ROM hacks that everyone should play.
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10. Pokemon Flora Sky
Pokemon Flora Sky is the last in the list, but not because it is less popular as compared to the other nine listed Pokemon ROM hacks, but because it should be included in your top ten must play Pokemon ROM hacks. Flora Sky is a completed Emerald based ROM hack which got hundreds of positive reviews online.
It has amazing colorful tiles with epic battle scenes. The game gets harder after obtaining badges which make it more challenging and fun. For extra adventure, Flora Sky is also perfect for Nuzlocke.
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Poll: Top 10 Readers’ Choice Pokemon ROM Hacks
Cast your vote and select your top 10 Pokemon ROM hacks. Rom hacks with the highest number of votes will be added to “Readers’ Choice Pokemon ROM Hacks”. This poll is exclusive for visitors of PokemonCoders.com.
CLOSED - Vote for your Best Pokemon ROM Hacks (Max 10 votes) (2018) Sandisk usb format tool.
- Pokemon Glazed (11%, 4,887 Votes)
- Pokemon Light Platinum (10%, 4,390 Votes)
- Pokemon Ash Gray (8%, 3,314 Votes)
- Pokemon Adventures: Red Chapter (6%, 2,571 Votes)
- Pokemon Dark Rising (5%, 2,322 Votes)
- Pokemon Gaia (5%, 2,302 Votes)
- Pokemon Dark Rising 2 (5%, 2,267 Votes)
- Pokemon Mega Power (4%, 1,861 Votes)
- Pokemon Theta Emerald EX (4%, 1,800 Votes)
- Pokemon Cloud White 2 (4%, 1,781 Votes)
- Pokemon Ultra Shiny Gold Sigma (4%, 1,730 Votes)
- Pokemon Blazed Glazed (4%, 1,651 Votes)
- Pokemon Flora Sky (4%, 1,630 Votes)
- Pokemon Cloud White (4%, 1,601 Votes)
- Pokemon Liquid Crystal (4%, 1,567 Votes)
- Pokemon Prism (3%, 1,310 Votes)
- Pokemon Resolute (3%, 1,202 Votes)
- Pokemon Snakewood (2%, 1,020 Votes)
- Pokemon Shiny Gold Sigma (2%, 959 Votes)
- Pokemon Theta Emerald (2%, 881 Votes)
- Nameless FireRed Project (2%, 828 Votes)
- Pokemon Eclipse (2%, 782 Votes)
- Pokemon League of Legends (2%, 766 Votes)
- Pokemon Clover (2%, 745 Votes)
Total Voters: 16,800
Conclusion
There are hundreds, and a continuously growing number of Pokemon ROM hacks popping out on the internet available for download without a cost. Some of them are good, and some need further improvement.
Best Nintendo Ds Rom Hacks
Pokemon ROM hacking is famous few years back till the present days, and the good thing is, you can play it on your mobile device unlike before when it is available only for PC.
Have you tried any of the listed recommended Pokemon ROM hacks? I would like to hear your feedback. Did I miss your favorite ROM hack in the list? Don’t hesitate to name it and let’s discuss it here.
ROM hacking is the process of modifying a ROM image or ROM file of a video game to alter the game's graphics, dialogue, levels, gameplay, and/or other elements. This is usually done by technically inclined video game fans to breathe new life into a cherished old game, as a creative outlet, or to make essentially new unofficial games using the old game's engine.
ROM hacking is generally accomplished through use of a hex editor (a program for editing non-textual data) and various specialized tools such as tile editors, and game-specific tools which are generally used for editing levels, items, and the like, although more advanced tools such as assemblers and debuggers are occasionally used. Once ready, they are usually distributed on the Internet for others to play on an emulator or games console.[1]
Fan translation (known as 'translation hacking' within the ROM hacking community) is a type of ROM hacking; there are also anti-censorship hacks that exist to restore a game to its original state, which is often seen with older games that were imported, as publishers' content policies for video games (most notably, Nintendo's) were much stricter in the United States than Japan or Europe. Although much of the methodology applies to both types of hacking, this article focuses on 'creative hacking' such as editing game levels.
- 2Methods
Communities[edit]
Most hacking groups offer web space for hosting hacks and screenshots (sometimes only hosting hacks by the group's members, sometimes hosting almost any hack), a message board, and often have an IRC channel.
Methods[edit]
Having been created by many different programmers or programming teams, ROM data can be very diverse.
Hex editing[edit]
A hex editor is one of the most fundamental tools in any ROM hacker's repertoire. Hex editors are usually used for editing text, and for editing other data for which the structure is known (for example, item properties), and Assembly hacking.
Editing text is one of the most basic forms of hacking. Many games do not store their text in ASCII form, and because of this, some specialized hex editors have been developed, which can be told what byte values correspond to what letter(s) of the alphabet, to facilitate text editing; a file that defines these byte=letter relationships is called a 'table' file. Other games use simple text compression techniques (such as byte pair encoding, also called dual tile encoding or DTE, in which certain combinations of two or more letters are encoded as one byte) which a suitably equipped hex editor can facilitate editing.
A hex editor is the tool of choice for editing things such as character/item properties, if the structure and location of this data is known and there is no game-specific editor for the game that can edit this information. Some intrepid hackers also perform level editing with a hex editor, but this is extremely difficult (except on games whose level storage format closely resembles how it is presented in a hex editor).
Graphics editing[edit]
Another basic hacking skill is graphics hacking, which is changing the appearance of the game's environments, characters, fonts, or other such things. The format of graphics data varies from console to console, but most of the early ones (NES, Super NES, Game Boy, etc.) store graphics in tiles, which are 8x8-pixel units of data, which are arranged on-screen to produce the desired result. Editing these tiles is also possible with a hex editor, but is generally accomplished with a tile editor (such as Tile Layer or Tile Molester), which can display the ROM data in a graphical way, as well as finding and editing tiles.
Graphics hacks can range from simple edits (such as giving luigi a golf club) to 'porting' characters from one game to another, to full-blown thematic changes (usually with accompanying palette changes; see below).
More sophisticated graphics hacking involves changing more than just tiles and colors, but also the way in which the tiles are arranged, or tile groups generated, giving more flexibility and control over the final appearance. This is accomplished through hex editing or a specialized tool (either for the specific game or a specific system). A good example of a graphics hack is the uncompleted Pokémon Torzach, a hack which attempted to add a whole new generation of Pokémon and tiles to the game. The hack has since been discontinued, but it still serves as a good example on what can be achieved with the tools available.
Palette editing[edit]
Another common form of hacking is palette hacking, where color values are modified to change the colors a player sees in the game (this often goes hand-in-hand with graphics hacking); Palette values are commonly stored in Hex. This is fairly easy for NES games, the graphics of which use a pre-defined set of colors among which a game selects; palette hacking in this case entails changing which of those colors are selected. The matter is slightly more complicated with Super NES games and games for other systems, which store absolute RGB color values. Palette editors are usually simple and often are with Level editors, or Game specific graphics editors.
Level editing[edit]
One of the most popular forms of ROM hacking, level editing entails modifying or redesigning a game's levels or maps. This is almost exclusively done with an editor specially tailored for a particular game (called a level editor). Level edits can be done to make the game more challenging, to alter the flow of the game's plot, or just to give something new to an old game. Combined with extensive graphics hacking, the game can take on a very different look and feel.
Data editing[edit]
A core component of many hacks (especially of role-playing video games) is editing data such as character, item, and enemy properties. This is usually done either 'by hand' (with a hex editor) if the location and structure of the data is known, or with a game-specific editor that has this functionality. Through this, a hacker can alter how weapons work, how strong enemies are or how they act, etc. This can be done to make the game easier or harder, or to create new scenarios for the player to face.
Assembly hacking[edit]
The most powerful, and arguably the most difficult, hacking technique is editing the game's actual code, a process called ASM hacking ('ASM' means 'assembly', referring to the type of programming language used for early video games).[1] There is no set pattern for ASM hacking, as the code varies widely from game to game, but most skilled ASM hackers either use an emulator equipped with a built-in debugger or tracer, or run the ROM through a disassembler, then analyze the code and modify it using a hex editor or assembler according to their needs. While quite challenging compared to the relatively simple methods listed above, anything is possible with ASM hacking (of course, within the limits of the hardware/software of the gaming platform), ranging from altering enemy AI to changing how graphics are generated. (Of course, the possibilities are still limited by the hacker's ability to comprehend and modify the existing code.)
If the developers used a typed language, the hacker may be able to compile their own code for the game in the same language if they have access to a proper compiler. One such example would be using C to hack Nintendo 64 games, since MIPS-GCC can compile code for the Nintendo 64.[2][3]
Music hacking[edit]
Music hacks are relatively rare, due to the wide variety of ways games store music data (hence the difficulty in locating and modifying this data) and the difficulties in composing new music (or porting music from another game). As music cracking is very uncommon, many hacks do not have any ported/composed music added in. The program SapTapper can be used to hack Game Boy Advance music data, however, as many Game Boy Advance games use the M4A Engine (also called 'Sappy Driver') for music. Various other utilities were created to work with the engine such as Sappy 2006.Another instance of the same engine being used between games is on the Nintendo 64, in which most games use the same format; although they use different sound banks, as expected. A utility known as the N64 Midi Tool was created to edit the sequences that the majority of Nintendo 64 games use, though it does not cover the first-party N64 titles that use a slightly different engine, such as Super Mario 64.Several[4]Mega Drive games use a sound engine unofficially known as 'SMPS'[5], which has been researched for decades by many hackers[6]. As of today, various[7] tools exist to alter the music of games which use the SMPS engine (Sonic the Hedgehog games in particular), and many of them made their way to the Steam Workshop[8].
ROM expansion[edit]
Generally speaking, a ROM hacker cannot normally add content to a game, but merely change existing content. This limit can be overcome through ROM expansion, whereby the total size of the ROM image is increased, making room for more content and, in turn, a larger game. The difficulty in doing this varies depending on the system for which the game was made. For example, expanding an NES ROM may be difficult or even impossible due to the mapper used by the game. For example, if a mapper allows 16 ROM banks and all of them are used, expanding the ROM further is impossible without somehow converting the game to another mapper, which could be easy or extremely difficult. On the other hand, expanding a SNES game is (relatively) straightforward. To utilize the added space, parts of the game code have to be modified or re-written (see Assembly hacking above) so the game knows where to look. Another type of ROM expansion that is fairly easy is Game Boy Advance ROMs. The ROMs themselves are generally small, but the memory space available sometimes exceeds it by multiples of up to 17.
Distribution[edit]
Once a hack is completed (or an incomplete version is deemed suitable for an interim release) it is released onto the Internet for others to play. The generally accepted way to do this is by making an unofficial patch (in IPS format or others) that can be applied to the unmodified ROM.[1] This, and usually some form of documentation, is put in an archive file and uploaded somewhere. IPS is a format for recording the differences between two binary files (in this case, between the unmodified and hacked ROMs) and is suitable for ROM hacks. IPS is still used today for small patches—however, as ROMs became larger in size, this format became useless, leading to quite a few file formats being created—such as NINJA and PPF ('PlayStation Patch Format'). PPF is still used today, particularly to patch large files such as ISO CD images and Nintendo 64 games. A new patch format, UPS, has also been developed by the ROM hacking community, designed to be the successor to IPS and PPF.[9]A more recent patching format, the APS patching system, has also been developed by a devoted Game Boy Advance ROM hacker.[10] The APS system is more space efficient, is reversible, and is faster than its predecessor.[11]
The purpose of distributing a hack in patch form is to avoid the legal aspects of distributing entire ROM images; the patch records only what has changed in the ROM, hence distributing it does not usually distribute parts of the original game. A patch is also normally drastically smaller than the full ROM image (an NES ROM can run anywhere from 8 KB to 2 MB; a Super NES ROM can run from 256 kB to 6 MB).
In a novel example of legal distribution, Sega released a Steam-based virtual hub for its previous collection of Mega Drive/Genesis games, entitled Sega Mega Drive Classics Hub. The Hub, besides allowing players to play emulated versions of these older games, takes advantage of Steam's support for user-created content through Steam Workshop support, officially allowing for ROM hacks of any of the offered classics.[12]
Usage[edit]
Patched ROMs are often played on emulators, however it is also possible to play patched ROMs on the original hardware.[13] The destination cartridge could be the original cartridge from which the initial unpatched ROM was pulled, or another compatible cartridge of the same type. This is particularly popular for fan translations, homebrew games, prototypes, or other games for which original cartridges were never produced, or for games which require exact timing or other elements of the original hardware which are not available in emulators.
Systems and games[edit]
The majority of ROM hacking is done on NES and Super NES games, since such games are small and simple compared to games of more advanced consoles such as the Nintendo 64 or Nintendo DS. Games for the Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance are also popular for hacking, as well as games for the Sega Mega Drive and PlayStation to a lesser extent. But by no means are games for more recent consoles exempt from hacking, and indeed as computers have become faster and more programs and utilities have been written, more PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS hacks have emerged.
Of these, popular games to play are popular games to hack; many hacks have been released of games of the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Super Mario series (including Super Mario 64 and Super Mario World), Mario Kart series (most notably Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 7, and Mario Kart DS), Pokémon series, Chip's Challenge, Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda, games from the Mega Man series, Fire Emblem series, EarthBound, Super Metroid, and many others.
A notable hacked arcade game was Street Fighter II Blackbelt Edition, which featured increased game speed and new special moves. The success of this game prompted Capcom to release Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting as an official response.
Your Sinclair magazine published a monthly column called 'Program Pitstop'. This focused mainly on cheat hacks for games, but also featured both a level map printer[14] for the original Gauntlet, as well as a full level editor[15] for the same game.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ abc'Dictionary of ROMhacking terms'. ROMhacking.net.
- ^'vg64tools - Project Hosting on Google Code'. Code.google.com. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^'Super Mario 64: Pong Of Death (messiaen)'. Sites.google.com. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^'Mega Drive/Genesis Sound Engine List - GDRI :: Game Developer Research Institute'. gdri.smspower.org.
- ^'SMPS - Sega Retro'. segaretro.org.
- ^'Valley Bell's SMPS Research'. Sonic and Sega Retro Message Board.
- ^'Sonic Hacking Utilities - Sonic Retro'. info.sonicretro.org.
- ^'Steam Workshop :: SEGA Mega Drive & Genesis Classics'. steamcommunity.com.
- ^'New patching format, UPS, debuts today'. www.romhacking.net.
- ^'The PokéCommunity Forums - View Profile: HackMew'. www.pokecommunity.com.
- ^'Newest patching format, APS, recently released'. www.pokecommunity.com.
- ^Yin-Poole, Wesley (April 29, 2016). 'Modders are already having fun with Sega Mega Drive classics on Steam'. Eurogamer. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
- ^'Basic NES Reproduction'.
- ^'World of Spectrum - Forced Redirect'. www.worldofspectrum.org.
- ^'World of Spectrum - Forced Redirect'. www.worldofspectrum.org.
- Carless, Simon, Gaming hacks
- Castro, Radford, Let me play: stories of gaming and emulation
- Jordan, Will (2007). From Rule-Breaking to ROM-Hacking: Theorizing the Computer Game-as-Commodity(PDF). Situated Play, Proceedings of DiGRA 2007 Conference.
- Newman, James, Playing with videogames
External links[edit]
- Zophar's Domain A site with some information and resources related to ROM hacking.
- gbatemp.net A ROM Hacking community focusing mainly on DS, 3DS, Wii and Wii U.
- psxdev.net Forum and resources about PSX Hacking.
- XeNTaX A community focusing on reverse engineering and file formats of many video games and consoles.
- SMW Central Super Mario World hacking community.
- FF6Hacking.com A community dedicated to Final Fantasy 6 hacking.
- Slick Production Community dedicated to hacking various Final Fantasy games, mainly FF4, FF5 and FF6.
- Quimm Forums Forums dedicated to hacking mainly PSX and PC versions of FF7, FF8 and PSX version of FF9.
- New Game Plus Site hosting difficulty hacks.
I was really surprised that there isn't a comprehensive Nintendo DS hacking Instructable here, so I thought it was my calling. I have been researching the NDS hacking scene for quite some time now, and this instructable is the dedicated outcome of all my findings.
As with my other instructables, I have written this one is such a way that it will save you the time of doing the research for yourself. Now you have more free time to explore instructables and come up with other amazing inventions! I thank everyone on this site for doing the same for me!
That said this very comprehensive instructable will seem a little bit verbose, or even selfindulgent at times, so please forgive me for that. My objective is to concatenate about a year's research and thought into this self contained guide to undertanding the NDS hacking scene and from there on making your own hardware and software choices.
These are the subjects I will be instructing on:
1. General information about hacking the DS
2. Product reviews and suggestions
3. Gaming and Homebrew application reviews
4. Emulators for SNES, Genesis and GBA games that run on the NDS
5. Accessories and Instructables associated with the DS.
I will be updating this instructable, whenever I come across some new tips and tricks related to the DS. I am sure this will end up being a pretty long instructable. I decided against splitting it, so hope you guys and girls appreciate having everything in one place.
Disclaimer Type Statement:You will not find direct links to DS game roms on this instructable, for obvious reasons. These are very easy to find on your own if you choose to do so. You can only download DS roms if you own the orinignal game and want to keep it safe from hard. The NDS can be modified freely to enhance its abilties through homebrew applications and games. Some are so amazing you will not believe it when you see them!
In the next step you will find some general information about the NDS >>
Your Nintendo DS experience doesn't have to stop at your local game merchant. There's a huge online community dedicated to Nintendo DS homebrew: games programmed by amateurs and independent developers.
With a little homebrew know-how, you can access dozens of titles across multiple genres, including puzzle, role-playing, strategy, and action games. Here's a sampling of the best Nintendo DS homebrew the internet has to offer.
Real-Time Strategy (RTS): 'A Touch of War'
The Nintendo DS has plenty of turn-based strategy games — 'Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon' is a good example — but it's a little lacking for heart-stopping real-time strategy (RTS) games.
Luckily, you can treat the Nintendo DS's RTS deficiency with 'A Touch of War.' It offers good times with big, colorful sprite graphics and medieval soldiers who are out for blood. Keep a store of air in your lungs; you won't have time to breathe.
Strategy: 'DiceWars DS'
'DiceWars DS' is an addictive strategy game that plays a lot like 'Risk.' It's you versus seven computer-controlled opponents, and everybody is hungry for land. If you're a fan of 'Risk,' don't let this one slip you by.
Roguelike Role-Playing Game (RPG): 'POWDER'
What's a roguelike RPG? It's dungeon-crawling in its purest, most merciless form. You explore endless labyrinths teeming with unimaginable evils and brimming with magnificent treasure. No two visits to the underworld are ever the same; the dungeon layouts change every time you plumb the depths.
'POWDER' brings the torment and satisfaction of the roguelike experience to the Nintendo DS. True to roguelike tradition, the game's graphics are simple, but you're not playing the game to gawk at the scenery. You're playing to better yourself as an adventurer.
Two-Dimensional Action: 'MegaETK'
Fans of the 'Mega Man' series will find a lot to like about 'MegaETK,' a homebrew game that combines 2D platforming action with minor RPG elements. Jump around, blast enemies, take on colorful bosses, save money, and burden your little Mega Man clone with a shopping addiction.
Real-Time Strategy (RTS) / Tower Defense: 'Warcraft: Tower Defense'
If you're looking for a particularly intense experience, 'Warcraft: Tower Defense' combines real-time strategy with tower defense — a genre that, as its name suggests, involves protecting a home base against an endless onslaught of enemies. In 'Warcraft: Tower Defense,' you defend against invading forces by building and upgrading projectile-flinging towers.
Two-Dimensional Action: 'Xrick DS'
'Xrick DS' is a Nintendo DS port of 'Xrick' for the PC, which in turn is a side-scrolling game that's heavily inspired by 'Rick Dangerous,' a 2D adventure game developed for the PC in the late '80s.
Confused yet? The original 'Rick Dangerous' was put together by Core, a company that went on to give life to one of gaming's most recognizable explorers: Lara Croft of the 'Tomb Raider' series. Like its source material, 'Xrick DS' is heavily inspired by the 'Indiana Jones' movies. Expect lots of thrills, spills, and rolling rocks.
First-Person Shooter (FPS): 'Quake DS'
Bring the definitive '90s first-person shooter to the Nintendo DS with 'QuakeDS.' This was the game that you quietly installed and pecked at while your computer lab teacher droned on about some programming issue. Download the homebrew adaptation and relive the magic.
Physics/Puzzle: 'Pocket Physics'
If you enjoy making a mockery out of the laws of gravity in 'Crayon Physics' or 'Crayon Physics Deluxe' for the PC and iPhone, you'll want to download 'Pocket Physics' for the Nintendo DS.
The basic premise should be familiar for fans of 'Crayon Physics': You draw objects on the touch screen, and they become real and interact with their environment through accurate physics. Balls roll down ramps and knock over dominoes, and golf clubs swing on hinges to knock projectiles across the screen. Let your inner physicist burst forth.
Shoot 'Em Up: 'Geo Wars'
'Geo Wars' is a homebrew take on the beloved 'Geometry Wars,' a geometric shoot-'em-up game that was developed for the PC and adapted for several game consoles.
'Geo Wars' might be an independent title, but even the most seasoned player might mistake it for a professionally developed game. Its futuristic graphics and anime-style character portraits are fantastic, it has a compelling story, and it features 22 levels swarming with relentless enemies.
Puzzle Collection: 'PuzzleManiak'
'PuzzleManiak' is based on Simon Tatham's 'Puzzle Collection' for the PC, Mac, and Linux. And as its name suggests, 'PuzzleManiak' is soul food for any puzzle fanatic. Twenty-seven puzzles are available for your perusal, all generated by algorithms to ensure a unique experience every time you play. Available games include:
- 'Blackbox'
- 'Bridges'
- 'Fifteen'
- 'Filling'
- 'Flip'
- 'Galaxies'
- 'Inertia'
- 'Light Up'
- 'Map'
- 'Mastermind'
- 'Mines'
- 'Net'
- 'Netslide'
- 'Pattern'
- 'Rectangles'
- 'Samegame'
- 'Sixteen'
- 'Slant'
- 'Slitherlink'
- 'Solitaire'
- 'Sudoku'
- 'Tents'
- 'Unequal'
- 'Twiddle'
- 'Untangle'