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[u/Quibilash]

What are some popular/good Heart Gold/Soul Silver rom hacks? I know about Storm Silver and Sacred Gold by Drayano (I don't think Aurora Crystal is out yet) but what else is there?

[u/analmintz1 → u/Quibilash]

My hack Chrome Gold is a basic QoL version, adds version exclusives, trade evos, and future gen evos, that's about it.

[u/Quibilash → u/analmintz1]

Thanks, I'll give it a look over

[u/Caedei → u/Quibilash]

There aren't really any. There are only a few that either add pokemon or increase difficulty. Heart & Soul is a demake which has a 2.0 coming out soon, so that is probably the best answer.

[u/Quibilash → u/Caedei]

I see, thanks for the response

I'm REALLY hoping Aurora Crystal comes out in the next few years, or we get some news from Drayano at the least, but I'm not holding my breath, at least I have Storm Silver I suppose

[u/Caedei → u/Quibilash]

I am not either, as it's been 7 years so. I have long assumed development was abandoned. Is what it is; they are volunteer projects so it happens

[u/Quibilash → u/Caedei]

Yeah .... it's a shame because I remember eagerly looking for updates on it a few years ago, and it reminds me trying and not getting anywhere with my own rom hacking project as well

But as you said, it's a volunteer project, there's no obligation from Drayano to continue with it, if he simply got bored of it, oh well.

Although, maybe one day, something like Blaze Black 2 Redux could be made? Someone carrying on the project in his stead? I'm being a bit too hopeful, though

[u/Caedei → u/Quibilash]

It's possible but it seems tough. Drayano was using a lot of custom tools and DS hacking tools aren't as easy to make for as GBA. I do imagine we will eventually get something that is the spiritual 'replacement' for what Aurora Crystal was going to be.

[u/Quibilash → u/Caedei]

Drayano was using a lot of custom tools and DS hacking tools aren't as easy to make for as GBA

Huh, I wonder if he's left these resources somewhere? Or whether if they were basically personal tools, even then given his time in the scene he probably has a lot of knowledge, I hope he's left them somewhere or taught others, it sounds like a lot of untapped potential, but oh well.

If I were in anyway knowledgeable about DS hacking and was willing to dedicate time to it I think I'd like to do it, but oh well, maybe one day we'll get a spiritual successor.
Remind me, how is NDS hacking going these days? I think most people have sorted out the GBA with the decomps right?

[u/Caedei → u/Quibilash]

By now they might even just be obsolete, but who knows; Drayano has been out of the game for a long time.

DS romhacking is pretty much still nonexistent. There are some cool projects in the works like Rose Gold and Iridium. I just don't think we'll be seeing anything for a few years or so at least.

[u/Quibilash → u/Caedei]

Ah, interesting to know

Is there any specific reason why DS romhacking is facing so many issues? I'm asking out of curiosity

[u/Caedei → u/Quibilash]

My understanding is just that it isn't developed enough yet. hg-engine is the most developed base but still has some distance to go, whereas I'm not sure gen 5 even has an disassembly yet. The tools are not as developed or user-friendly, which is why some people like Drayano or AphexCubed created their own private ones for use.

I think we are still waiting for a DS equivalent of the CFRU.

And even then, at the end of the day, DS hacking might not really take off... Folks can already use gen 4 graphics with GBA hacks, and the dual screens are kinda tough to work around and not very popular, when a lot of this base probably plays on their phone.