Pokemon SunandPokemon Moonmight be amazing games, but they’re not exactly difficult. That’s why one player created a ROM hack that amps the difficulty up to brutal levels.
Pokemon SunandPokemon Moonmight have spurned many classic features in thePokemonseries, but there’s no denying the fact that they have continued the long-running trend ofPokemon’s main story mode catering to casual fans. WhilePokemon SunandMoonsaleswere never going to be negatively impacted by that development decision, all the innovations present in the newest entries into thePokemonfranchise had some gamers holding out hope for a more difficult trek throughout Alola than one would expect.
Still,Pokemon SunandMoonare some of the finest gamesthe series has ever seen, and there aren’t many obvious shortcomings that need addressing even for competitive players. For the select few trainers who have been craving aPokemonexperience more akin to theDark Soulsfranchise, however,GBA Temp user Kobazcohas developed a hack that makes the main story campaign a brutal, unforgiving experience. Kobazco has called the more difficult versionsPokemon Rising SunandPokemon Waning Moon, and some of the modifications are downright cruel.
For starters, all Trial Captains and Kahunas now have full teams of Pokemon, making their fights much more difficult, while the level curve of Pokemon as they appear has been raised significantly. That means trainers are more likely to find themselves waking up back at the nearest Pokemon Center after encountering many ofAlola’s most powerful Pokemon. Kobazco speculates that players will need teams of Pokemon that are at least around level 80 by the end of the Elite 4.
Beyond this, however, Alolan trainers have also been modified to have Pokemon that aren’t usually seen in the Alola region. That will force players to switch up their tactics and be sharp when attempting to exploit weaknesses, as it can be easy to forget typing at the best of times - but Alola has a number of Pokemon who have switched typing thanks to theirAlola regional variants, meaning players might find themselves thrown off more than usual.
All told, Kobazco’s hack should provide the kind of horrific, frustrating experience thatPokemonhas consistently - and rightly - shied away from in the mainPokemonseries. It sounds like a brutal slog through some of thePokemonseries' most frustrating mechanics, but that’s probably part of the appeal to the type of trainer who wanted this, and others can stay away and keep the frights to readingrumors about Mimikyu’s origininstead.
Pokemon SunandPokemon Moonare available now on Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 2DS.
