How I Hacked Pokémon Emerald to make Pokémon walk with you

I created a hack of Pokémon Emerald that allows Pokémon to follow behind the player in the overworld. I did this by using the C disassembly created by the people at PRET. By importing all the sprites Gen I - Gen III from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver into this game I hijacked a certain already existing sprite and using the animation frames I added (recolored with a special process to use the Gen III palettes) let the Pokémon walk behind the player in the overworld. In the video I go over the process and discuss aspects of GBA programming, certain GBA graphics modes and sprite palettes.

Try Pokémon Emerald Ambulation and Emerald Chaos Ambulation for yourself at:

Also available at:

How to apply the patch:

In Pokémon Emerald Chaos Ambulation all Pokémon Battles and Encounters are randomly chosen from the 386 Pokémon but are at the same level as the original Pokémon would be. For example, a level 5 Ralts could become any Pokémon at that level, with all the associated moves of that new Pokémon.

Sources:

Pret Disassembly

Bug Reporting Form

This hack should be fully compatible with existing save files, so if you have a .sav file on an emulator then your game, after being patched, should continue to function as normal.

gameboy advance cartridge by Braden Stranks,
Gameboy Advance by Billy Sweetman,
and folder by BlackActurus from the Noun Project

[Madia]

One of the original concepts behind Pokémon was to have monsters travel with you and explore the landscape of the world. Don’t know why they scarcely use the follow function.

[LoScorpioneRosso]

This should have been a feature in every game
Despite all the messes, I was glad they can follow us in Scarlet/Violet, but the different walking speed is super annoying.

[yevgeniylankin]

We’re getting spoiled with all these extra gen 3 features!!! I’d like to see this ported to FRLG as well. Would be a great addition to the Plus rom hacks out there!

[anon_y_mousse]

I had no idea anyone reverse engineered these. Not that it would be necessary because emulators are really good now, but it'd be interesting if someone ported these so you could run them without an emulator. Maybe even merge them all into one game with the different story lines as chapters.

[VersacePokemon]

“I changed something, did you catch it?”

*Chooses Entei as starter*

“That’s right! I moved the bag one space over to the right!”

[astupidquestion]

This is criminally underrated. I love this so much

[solgaleo]

Apparently the follow Pokémon mechanic was intended for GSC, which would make sense considering that it was released after Yellow. We even have the placeholder sprite for the mechanic, which is a sprite of Imakuni. Imakuni was also one of the DJs in the Radio Tower, in place of Mary. I believe most of Yellow’s emotion bubbles are unused in the final too

[xthintz]

Solid mod addition to the game, just adds to the experience

It would be spetacular if you continue to improve it like maybe finding a way to solve the color bugs, some follower behaviors on the overworld, like making them reflect on the water, getting properly some overworld structure layers etc
Maybe adding some interactions with the follower.

It's already a amazing addition to the game, i'm already re-playing emerald with this mod, i hope for more stuff in the future

[HalIucinations]

As someone that grew up with gen 1, Red being my first, I love seeing younger people do more with the older gens ❤️ emerald is probably my favorite Pokemon game of all time

[koganeitou]

Not to sound self-centered, but I think this was made for me, and others like me, who find this oversaturated catalogue of romhacks --unappealing overall-- or maybe demotivated is a better word, because many of them are appealing and really catch your eye. So as to not undermine them or trample on their passion or the hard work and effort they put into them. But that's the reality of it, at the end of the day.

I think I've just been desperately looking for a Pokémon game or romhack that captures that eye-catching quality like these original gen 3 games had, which can also keep my attention without having too much going on. Simple is better. Less is more, as they say. Every so often, I try again and find a nice-looking new RSE hack, but lose interest for some month(s) or even years. . .

Because lately... it feels like, just so overwhelming with all these romhacks being made. I'm sure they're great. They look amazing and make me want to play and finish them but I just don't ever have the time. Because of that, I've wanted to just set it all aside and get a more vanilla nostalgic trip/experience of playing a gen 3 game. More pure I guess. Whether it's Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald. And I think this is perfect for me right now. To really satiate this unfulfilled feeling I keep getting when I think about these games and try to replay them as romhacks, and in a way I guess give closure to these nostalgic memories of that first Christmas when I was 6 playing Sapphire for the first time, and the many times I played and replayed all 3 games growing up.

Thank you for what you've done with this, and thanks for giving us a way to play it, instead of just being something you're showing off for views and clout but don't want to share for whatever the reason would be.

You took a simple thought. A brilliant idea and put in work to create perfection. You made something beautiful and I will thoroughly enjoy this while I'm on vacation from work for another week, and hopefully after that whenever I have time! Kudos to you, and cheers!!!

[guyrocketram]

every romhack should impliment this, you are a saint for figuring this out, please make this open source! every romhack ever would be better for having this!

[typachi]

This is beautiful! Seeing that someone was willing to do this to emerald, maybe this opens the possibly for gen 5 to get the same love!

[mosatu]

8 seconds in "The best games by far were HeartGold and SoulSilver"

I take great caution not to use this word often but that was legitimately based.

[zanez]

Having my pokemons to follow me was also one of my favorite things about Soul Silver, and now watching this feature being added to my favorite pokemon game is awesome. All the hacking and patching explaination was really interesting :)

[BeefyBidoof]

Have you talked to the developers of Pokemon Quetzal? They have follower pokemon in their RSE hack and might be able to give some tips with debugging

[glitchy_weasel]

What a neat project. Companion Pokemons is something that I find to bring much more life and engagement to Pokemon games. Fantastic job!!!

[tommymaxey]

Gen 3 is my favorite generation. I love the hardware of the GBA SP. Kanto and Hoenn are amazing reigons. And the pixel design is timeless. I was able to get a full hoenn living dex and using my two emerald copies I was able to get the Johto starters. I'm impressed by your programming work. Gen 3 would be more complete if this feature was added

[eefstroganoff]

This is incredible. Your hard work is unmatched

[damnjd]

wow man why are you so underrated, this is incredible work

[owenK]

Knowing most of this gba stuff already from a class I took in college, this is super cool and provides a brief overlook at how developing for gba works, very cool stuff!