Pokemon Crystal Legacy

Gen 2 is beloved, but its level curve is famously broken: Johto's late gyms sit at awkward levels, Kanto is under-levelled and wild Pokemon lag behind. Pokemon Crystal Legacy, led by TheSmithPlays with programmer Craig and editor Weebra, fixes that while keeping the game recognisably Crystal.

The project has one rule: only change things the way the original designers might have. That means no physical/special split, no new types, no new Pokemon and no new trainers. Instead, existing trainers get bigger teams for more experience, and the gym leaders in the non-linear part of Johto (Chuck, Pryce and Jasmine) scale to your badge count — five, six or seven badges.

Gym leaders also get smarter rosters while keeping their signature aces. Bugsy still leads with Scyther, but his Metapod and Kakuna make way for Pineco and Ledian, and leaders now hold items. Some lonely single-stage Pokemon get stat boosts, Bug and Fighting moves are stronger, and Dark moves now count as physical while Ghost moves become special.

Catching everything is far more realistic. Kanto-only Gen 2 species such as Houndour show up in Johto, Gen 1 trade evolutions happen by level-up, and Gen 2 trade items act like evolution stones. Fossils and the GS Ball appear in the Ruins of Alph, and every legendary can be caught. Kanto becomes its own league, with six-Pokemon gym teams and an Elite Four rematch for the Kanto title before you climb Mt. Silver.

The current release is v1.3.1, updated in August 2024. Version 1.3 added a Hardcore mode, new Elite Four rematch teams and Battle Tower updates; 1.3.1 is a bug-fix patch.

• Chuck, Pryce and Jasmine scale to 5, 6 or 7 badges
• Optimised gym teams that keep each leader's ace, plus held items
• Smoother level curve with expanded trainer teams
• All legendaries catchable; fossils and GS Ball in the Ruins of Alph
• Gen 1 trade evolutions by level-up, Gen 2 trade items work like stones
• Dark becomes physical and Ghost special; Bug and Fighting moves improved
• Kanto as its own league with six-Pokemon gym teams and an extra E4 challenge
• Running shoes, bigger bag, early EXP Share and HM deletion anywhere
• Johto gym leader rematches after becoming champion
• Hardcore mode added in v1.3

In normal play, Crystal Legacy is about as hard as Crystal should have been. Fights are tighter because the curve is fixed, not because enemies are absurdly overlevelled, and trainer AI is left untouched. Late Johto and Kanto finally feel like a proper climb instead of a stroll.

Hardcore mode, added in v1.3, raises the stakes for players who want a stricter run. Combined with the improved level curve, it makes Crystal Legacy a natural fit for Nuzlocke-style challenges on Game Boy Color.

It is aimed squarely at people who want vanilla Crystal with the rough edges sanded off. If you want a big modern overhaul with abilities and Fairy types, Polished Crystal is the better match.

• Patch a clean English Pokemon Crystal ROM.
• Grab the early EXP Share and rotate your team so no one falls behind.
• Check the flower shop for Berries and the Cianwood pharmacy for Stones and Ethers.
• X Items cannot be bought, so plan around held items instead.
• After the Radio Tower, Mahogany sells Upgrade and Metal Coat — useful for Porygon2 and Steelix or Scizor.
• Drop by the Trainer House to battle the hack's own team: Smith, Craig and Weebra.

Version 1.3 introduced Hardcore mode, new Elite Four rematch teams, new Battle Tower rewards with an updated roster, and fixes for Gen 1 trades involving Ghost types. Version 1.3.1 followed in August 2024 with fixes for the daycare in Hardcore mode, a Pokedex colour menu bug and a Sentret/Furret Thief issue.