platinum Pokémon Platinum Redux

[David van Patten]

Pokémon Platinum Redux
Latest Version: v2.4

Summary

Platinum Redux is a difficulty rom hack of Platinum. The changes listed below aim to provide a more challenging Platinum experience with focus on teambuilding and battling. The rom currently has a roster of 479 Pokémon. The drive link includes documentation on Pokémon and move changes as well as information on boss fights and much more. It also includes a "How to Patch" and the xdelta patcher for 3 different versions of Platinum Redux (more on these versions below).

Primary Goals

• Differentiate Platinum Redux from Renegade Platinum

Renegade Platinum is one of the best and most polished Pokémon ROM-Hacks. Every Platinum ROM-Hack will inadvertently be compared to Renegade Platinum. Platinum Redux has a lot of things like quality of life changes in common with Renegade Platinum but there are also massive differences. The Pokémon and move changes are more extreme in Platinum Redux. Therefore, the ROM-hack is less like the mainline Pokémon games. There are also a lot of regional forms in Platinum Redux with changed typings. Furthermore, every single Pokémon has adjusted stats, abilities or learnsets. Players new to Platinum Redux will be constantly surprises by different Pokémon forms, new moves and changed abilites. For anyone who doesn´t like being surprised, there is documentation for every change in the drive link. If you want to play a game more similar to mainline Pokémon games, Platinum Redux is sadly not the ROM-Hack you are looking for.

 

• Make every fully evolved Pokémon viable until lategame

I really dislike that in mainline Pokémon games some Pokémon are straight up useless later in game. To ensure that every fully evolved Pokémon is useful up until the champion fight, most Pokémon got some sizable buffs to stats, moves or abilities. On the other hand some Pokémon (mostly legendaries) have received slight nerfs. Legendaries have, however, still the highest base stats. There is no way to perfectly balace hundreds of Pokémon but in Platinum Redux every Pokémon should be useful throughout the whole game. All stats, typings, abilities, learnsets and much more can be found in the documentation.

 

• All fully evolved Pokémon have a unique niche/purpose

To ensure that no two Pokémon have the exact same purpose, there are no fully evolved monotype Pokémon in Platinum Redux. All fully evolved monotype Pokémon in Platinum received a regional form with an additional typing. Some dual types also received a type change. All Pokémon with changed typings have an adjusted color palette that indicates the type change. Around 50% of fully evolved Pokémon have regional forms so there will be a lot of surprises if you play blind. Every type combination is distributed at least once. It is very difficult for every Pokémon to have a niche if many Pokémon with the same (mono)typing exist; with these regional forms, every Pokémon is unique. Some of the regional forms are very obvious (Bug/Dragon Flygon), some are more unique (Dark/Psycho Absol) and some are very experimental (Gras/Water Venusaur; it is a toad right?). If you are just looking through the documentation and ask yourself how on earth Beautifly is a Bug/Ice type, remember that the sprites have different colors that reflect the type changes.

 

• Increased but fair difficulty

There are no EVs in Platinum Redux. This increases difficulty but also reduces tedious grinding. Every trainer has champion level AI, better movesets, held items and more trainers are unavoidable. Platinum Redux is not supposed to be a super difficult hack (such as Radical Red or the Kaizo games). Thats why all trainer Pokémon have 16 IVs in all stats (31 in Kaizo game for comparison), so they should on average be as strong as your Pokémon. Some changes also decrease difficulty a bit, such as infinite TMs and early access to powerful battle items. In summary Platinum Redux will be a lot more challenging than the mainline Pokémon games but not as hard as ROM-Hacks designed to be super difficult.

 

• Catch 'Em All

Every single Pokémon is catchable somewhere in tall gras. Easy as that. You will find Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard and even Mew somewhere. 

Features

• Type chart and different versions

Platinum Redux has 10 type chart changes. These impact around 3% of all interactions and should decrease the strength of the steel-type and make the normal-type more interesting. The changes are in the documentation. Many people don´t like type chart changes; that´s why there are 3 different versions of Platinum Redux. One version has the above listed type chart changes included, one version has the vanilla type chart and one version has the vanilla type chart but with the Gen 6 change that both ghost and dark attacks are neutral to steel. The 3 versions only differ in the type chart and nothing else. All patches can be found in the drive link.

 

• Features for nuzlocking

You have the option to get an infinite amount of rare candies, max elixers, EXP shares and max heals on the first route. You are also informed about the levels of upcoming boss fights. There is also gras in areas where you couldn´t get an encounter in vanilla Platinum and there are some new areas with encounters.

 

• New events

There are many new events, fights and storylines in Platinum Redux. All story beats are, however, the same as in vanilla Platinum.

 

Screenshots

Spoiler

Quality of life features, Speedup patch and Damage calc

There exists a speedup patch for Platinum Redux. In the drive link you will find 2 different speedup patches and a "How to patch". You simply patch the speedup patch onto your Platinum Redux ROM. If you are having trouble you should visit the discord. An invite link for the discord is on the bottom of the post. Both speedup patches uncap the FPS limit and have instant text. The only difference between the 2 patches is that one has instant EXP and HP bars which the other one does not have.

Thanks to Everken there also exist a custom damage calculator for Platinum Redux. In the drive link you can find an introduction on how to use it.

The move reminder and move forgetter are in every Pokécenter from Sandgem Town onwards. You also don´t have to pay anything for the move reminder.

Trade Pokémon always obey.

The shiny rate is increased to 1/257.

You will receive every useful hold item, Tm and berry at an infinite amount during your playthrough.

Wild encounter rates are much lower.

Every Pokémon evolves by level.

There are no encounters while surfing.

Move and ability informations are more detailed with exact numbers.

The nature names show stat increases and decreases (for example: Jolly (+Spe/-SpA)).

Minimize the necessity of HMs.

You receive the National Pokédex early on.

And much, much more.

Credits

Platinum Redux is a solo project by Hennus.
Damage Calculator: Everken
Logo: Five

Patcher, Documentation and Discord

You can find Platinum Redux patches, a "How to Patch", documentation and the damage calculator here: drive link
If you are having trouble patching or you just want to talk about Platinum Redux with other players, join the Discord: discord invite

Edited July 5, 2023 by David van Patten