Beta Pokémon games

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The beta release of a typical piece of software is a common name for the release that is first seen by the public. In a beta version of software, most functions are identical to those in the final release, however, there may still remain several software bugs that have not been addressed.

Several aspects of the later development stages of the Pokémon games have been discovered by players, either through later hacking of the final game to find disabled features, or through the initial screenshots and media released to the public.

Generation I

Red and Green

Main article: Pokémon Red and Green beta

Despite having been in development for six years by their release, several supposedly dummied-out aspects of Pokémon Red and Green were discovered through glitches in the software which allowed for their appearance. Missingno. is the most well-known of these aspects, as it is essentially the "null data" Pokémon possibly used for testing various aspects of gameplay.

Yellow

Main article: Pokémon Yellow beta

A special edition of the first generation games due to its anime-based storyline, Pokémon Yellow has also passed through various stages during its development. Certain features that were planned but were scrapped in the final release have been found through hacking methods. The most likely known beta feature of the game is the battle system with no Pokémon, which provides a glimpse at an alternate way of performing Pokémon battles.

Generation II

Gold and Silver

Main article: Pokémon Gold and Silver beta

The most well-known of the beta Pokémon games, the unfinished version of Pokémon Gold and Silver went through many changes in its development. As it is essentially based on the coding of Pokémon Yellow, far more so that any other later-generation game on the coding of a previous generation, several aspects of this game can be found through hacking, and others (such as happiness) became fully fleshed-out in this game pair.

Crystal

Main article: Pokémon Crystal beta

Probably the most feature-complete of the pre-Advanced Generation era and the game that set features that would become standard in main series Pokémon games later on (e.g.: female player characters), Pokémon Crystal also includes unreleased components that weren't part of the final release, of which few can be encountered through hacking. Some of them have also been officially mentioned.

Generation III

Ruby and Sapphire

Main article: Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire beta

Through the movement of Pokémon from the very similar Game Boy and Game Boy Color, which the series had been developed on since it was begun in 1990, to the Game Boy Advance, the developers initially saw fit that they attempt to upconvert aspects from the previous generation's games to get the hang of the new ability offered to them.

FireRed and LeafGreen

Main article: Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen beta

Though based on the Generation I games in name and setting, the coding for FireRed and LeafGreen is based on that of Ruby and Sapphire before them. As such, items from those games appear and can be obtained through hacking.

Emerald

Main article: Pokémon Emerald beta

As with most third games, Emerald contains very little beta elements. An area titled "Special Area" was programmed into the game but ultimately never used. In addition, music from FireRed and LeafGreen exist within the coding.

Generation IV

Diamond and Pearl

Main article: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl beta

Diamond and Pearl feature numerous elements that were redone, including backsprites for many Pokémon which seem to have been merely upconverts from the Generation III and before 64×64 size to Generation IV's 80×80 size. As well, a Template:Type2 version of the final Pokémon of the generation, Arceus, exists in the games' coding.

Platinum

Main article: Pokémon Platinum beta

Platinum features many of the same beta items in its code, likely to maintain compatibility between the three games without the hassle of changing index numbers, however, it also contains unused sprites which are different from both the Diamond and Pearl spriteset as well as the Platinum spriteset.

HeartGold and SoulSilver

Main article: Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver beta

As with most paired games, HeartGold and SoulSilver had some elements changed between their announcement and their release. For example, later in development, Silver's sprite was altered to more closely resemble Ken Sugimori's artwork while an early screenshot of Slowpoke Well did not show Rocket Executive Proton as being present as he is in the final version (instead, a grunt is standing where Proton is in the final version). Ethan's back sprite, as well as Pichu and Pikachu's front sprites, were slightly altered as well.

Generation V

Black and White

Main article: Pokémon Black and White beta

As with the previous Generations, the introductory titles to Generation V is no exception when beta elements come into play. Numerous screenshots were shown displaying both beta sprites and beta location designs, including at least four revisions of Hiun City prior to release.

See also


Beta versions of Pokémon games
Generation I
Red and GreenYellow
Generation II
Gold and Silver (Spaceworld '97 demo) • Crystal
Generation III
Ruby and SapphireFireRed and LeafGreenEmeraldColosseumXD
Generation IV
Diamond and PearlPlatinumHeartGold and SoulSilver
Generation V
Black and WhiteBlack 2 and White 2
Generation VI
X and YOmega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Generation VII
Sun and MoonUltra Sun and Ultra Moon
Generation VIII
Sword and Shield
Unreleased
Pokémon Picross


Project Games logo.png This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.