Is pokemontools still usable for Pokémon reverse engineering?

No, it's archived and unmaintained. The README recommends using modern tools like mgbdis for disassembly and pokecrystal/tools for graphics conversion, as the original scripts are outdated and broken.

How to extract graphics from Pokémon Crystal ROM today?

Use the updated tools in the pokecrystal/tools repository, which replace gfx.py from pokemontools. These are maintained and compatible with current workflows for converting 2bpp and LZ formats to PNG.

Pokemon reverse engineering tools vs mgbdis – which should I use?

mgbdis is the better choice for disassembly; it's modern, maintained, and specifically designed for Game Boy games. pokemontools is historical and has compatibility issues, so avoid it for new projects.

Can I run pokemontools with Python3?

The Python3 port was done lazily, and some tools don't run. You might need to fix code manually, but it's not recommended due to bugs and the availability of better alternatives.

What are the best alternatives for Pokémon ROM hacking now?

For disassembly, use mgbdis. For graphics and data, check pret/pokecrystal and pret/pokered repositories. Community forums like PokeCommunity also offer guides and updated toolkits for modern hacking.

How to disassemble Pokémon Red ROM with current tools?

Start with mgbdis for accurate disassembly. The pret/pokered repository provides disassembled source code and tools, making it easier to modify and recompile the game.

Open-Awesome

pokemon-reverse-engineering-tools

Python

A collection of Python tools for reverse engineering Pokémon Red and Crystal, including disassemblers, map editors, and graphics converters.

GitHub

351 stars59 forks0 contributors

What is pokemon-reverse-engineering-tools?

pokemontools is a Python library of reverse engineering utilities for the Pokémon Red and Pokémon Crystal Game Boy games. It provides tools to disassemble game code, edit maps, convert graphics, and extract data from ROMs, enabling analysis and modification of these classic titles. The project was foundational for the early Pokémon disassembly community.

Target Audience

Reverse engineers, ROM hackers, and hobbyists interested in modifying or analyzing the code and data of first and second generation Pokémon games.

Value Proposition

It offers a comprehensive, modular toolkit specifically tailored for Pokémon ROMs, with components for disassembly, data parsing, and graphics conversion that were essential before modern tooling existed.

Overview

Tools for building and disassembling Pokémon Red and Pokémon Crystal

Use Cases

Best For

Disassembling Pokémon Red or Crystal ROMs into readable assembly
Extracting and converting in-game graphics to PNG format
Parsing and editing map data, events, and scripts
Analyzing ROM structure and data for research or modding
Learning reverse engineering techniques on classic Game Boy games
Building custom tools for Pokémon ROM hacking projects

Not Ideal For

Developers seeking actively maintained tools for production ROM hacks
Projects requiring Python3 compatibility without manual debugging
Teams needing efficient, modern disassembly with tools like mgbdis
Commercial or licensing-sensitive work due to unclear open-source status

Pros & Cons

Pros

Historical Foundation

It was instrumental in early disassembly communities, enabling extraction and analysis of Pokémon ROM data, as noted in the README's 2022 note about its role.

Comprehensive Feature Set

Includes a ROM disassembler, map editor, graphics converter, and data parser, covering multiple reverse engineering aspects for Generation 1 and 2 games.

Modular Python Bindings

Provides Python interfaces for interacting with games in emulators like vba-linux, allowing for custom scripting and deep ROM investigation.

RGBDS-Compatible Output

Generates assembly that can be recompiled with the RGBDS toolchain, facilitating ROM modification and testing, as shown in the crystal.py examples.

Cons

Archival and Unmaintained

The repository is archived with no updates, and tools are written in Python2 with a lazy Python3 port, making it unreliable for current use.

Broken and Incomplete Tools

Some scripts don't run at all due to poor porting, and the README admits key tools like gbz80disasm.py have been replaced by modern alternatives.

Superseded by Modern Tools

The README explicitly recommends mgbdis for disassembly and pokecrystal/tools for graphics, indicating this toolkit is obsolete for practical purposes.

Licensing Ambiguity

Only a few tools were released under an open-source license, which could pose risks for derivative works or commercial projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

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