Pokemon Priti Ruby : Johto Starters

Introduction: "Pokemon Priti Ruby: Johto Starters" is a fan-made ROM hack of the official Game Boy Advance game Pokemon Ruby. It is not an official release. The hack retains the core Hoenn region setting and visual style of the base game but modifies several key elements, most notably the available starter Pokemon.

Gameplay & Mechanics: The defining mechanic is the replacement of the standard Hoenn starters (Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip) with the three Johto starters: Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile. This change occurs at the very beginning of the game in Professor Birch's lab. The hack does not implement the Physical/Special split from Generation IV, nor does it add the Fairy type or Mega Evolution, as it is built on the Generation III engine. The difficulty level is largely unchanged from the original Ruby version, making it a standard playthrough rather than a specifically designed challenge like a Nuzlocke. Core mechanics like abilities, double battles, and the Battle Tower remain intact.

Key Features:

• Johto Starters in Hoenn: The primary feature is the ability to begin the Hoenn adventure with Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile, altering early-game team composition and type matchups against Gym Leaders like Roxanne and Brawly.
• Expanded Early Pokemon Availability: The hack typically adjusts wild Pokemon encounters to include more species from the Johto and Kanto regions earlier in the game, broadening team-building options beyond the standard Ruby Pokedex.
• Base Ruby Engine with Tweaks: It runs on the familiar Ruby engine, meaning features like the Vs. Seeker for rematches, Secret Bases, and Contests are present, but the hack often includes quality-of-life fixes such as the removal of trade evolutions for certain species or minor text edits.

The game offers a familiar Hoenn journey with a fresh starting team for players seeking a different early-game experience.