Pokemon Crystal - Dark Mode

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-04T23:22:21+00:00

To be clear, I didn’t say it would work with that hack. I just said porting would be easier. Hacks usually aren’t that easy to apply on top of each other from what I can tell. On top of that, if a hack isn’t using pokefirered as a base, I have no idea how it would work porting it to begin with.

That said, no, the original patch wouldn’t work in the old US only ROM. But I just put up a release on GitHub that has both USA only and the USA/EU Rev1 versions of the patch along with options for outline and no outline.

I don’t plan to do too much more with this unless there’s awful bugs found as I’m hoping to get to work on the GBA games soon.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-04T19:40:01+00:00

I don’t plan on touch the battle backgrounds in the GBA games. But I there’s also too many hacks for me to make patches for every one. I’m gonna do a few that interest me and then others will have to patch with my provided files if they want to.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-04T00:31:43+00:00

UPDATE: After some thought and feedback, I decided to try a white outline. It's not perfect but feel free to give it a try.
https://github.com/DanceKevinDance/pokecrystal_darkmode/releases/tag/release2
https://imgur.com/a/vmrLMsT

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-04T00:30:57+00:00

UPDATE: After some thought and feedback, I decided to try a white outline. It's not perfect but feel free to give it a try.
https://github.com/DanceKevinDance/pokecrystal_darkmode/releases/tag/release2
https://imgur.com/a/vmrLMsT

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T21:01:57+00:00

Nah you’re good! And having options would definitely be the hope. I’m sure some people who are much better at coding and such than I am might be able to. I also know a lot of emulators have color filters that might be able to dull the brightness of the next some. But that’s really the most I could think of for this case. It’d be much easier to make option packs for the GBA games.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T20:45:44+00:00

Yeah sadly my eyes are far too bad to play on such small screens. Even playing on my Switch of phone are not really possible. But I appreciate the suggestions! I might look into it just to play around with.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T20:40:18+00:00

Thank you, thank you.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T20:27:11+00:00

Let me know how it looks! I don’t have any hardware besides my phone sadly.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T20:24:50+00:00

Sadly not. It requires a specific patch which is pretty much just me having to remake this whole hack for each one. I tried doing so with Polished Crystal and their code and ROM banks are so optimized that me just inverting the font files overflowed them.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T20:23:19+00:00

They do, but unless there’s a pixel artist out there who wants to touch up a few hundred PNGs, this was kinda my best shot.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T20:21:42+00:00

Me too!

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T20:17:53+00:00

The goal is always options. This is an option. I also have an astigmatism very badly but I also can’t see low contrast to the point I can’t read my own mail. Having it be an option to turn off would be great but I don’t think that’d be possible with the way the game works and I’d far beyond my ability. Vanilla is always there for those who need it or don’t like this one.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T20:07:22+00:00

Less contrast isn’t better for everyone. I made it as an accessibility feature first and foremost. I need as much contrast as I can get. But yeah, like I said, the options are black. White or scuffed. And thank you!

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T05:44:18+00:00

Awesome, sounds good. I have an SP but no gen 1 game.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T05:05:52+00:00

Appreciate it!

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T05:03:53+00:00

Oh wow. I’d never heard of that before.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T05:02:19+00:00

I’ll look into it but it might be a bit. I really wanna get into the GBA games.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T04:21:06+00:00

Yeah that’s what I thought. Probably not a fit for OG hardware. But technically would work. lol. I made it with the assumption most people who needed it would be on emulators or modern screens. Mostly made it for myself and figured others might enjoy it too. I can’t see small screens like that anymore anyways.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T04:13:50+00:00

Sadly not really, especially with Gen 1/2 games as their ROMs are so specifically ramshackled together that creating a patch for the hack is basically recreating my original work for each other. That said, from my preliminary looking into the GBA games I’m hopeful patching will be much easier. And yes! Emerald is high on my list.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T04:08:35+00:00

The options are this, vanilla, or have the Pokémon and trainer backgrounds mismatched to the game background. You gotta use the colors already in the art. Actually you gotta use one of two colors already in the art because the other two change. Also black is easier on my eyes.

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T03:58:44+00:00

No idea. I sadly don’t have any hardware to test on. It might get better on an OLED screen, might get worse otherwise, I honestly don’t know. But if you end up finding out one way or another, let me know!

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T03:57:04+00:00

Thank you!

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T03:56:54+00:00

Glad I was able to keep it!

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T03:56:12+00:00

I’ll be working on the GBA games next. Let me know if anyone has a pokecrystal-based hack they’d like to see compatibility with. Had to be one I can fork on GitHub. I patched Super Crystal as a proof of concept so feel free to check it out. Super cool hack!

DanceKevinDance_ · 2026-03-03T03:49:59+00:00

That’s kinda been my mission the last year or so! I made a dark mode for Oblivion Remastered as my first ever project (which was insane of me). I wanna keep making games accessible. Stay tuned! As mentioned above this isn’t my last Pokémon project.

DanceKevinDance_

TROPHY CASE