Universal Pokemon Randomizer

As varied as they might be, there’s always a point where RPGs start getting repetitive or even predictable. For players who want to spice up their gameplay – and aren’t afraid of some fierce challenges – Universal Pokémon Randomizer is the tool they need.

A selection of modifications for mainline Pokémon games, this tool turns once predictable games about catching and training little creatures into pure madness and chaos. Players who are tired of replaying the same old Pokémon games over and over again will find some enjoyment with this tool, just don’t expect the experience to be a fair one.

Random Encounters

At the beginning of pretty much every Pokémon game, players are always given the choice between three starter Pokémon whose typing usually evens each other out. With the Universal Pokémon Randomizer, that’s thrown out of the window in favor of a truly random experience.

The Randomizer picks from a pool of all available Pokémon to decide which three starters you can get – balance be damned. Players can as easily find a fully evolved Dragonite as their starter, or they can try to begin their journey with only a Magikarp.

Random encounters are now more random than ever. Any Pokémon – even legendary ones – can be found roaming the tall grass. You never know what you will find every time you step into the wilds, making this the most unpredictable Pokémon journey you can get.

A Tool for Each Generation

The Universal Pokémon Randomizer isn’t limited to a particular mainline game. The tool is compatible with all the games from Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue, all the way to Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2. One thing to keep in mind is that the tool randomizes content found within each one of those games, so don’t expect to see random Gen 2 Pokémon appearing in your Gen 1 game.

Another great feature of this tool is that the UI is pretty self-explanatory, meaning that you don’t need to understand complex statistics to modify your game. Keep in mind that the tool is just that: a tool to modify Pokémon games. You’ll have to provide your own, unmodified ROMs to use the Universal Pokémon Randomizer.

Spiking Difficulty

Introducing so much randomness into a game like Pokémon – one that depends so much on type balance and stat grinding – can certainly bring about some feeling of unfairness. Luckily, players can use this tool only to get a complete version of their games, randomizing as much or as little as they please.

For example, let’s suppose that you’re playing a Pokémon HeartGold ROM on an NDS emulator. Usually, getting certain Pokémon like those that evolve through trade or rely on special events would be unobtainable. The Universal Pokémon Randomizer, however, allows you to find those elusive Pokémon roaming in the wild, which is a great way to complete your Pokédex.

All in all, this is a great tool for people looking for a challenge, or for those who exclusively emulate older Pokémon games and fear missing out on some hard-to-get Pokémon like Gengar or Steelix.

Pros:

• Tons of customization options to tailor your playthroughs
• Shareable seeds to challenge your friends
• Lets you complete your Pokédex without trading

Cons:

• Depending on which options you choose, can make your game too chaotic to enjoy