Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try a Nuzlocke run on a Pokemon ROM hack for a while now. I finally decided to take the plunge. It’s been… an experience, to say the least.
Getting Started
First, I picked a ROM hack. I went with Pokemon Glazed. I’d heard good things, and it seemed like a solid choice with some new regions and Pokemon.
Then, of course, I needed an emulator. I’m pretty familiar with VBA, so I just stuck with that. Nothing fancy, just what I usually use to play these games.
The Rules
The core of a Nuzlocke is the rules, right? So, I laid down the basics:
- Any Pokemon that faints is considered “dead” and must be released or permanently boxed.
- I can only catch the first Pokemon I encounter in each new area. If I fail to catch it, that’s it for that area.
- I have to nickname every Pokemon I catch. Gotta get attached, you know? Makes it hurt more when they… go.
I also decided on a few extra rules to spice things up:
- No healing items in battle! Only Pokemon Centers and held items like Leftovers. Makes things way tougher.
- I have to level every team pokemon to every gym’s leader ace pokemon.
The Run
I chose my starter, a cute little Turtwig I named “Shelldon.” We cruised through the first few routes, catching a few buddies along the way. I got a Shinx I named “Sparky” and a Riolu I cleverly named “Riri.”
The first gym… oof. It wasn’t too bad, but Shelldon almost went down. It was a close call, and it really drove home how careful I needed to be. I should level every team pokemon to the gym leader’s ace pokemon.
Then came the second gym. Oh boy. I lost Sparky to a critical hit. It was brutal. I actually yelled at my screen. It’s amazing how attached you can get to these digital creatures, especially when you know they’re gone for good.
I pushed on, adding a few more Pokemon to my team, including a Croagunk named “Tox” and a Murkrow named “Shadow.” We faced some tough trainers, and there were a few more near-death experiences, but we managed to scrape by.
Current Status
I’m currently four badges in. My team is holding on, but it’s definitely been a challenge. I’ve learned to be a lot more strategic, thinking about type matchups and potential threats way more than I usually do. I grinded a lot, making sure everyone was at a decent level before taking on any major battles.
It’s been tough, frustrating, and exhilarating all at the same time. I’m not sure if I’ll make it to the end, but I’m definitely going to keep trying. This Nuzlocke run has completely changed how I play Pokemon, and it’s been a wild ride.
