Pokemon Dark Rising: Rebirth

Pokemon Dark Rising: Rebirth, created by the well-known ROM hacker DarkRisingGirl, is the latest installment in the Dark Rising series. Released on September 29, 2024, this ROM hack of Pokémon FireRed introduces a new, dramatic storyline filled with mystery, intense battles, and a post-apocalyptic twist that sets it apart from traditional Pokémon games. And it is now available to download.

📖 Story Overview

Seven years after the events of Dark Rising 2 and Order Destroyed, the mythical Pokémon Hoopa puts Arceus into an eternal slumber, throwing the world into chaos. Humanity is now enslaved by Pokémon, and you play as a mysterious female protagonist with no memory of her past, serving in Hoopa’s army.

As you journey through this dark world, you’ll uncover secrets about yourself, the fate of the world, and what it will take to save—or destroy—it.

“He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster… when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”
— Friedrich Nietzsche

⚔️ Key Features

Competitive Battle Mechanics: No items allowed during battles (except held items). No free switch after a KO (toggleable in settings).
Progressive Resource Access: Shops and healing centers are only available before and after missions. Your rank determines access to supplies.
Wide Pokémon Roster: Includes Pokémon from Generations I through VIII.
Fairy Type Included: Modern type matchups and Gen 8 mechanics like Fairy typing are implemented.

⚠️ Known Bugs (Beta)

Player Sprite Glitch: Player image may distort after opening the shop menu (resets upon exit).
EXP Bar Display: May show incorrect values during battle; correct in summary screen.
Name Display: Pokémon like Sinistea may appear with strange spacing.
SurgeStrike Bug: Only hits once instead of 2–5 times; power boosted to 80 as a temporary fix.
HP Bar Glitch: May inaccurately display HP when healing above max HP.

🔧 Planned Features

EV/IV Checker for competitive stat monitoring
Player reflection in mirrors and reflective surfaces
Animated tall grass for a more dynamic overworld

💬 Community Feedback

The Dark Rising series has always sparked strong opinions. While fans love its intense storytelling and challenging battles, some have critiqued difficulty spikes and map design. With Rebirth, the developer is clearly aiming for a more polished, balanced, and immersive experience.

Screenshots

⬇️ Download & Play

The Beta version offers 3 to 5 hours of content, introducing the core story and mechanics. Chapter 2 is expected in 2025.

Useful Stuff

Wild Pokemon Locations Ch. 1

Wild Pokemon Locations Ch. 2

Discord

Downloads

Mediafire

Mega

Previous Versions

Chapter 1

Credits

DarkRisingGirl (Creator)

Haven1433 – Hex Maniac Advance
Skeli789/Ghoulslash/CoqeeinRH – Complete Fire Red Upgrade
Prof. Leon Dias – Dynamic Pokemon Expansion
MrDollSteak – DeCap and Attack Rom Base
Chaos Rush/Leparagon/KingOfThe-X-Roads – Pokemon Battle Sprites
SageDeoxys/Lasse00/Princess-Phoenix/Larryturbo/Kidkatt/Zender1752 – Pokemon Overworld Sprites
Aveontrainer – Battle Backgrounds
Wesley FG/Kyledove/KingTapir/Shiney570/EpicDay/Ultimo Spriter/PrinceLegendario/Hek/Magiscarf – Tilesets
GoGoJJTech/Wobbu/Ruki Makino- HGSS Kanto Reloaded Music Patch
Sierraffinity/Veloren 5 - Dppt B2W2 Font Patch
Dionen/Neon Skylar – Resources