We've all played Pokémon Red a dozen times or more in our lives, so much so that we're all patiently waiting for Nintendo to do another remaster or remake of some kind so we can enjoy it all over again with new visuals on the Nintendo Switch 2. It's why I turn to ROM hacks; I'm disillusioned with the new Pokémon games as you know, so I turn to the Retro Gaming community to find new and exciting ways to enjoy one of the very first Game Boy adventures I ever completed.
Some ROM hacks revolutionise our favourite adventures, and some just add famous cartoon characters into the starring roles. Yes, it's the same old Kanto, but instead of choosing Squirtle as your starter, in Pokémon SpongeBob created by Ok-Mulberry-39, Bikini Bottom's Krabby Partty-serving hero takes its place.
SpongeBob's Pokédex entry simply says that he 'Lives in a pineapple under the sea, absorbent and yellow and porous is he'. Professor Oak is confused that SpongeBob has replaced Squirtle, but he lets you have it anyway, and away you go.
SpongeBob is a dual Water/Fighting-type and can be seen holding his trusty spatula up in the air while wearing his Krusty Krab hat. SpongeBob also takes Mew's data slot in the game, but it's completely worth it. Nothing says 'I'm Ready!' than taking on a Bulbasaur with a tackle from SpongeBob SquarePants. The only problem is that I've had the themetune in my head this entire time while writing this article!
So, if you've wished for more nautical nonsense while exploring Kanto and want to drop on the deck of the S.S. Anne and flop like a Magikarp, then this is the ROM hack for you! Head to the project's page for more information!
