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Released 3.0 IS OUT! KANTO!!! Pokemon Grueling Gold

This project has a release available. The full version is still a work in progress.
Project Status
Released
Project Version
3.2.9
How many have played through Gen 2 and thought: "Wow that would have been much better with a logical level curve." Or just wanted a remake of Johto with a higher difficulty? Welcome to Grueling Gold, a difficulty fan game of Gen 2, developed in v20.1 of Pokemon Essentials. Some things you'll find:

  • mega evolution, including some custom megas
  • updated base stats and movesets for normally underused Pokemon
  • competitively challenging boss battles, gym leaders and rivals
  • added story elements to combine the nostalgia with a fresh take
  • custom moves and abilities to give a more interesting competitive battling scene
  • 2 difficulty levels
  • an option to removing grinding and EVs
  • a nuzlocke option
  • A Dexnav that works with day and night cycle so you can chain hunt encounters for shinies or egg moves and hidden abilities
  • use of Essentials Deluxe to insert boss Pokémon and certain gimmicks within battles
  • a completely reworked and custom AI to optimize the battle experience and make the game actually difficult
  • Pokémon from gens 1-9 (DLC mons released as of 2.0! Kanto later!)
  • a fully working randomizer that can randomize encounters, static and gift mons, trainer teams, level up moves, abilities and base stats
  • Expert mode now plays a good bit differently from normal mode! (1.2.0 update)

Kanto is now out!

Credits
"Pokémon Essentials" was created by:
Flameguru
Poccil (Peter O.)
Maruno

With contributions from:
AvatarMonkeyKirby, Marin, Boushy, MiDas Mike, Brother1440, Near Fantastica, FL., PinkMan, Genzai Kawakami, Popper, help-14, Rataime, IceGod64, SoundSpawn, Jacob O. Wobbrock, the__end, KitsuneKouta, Venom12, Lisa Anthony, Wachunga, Luka S.J., and everyone else who helped out

"mkxp-z" by:
Roza
Based on "mkxp" by Ancurio et al.

"RPG Maker XP" by:
Enterbrain

Plug-ins:
Marin
Maruno
Luka-SJ
Golisopod User
Voltseon
Boonzeet
Nuri Yuri
Mej 71
derFischae
Carmaniac
Avery
Kleinstudio

Ekat & Idilio- tilesets

Pokemon Gen 9 Project:
Scripts:
-Caruban
-Lucidious89
-Eskiss (Original Legend Plate script)
-StCooler (Original PLA Expansion script for Gen 8 Project in v18 and Status sprites)
-PorousMist and curryofthepast (Adapting the PLA Expansion script script for v19.1 use)

PBS:
-Caruban
-Lucidious89
-PorousMist (Updated the abilities, items, and moves description)
-DJChaos (TM Items)
-Futuresushi (Shortened abilities and moves description)

Pokemon Battler Sprites:
-Gen 1-5 Pokemon Sprites - veekun
-Gen 6 Pokemon Sprites - All Contributors To Smogon X/Y Sprite Project
-Gen 7 Pokemon Sprites - All Contributors To Smogon Sun/Moon Sprite Project
-Gen 8 Pokemon Sprites - All Contributors To Smogon Sword/Shield Sprite Project
-PLA Pokemon Sprites - Smogon Sprite Project
Blaquaza, KingOfThe-X-Roads, KattenK, Travis, G.E.Z., SpheX, Hematite, SelenaArmorclaw
-Gen 9 Pokemon Sprites - KingOfThe-X-Roads, Mak, Caruban, jinxed, leParagon, Sopita_Yorita, Azria, Mashirosakura,
JordanosArt, Abnayami, OldSoulja, Katten, Divaruta 666, Clara, Skyflyer, AshnixsLaw, ace_stryfe
-Gen 9 Vanilla style sprites - KingOfThe-X-Roads, Mak, Caruban, jinxed, leParagon, Sopita_Yorita, Azria, Mashirosakura, JordanosArt, Scept, NanaelJustice, SoyChim, KRLW890, AnonAlpaca, PokeJminer, Red7246, Carmanekko, Eduar, Lykeron, GriloKapu10, Mesayas, Erkey830, QDylm, PorousMist, OldSoulja, AlexandreV2.0, Z-nogyroP, lennybitao, Ruben1986, GRAFAIAIMX
Blaquaza, KattenK, Travis, G.E.Z., SpheX, Hematite

Pokemon Icon Sprites:
-Gen 1-6 Pokemon Icon Sprites - Alaguesia, harveydentmd
-Gen 7 Pokemon Icon Sprites - Marin, MapleBranchWing, Contributors to the DS Styled Gen 7+ Repository
-Gen 8 Icon Sprites - Larry Turbo, Leparagon
-Shiny Icon Sprites - StarrWolf, Pokemon Shattered Light Team
-PLA Pokemon Icon Sprites - LuigiTKO
-Gen 9 Icon Sprites - ezerart, JordanosArt
-PLA Vanilla Icon Sprites - LuigiTKO, Pikafan2000, Cesare_CBass, Vent, Cesare_Cbass, MultiDiegoDani, leParagon, JWNutz
and thanks for Pokémon Icons Act 2.9 - Teracristalizando
-Gen 9 Vanilla Icon Sprites - Vent, Katten, leParagon, Cesare_CBass, AlexandreV2.0, Carmanekko, GRAFAIAIMX
also thanks to Axel Loquendo, CarmaNekko, Divaruta 666, Okyo, JLauz735, and ClaraDragon for Iconos 9na Gen gba completos

Pokemon Gen 9 Overworld sprites:
-Gen 1-5 Pokemon Overworlds - MissingLukey, help-14, Kymoyonian, cSc-A7X, 2and2makes5, Pokegirl4ever, Fernandojl, Silver-Skies, TyranitarDark, Getsuei-H, Kid1513, Milomilotic11, Kyt666, kdiamo11, Chocosrawlooid, Syledude, Gallanty, Gizamimi-Pichu, 2and2makes5, Zyon17,LarryTurbo, spritesstealer, LarryTurbo
-Gen 6+ Berry Tree Overworlds - Anarlaurendil
-Gen 6 Pokemon Overworlds - princess-pheonix, LunarDusk, Wolfang62, TintjeMadelintje101, piphybuilder88
-Gen 7 Pokemon Overworlds - Larry Turbo, princess-pheonix
-Gen 8 Pokemon Overworlds - SageDeoxys, Wolfang62, LarryTurbo, tammyclaydon
-PLA Pokemon Overworlds - Boonzeet, DarkusShadow, princess-phoenix, Ezeart, WolfPP
-Gen 9 Pokemon Overworlds - Azria, DarkusShadow, EduarPokeN, Carmanekko, StarWolff, Caruban

Pokemon Footprints :
-Gen PLA-9 Pokemon Footprints - Caruban

Pokemon Cries:
-Gen 1-6 Pokemon Cries - Rhyden
-Gen 7 Pokemon Cries - Marin, Rhyden
-Gen 8 Pokemon Cries - Zeak6464
-PLA Pokemon Cries - Morningdew
-Gen 9 Pokemon Cries -
Edited from Lightblade Absol's Gen 9 Cries compilation video
Edited from HeroLinik's Pokemon Scarlet and Violet - Walking Wake and Iron Leaves Cries video
Edited from HeroLinik's Pokemon Scarlet and Violet - All Teal Mask Cries video

Item sprites:
-Gen 9 item sprites - lichenprincess, Caruban, jinxed
-PLA item sprites - AztecCroc, 3DJackArt, Caruban, lichenprincess

Pokeballs battle animation and summary icon:
-Caruban
-WolfPP (Beast ball battle animation)

Compilation of Resources:
-Gen 9 Pack - Caruban
-Gen 8/9 Resized Sprites - http404error
-Gen 8 Pack - Golisopod User, UberDunsparce


Phantombass - art, all other scripts and plug-ins not mentioned, mapping, events

ThatWelshOne_ - feedback, etc., and the Quest UI

Pokémon is owned by:
The Pokémon Company
Nintendo
Affiliated with Game Freak

This is a non-profit fan-made game.
No copyright infringements intended.
Please support the official games!

Download here:

Documentation

Expert Mode Documentation

Also join the Discord for updates and smaller patches between bigger updates!

 
Last edited:

Huey

Novice
Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2023
Posts
12
Is the hm dive available in the game, if yes where do I find it?
 

ThePokemonGuardian

Rookie
Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2023
Posts
5
Also, do you ever plan to add an easier difficulty? It would be great for people like me who would like a bit of an easier time playing through this game.
 

abusuhv

Rookie
Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2024
Posts
1
I am able to do two playthroughs at once or will it get rid of my last one after I save?
 

phantombass

Elite Trainer
Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2020
Posts
251
Does anyone know how to evolve Ursaring in Ursaluna?
There's a way to check evolutions in the summary screen. For that one use Peat Block. In Olivine Cafe
How to play on joiplay of possible
Best answer I have is join the discord. A bunch of people have asked there and gotten answers
I am able to do two playthroughs at once or will it get rid of my last one after I save?
Go to where your save data is stored and rename the Game file. Then you can make a new save. The game will use whatever save file is named Game as the one to pull game data from so you can have multiple saves
 

Zinkatron

Cooltrainer
Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2023
Posts
109
You can check how every mon in the game evolves by moving to a spot on the summary screen, hit confirm and then nav to the Evolution option and hit confirm again and it will tell you how the mon evolves:
 

Attachments

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Crikool13

Rookie
Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2024
Posts
4
How many have played through Gen 2 and thought: "Wow that would have been much better with a logical level curve." Or just wanted a remake of Johto with a higher difficulty? Welcome to Grueling Gold, a difficulty fan game of Gen 2, developed in v20.1 of Pokemon Essentials. Some things you'll find:

  • mega evolution, including some custom megas
  • updated base stats and movesets for normally underused Pokemon
  • competitively challenging boss battles, gym leaders and rivals
  • added story elements to combine the nostalgia with a fresh take
  • custom moves and abilities to give a more interesting competitive battling scene
  • 2 difficulty levels
  • an option to removing grinding and EVs
  • a nuzlocke option
  • A Dexnav that works with day and night cycle so you can chain hunt encounters for shinies or egg moves and hidden abilities
  • use of Essentials Deluxe to insert boss Pokémon and certain gimmicks within battles
  • a completely reworked and custom AI to optimize the battle experience and make the game actually difficult
  • Pokémon from gens 1-9 (DLC mons released as of 2.0! Kanto later!)
  • a fully working randomizer that can randomize encounters, static and gift mons, trainer teams, level up moves, abilities and base stats
  • Expert mode now plays a good bit differently from normal mode! (1.2.0 update)

This first main release completes the Johto story with a Kanto post-game to follow at a later date.

Credits
"Pokémon Essentials" was created by:
Flameguru
Poccil (Peter O.)
Maruno

With contributions from:
AvatarMonkeyKirby, Marin, Boushy, MiDas Mike, Brother1440, Near Fantastica, FL., PinkMan, Genzai Kawakami, Popper, help-14, Rataime, IceGod64, SoundSpawn, Jacob O. Wobbrock, the__end, KitsuneKouta, Venom12, Lisa Anthony, Wachunga, Luka S.J., and everyone else who helped out

"mkxp-z" by:
Roza
Based on "mkxp" by Ancurio et al.

"RPG Maker XP" by:
Enterbrain

Plug-ins:
Marin
Maruno
Luka-SJ
Golisopod User
Voltseon
Boonzeet
Nuri Yuri
Mej 71
derFischae
Carmaniac
Avery
Kleinstudio

Ekat & Idilio- tilesets

Pokemon Gen 9 Project:
Scripts:
-Caruban
-Lucidious89
-Eskiss (Original Legend Plate script)
-StCooler (Original PLA Expansion script for Gen 8 Project in v18 and Status sprites)
-PorousMist and curryofthepast (Adapting the PLA Expansion script script for v19.1 use)

PBS:
-Caruban
-Lucidious89
-PorousMist (Updated the abilities, items, and moves description)
-DJChaos (TM Items)
-Futuresushi (Shortened abilities and moves description)

Pokemon Battler Sprites:
-Gen 1-5 Pokemon Sprites - veekun
-Gen 6 Pokemon Sprites - All Contributors To Smogon X/Y Sprite Project
-Gen 7 Pokemon Sprites - All Contributors To Smogon Sun/Moon Sprite Project
-Gen 8 Pokemon Sprites - All Contributors To Smogon Sword/Shield Sprite Project
-PLA Pokemon Sprites - Smogon Sprite Project
Blaquaza, KingOfThe-X-Roads, KattenK, Travis, G.E.Z., SpheX, Hematite, SelenaArmorclaw
-Gen 9 Pokemon Sprites - KingOfThe-X-Roads, Mak, Caruban, jinxed, leParagon, Sopita_Yorita, Azria, Mashirosakura,
JordanosArt, Abnayami, OldSoulja, Katten, Divaruta 666, Clara, Skyflyer, AshnixsLaw, ace_stryfe
-Gen 9 Vanilla style sprites - KingOfThe-X-Roads, Mak, Caruban, jinxed, leParagon, Sopita_Yorita, Azria, Mashirosakura, JordanosArt, Scept, NanaelJustice, SoyChim, KRLW890, AnonAlpaca, PokeJminer, Red7246, Carmanekko, Eduar, Lykeron, GriloKapu10, Mesayas, Erkey830, QDylm, PorousMist, OldSoulja, AlexandreV2.0, Z-nogyroP, lennybitao, Ruben1986, GRAFAIAIMX
Blaquaza, KattenK, Travis, G.E.Z., SpheX, Hematite

Pokemon Icon Sprites:
-Gen 1-6 Pokemon Icon Sprites - Alaguesia, harveydentmd
-Gen 7 Pokemon Icon Sprites - Marin, MapleBranchWing, Contributors to the DS Styled Gen 7+ Repository
-Gen 8 Icon Sprites - Larry Turbo, Leparagon
-Shiny Icon Sprites - StarrWolf, Pokemon Shattered Light Team
-PLA Pokemon Icon Sprites - LuigiTKO
-Gen 9 Icon Sprites - ezerart, JordanosArt
-PLA Vanilla Icon Sprites - LuigiTKO, Pikafan2000, Cesare_CBass, Vent, Cesare_Cbass, MultiDiegoDani, leParagon, JWNutz
and thanks for Pokémon Icons Act 2.9 - Teracristalizando
-Gen 9 Vanilla Icon Sprites - Vent, Katten, leParagon, Cesare_CBass, AlexandreV2.0, Carmanekko, GRAFAIAIMX
also thanks to Axel Loquendo, CarmaNekko, Divaruta 666, Okyo, JLauz735, and ClaraDragon for Iconos 9na Gen gba completos

Pokemon Gen 9 Overworld sprites:
-Gen 1-5 Pokemon Overworlds - MissingLukey, help-14, Kymoyonian, cSc-A7X, 2and2makes5, Pokegirl4ever, Fernandojl, Silver-Skies, TyranitarDark, Getsuei-H, Kid1513, Milomilotic11, Kyt666, kdiamo11, Chocosrawlooid, Syledude, Gallanty, Gizamimi-Pichu, 2and2makes5, Zyon17,LarryTurbo, spritesstealer, LarryTurbo
-Gen 6+ Berry Tree Overworlds - Anarlaurendil
-Gen 6 Pokemon Overworlds - princess-pheonix, LunarDusk, Wolfang62, TintjeMadelintje101, piphybuilder88
-Gen 7 Pokemon Overworlds - Larry Turbo, princess-pheonix
-Gen 8 Pokemon Overworlds - SageDeoxys, Wolfang62, LarryTurbo, tammyclaydon
-PLA Pokemon Overworlds - Boonzeet, DarkusShadow, princess-phoenix, Ezeart, WolfPP
-Gen 9 Pokemon Overworlds - Azria, DarkusShadow, EduarPokeN, Carmanekko, StarWolff, Caruban

Pokemon Footprints :
-Gen PLA-9 Pokemon Footprints - Caruban

Pokemon Cries:
-Gen 1-6 Pokemon Cries - Rhyden
-Gen 7 Pokemon Cries - Marin, Rhyden
-Gen 8 Pokemon Cries - Zeak6464
-PLA Pokemon Cries - Morningdew
-Gen 9 Pokemon Cries -
Edited from Lightblade Absol's Gen 9 Cries compilation video
Edited from HeroLinik's Pokemon Scarlet and Violet - Walking Wake and Iron Leaves Cries video
Edited from HeroLinik's Pokemon Scarlet and Violet - All Teal Mask Cries video

Item sprites:
-Gen 9 item sprites - lichenprincess, Caruban, jinxed
-PLA item sprites - AztecCroc, 3DJackArt, Caruban, lichenprincess

Pokeballs battle animation and summary icon:
-Caruban
-WolfPP (Beast ball battle animation)

Compilation of Resources:
-Gen 9 Pack - Caruban
-Gen 8/9 Resized Sprites - http404error
-Gen 8 Pack - Golisopod User, UberDunsparce


Phantombass - art, all other scripts and plug-ins not mentioned, mapping, events

ThatWelshOne_ - feedback, etc., and the Quest UI

Pokémon is owned by:
The Pokémon Company
Nintendo
Affiliated with Game Freak

This is a non-profit fan-made game.
No copyright infringements intended.
Please support the official games!

Download here:

Documentation

Also join the Discord for updates and smaller patches between bigger updates!

Where do you get Riolu normal mode? Also there’s a cave blocked by what looks like dive on route 47, any way to access that cave or dive hm?
 

ItsHighNoot

Rookie
Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2024
Posts
1
I'm trying to extract the file, yet all I'm getting is a shortcut link when extracted. No .exe file or any other documentation I can see in my unzipping program.
 

Krys

Rookie
Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2024
Posts
2
Really want to play, but on boot it tells me I have to install ".NET Core", not sure what to do. It asks me if I want to download it now and I click yes then it closes with no download.
 

Zinkatron

Cooltrainer
Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2023
Posts
109
.NET lets the game update for you so you don't have to download and patch the game yourself every time. People were struggling to do this, so PB implemented this to circumvent the issues. If you don't have .NET, follow this link: https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/3.1

And download these 2 (Hosting Bundle of the ASP.NET Core, x64 of the .NET Desktop):

image.png
 

HeyitsNyixie

Rookie
Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2024
Posts
1
I downloaded the game but the only file I have is this shortcut file
Screenshot 2024-03-19 230130.png

When I try to open the file location windows says it can't find it.
 

Zinkatron

Cooltrainer
Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2023
Posts
109
In your toolbar, hit the "view" dropdown, go down to where it says "show", and then tick "hidden items". Dev accidentally left the game folder hidden before compiling. I believe the next download will fix this but until that happens you'll have to navigate to the hidden items like so.
 

Krys

Rookie
Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2024
Posts
2
.NET lets the game update for you so you don't have to download and patch the game yourself every time. People were struggling to do this, so PB implemented this to circumvent the issues. If you don't have .NET, follow this link: https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/3.1

And download these 2 (Hosting Bundle of the ASP.NET Core, x64 of the .NET Desktop):

image.png
I installed both of these and it worked! Thanks so much!
 
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