Version 1.1

Gameplay

• Fixed an oddly specific but pernicious bug where the game would freeze whenever a Gym Trainer would walk one or more tiles to approach the player.
• Revised several dialogue segments.
• Accounted for a BST increase on Tangela, so now it is only Alakazam, Mew, and Mewtwo who do not feature a BST increase in this ROMhack.

Version 1.0

Pokémon Scientist is a comprehensive reimagining of Pokémon Blue from the perspective of one of Professor Oak’s research aides. Nearly every aspect of the game has been revisited, from battle mechanics and trainer teams to story progression and quality-of-life improvements.

Gameplay

• Complete rebalance of Pokémon learnsets
• Nearly every trainer battle has been redesigned
• Most wild encounter tables have been reworked
• Numerous Pokémon have new typings (including Charizard as Fire/Dragon)
• Complete overhaul of move balance, typing, and functionality
• New type chart
• Revised item availability, TM distribution, Gym Leader rewards, and shop prices
• Revised in-game trades
• The Daycare can now breed a Pokémon if you leave a Pokémon with them for long enough
• Added a Tradeback NPC to the Celadon Department Store
• Unlockable roaming Level 70 Mew encounter
• All other legendary Pokémon are now post-Elite Four encounters
• Legendary birds are now Level 80, while Mewtwo is Level 90
• Challenge Gym Leaders to a rematch post-Elite Four
• Challenge Prof. Oak when you complete the endgame

Battle & Engine Improvements

• Focus Energy bug fixed
• Critical hit mechanics corrected
• Poison and Leech Seed now deal 1/8 maximum HP each turn
• Haze now affects only the user’s side of the field
• OHKO moves no longer fail simply because the user is slower
• Improved Trainer AI
• Several moves now feature new or enhanced secondary effects
• Stat EXP has been removed to create more consistent battle difficulty
• Participating Pokémon each receive the full amount of experience instead of splitting it
• EXP.ALL has been completely redesigned to award experience as though every party member participated in battle
• EXP.ALL no longer interrupts battles with repeated experience messages

Story

• Play as one of Professor Oak’s research aides
• Choose between Grimer, Magnemite, and Koffing as your starter Pokémon
• Your rival now begins with Porygon
• Celadon Mansion has been transformed into a Radio Tower
• A communications outage replaces the original Saffron guard progression
• Over 100 rewritten scripts and dialogue sequences
• NPC dialogue has been rewritten to reflect your role as a scientist
• Gym Leaders and other major characters feature expanded dialogue

Quality of Life

• TMs do not expire upon use
• HM moves can be forgotten
• HM moves can be used directly by interacting with overworld objects
• HM badge restrictions have been removed
• Flash can be used in more locations, but these locations have been made dim instead of completely dark (making overworld use of Flash purely cosmetic)
• Press B to run at double speed
• After obtaining HM02 (Fly), you can travel to nearly every accessible destination
• Pokédex entries are recorded immediately upon seeing a Pokémon; this has the advantage of allowing you to see Pokémon nests after encountering a Pokémon, rather than only after catching it
• A PHONE has been added to the Start Menu, allowing remote access to Pokémon PC functions

Visual Improvements

• Built upon dannye’s Generation 2 graphics branch of pokered
• New title screen
• New splash screen
• Scientist player sprites
• Updated Pokémon palettes
• Improved Super Game Boy palette support and border
• 151 Pokémon icons (credit Blue Emerald, Chamber_, Soloo993, et al.)