Pokémon FireRed: Rocket Edition
A complete villain-perspective FireRed story where a Team Rocket recruit steals Pokémon, rises through the organisation and uncovers the darker events happening alongside Red's Kanto journey.
Straight answers
- What is the latest verified version of Pokémon FireRed: Rocket Edition?
- 1.0.2. Developer release date: 2020-04-09. Pocket Radar last checked the developer sources on 2026-09-23. A source check is not proof that the project changed on that date.
- What changed in the most recent release?
- Latest recorded timeline entry: 2026-09-23 — Canonical profile added. Pocket Radar separated the original completed FireRed project from Dragonsden's later Emerald-based Team Rocket Edition and preserved unsupported mechanics as unknown. This entry may record a source check rather than a new release.
- How do I update Pokémon FireRed: Rocket Edition?
- Re-patch a clean, unmodified base ROM you already own, following the developer's instructions. Save compatibility between versions is determined by the developer's release notes; do not assume saves carry over. Developer release notes
- Is Pokémon FireRed: Rocket Edition finished?
- Status: complete. Campaign: Complete. Version 1.0.2 reaches the credits and ends shortly afterwards; the creator labels it the completed version.
- Which base game does Pokémon FireRed: Rocket Edition need?
- Base game: Pokémon FireRed v1.0 — 1636 Pokémon Fire Red (U)(Squirrels). Patch format: IPS patch distributed through the creator's PokéCommunity thread
- Which starter Pokémon can you choose?
- Not yet verified
- Where is the official documentation?
- colonelsalt's public source repository
- Which platforms and emulators are confirmed?
- The creator recommends VBA-M on Windows and My Boy on Android. · Use only FireRed v1.0/1636 Squirrels as the legal base; FireRed v1.1 is incompatible. · Keep regular in-game saves because the documented Fly-versus-Koffing/Weezing crash remains possible. · Pocket Radar links only creator-owned project pages and source code, never a ROM, direct IPS file, prepatched game or mirror.
- Is Pokémon FireRed: Rocket Edition complete?
- Yes. colonelsalt labels version 1.0.2 the completed version. It reaches the credits and ends shortly afterwards.
- Can you steal Pokémon in FireRed: Rocket Edition?
- Yes. After defeating a Trainer, you can steal one of their Pokémon. Your Team Rocket rank determines which Trainer classes you are allowed to steal from.
- Is FireRed: Rocket Edition the same as Dragonsden's Team Rocket Edition?
- No. This is colonelsalt's completed FireRed-based Kanto story. Dragonsden's separate Emerald-based project is active and extends its current English story through Kanto, Sevii and Johto.
- What base ROM does FireRed: Rocket Edition need?
- The creator requires Pokémon FireRed v1.0, specifically the 1636 Pokémon Fire Red (U)(Squirrels) base. FireRed v1.1 will not work. Pocket Radar does not provide the ROM or direct patch file.
- Does FireRed: Rocket Edition use modern mechanics?
- The creator documents Fairy type, the modern physical/special split and attacks from Generations 4–6. That does not establish a full later-generation Pokémon roster, so broader species coverage remains unclaimed.
- Which emulators are recommended for FireRed: Rocket Edition?
- The creator recommends VBA-M on Windows and My Boy on Android. A documented battle crash can occur when using Fly against Koffing or Weezing.
- Does Pocket Radar provide a ROM download?
- No. Pocket Radar links only to developer-owned project, release and source-code pages. It never hosts or links ROMs, BIOS files, prepatched games or unofficial mirrors.
What kind of adventure is it?
While Red begins the familiar journey from Pallet Town, the player starts inside Kanto's criminal underworld as a Team Rocket recruit. Missions, rank progression and branching sidequests reveal a parallel story involving Giovanni, Lance, Professor Oak, Mewtwo and the consequences of Red's victories.
The details that change your playthrough
Kanto
Complete. Version 1.0.2 reaches the credits and ends shortly afterwards; the creator labels it the completed version.
A story-led FireRed remix. The creator does not publish formal difficulty modes or an official difficulty rating.
Complete Kanto campaign; the creator does not publish an official hour estimate.
The final game includes original tracks and remixes credited by the creator, including title, boss, Cinnabar and Professor Oak battle music.
Why it stands out
- Steal one Pokémon from every defeated Trainer, with more Trainer classes opening as your Rocket rank rises
- A complete Kanto story that runs parallel to FireRed and reframes familiar characters and events
- A morality system and branching criminal sidequests reward different choices
- Generation 6-style Fairy typing, physical/special split and later-generation attacks modernise battles
- Indoor running, early Fly access and reduced cave and water encounter rates improve the original interface
Known limits
- Use only the exact FireRed v1.0/1636 Squirrels base; the creator states that other FireRed versions will not patch correctly
- Using Fly in battle against Koffing or Weezing can crash the game
- The surfing sprite can occasionally display incorrectly until the screen is refreshed
- Exact obtainable-species coverage, Fakemon status, starter choice, EXP Share behaviour and the complete HM system are Not yet verified
- This is the completed colonelsalt FireRed project, not Dragonsden's separate Emerald-based Team Rocket Edition
What feels better than the base game?
- Run indoors and outdoors from the start
- Use Fly for travel from the beginning of the journey
- Reduced encounter rates in caves and water
- Modern physical/special split and Fairy type
Players who want the original completed Team Rocket story hack, a darker parallel version of FireRed and a stealing mechanic tied directly to Rocket rank.
Choose Dragonsden's separate Team Rocket Edition if you specifically want a longer active project covering Kanto, Sevii and Johto, Mega Evolution and broader modern-generation content.
Before you update or start
- The creator recommends VBA-M on Windows and My Boy on Android.
- Use only FireRed v1.0/1636 Squirrels as the legal base; FireRed v1.1 is incompatible.
- Keep regular in-game saves because the documented Fly-versus-Koffing/Weezing crash remains possible.
- Pocket Radar links only creator-owned project pages and source code, never a ROM, direct IPS file, prepatched game or mirror.
Safe patch boundary
- Open only the developer-owned source or release page linked below.
- Read the bundled instructions and verify version, base game and patch format: IPS patch distributed through the creator's PokéCommunity thread.
- Use your own legally obtained copy of the required base game: Pokémon FireRed v1.0 — 1636 Pokémon Fire Red (U)(Squirrels).
- Back up the in-game save before changing a patched build.
ROM files, BIOS files, prepatched games, mirrors and unofficial download bundles.
Open the official patch source Open the complete safe patching guide Compare all three installation modelsWhat changed, and when?
- Completed version 1.0.2
colonelsalt released the completed campaign with an IPS patch for the exact FireRed v1.0/1636 Squirrels base.
- Minor dialogue edit
The creator recorded a minor dialogue edit without changing the verified 1.0.2 version label.
- Canonical profile added
Pocket Radar separated the original completed FireRed project from Dragonsden's later Emerald-based Team Rocket Edition and preserved unsupported mechanics as unknown.
colonelsalt
colonelsalt's official website, PokéCommunity thread and GitHub repository agree that FireRed: Rocket Edition is a completed FireRed ROM hack. The thread verifies version 1.0.2, the 2020-04-09 release, 2021 dialogue edit, exact FireRed v1.0/1636 Squirrels base, IPS format, completion boundary, recommended emulators, known bugs, stealing system, morality choices and Gen VI-style mechanics. Unsupported roster, Fakemon, starter, EXP Share and broader HM claims remain UNKNOWN. This record is kept distinct from Dragonsden's Emerald-based Team Rocket Edition.