Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver beta

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, as remakes of Pokémon Gold and Silver, implemented redone elements of the original games. Nonetheless, as individual games, they have gone through similar stages of development as all the other main series games.

Universal development leftovers

Sprites

CoroCoro's editions containing pre-release information of the games depicted earlier sprites for Silver, Chikorita, Pikachu and Pikachu-colored Pichu. Chikorita's leaf was darker.

An earlier back sprite for Ethan was also shown. His hair was slightly different and there was a symbol on his hat. There is also a prototype sprite for Lugia.

Earlier screenshots also depict the Slowpoke Well with a Team Rocket Grunt standing where Proton is in the final release, as was the case with the original Pokémon Gold and Silver. Another screenshot depicts the Mystri Stage in the Sinjoh Ruins with the three circles being identically colored. In the final release, they have three different colors specific to each circle.

Cyndaquil's front sprite in the opening of the games is different from its front sprite used during regular gameplay.

Ethan's prototype back sprite	Silver's prototype front sprite	Chikorita's prototype front sprite	Pikachu's prototype front sprite	Pikachu-colored Pichu's prototype front sprite

Prototype battle screen, showing Ethan's and Silver's aforementioned sprites	Slowpoke Well, lacking Proton	Earlier version of the Mystri Stage, a platform in the Sinjoh Ruins used for summoning one of the Sinnoh game mascots.

Items

All items present in the programming code of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and Pokémon Platinum are found in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, in addition to the latter's exclusive items. Unused items within HeartGold and SoulSilver's programming code include:

• Photo Album, a key item for storing photos. It was replaced with photo storage integration in the PC;
• SlowpokeTail, an expensive but useless item. It makes a comeback from the original games and can be obtained through modification of the saved game but it has no function. Interestingly, it was made a key item (it was a regular item in the Generation II games).

Debugging features

The same debugging tools found in the programming code of Pokémon Platinum are also present in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Localization-specific findings

Due to legal issues related with gambling, the interior design of both Goldenrod and Celadon Game Corners was completely overhauled in all non-Japanese releases of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. However, the original design is still present within the programming code of the localized releases, despite being severely limited, since most dialogue scripts were removed (with the exception of the Coin purchase interface, which is still completely functional and translated) and the slot machine interface pointers are redirected to the Voltorb Flip interface instead.

Beta versions of Pokémon games

Generation I Red and Green • Yellow Generation II Gold and Silver (Spaceworld '97 demo) • Crystal Generation III Ruby and Sapphire • FireRed and LeafGreen • Emerald • Colosseum • XD Generation IV Diamond and Pearl • Platinum • HeartGold and SoulSilver Generation V Black and White • Black 2 and White 2 Generation VI X and Y • Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Generation VII Sun and Moon • Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Generation VIII Sword and Shield Unreleased Pokémon Picross

This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.