Type of Hack
From Data Crystal
Hacks can be categorized into many different types depending on what kind of data they alter:
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[edit] Graphics Hack
A hack in which there have been changes made to one or more graphics in the game. Tile editing, sprite hacks, and title screen hacks all fit into this category.
[edit] Sprite Hack
A hack in which one or more sprites have been modified. This is arguably the easiest hack to make, as sprites are often uncompressed and easy to edit using utilities like Tile Layer Pro.
[edit] Palette Hack
A hack in which one or more palettes have been modified. The purpose of these hacks is usually to give the game a more aesthetically pleasing overall color scheme.
[edit] Level Hack
A hack in which there have been changes made to one or more of the levels of a game. Obviously, this type is only applicable to hacks of platformers, first person shooters, or other games which have levels in them.
[edit] Easy/Hard Type Hack
A hack in which the difficulty of the original game has been changed. A hacker attempting an easy or hardtype hack of an RPG may choose to edit the enemy stats, enemy spawn frequencies, item drop frequencies, item prices, experience points required to level up, etc.
[edit] Battle Hack
A hack in which the player exclusively plays through a series of battles against opponents. Obviously, this kind of hack only applies to games of the RPG genre. A player may be given the opportunity to do some limited things outside of battle, such as healing, buying new weapons, adding/removing party members, or choosing whom or what to battle. A good example for this kind of hack is Chrono Trigger Coliseum.
[edit] Story Hack
A hack in which the story of the original game has been changed. This kind of hack can be thought of as a combination of other types of hacks. For instance, a hacker may choose to change the sprites, text, and levels in Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past to change the story of the game. Story hacks can also change the focus of the game to a different type of gameplay, ie: Hat Quest.
[edit] ASM Hack
A hack in which the programming of the original game has been altered. A hacker may choose to make an ASM hack in order to add new features that would be very difficult or impossible to add using other methods exclusively. For instance, a hacker may choose to create a new power-up in Super Mario Bros. 3 by altering the programming.
[edit] Mature Hack
A hack which may contain any number of several different types of changes based on other types of hacks (Pallette hacks, sprite/graphics hacks, level hacks, asm hacks, etc.), and one in which themes of an adult/mature nature have taken precedence within the game. These may include, but are not limited to: sexual innuendos and references, drugs and/or alcohol, inappropriate and/or vulgar use of language, overly graphic violence, and sick, twisted, and/or dark humor.
[edit] Religious Hack
A hack which contains religious material that is a key factor to the storyline and plot of the game. Sometimes references to the religion(s) used in this game are used to deepen the gaming experience.
[edit] Dystopian Hack
A hack which takes place in a dystopian environment. Sometimes references to dystopian movies, books, plays, and/or TV series are used to increase the dystopian experience.
[edit] General Improvement Hack
A hack which may contain any number of several different types of changes based on other types of hacks (Pallette hacks, sprite/graphics hacks, level hacks, asm hacks, etc.) but one in which the general overall premise of the original game has been retained and kept the same. This type of hack is one step short of a "Complete Rewrite", and it serves the purpose of greatly improving upon the original game while keeping it's basic premise intact. A hack of a game that eliminates or otherwise nullifies the effects of glitches left in by the original programmers also qualifies as a "General Improvement Hack".
[edit] Complete Rewrite
A hack which contains any number of several different types of changes based on other types of hacks (Pallette hacks, sprite/graphics hacks, level hacks, asm hack, etc.) and one in which the general overall premise of the original game has been completely altered, thus in essence creating a new game based on the original game engine. Zelda Challenge:Outlands by GameMakr24 based on the original Legend of Zelda is such a hack.
