Pokémon Gold and Silver’s Satoru Iwata saved the game with Earthbound’s code

The Pokemon series is no stranger to rumours, and it seems like some from the Gold and Silver era may be getting debunked at long last. Fans have speculated about the contributions of Satoru Iwata for years, and the truth may be stranger than fiction with the Pokemon games sharing DNA with an unlikely title.

A recent video from DidYouKnowGaming has shed light on old rumours about Satoru Iwata's involvement in Pokemon Gold and Silver. Originally believed to be behind the Kanto and Johto region fitting into the tiny cartridges of Pokemon Gold and Silver, the deep dive has revealed that Iwata's famous 'compression algorithm' actually targeted the game's speed.

Ironically, the iconic game designer’s code actually seems to have increased the overall size of the Game Boy games. For decades, Iwata’s work on the game was deemed the only way Kanto could fit in the game.

Most interestingly, it seems the code used to make the game slightly faster was actually repurposed from his previous title, Earthbound. The video goes on to explain that the algorithm featured in many other HAL labs games, too.

click to enlarge

Credit: DidYouKnowGaming

Reusing code in game development isn't unusual. The old saying about reinventing the wheel comes to mind, as writing new code to do the exact same thing you've done previously is a Sisyphean waste of time and money. Still, it's interesting to see that the two franchises have technically come together before sharing the spotlight in Super Smash Bros Brawl.

Another rumour debunked in the video is the claim that Gold and Silver were supposed to be the last Pokemon games ever. The series is no stranger to rumours - anyone who tried pulling a Mew out from under that truck will know it all too well - but it's fascinating to see how many old claims are still widely believed today.

Read More: How to get Mew in Pokemon Stadium

The original Pokemon Gold and Silver are playable via Gameboy Colour. For more Pokemon, check out our guide to getting shiny Pokemon in Pokemon Sleep.