GBA Linkage Support for NDS Roms
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[edit] Introduction
Some games have extra features that can only be accessed by plugging in an older GBA game (usually a prequel) into the GBA slot, as you can guess, this presents a problem as the M3 uses the GBA slot. Fortunately, the M3 makers have prepared for this problem.
If the game is recognized as supporting this, you can "Link" the GBA rom to the DS rom, using the M3 Game Manager. Put the GBA rom on your flash card in the same directory as the DS rom will go, and when using the M3 Game Manager to copy the DS rom to your flash-card, select the "Linkage" tab, select the "NDS/GBA Linkage enable" option, if the DS rom is recognized as supporting Linkage, the text "Is a known DS linkage game" will appear below.
Now, after your roms are copied, boot your DS, now select the GBA rom, and press the "A" button *ONCE*, it will appear to do nothing, this will select the GBA rom for linkage. Now load your DS rom as usual, however, now the GBA rom will be "inserted" in the GBA slot and you will get the special features.
The complete list of supported games can be found by opening the M3 Game Manager's executable in a Hex Editor. Searching for "castle" will take you to the thick of it. It only stores the games header name, for example, the European version of Castlevania's Header Name is "CASTLEVANIA1ACVP", and can be found in the M3 Game Manager executable as "ACVP-CASTLEVANIA1". DO NOT ALTER THE M3 GAME MANAGER EXECUTABLE!
[edit] Hex Editing the M3 Game Manager Executable
Having said that, Hexing the M3GM exe works. There are unknown variables in this equation, BUT, I done this....
NOTE: SAVE A COPY OF THE EXECUTABLE FIRST. Rename the extension .bak or something.
As Megaman ZX (nds) is 64Mb, and Megaman Zero 3 (gba) is 8Mb, I chose Castlevania (which is 64Mb), and is GBA equivalent is 8Mb. Search the M3GM for "ACVP-CASTLEVANIA1", and change it to "ARZE-MEGAMANZX " - SPACES INCLUDED, and change "A2CP-CASTLEVANIA2" (the GBA rom name) to "BZ3E-MEGAMANZERO3". Now, close your hex editor, and use the M3 Game Manager to copy the roms as usual. Megaman ZX will now be recognized as supporting Linkage (heheheh). Yes you read correctly, despite not being supported, Megaman can be linked!!!!
To get multiple ROMs linkage to one NDS Rom that the Game Manager does not inherently support, try editing the entries for Advance Wars : Dual Strike (AWRE-ADVANCEWARSE is the NDS rom). We have confirmed that Megaman Battle Network 5 - Double Team DS (as of Game Manager v32) works with this method, even though the ROMs I tested with are of far greater size then the ROMs assigned to Advance Wars : Dual Strike. You may get other linkage ROMs working this way too. Please note the header entries in the M3 Game Manager must altogether be 17 characters each. Give trailing spaces when the characters after the dash do not add up to 12.
[edit] How to Post
NOTICE:
Please post in this way:
Top rom have a full linkage support, middle doesn't support linkage yet and bottom is untested.
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xxxx | Supported Roms (J) (Trashman) | 2.7a | 2.7 | SD/CF | Full Linkage Support |
| xxxx | Unsupported Roms (U) (Trashman) | 2.7a | 2.7 | SD/CF | Not Working |
| xxxx | Untested Roms (J) (Trashman) | SD/CF | Untested |
GBA Game:
- XXXX - GBA GAME
Special Features:
- Features
[edit] Working - GBA Linkage
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0026 | Pokemon Dash (U) (Trashman) | 31 | 35 | SD | Full Linkage Support |
| 0057 | Pokemon Dash (J) (Squirrels) | 28 | 28 | SD | Full Linkage Support |
GBA Game:
- 0757 - Pokemon Sapphire (J) / 2128 - Pokemon Sapphire v1.1 (J)
- 0760 - Pokemon Ruby (J) / 2127 - Pokemon Ruby v1.1(J)
- 0898 - Pokemon Sapphire (U)
- 0907 - Pokemon Ruby (U)
- 1360 - Pokemon FireRed (J)
- 1362 - Pokemon LeafGreen (J)
- 1636 - Pokemon FireRed (U)
- 1637 - Pokemon LeafGreen (U)
- 1649 - Pokemon Emerald (J)
- 1989 - Pokemon Emerald (U)
Special Features:
- Available to choose GBA courses after RegularGP cleared.
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0088 | Advance Wars - Dual Strike (U)(Lube) | 31 | 35 | SD | Full Linkage Support |
| 0111 | Advance Wars - Dual Strike (E)(FCT) | Full Linkage Support |
GBA Game:
- 0095 - Advance Wars (U)(Mode7) / 0299 - Advance Wars v1.1 (U) (X-Syte)
- 1060 - Advance Wars 2 - Black Hole Rising (U)(Mode7)
- 0263 - Advance Wars (E)(Arrogance)
- 1155 - Advance Wars 2 - Black Hole Rising (E)(Surplus)
Special Features:
- New maps can be bought for 1 point in the Battle Maps Shop.
- Advance Wars unlocks Advance Warpaper, Hachi's Land and Nell's Land.
- Advance Wars 2 unlocks Advance Warpaper 2, Lash's Land and Strum's Land.
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0094 | Akumajou Dracula - Aoitsuki no Juujika (J) (WRG) | 29 | 29 | SD/CF | Full Linkage Support |
| 0105 | Castlevania - Dawn of Sorrow (E) (Legacy) | 29 | 29 | SD/CF | Full Linkage Support |
| 0121 | Castlevania - Dawn of Sorrow (U) (Legacy) | 29 | 29 | SD/CF | Full Linkage Support |
GBA Game:
- 0996 - Castlevania - Akatsuki no Minuet (J) (Eurasia)
- 0997 - Castlevania - Aria of Sorrow (E) (Eurasia)
- 0999 - Castlevania - Aria of Sorrow (U) (GBATemp)
Special Features:
- A Mina Doll appears in the background of Yoko's shop.
- You will receive the Rare Ring upon starting a new game.
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0186 | Gyakuten Saiban: Yomigaeru Gyakuten (J) (Trashman) | 34D | 35 | SD | Full Linkage Support |
GBA Game:
- 0140 - Gyakuten Saiban v1.0 (J)
- 2136 - Gyakuten Saiban v1.1 (J)
- 0140 - Gyakuten Saiban (Chinese translated ver.) (jpgmfan+NZACE)
Special Features:
- Unlocks all old Cases.
- Unlocks the 5th additional Case.
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0415 | MegaMan Battle Network 5 - Double Team DS (E) | 34d | 35 | SD | Full Linkage Support |
GBA Game:
- 0249 - Megaman Battle Network (E)
- 0694 - Megaman Battle Network 2 (E)
- 1187 - Megaman Battle Network 3 White (E)
- 1204 - Megaman Battle Network 3 Blue (E)
- 1419 - Megaman Battle Chip Challenge (E)
- 1884 - Megaman Battle Network 4 Red Sun (E)
- 1894 - Megaman Battle Network 4 Blue Moon (E)
- 2013 - Boktai 2 - Solar Boy Django (E) (M5)
- 2016 - Megaman Battle Network 5 Team Colonel (E)
- 2017 - Megaman Battle Network 5 Team Protoman (E)
Megaman Battle Network 1-4 and Megaman Battle Chip Challenge untested, but should work.
Special Features:
- Adds BassCross for Battle Network 5 GBA and SolCross for Boktai 1/2.
- ForteXX should appear instead of ForteSP (not confirmed).
- Import Active Folder from your Battle Network 5 GBA game as an uneditable folder (not confirmed).
- Megaman Battle Network 1-4 and Megaman Battle Chip Challenge each give different bonuses, ranging from chips to zenny, and each change the battle music theme for Megaman. Battle Network 3-5 give the same bonuses for each version.
Note: Rockman Battle Network 4.5 - Real Operation (J) also gives its own special bonus, but it may only work with the Japanese cartridges (yet untested).
Hex Editing: (required for MGM v32 or lower)
Header: BRBP-MEGAMAN5_TP_
Game: 2016 - Megaman Battle Network 5 Team Protoman (E)
Header*: U32P-BOKTAI2 Game: 2013 - Boktai 2 - Solar Boy Django (E)
Header: A5TP-MEGAMANBN5DS Game: 0415 - MegaMan Battle Network 5 - Double Team DS (E)
Note* - four trailing spaces, header in MGM MUST be 17 characters
Note: See hexing information for directions. Use at your own risk. Make backups of the executable. Its easy to see if it works, since Megaman Battle Network 5 - Double Team explicitly says it detects the GBA cartridge inserted.
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0556 | Megaman ZX (U) (Legacy) | 30 | 30 | SD | WORKS! Hexing required! |
GBA Game:
- 1702 - Megaman Zero 3 (U)
- 2166 - Megaman Zero 4 (U)
not tested with Megaman Zero 4
Special Features:
- Adds more bosses - Access the doors in Area N1
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0626 | Gyakuten Saiban 2 (J) (WRG) | 29 | 29 | SD/CF | Full Linkage Support |
GBA Game:
- 0674 - Gyakuten Saiban 2 (J)
- 0674 - Gyakuten Saiban 2 (Chinese translated ver.) (CGP)
Special Features:
- Unlocks all Cases.
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0870 | Super Robot Taisen W (J) (2CH) | 31 | 31b | SD/CF | Full Linkage Support |
GBA Game:
- 0111 - Super Robot Taisen A (J) / 0350 - Super Robot Taisen A (C) (Unl)
- 0514 - Super Robot Taisen R (J)
- 0747 - Super Robot Taisen - Original Generation (J)
- 1120 - Super Robot Taisen D (J)
- 1879 - Super Robot Taisen - Original Generation 2 (J)
- 2131 - Super Robot Taisen J (J)
- XXXX(1939) - Famicom Mini: Dai 2 Ji Super Robot Taisen (J) (Bundled with Super Robot Taisen GC)
Special Features:
- Get money and parts on "LOAD". Newer GBA version for more money and more powerful parts. (Linking with Famicom Mini SRW2 gets the most)
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1342 | Gyakuten Saiban 3 (J) (Xenophobia) | 34D | 35 | SD | Full Linkage Support |
GBA Game:
- 1357 - Gyakuten Saiban 3 (J)
- 1357 - Gyakuten Saiban 3 (Chinese translated ver.) (CGP v1.02)
- 1357 - Gyakuten Saiban 3 (Chinese translated ver.) (NZACE) Although this stuff doesn't work on M3Lite
Special Features:
- Unlocks all Cases.
[edit] Untested - GBA Linkage
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0292 | Bleach DS - Souten ni Kakeru Unmei (J) (WRG) | 29 | 29 | SD/CF | Untested |
GBA Game:
- 2060 - Bleach Advance - Kurenai ni Somaru Soul Society (J) (Caravan)
Special Features:
- Earn a bonus 500000 points for Urahara's Shop.
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0566 | Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Blue Rescue Team (U) (Legacy) | SD/CF | Untested |
GBA Game: 2490 - Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team (U)
Special Features:
- Team rescue
[edit] Not Working - GBA Linkage
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0036 | Daigasso! Band Brothers (J) (GBXR) | 34a | 34 | SD | Not Working |
GBA Game:
- XXXX - Daigasso! Band Bros. Request Selection (J) <<< Expansion Pack of the game
Special Features:
- Add lots of new songs.
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0576 | Pokemon Pearl (J) (WRG) | 30 | 30 | SD | Not Working |
| 0577 | Pokemon Diamond (J) (WRG) | 30 | 30 | SD/CF | Not Working |
GBA Game:
- 0757 - Pokémon Sapphire (J)
- 0760 - Pokémon Ruby (J)
- 1360 - Pokémon Fire Red (J)
- 1362 - Pokémon Leaf Green (J)
- 1649 - Pokémon Emerald (J)
Special Features:
- NOTE: D/P japanese versions are only compatible with the GBA japanese versions of above.
- Transfer your well-trained Pokémon from GBA games to D/P and re-capture them in Pal-Park.
- In addition, when you have inserted one of these games in the GBA slot, some Pokémon from previous regions appears in wild in your D/P game. The species depends on the version of the GBA game.
- It's the only way to obtain Erekiburu and Buuburn (when linking with Leaf Green and Fire Red, respectively) and other older species.
| # | ROM Title | GM | FW | Compat | Linkage Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1015 | Pokemon Diamond (U) | 30 | 30 | SD | Not Working (Hex Editor works) |
| 1016 | Pokemon Pearl (U) | 30 | 30 | SD/CF | Not Working (Hex Editor works) |
GBA Game:
- 0898 - Pokemon - Sapphire Version (U)
- 0907 - Pokemon - Ruby Version (U)
- 1636 - Pokemon - Fire Red Version (U)
- 1637 - Pokemon - Leaf Green Version (U)
- 1986 - Pokemon - Emerald Version (UE)
Special Features:
- NOTE: D/P US versions are only compatible with the GBA US versions of above.
- Transfer your well-trained Pokémon from GBA games to D/P and re-capture them in Pal-Park.
- In addition, when you have inserted one of these games in the GBA slot, some Pokémon from previous regions appears in wild in your D/P game. The species depends on the version of the GBA game.
- It's the only way to obtain Electivire and Magmortar (when linking with Leaf Green and Fire Red, respectively) and other older species like Bulbasaur, Squirtle...
