Edge Card DS Review

Written by Volsfan91
April 2008

Features

Supports MicroSDHC cards up to 32GB
Plays Commercial NDS ROM
MicroSD support
PDA-style interface
Video/Mp3 playback
Plays Homebrew NDS ROMS
Touch to execute OS system
Works with Moonshell for multimedia playback such as movies and MP3's
Frequently updated OS for best compatibility
Action Replay compatible cheat system
Brightness adjustment for NDSL
In game reset
Full download play support
Supports slot 2 expansions
Multi language user interface
Save game saves directly to Micro SD
Automatic save game type detection
Supports clean ROMs
Robust non-spring loaded Micro SD slot
Micro SDHC card reader included

Contents

EDGE DS Cartridge
USB MicroSD Reader

The EDGE card fit perfectly into my DS Lite with no protrusion. I had heard that some of the early models had problems with the MicroSD sticking out from the slot a bit, but my review copy did not have that problem. The MicroSD slot is not spring loaded, which can be a good or bad thing based on your opinion.

Like many other cards, if you run your finger over the top of the card, you can feel a small chip sticking out. If you peel the sticker off, you can see the standard Actel chip sticking up just a little bit. It doesn’t really affect the way that the card fits, but my M3 Simply doesn’t have any chips sticking out and it’s a good bit older than the EDGE card. Overall though, the card is downright solid.

The EDGE comes in a very slick box. It’s neat because they do two things simultaneously: cut on cost by using smaller packaging and create a unique design. Shaped like a triangle, the top flap spins away to reveal the contents. Being both economical and hip, it’s by far the best box design for any flash card.

Inside the box, you will find the EDGE card and a MicroSD reader - that’s it. The MicroSD reader is the same kind that came with my M3 Simply that broke after about a week’s usage. However, it’s still a nice touch and maybe this one won’t break on me. On the reverse side of the box is a little information about the EDGE as well as some instructions on how to setup the card for usage. The contents are rather slim but are tremendously presented.

Installation

As previously mentioned, the EDGE does not include a CD with the system software. However, the back of the box instructs you to visit the official site, edge-ds.cn. Once there, you can choose your language and then download the system software.

All flash carts rely on one of two mediums of storage for holding the cartridge’s firmware/system software/operating system. Either the firmware will be stored on an external card or it will be stored on the internal flash storage. To cut on cost, the EDGE team has relied on the user copying the system software to the MicroSD slot.

The latest version of the system software (they call it EDGE OS) is enumerated 1.32 and weighs in at 1.5 megabytes. Their site was painfully slow while downloading this file- I only got about 10kb/s.

After downloading the software, installation is as easy as copying the EDGE.DAT and EDGE folders to the root of your MicroSD card. Additionally, a cheat file can be integrated by copying a “cheats.dat” file to the EDGE directory. This file is in the same format as the CycloDS Evolution’s, so you can use them interchangeably.

MicroSDHC support is said to be in place but I do not have one of those cards to test this with.

Usage

The EDGE card brings full compatibility along with all of the standard features you would expect from a modern slot one solution. Although it doesn’t feature super advanced features like real time save support or advanced cheating methods, it’s a very solid budget card with perfect compatibility and long enough list of features.

When you start up the EDGE card, it skips the health warning screen. A “booting” screen displays, and then you’re greeted with the three icon interface that so many other flash cards have. The left icon takes you to the file browser which is the base of the EDGE OS. The middle icon starts the Moonshell media player, which is down-loadable from their official site; it’s a separate download and is not integrated directly in the OS core. The third icon allows you to alter the EDGE settings.

The file browser features a number of different views, which can be changed by touching the area that says “View” in the upper right hand corner of the file browser. In “ROM” view, you see the title of a game, the publisher, and the game’s icon. “File” view is the same, but skips the publisher’s name for the ROM name and file size. In “List” view, only file names are shown. This option is ideal for users who have lots of games on the card. The file browser can also be controlled in two ways: either by using the d-pad or with stylus control.

On my Kingston MicroSD card, I noted everything to be very quick; starting games up is much faster than my M3 Real card. Overall, operation of the card is very smooth and rivals the R4 for my favorite menu system I’ve used. The firmware has a very well polished sense to it.

The menu system is easily skinned. This feature was promised from the beginning but was enabled in firmware 1.31. The skinning system is the same as that of the CycloDS Evolution’s, so any skins you use for that are easily used with the EDGE. Skins for the EDGE are copied to the /EDGE/skins/ directory and are placed in their own separate folders. (For instance, my skin was placed in /EDGE/skins/Tiger) A skin consists of six files: the top and bottom screen images, cheat icons, menu icons, a scroll bar, and an XML markup file.

Under the EDGE settings, you can enable cheat codes, change the DS Lite’s screen brightness, choose a language, change the skin, (meaning you can store multiple and change it on the go) and boot a slot-2 device.

Every game that I tried on the EDGE worked flawlessly. I even tested download play and found that that was working great with my other DS Lite. My Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow backup played fine from my Kingston MicroSD with no slowdown. In this section, no news is good news; the EDGE delivers good on its most important aspect: the ability to play legal backups. Another good barometer of its compatibility success is the fact that it wasn’t affected by the recent “Moogle of Death” anti-piracy measure in Crystal Chronicles DS.

The EDGE also incorporates auto DLDI patching. Once again, no disappointments here as every homebrew I tested worked fine. Lameboy, Win2DS Fusion, and OpenTyrian DS all started up and played back just fine. If you’re a heavy homebrew user, have no reservations about choosing the EDGE card.

Cheat support is working but can be obnoxious. After you enable it in the Settings dialogue, you will then be prompted every time you start up a game if cheats are available. I much prefer the M3/R4 method of enabling cheats selectively as needed.

Conclusion

The EDGE DS is a great example of how far slot one devices have come. The combination of outstanding compatibility, ease of use, and low cost make this a great choice whether this is your first card or you’re picking it up as a spare. Although it doesn’t offer any groundbreaking features, it’s a very solid cart all around and will probably be seen as a leader for many months to come.

Negatives

Nothing fancy
Slightly protruding flash chip
Obnoxious cheat system
Firmware requires download

Positives

Budget price
Flawless compatibility
Auto DLDI Patching working
Nice menu system with multiple views
Fast operation
Touchscreen menus
Good quality hardware

Links

Edge Card DS Website
OZ Modchips - Official Reseller

-=[ Edge Card DS Review Discussion Thread ]=-

Product(s) were received from the website above. ISO-420 will always link back to whomever sent the product(s) *respect*, but please remember that the reviews are independently written by our staff and are not subject to alteration by whomever supplies us with the review product(s).

Nintendo DS Flash Carts also known as "Development and/or Backup" units are intended for expansion of the Nintendo DS's abilities including running "homebrew" software which is created by amateur unlicensed developers. Homebrew is totally free and legal to use as long as you follow the licensing agreement that comes with each title. Homebrew comes in many forms, but most "Flash Carts" come with homebrew that allows you to listen to music, watch movies, read books and look at pictures. These flash carts also let you run other homebrew titles. The use of homebrew does not infringe on Nintendo's or any of it's related companies rights. Flash Carts also allow you to make and playback backups of original and third party games for safe keeping purposes. Making backups of your data is also a non-infringing action. However, it is illegal to download and play ROM images of games you do not personally own. ISO-420 Reviews and TehSkeen.com do not encourage using Flash Carts in any illegal manner and do not endorse or condone users to "pirate" ROM files. Please support game companies and their developers by purchasing your games.