Action Replay MAX Review

Written by Brakken
March 2006 Introduction

The Action Replay Max developed and produced by Datel is preliminarily designed to be a cheat device for your Nintendo GameCube. Using the Action Replay Max you can modify certain values of your games to enhance your experience. You basically change how much life you have, how much money you possess or even skip levels.

You can also use the Action Replay Max to boot imported games. This means if you own a USA GameCube and wish to boot a Japanese game you can. Additionally, you can use the extra space on the Action Replay Max’s Memory Card to store your save game data on.

Other then using the Action Replay Max for simply cheating in your games you can additionally use it to boot homebrew applications such as GCOS, GCOM and various other programs using the old school Phantasy Star Online (PSO) and the Nintendo Broad Band adapter method.

Features

Preloaded with loads of exclusive cheats for the latest and greatest GameCube games
Totally unauthorised cheats and enhancements that you won’t find anywhere else
Easy to update with new cheats for new games
Plug and play card - no memory card required for storing new cheats
Unrivalled customer support
New cheats are usually available from day one of a game's release
Intuitive menu system
Stylish, hi-resolution graphics
Easy to use - no technical or programming knowledge required
Play import games from any region without modifying your console using Datel’s revolutionary "FreeLoader" technology

Contents

Gamecube Action Replay CD
Gamecube Action Replay Memory Card
Manual

Installation & Usage

All you do to install and use the Action Replay Max is to plug the Action Replay Card into your second memory card slot and put in the disc. Once you turn your GameCube on you’ll be presented with an onscreen menu which will allow you to select which game and codes to use, boot your import game and manage the software on the card.

The Action Replay Max has most of the codes you’ll ever need for any game already pre-loaded onto it, but you aren’t limited to using only these codes. At any point in time you can enter in more codes by using its menu system which are then stored onto the memory card.

The process of playing a game with cheats enabled it quiet easily – all you do is select which game you’re going to play, select some codes and then pick the boot option. Once this is done the Action Replay Max software will ask you to open the GameCube lid and put in your game.

If you’re using a modified system with a modchip you might have to tweak its system settings to let the GameCube know you have opened its lid. If you’re unable to set this option in your modchips BIOS you will need to do some work to get the Action Replay booting (I’ll cover this later on.)

To boot an imported game you simply pick that option from the main menu and then swap out the discs. If you are using a modchip this feature is about useless as you should already be able to boot backups.

Usage with Modchips

To use the Action Replay Max with a modchip it really depends on which chip you have installed into your GameCube. Below is a list of each modchip and the method it will take to boot the Action Replay Max with it installed so you can play your backups with cheats enabled.

Viper GC & Viper GC Extreme
Go into the Configuration Menu and make sure your Led Sensor Behavior is set to “Passthru” as this will allow any software applications you run to know if the LID is open or closed.

Qoob Pro
The Qoob Pro has an awesome ability as it will let you put in your Action Replay Disc and dump its cheat engine into its BIOS. To do this boot up your GameCube and press “B” and then pick “Cheats” from the main menu. You’ll be asked to insert the Disc and then it will copy the cheat engine into its BIOS space. Next all you need to do is to flash a cheat database onto your Qoob Pro BIOS and you’re good to go.

Qoob SX
Sadly, with the Qoob SX you’re limited to only booting original games (no backups) with cheats enabled. To do this insert the Action Replay Disc and then boot the GameCube while holding “X”.

XenoGC / DuoQ
Both of these modchips are compatible with the Action Replay Max. No necessary work and/or changing settings are required.

NinjaMod
Due to the instability and lack of functionality of the NinjaMod chip I was unable to test the Action Replay Max with it.

Usage – Booting Homebrew

The last feature of the Action Replay MAX is its ability to boot homebrew (unsigned code) using an original copy of the Phantasy Star Online game and the hardware Broad Band Adapter produced by Nintendo. Due to the fact I’ve already written a guide on how to do this I won’t cover the process.

I can tell you it does work and you can boot 3rd party BIOS such as GCOS, GCOM or the NinjaShell which will then allow you to boot homebrew applications, backup discs and even GC-Linux.

Conclusion

With all of its features the Action Replay Max is one versatile product and is a favorite solution by many for booting homebrew code. It’s a favorite solution as no internal modification to your GameCube is required. Additionally, the ability to cheat in your games and boot imports appeals to a wide audience. Lastly, the extra memory space doesn’t hurt. It’s a well refined product that comes with a reasonable price tag.

Positives Price Cheats Easy of Operation Boot Homebrew

Negatives Low Memory Capacity Swapping Discs

Links

Datel
Official WorldWide Reseller ( mod-chip.com )
Mod That Cube (Guide for booting homebrew)

Special Thanks To...

• HaxJester
• TaS_
• Mod-Chip.com



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