Action Replay
Encyclopedia
Action Replay is the brand name of a series of video game cheating devices created by Datel
Datel
Datel is a UK-based electronics and game console peripherals manufacturer. The company is best known for producing a wide range of hardware and peripherals for home computers in the 1980s, for example replacement keyboards for the ZX Spectrum, the PlusD disk interface and the Action Replay series...
. As of 2010, Action Replays are currently available for some of the current major gaming platforms which include the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, Nintendo DSi
Nintendo DSi
The is a handheld game system created by Nintendo and launched in 2008 and 2009 in Japan, North America, PAL territories, and other regions. It is the third iteration of the Nintendo DS, and its primary market rival is Sony's PlayStation Portable...
, PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, and the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
, and many older gaming platforms including the Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
, and the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
. PowerSaves by Action Replay is a related series of video game cheat devices that store game saves created by Datel in order to allow users to cheat without modifying the game code being executed unlike the main Action Replay series, which cheats by modifying game code itself. These are available for gaming platforms such as the Nintendo Wii on an SD card.
Typical Features
General:- Infinite lives, invulnerability, permanent power ups, no collision detection, walk through walls, one hit kills, super-high jumps etc.
- Obtain any item in the game, even those not normally obtainable (e.g. debug or removed items).
- Access or warp to any level, even those not normally accessible (e.g. test or unused levels).
- Activate debug menus, normally used by programmers when testing and debugging a game. Typically options include cheats, level warping and display of internal game data not normally viewable by the player.
- Download, upload, import and export save games to the internet or storage device.
- Save game state to disk, so it can be restarted from that point even if the game does not support saving.
- Region free operation.
- Bypassing of copy protection for loading of copies/backups on CDR/DVDR or HDD, or homebrewHomebrew (video games)Homebrew is a term frequently applied to video games or other software produced by consumers to target proprietary hardware platforms not typically user-programmable or that use proprietary storage methods...
software.
Criticisms
Datel, the maker of Action Replay, has received several criticisms from the gaming world over its products. One of the most frequent complaints is the so-called "planned obsolescence
Planned obsolescence
Planned obsolescence or built-in obsolescence in industrial design is a policy of deliberately planning or designing a product with a limited useful life, so it will become obsolete or nonfunctional after a certain period of time...
" where codes for a just-released game require the most recent version of the cheat software.
Datel as of now has encrypted the codes on the Action Replay for PS2, GC and GBA; this was meant to stop hackers from translating its codes for use in other cheating devices, but it prevents users from making their own codes for their games. It also prevents the creation of codes using a template. There is, however, a program called 'GCNCrypt' that decrypts and encrypts Action Replay codes for the Nintendo GameCube, making editing and hacking of codes possible. Cheat codes normally involve a memory address, a value, and sometimes a trigger that says when the code is activated (always on, on at the start, on after a certain button press); because of this, for some games it is possible to create a code template, and derive hundreds of codes by modifying the values. For example, in a role-playing game, one can use a code template and a table of values to create a code that will give any character, any piece of equipment in the game. By encrypting the codes, it is not possible to use such a template, and any code must be created and distributed by Datel; because of the sheer number of codes that can be created in this fashion, it is not plausible for Datel to release a list of codes with this versatility. A new Action Replay for the DS, which allows cheat codes (the previous Action Replay only managed game saves), uses unencrypted codes, and has a trainer toolkit available that allows users to create their own codes.
The PS2 Action Replay version occasionally corrupts the memory cards, leaving corrupt files on the card that cannot be deleted by the PS2. The Action Replay can, however, fix the memory card by formatting it, but the corrupted data cannot be restored.
Action Replay codes allow access to game features not normally available to players. One notorious example is the "Hot Coffee" mod for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
which allowed users to access an incomplete simulation of sexual intercourse that was removed from the game before release, but for which code remained in the game. Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games is a major video game developer and publisher based in New York City, owned by Take-Two Interactive following its purchase of UK video game publisher BMG Interactive. The brand is mostly known for Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, L.A...
, the creators of the game, came under heavy criticism for releasing the game with the code in it, despite it not normally being accessible, which was soon patched by Rockstar.
Cheating in online games is also usually frowned upon, with game companies making efforts to prevent and detect it. However, with an Action Replay it is possible to cheat without being detected, or in a game for which there is normally no way to cheat. Examples include Phantasy Star Online
Phantasy Star Online
Phantasy Star Online is an online multiplayer action RPG title, originally released for the Dreamcast in 2000, bundled with a demo of Sonic Adventure 2. Another edition, entitled Phantasy Star Online ver.2, was released for Dreamcast the following year...
for the Dreamcast, in which it was possible to manufacture items using an Action Replay in the offline mode, and then carry them over to the online mode undetectably. There was no way to determine if the item had been manufactured or legitimately won. Of course, it is also possible for the Action Replay to disable anti-cheating code or otherwise prevent detection, however since most modern versions only allow codes to be created by Datel and they have so far not taken this route, there are no such --- for current generation systems.
Other criticisms include the loss of data and or progress when using Action Replay. Entering an inappropriate or wrong code may not cause a noticeable loss in the area of play, however the data error takes effect after the Action Replay is removed from the users' system.
Versions for computers
- Commodore 64Commodore 64The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
- Action Replay
- Action Replay MK II
- Action Replay MK III
- Action Replay MK IV (1988)
- Action Replay MK V (1989)
- Action Replay MK VI
- Commodore AmigaAmigaThe Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
- Action Replay (A500 cart / A2000 CPU card)
- Action Replay (A1200 card)
- Action Replay MK II (A500 cart / A2000 CPU card)
- Action Replay MK III (A500 cart / A2000 CPU card) (1991)
- PCIBM PC compatibleIBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
- Action Replay PC (ISA card) for DOS (1994)
- Action Replay PC for Windows 95/98 (1998)
The ISA based Action Replay needed memory resident drivers for real and protected mode. The card had a grabber, trainer and a slowdown feature. It could also interrupt the current game or save it to disk (freezer).
Models running firmware 4.0 and beyond use EEPROM instead of ROM and thus are upgradable
In December 1998 Datel released a version for Windows 95/98.
Third generation
- Nintendo Entertainment SystemNintendo Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
- Pro Action Replay
- Sega Master SystemSega Master SystemThe is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe....
- Pro Action Replay
Fourth generation
- Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis
- Action Replay
- Pro Action Replay
- Pro Action Replay MK2
- Pro CDX (Action Replay) for the Mega-CD
- Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
- Pro Action Replay
- Pro Action Replay MK2
- Pro Action Replay MK3
Fifth generation
- Sega SaturnSega SaturnThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
- Pro Action Replay
- Pro Action Replay 4M [with 4MB Ram]
- Pro Action Replay 4M Plus [Same as the 4M, but with manual Choose of the needed Ram]
- PlayStationPlayStationThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
- Action Replay (1995)
- Pro Action Replay (1996)
- Action Replay CDX (1997)
- Action Replay 2 V2 (2001) [As Bonus Disc With PS2 Action Replay 2 V2]
- Equalizer
- Equalizer CDX
- Equalizer Xtreme
- Nintendo 64Nintendo 64The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
- Action Replay
- Action Replay Professional (1999)
- Equalizer
Sixth generation
- Dreamcast
- Action Replay CDX (2000)
- Equalizer Xtreme
- PlayStation 2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
- Action Replay 2 (2000)
- Action Replay 2 V2 (2001)
- Action Replay MAX (2003)
- Action Replay MAX EVO (2004)
- Action Replay MAX EVO (2009)
- XboxXboxThe Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
- Action Replay (2002)
- Action Replay MAX
- Nintendo GameCubeNintendo GameCubeThe , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
- Action Replay (2003) [Note: The latest Wii firmware blocks this on Wii consoles running in GameCube mode.]
- Action Replay MAX (200X)
- Action Replay (2006, works on Wii)
on Replay Powersaves including 512MB or 1GB SD card (July 2007)
- boxReplay MAX 360Powersaves (July 2009)
Versions for handheld consoles
- Sega Game GearSega Game GearThe was Sega's first handheld game console. It was the third commercially available color handheld console, after the Atari Lynx and the TurboExpress....
- Pro Action Replay
- Game BoyGame BoyThe , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy ColorGame Boy ColorThe is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
- Pro Action Replay
- Action Replay Professional (1997)
- Action Replay Pro (1999)
- Action Replay Online (2000)
- Action Replay Xtreme (2001)
- Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy AdvanceThe is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
, Game Boy Advance SPGame Boy Advance SPThe , released in February 2003, is an upgraded version of Nintendo's Game Boy Advance. The "SP" in Game Boy Advance SP stands for Special. The SP was marketed at US$99.99 at launch. In September 2004, Nintendo lowered the price to US$79.99...
, Game Boy MicroGame Boy Microis a handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in September 2005 in the market. The system is the last console of the Game Boy line...
- Action Replay GBX (November 2001)
- Action Replay (2003)
- Action Replay MAX (2004)
- Action Replay MAX DUO (March 2005)
- Nintendo DSNintendo DSThe is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, Nintendo DS LiteNintendo DS LiteThe is a dual-screen handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It is a slimmer, brighter, and more lightweight redesign of the Nintendo DS, designed to be aesthetically sleeker, while taking styling cues from the Game Boy Advance SP, and to appeal to broader commercial audiences...
- Action Replay MAX DUO (March 2005)
- Action Replay DS (July 2006) [Last firmware v1.71, games released later are not compatible]
- NDS Trainer Toolkit (February 2007) [available only online] Toolkit Manual
- Action Replay DS Media Edition (September 2008) [available only online]
- Action Replay DS EZ (February 2009)
- Nintendo DSiNintendo DSiThe is a handheld game system created by Nintendo and launched in 2008 and 2009 in Japan, North America, PAL territories, and other regions. It is the third iteration of the Nintendo DS, and its primary market rival is Sony's PlayStation Portable...
, Nintendo DSi XL- Action Replay DSi (October 2009); Later software updates to the DSi included anti-piracy and anti-hacking software that will disable the console when an Action Replay is used, thus rendering the Action Replay useless for those that have been updated.
- PlayStation PortablePlayStation PortableThe is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
- Action Replay MAX including 64MB Memory Stick (August 2005) [Powersaves only]
- Action Replay for PSP including 64MB or 1GB Memory Stick [Powersaves only]
- Action Replay PSP including 1GB Memory Stick (October 2008)
- Action Replay PSP Online (December 2009)