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EZ-FLASH Definitive Edition
At the beginning of 2021, EZ Team released a new flash cartridge, the EZ-Flash Definitive Edition. In fact, this cartridge is very similar to the old EZ-Flash Omega, and with some exceptions, it doesn't require a new guide. However, there are some new features, and we would like to tell you how to use them.
The first thing to note is that this is a full-size flash cartridge, meaning you cannot change its casing and insert it into a Nintendo DS Lite; it will still stick out.
However, this flash cartridge works in two modes: A and B. Essentially, Mode A is the EZ-Flash Omega (with a few improvements). Mode B, on the other hand, introduces completely new features, though they are almost unrelated to the Game Boy Advance console and are more oriented towards the Nintendo DS.
To switch between modes A and B, you need to toggle a small switch on the side of the cartridge. However, it's so tiny that you'll need something like a needle to do it.
Video Review of EZ-FLASH Omega
Check out our video review of this cartridge! We tried to show you all the pros of this cartridge in a visual way ;)
Where to Buy EZ-FLASH Definitive Edition?
Mode A
As we mentioned above, Mode A is essentially the EZ-Flash Omega cartridge, and to understand how to use it, you should read the guide for EZ-Flash Omega.
Here, we will only discuss the new features and changes.
1. Removable Battery
Now the battery is not soldered to the board, as in the EZ-Flash Omega, but is placed in a special compartment and can be easily replaced.
Left: EZ-Flash Omega,
Right: EZ-Flash Definitive Edition.
2. The EZ-Flash Definitive Edition has significantly reduced power consumption. Makho conducted power consumption measurements, and here are the results:
The old EZ-Flash Omega consumes an average of 287 mA, and in percentage terms, the battery will last 72.65% of the time compared to a regular cartridge.
The new EZ-Flash Definitive Edition consumes 257 mA with LED backlighting (more on that later) and 252 mA without it, which equates to 81% to 82% of the runtime of a regular cartridge.
For comparison, the Everdrive GBA-X5 Mini consumes 227 mA, and its runtime compared to a regular cartridge is 91.85%.
3. Vibration in games.
This is perhaps the most interesting feature of this cartridge. Previously, there was only one game with built-in vibration (Drill Dozer), meaning the cartridge had a built-in vibration motor, and this flash cartridge now also supports vibration. Now, this game (Drill Dozer) is supported, and the vibration works right away.
But the most interesting thing is that the developers have now included the ability to add vibration to any game, but this requires programming knowledge and manually adding vibration to the game's code. The developers have already presented a couple of IPS patches for existing games (Final Fight, King of fighters), but, of course, the main work of adding vibration to games will now be up to the community.
4. LED backlight.
If you start the cartridge in Mode A, an additional window will appear in the menu where you can see the LED menu.
LED – turns the backlight on/off.
BREATHING – a "beauty" mode where the backlight fades in and out, purely for aesthetics. R, G, and B mean you can turn on LEDs of different colors (there are three - red, green, and blue) or all together.
SD LED – this is a more utilitarian mode for the LEDs, showing when the memory card is in use. You can also turn on three different LEDs or all together.
The BREATHING and SD LED modes do not work together!
5. Saves
First, the memory on the EZ-Flash Definitive Edition has been changed from SRAM to FRAM.
FRAM – ferroelectric memory. Unlike SRAM, FRAM does not require a battery for its use (meaning saves will not be lost after turning off the console), and this memory is more durable. As a result, the save system has changed.
Previously, in the EZ-Flash Omega, you would press save, and the save would immediately be written to the memory card. Now, saves are written to the memory card after turning on the console, and a menu appears allowing you to write the save or cancel.
In the new menu, you can enable auto-save (SAVE by checking AUTOSAVE), so you are not asked every time (when turning on the console) if you want to save your game, and the save happens automatically. Then, when you start the console, the save will be automatically written.
This concludes the changes in Mode A, and we can now move on to Mode B.
Mode B
The first thing to understand is that configuring Mode B is done in the Mode A menu.
If you enter this menu, you will see the inscription MODE B and three checkboxes (only one can be selected): RUMBLE, RAM, and LINK.
1. Rumble – if you check this box, the cartridge will be recognized by the Nintendo DS console as an official Nintendo RUMBLE PAK cartridge.
This cartridge is needed so that vibration can be enabled in Nintendo DS games (if the game supports vibration).
The list of such games is not very long, but they exist:
Clubhouse Games
Custom Robo Arena
Diddy Kong Racing DS
Elite Beat Agents
Ferrari Challenge
GRID
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
Iron Man
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
Last Window: The Secret of Cape West
Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning
Magnetica
Mahjong Fight Club DS - Wi-Fi Taiou
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Metroid Prime Pinball
Metroid Prime: Hunters
Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae!
Need for Speed Nitro
Orcs and Elves
Picross DS
Power Pro Kun Pocket 9
Power Pro Kun Pocket 10
Puyo Puyo! 15th Anniversary
Race Driver: Create and Race
Sega Superstars Tennis
Sonic & SEGA All Stars Racing
Space Invaders Extreme
Star Fox Command
Star Trek: Tactical Assault
Super Princess Peach
Tomb Raider: Underworld
Wario: Master of Disguise
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008
2. RAM – if you check this box, the cartridge will be recognized by the Nintendo DS console as an official Memory Expansion Pak cartridge.
In fact, at the moment, such a cartridge is only needed for one application: the Nintendo DS Web Browser. That is, the browser from Nintendo. And since the Nintendo browser is terribly outdated, there is currently no use for this feature.
3. LINK – this mode is perhaps the most interesting feature of this cartridge.
If you write a game to NOR memory and activate this mode, the flash cartridge will behave like a completely original cartridge. That is, you insert it into the console, and it immediately launches as an original game. The beauty of this mode is not only that it allows you to play one game immediately (if you play one game for a long time and don't need other games), but also that the Nintendo DS recognizes the cartridge as original, and in some NDS games, additional features will be unlocked.
For example, if you are playing Pokemon HeartGold or SoulSilver on the Nintendo DS, by inserting this cartridge with Pokemon Sapphire written to NOR memory and LINK mode enabled, you will be able to transfer Pokemon from the Game Boy Advance game to the DS game via the Pal Park function (an in-game feature in HeartGold or SoulSilver).
Accordingly, if you simply insert the flash cartridge, even with a game written to NOR memory, in Mode A, this function will not be available.
Also, for example, if you launch Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, and have Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow written on the flash cartridge, you will be given a rare ring at the beginning of the game.
However, there is a problem with saves in this mode if you switch between modes A and B.
If you launch a game in Mode A and after saving do not restart the console and do not write the save to the memory card, but immediately switch to Mode B, there is a high probability that the game written to NOR memory will simply not be able to load its save.
For example, you launch Lost Vikings in Mode A and complete a level, but do not restart the console and do not write the save to the memory card (meaning the save remains only in FRAM memory). If you immediately switch to Mode B with another game, the save will be taken from FRAM memory, and you will not be able to play. You will need to restart the console in Mode A and forcibly load the save (from the NOR memory menu) into the game (by selecting LOAD SAV FILE).
