[REVIEW] Supercard DS ONE Mk. II (SDHC) Opzioni

[Evrain]

Supercard DS ONE - Mk. II (SDHC)
[ English Version | Versione Italiana ]

Quick Links
Homepage: http://eng.supercard.cn/
Updates: GbaRL.it Download Area

Our thanks to Supercard Team and RomMan for the sample provided.

Supercard: unless you're a complete newcomer in GBA/DS hacking, this name won't be unknown to you. This brand encompasses a wide range of successful and largely popular products going way back, to when touch screens were something you'd find on Star Trek and the GameBoy Advance was all the rage: that large, bulky blue cartridge with a taste for SD cards was, for many (and for myself), the first step into this side of the gaming world.

Their winning streak isn't over, either: after a slow start, due to a system software with a fair amount of rough edges, the Supercard DS ONE Slot-1 kit affirmed itself as one of the most reliable, well-supported and feature packed flashcards on the market. The sale figures were more than enough for the team to just sit back and relax, yet over the last year there was a steady trickle of firmware updates, each of them improving performance or adding a new function; now, our site is proud to review the latest update of this already appreciated hardware, the Supercard DS ONE SDHC, which we'll commonly refer to as a 'Mk. II'.

Introduction & Features

Ease of use, excellent build, constant support: these three traits have always been Supercards' distinguishing features. That was true for the (relatively) old SD-and-CF-powered GBA flashes, and it still holds true for this new DS ONE: everything you need is in the cart, be it homebrew patching, advanced gaming options or music playback; a microSD is the only real requirement. Given how the team has always set the bar quite high, we expect nothing short of excellence from this hardware.

As we briefly mentioned above, this is not a completely new design, but rather an upgraded version of the widely spread non-SDHC DS ONE, up to the point that system updates are shared between said models.

As usual, let's open our review with a quick look at the feature list, as provided by the manufacturer:

• Plug 'n Play(No FlashMe, No PassMe, No convert).
• 100% Clean Rom Support. 100% game capatibility.
• Support PASSME function. Can boot GBA slot. Hotkey L+B at OS menu.
• GBA union function, support GBA game union and can be saved. Enable GBA game be loaded to slot 2. need SCCF, SCDS, SCL.
• no PC software required, just Drag 'n Drop file from PC to flash memory card.
• Hardware save support. Easy to backup and exchange save with other players.
• THREE mode designed
  Clear ROM mode: (100% Clean Rom Support. Just Drag 'n Drop file from PC to flash memory card.)
  Patch Mode: (RESET, Realtime Cheat Code, Realtime Game Guide, Realtime Save, Multiple Saver, save to flash card directly without any save lost. Just Drag 'n Drop file from PC to flash memory card.)
  Super Mode: (Need extra software, ROM needs to be converted by PC. This Mode is designed for future functions. Such as if there is a game save more than 4M.)
• Unlimited storage. Support FAT/FAT32. (Recommend FAT)
• Blue-Light engine included. Support High speed flash memory card without any slow down.
• DS original cartridge size, the perfect solution of slot 1.
• TFlash/MicroSD slot Push'n Push design, easy to use.
• Micro firmware designed, and extended skin which is fully upgradeable.
• MoonShell built-in design. Can play MP3, Ogg and DPG2 directly in SuperCard DS system. Capatible with DPG0/DPG1. It also support eBook and view picture. It's a real multimedia system.
• Support DS Browser, need SCCF, SCSD, SCL.
• Support SC Rumble Series as a rumble package.
• Powerful OS Menu System. Game list support text list, small icon list and big icon list. Support touch operation.

Apart from the Engrish we've come to know and love from flashcard manufacturers, it's hard not to notice the size of the list: among some more common capabilities, unique ones such as Real Time Save and multiple saver files for each game, in-game text reader for taking a quick look at a walkthrough and modularity for future enhancements. Also, the older Slot-2 Supercard series is fully integrated with the DS ONE, which is capable of using them for a number of advanced tasks, such as providing additional RAM for homebrews and the Opera DS Browser alike, uplinking DS and GBA games, enabling vibration via a SuperCard Rumble. The system software, as we'll discuss farther in this review, is one of the aspects of this flash kit that has evolved the most, getting rid of the performance and reliability issues of the earlier revisions to become a robust and accessible interface.

Knowing the SC Team, though, we wouldn't define this list as "final": given certain design choices, we wouldn't be surprised if more features were added or expanded upon - real time save was announced completely out of the blue, after all - so is with these subtle promises in mind that we proceed with testing this unit.

[Evrain]

Final Thoughts

And finally, our review reaches its conclusion. After intensive testing, we're finally ready to hand down a verdict on the newest iteration of the Supercard DS ONE.
After half a decade, the Supercard brand confirms its position as one of the leading names in flashcard manufacturing: this Mk.II doesn't revolution the DS ONE design, but rather expands on it by adding SDHC compatibility and trying to solve a few relevant reliability issues. The packaging is by far one of the best we've ever seen, with the card and its accompanying card reader carefully arranged and bundled with a driver/manual disc and quickstart guide; even the seal of warranty does add a nice touch to it. Also, features such as Real Time Save and multisavers are unique to the DS ONE, definitely one step above the other DS flash kits and worth your money if you need them - and if you play the Rockman series, you will need them; those features, with the latest updates, won't even force you to withstand framerate drops and glitches, although freezes may still occur. And of course, don't forget Moonshell: listening to your favorite music is a breeze, as easy as tapping the lower screen.
Neverthless, there are still problems with this Mk.II: first of all, hardware failures have become somewhat less frequent, but still very much of an issue; the PSRAM is still the weak link and its position, exposed under the label and sticking out of the plastic casing, doesn't exactly improve the situation. Furthermore, everything is still basically an upgrade of the older Supercard way of running games and code, with a hardware different from the Nintendo original and, thus, requiring patches in order for GBA/DS software to work correctly: this leads to a system software more complex than average, whose unclearly documented features can confuse an average user and possibly give newcomers an headache. Functions like GBA union and expansion/rumble setup would benefit from refining, as well as adding some more autodetection routines.
Whether this DS ONE Mk.II is the way to go, it's your choice: it is by far one of the best flashcards around, with robust features and great support, but be prepared to spend some time figuring out its most complex aspects, as well as praying for the PSRAM not to break down.

Let's take a look at the card's pro's and con's:

Pro's
+ Media playback works out of the box, thanks to Moonshell
+ 100% compatible with both single play and Download Play
+ Integrated PassMe function
+ Superb packaging
+ Easily skinnable, especially if you're familiar with Moonshell
+ A microSDHC reader bundled in for free, and a nice one on top of it
+ Real Time Save works flawlessly
+ In-game cheats management
+ Excellent support and prompt updates


Con's
- Some hardware components are protected by the sticker only
- Hardware still prone to failure, especially the on-board PSRAM
- Using advanced features can, occasionally, slow down or freeze the game
- The system software is not exactly easy to use
- Creating cheats requires an external program

Packaging
Build and Materials
Compatibility
Special Functions


Review written by Evrain for GBARL.it. Thanks to JohnVS for assisting with the compatibility and performance tests.
Unauthorized copying and editing is forbidden outside of Network RL.