Acekard 2 Review (It Rhymes!)
-Save file is written directly to TF card. No need to manually select save size, no data loss.
-Automatic DLDI patching. Run homebrew programs without converting.
-Support soft-reset, Download Play and WiFi!
-Support SDHC TF card. Virtually unlimited storage size!
-Support any brand of TF, with no slowdown!
-Support Action Replay cheats . Build-in editor!
-Low power consumption for longer operational time! -Built-in multiple languages and DIY skinning!
The packaging that comes with the Acekard 2 is just standard packaging, it does it's job, it keeps it from breaking. It comes with -1 Acekard 2 cartridge -1 MicroSDHC compatible USB 2.0 connector Sadly it doesn't come with a CD for stupid people
like me or for people who don't have internet access[ It also has a feature list behind a plastic covering on the back
I was actually suprised when I saw the AceKard 2 compatibility really was 100%. The only thing that failed was linux ds which fails on practically all cards.
Green=Works
Red=Doesn't work
When you boot it up, it doesn't jump to the acekart menu like most other flash carts. It doesn't bypass the loading screen and it only takes mabye 2 seconds to boot up.
The menu is simply beautiful, on the top half of the screen, it displays a calandar, the time and the name of your ds on the top screen.
It's setting for when launching a game looks like this
When you boot up you are presented a screen that asks you if you want to boot your slot 2 flashcart or the acekard.
If you pick slot 2 it will boot your slot 2 flashcart and the acekard 2 will act as a nopass or passcard
When you get to the acekard menu, you are presented with just a menu it is more like the dstt than r4 or cyclo. It is not laggy at all, even less laggy than the cyclo
You also have to put moonshell on the card, it doens't come bundled in.....
When going in a game you are presented with a brief file information screen that shows info about the game, size, etc.
-Extra Features- Soft Reset, The Acekart 2 is lacking extra features like slo mo or RTS, its a shame, but what do we need those for anyway?
-Cheats- Cheats also use an XML or DAT file, which is in the cheat database here at gbatemp, and editing it is fully possible, with an XML editor or r4cce. Pressing X when a game highlighted will bring up the cheat menu, the cheat menu stylus detection doesn't work quite well.
Could Acekard 2 Be The Overall Best Card?
PS: Sorry I don't have a camera
PS: Sorry I don't have a camera
<div align='center'>
-Official Feature List- -Perfect compatibility. No need to convert, No need to flash! -Save file is written directly to TF card. No need to manually select save size, no data loss.
-Automatic DLDI patching. Run homebrew programs without converting.
-Support soft-reset, Download Play and WiFi!
-Support SDHC TF card. Virtually unlimited storage size!
-Support any brand of TF, with no slowdown!
-Support Action Replay cheats . Build-in editor!
-Low power consumption for longer operational time! -Built-in multiple languages and DIY skinning!
Packaging
The packaging that comes with the Acekard 2 is just standard packaging, it does it's job, it keeps it from breaking. It comes with -1 Acekard 2 cartridge -1 MicroSDHC compatible USB 2.0 connector Sadly it doesn't come with a CD for stupid people
like me or for people who don't have internet access[ It also has a feature list behind a plastic covering on the backOn the back of the feature list there is instructions written in engrish that read:
Manual
How To Launch
1.Download the latest firmware to your tf cardyou can download it at acekard.com
2.Copy the program to any folder on the TF card
3.Power on and enter the folder and press a button to launch.
Save System
1.Support any save files
2.No need to set type of save
3.Save will be written to TF card directly
Skin
1.Copy skin folders under /_ak2/ul
2.Press start button to popup menu
3.Enter system config and all skin folders at /ak2/ul
4.Select the skin you need and press A button
OMG ENGRISH!!
<div align='center'> <div align='center'>Build Quality
</div> </div></div> Manual
How To Launch
1.Download the latest firmware to your tf cardyou can download it at acekard.com
2.Copy the program to any folder on the TF card
3.Power on and enter the folder and press a button to launch.
Save System
1.Support any save files
2.No need to set type of save
3.Save will be written to TF card directly
Skin
1.Copy skin folders under /_ak2/ul
2.Press start button to popup menu
3.Enter system config and all skin folders at /ak2/ul
4.Select the skin you need and press A button
OMG ENGRISH!!
<div align='center'> <div align='center'>Build Quality
For a budget cart, the Acekard 2 has very good build quality. It is in line with the top cards like Edge, SCDS1 v3, CycloDS, DSTT which all have very good build quality. It has way better than the pieces of crap like firelink, n5 and ncard.
The chip sticks out about 1 millimeter, but it does that in most carts anyway and the microsd usb adapter actually looks like it will last more than a second. It feels really solid.
The cart itself is spring loaded and held together with clips, while it isn't breaking apart instantly for no reason, it should of been held together with screws instead.
The sticker also seems held on very well,
CompatibilityThe chip sticks out about 1 millimeter, but it does that in most carts anyway and the microsd usb adapter actually looks like it will last more than a second. It feels really solid.
The cart itself is spring loaded and held together with clips, while it isn't breaking apart instantly for no reason, it should of been held together with screws instead.
The sticker also seems held on very well,
I was actually suprised when I saw the AceKard 2 compatibility really was 100%. The only thing that failed was linux ds which fails on practically all cards.
Green=Works
Red=Doesn't work
Commercial Games
Animal Crossing Wild World- Pass
42 Classic Clubhouse Games- Pass
Jump Ultimate Stars-Pass
Final Fantasy III- Pass
Pokemon Diamond Connect To Wii- Pass
Picross- Pass
Meteos- Pass
Pokemon Trozei- Pass
Lego Indiana Jones, The Original Adventures- Pass
Homebrew Games
Warcraft Tower Defence- Pass
Tales of Dagur- Pass
Mega Etk- Pass
Wolfstein 3d- Pass
Doomds or Dsdoom- Pass
Pong- Pass
Linux DS- FAIL
<div align='left'> The compatibility is amazing, almost every game works and the automatic DLDI patching also works great as it's a feature only supported by newer cards.
Download Play Support- Perfect
<div align='center'>Mario Kart- Pass
Clubhouse Games- Pass
Mario Party- Pass
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games- Pass
<div align='left'>MicroSD- Since I don't have many to test it with- Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow Opening
1Gb Kingston Japan MicroSD- Pass
4Gb MicroSDHC Sandisk- Pass
</div> Animal Crossing Wild World- Pass
42 Classic Clubhouse Games- Pass
Jump Ultimate Stars-Pass
Final Fantasy III- Pass
Pokemon Diamond Connect To Wii- Pass
Picross- Pass
Meteos- Pass
Pokemon Trozei- Pass
Lego Indiana Jones, The Original Adventures- Pass
Homebrew Games
Warcraft Tower Defence- Pass
Tales of Dagur- Pass
Mega Etk- Pass
Wolfstein 3d- Pass
Doomds or Dsdoom- Pass
Pong- Pass
Linux DS- FAIL
<div align='left'> The compatibility is amazing, almost every game works and the automatic DLDI patching also works great as it's a feature only supported by newer cards.
Download Play Support- Perfect
<div align='center'>Mario Kart- Pass
Clubhouse Games- Pass
Mario Party- Pass
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games- Pass
<div align='left'>MicroSD- Since I don't have many to test it with- Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow Opening
1Gb Kingston Japan MicroSD- Pass
4Gb MicroSDHC Sandisk- Pass
</div>
</div>
MenuWhen you boot it up, it doesn't jump to the acekart menu like most other flash carts. It doesn't bypass the loading screen and it only takes mabye 2 seconds to boot up.
The menu is simply beautiful, on the top half of the screen, it displays a calandar, the time and the name of your ds on the top screen.
It's setting for when launching a game looks like this
When you boot up you are presented a screen that asks you if you want to boot your slot 2 flashcart or the acekard.
If you pick slot 2 it will boot your slot 2 flashcart and the acekard 2 will act as a nopass or passcard
When you get to the acekard menu, you are presented with just a menu it is more like the dstt than r4 or cyclo. It is not laggy at all, even less laggy than the cyclo
You also have to put moonshell on the card, it doens't come bundled in.....
When going in a game you are presented with a brief file information screen that shows info about the game, size, etc.
Other
<div align='left'> -Battery Life- Canadian Gold DS Lite looping New Super Mario Bros Introduction full sound and brightness level 4
Real- 4h55m
Acekard 2- 4h27m
Great battery life, the same as all the other flash cards, even crappy pieces of crap like the n5, tests as expected.
-Save Game- The acekard 2 uses forced 512kb saving which is a good thing, most devices uses it now. The file extension for saves is .sav and they have to have the same name as the rom and go in the same folder. This is the same thing that all the new cards use. So you don't have to choose the type of save, and if your wrong the save is corrupted. Although, I wish it had auto save type detect with 4-512kbit so that the save file couldn't be bigger than the homebrew.
-Skinning- Skinning on the AK2 uses a variety of INI and bitmap files, it is more complex than.. the cyclo's or r4's but not as complex as the SCDS1's
[codebox]cross.bmp
card_icon_blue.bmp
calendar_no.bmp
btn4.bmp
btn3.bmp
btn2.bmp
brightness.bmp
/calander
clock_colon.bmp
clock_numbers.bmp
day_numbers.bmp
year_numbers.bmp[/codebox]
</div>
<div align='left'> -Battery Life- Canadian Gold DS Lite looping New Super Mario Bros Introduction full sound and brightness level 4
Real- 4h55m
Acekard 2- 4h27m
Great battery life, the same as all the other flash cards, even crappy pieces of crap like the n5, tests as expected.
-Save Game- The acekard 2 uses forced 512kb saving which is a good thing, most devices uses it now. The file extension for saves is .sav and they have to have the same name as the rom and go in the same folder. This is the same thing that all the new cards use. So you don't have to choose the type of save, and if your wrong the save is corrupted. Although, I wish it had auto save type detect with 4-512kbit so that the save file couldn't be bigger than the homebrew.
-Skinning- Skinning on the AK2 uses a variety of INI and bitmap files, it is more complex than.. the cyclo's or r4's but not as complex as the SCDS1's
[codebox]cross.bmp
card_icon_blue.bmp
calendar_no.bmp
btn4.bmp
btn3.bmp
btn2.bmp
brightness.bmp
/calander
clock_colon.bmp
clock_numbers.bmp
day_numbers.bmp
year_numbers.bmp[/codebox]
-Extra Features- Soft Reset, The Acekart 2 is lacking extra features like slo mo or RTS, its a shame, but what do we need those for anyway?
-Cheats- Cheats also use an XML or DAT file, which is in the cheat database here at gbatemp, and editing it is fully possible, with an XML editor or r4cce. Pressing X when a game highlighted will bring up the cheat menu, the cheat menu stylus detection doesn't work quite well.
JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS
-The ACEKART 2 IS GREAT BUT LACKS EXTRA FEATURES-
-THE ACEKART 2 SKINS ARE GREAT-
-THE ACEKART 2 IS LIKE $23-
<div align='center'>
.:;Pros;:.
Cheap, $25
Great looking skins and default skins
MicroSDHC compatible
100% ROM compatibility
100% Download play compatibility
Not a clone
Auto-DLDI system
Cheat System Compatible with XML and DAT
Can be used as a Passme
Awsome Menus
8 languages
Can move files around in GUI, like dsorganize
.:;Cons;:.
Held together by Clips
Dangerously low price
High chance of reflective cart cover blinding you
.:;Bottomline:;.
If you want a good cheap card go with this one
If your a featuremaniac get a SCDS1 or Cyclods
Since I'm not authorized to give out GBATEMP awards
StarfoxTemp Blue Ribbon!!
</div>-The ACEKART 2 IS GREAT BUT LACKS EXTRA FEATURES-
-THE ACEKART 2 SKINS ARE GREAT-
-THE ACEKART 2 IS LIKE $23-
<div align='center'>
.:;Pros;:.
Cheap, $25
Great looking skins and default skins
MicroSDHC compatible
100% ROM compatibility
100% Download play compatibility
Not a clone
Auto-DLDI system
Cheat System Compatible with XML and DAT
Can be used as a Passme
Awsome Menus
8 languages
Can move files around in GUI, like dsorganize
.:;Cons;:.
Held together by Clips
Dangerously low price
High chance of reflective cart cover blinding you
.:;Bottomline:;.
If you want a good cheap card go with this one
If your a featuremaniac get a SCDS1 or Cyclods
Since I'm not authorized to give out GBATEMP awards
StarfoxTemp Blue Ribbon!!
