REVIEW of the R4i Save Dongle for NDS/NDSi and 3DS Carts
Thanks to the R4i Team and their "300 free Saves Dongles" Competition i was able to test the new R4i Save Dongle by myself.
My working conditions: Acer msi All-in-one PC with Windows 7, i've used USB 2.0 ports as also USB 3.0 power charge ports - Both are working with the Save Dongle!
Installation
To use the Save Dongle software, the istallation of 2 packages is necessary, but: Installation couldn't be easier: The driver-package is available for download at http://r4i-sdhc.com/SaveDongle.asp. Just run the 2 setups in the archive, and you're well prepared!
The Software
3 apps are currently available:
- R4i Save Dongle V.1.1 - With this app you can easily transfer NDS/NDSi & 3DS gamesaves from Card -> PC and from PC -> Card.
- Firmware Uploader - This little tool is for updating the Save Dongle's firmware, current firmware is 1.0, this may sounds like an early release, but i couldn't find any bugs in it.
- 3DSaveTool V0.2b - Software for finding the XOR Key in 3DS games. This is necessary for encrypt/decrypt EEPROM savefiles of 3DS games. Don't worry: For up- and downloading gamesaves from the internet or from PC-> Card / Card -> PC this is nothing you have to mess around with ;-)
All apps can be downloaded at: http://r4i-sdhc.com/SaveDongle.asp
NDS Cards
I have tested 12 NDS Cards from all 3 different regions so far, here the results...
Super Mario 64 DS / PAL - Works!
Garfields Nightmare / PAL - Works!
Mr. Driller Drill Spirits / PAL - Works!
Yoshi Touch & Go / PAL - Works!
Bubble Bobble DS / JAP - Works!
Devilish / JAP - Works!
Puzzle Series: Jigsaw Puzzle: Koneko Mekuri / JAP - Works!
Izuna / USA - Works!
New Super Mario Bros. / USA - Works!
Rayman Raving Rabbids / USA - Works!
Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 / USA - Works!
Backupping and uploading to the internet worked perfect (100%). All saves were confirmed as "working"!
3DS Cards
I was able to test 5 3DS Cards, all from PAL-Region, here are the
results....
Resident Evil The Mercennaries 3D - Works!
The Legend of Zelda - OoT 3D - Works!
Tetris 3D - Works!
Mario Kart 7 - Works!
Super Mario 3D Land - Works!
Up- and downloading gamesaves from/to the internet
Of course it is possible to download gamesaves from the internet and use this gamesaves with your own carts, as also uploading your own gamesaves to the Internet.
Just visit http://r4i-sdhc.com/SaveDongle.asp to browse throu the
available gamesaves and/or click the "I want to upload" button to start uploading your own gamesaves. Uploading requires you to sign up at game-engine.com, but this is easy, simple and free.
PRO / CONS
+ Good built quality
+ Perfect compatiblity (for the games i tested!)
+ Easy driver Installation
+ Software is more than easy to use - foolproof!
+ Firmware is upgradeable
- The autodetection of the gamename of the inserted card is not perfect... but well, who cares, if someone is not completely nuts he knows which card he just putted in the device ;-)
Conclusion
A nice, simple and useful tool to manage and secure your NDS/NDSi and 3DS gamesaves! Installation and handling couldn't be easier. Backup or upload your gamesaves with just one click. Firmware is fully upgradeable and doing so is foolproof.
There are already hundret of gamesaves online and the community is growing! The wonderful possibility to edit gamesaves is another great feature.
Thanks for reading!
