Hardware Project Ruby Flash Memory kaput, or how to test?

[KingCornWallis]

I have attempted to repair a very rough Pokemon Ruby (water damage), and have gotten everything working except saving.

Upon booting the game, the message reads "The Save File has been deleted...", and upon trying to save in the game it freezes. Clearly it either cannot access the Flash Memory, or it is actually bad.

Seeing how many busted vias/traces I repaired on this chip the obvious conclusion is that it just can't access the memory...but I have performed continuity tests on EVERY PIN...



So, where I am at:

• Board cleaned
• New battery properly installed
• Wires bridging all known damaged vias/traces
• Continuity test performed on every pin following its path
• Resistors all within margin for listed spec
• Game runs but does not save
• Capacitors NOT tested
• Known broken trace to Test Pad 1 (TP1), though I doubt it's relevant

Is it possible that the flash chip is either FRIED (is this even a thing?) or completely worn out (kind of unlikely if there was liquid damage preventing it from being used)?

How could one test the chip (using a multimeter) for proper values?

Or do I need to just swap this to a new PCB/donor and stop mucking around?