Gaming Megaman Battle Network 1 GBA Save Failed

[carnagehunts]

I have a MMBN 1 cartridge for the GBA but when I try to save the game it says another save file found would you like to overwrite? I put yes and it says save failed. I have replaced the save battery just in case it was an issue of it no longer having any juice but it still did nothing to change the situation.

Has anyone tried or have a solution to this issue?

I have also tried the R4 export/import save option but won't work because game acts as if there is no continue button in main menu, as if it has no actual save file in it.

Is MBNN 1 known to be defective as a cartridge or do I have to push into the game a bit more and later on save?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[FAST6191]

For the others playing along thinking fake. It does appear to have SRAM in the original game, and is likely old enough to not be before the FeRAM changeover. Similarly while it attracts a bit of money it is also not one of the crazy high ones.
Would still want to see pictures of the PCB though.

As for the matter at hand and assuming it is real.
First is the replacement battery a good one? I would hate to go through the motions only to find you grabbed a dead replacement you found in a drawer.


Save failing is usually more of a failure to keep the save after you powered off (what the battery is there to keep the data alive for), not saving in the first place.
That usually then speaks to someone gave the cartridge a drink and broke a chip or there is a loose solder joint on the SRAM chip (possible after all these years), or maybe that the chip itself kicked the bucket (have not heard of it happening on the GBA but most would not have bothered to diagnose it down to that level and I have had contemporary chips die).

If you have another GBA playing device then maybe try that -- outside chance it is the pins in your DS that have failed/got dirty (normally I would have expected the rest of the pins to be iffy and with that then bad detections and crashes in the game).

 

[carnagehunts]

I can send some pictures in a bit, I have tried a GBA, DS, GBA SP and no luck with saving. I'm currently trying to reach the first boss in the game Fireman cause I read a post that you can properly save after that first boss fight although I'm skeptical about the info. The battery replaced is a new one from package nothing old. Give me a few cause I'm currently in the oven part of the game trying to reach the boss without dying. If it doesn't save I'll send a picture of the cartridge.

 

[carnagehunts]

Ok passed first boss go to sleep and won't save. Continue after sleep cutscene and retry save and failed here are the pictures requested. Mind you no cheats, no codes have been activated into this game. The save failed photos are the after killing first boss pictures. I stopped playing it just depressed. Almost forgot it was doing the save failed before and after the battery change as well.

 

[FAST6191]

Nice photos. Game should have saved properly by then (most times you can't save during the intro or point of no return before the final boss there will be no option to do so, not what amounts to an error message) and none of the FAQs/walkthroughs mention it that I saw and did often detail late game points where you could not.

Anyway if that is a fake that is the best I have ever seen (not that anything has ever got close to that) so calling it real.

Pins on the SRAM chip (amusingly enough not the one under the battery) look OK, no dry joints, well aligned and no skid marks or anything there. I can't rule out some micro fracture but there is nothing obvious.
The small TI lv2416 chip in the middle has some green on it in one of those shots which I don't like, though might be a trick of the camera as I don't see it in the other. A broken pin there might be a voltage controller (I can't find a listing in a quick search) or op amp or signals thing which could change it. You can try reflowing that joint if you want.

 

[carnagehunts]

Ok, I will try to reflow and see if it does anything. Also I know it's not a fake cause that is my actual childhood cartridge from when the game first came out lol. Even remember getting it in gamestop 20 years ago. If that doesn't help I guess I'l still hold on to it. The game is 20 years old and even storing it properly doesn't mean that the environment doesn't touch it so it may have become defective over time. If anything changes or if anyone else has any other idea I'm all game for trying to save this cartridge. I own all 12 and don't want to lose one due to some dumb save glitch.

 

[FAST6191]

If you own the original cart then you can even do the oft claimed but generally lacking substantiation thing of running a backup on your flash cart and being legit in it.

Going further into "it has sentimental value" territory (normally we do it to recover a save on a dodgy game that won't boot or speak to a save dumper but eh).
Courtesy of http://www.advanscene.com/ (click advanced search, select GBA and save type) then its list of other GBA games using the Sram v112 - 256 kbit save type. Some might not be too pricey for a cannibalisation session (whether you transplant the ROM chip to the donor or transplant the other chips to yours is up to you). Don't know if any will have been remade as FeRAM* versions and whether that is going to work with a simple solder job if they are, though it would dodge the battery issue in the future if they did.

   	   #    	Title (click on title for more details) 	Region 	Save Type (Save Size PSP) 	Size       
	2788 	Battle Network RockMan EXE 3 (v01) 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	2346 	Breath of Fire 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	2115 	Gyakuten Saiban 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	2085 	Monster Jam - Maximum Destruction 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1577  	Power Pro Kun Pocket 1&2 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1577 	Power Pro Kun Pocket 1&2 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1408 	Mermaid Melody - Pichi Pichi Picchi Pichi Pichitto Live Start 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	256 Mbit
	1340 	Gyakuten Saiban 3 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1310 	Gegege no Kitarou - Kikiippatsu! Youkai Rettou 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	1290 	Power Pro Kun Pocket 6 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1290  	Power Pro Kun Pocket 6 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1200 	Legend of Dynamic - Goushouden - Houkai no Rondo 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1200  	Legend of Dynamic - Goushouden - Houkai no Rondo 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1197 	Oriental Blue - Ao no Tengai 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	1188 	Mermaid Melody - Pichi Pichi Pitch 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	1187 	MegaMan Battle Network 3 Blue 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1170 	MegaMan Battle Network 3 White 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1162 	Kirby - Nightmare in Dream Land 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	1111 	Cyberdrive Zoids - Kijuu no Senshi Hyuu 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1065 	MegaMan Battle Network 3 White 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1063 	MegaMan Battle Network 3 Blue 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	1054 	Mother 1+2 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	0997 	WarioWare, Inc. - Minigame Mania 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0997  	WarioWare, Inc. - Minigame Mania 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0990 	WarioWare, Inc. - Mega Microgames! 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0987 	Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters International Worldwide Edition 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	0987  	Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters International Worldwide Edition 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	0979 	Naruto - Ninjutsu Zenkai! Saikyou Ninja Daikesshuu 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0979  	Naruto - Ninjutsu Zenkai! Saikyou Ninja Daikesshuu 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0973 	Bouken Yuuki Pluster World - Pluston GP 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0973  	Bouken Yuuki Pluster World - Pluston GP 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0968 	Hunter X Hunter - Minna Tomodachi Daisakusen!! 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	0960 	Fancy Pocket 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0953 	Koukou Juken Advance Series Eijukugo Hen - 650 Phrases Shuuroku 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0945 	Sengoku Kakumei Gaiden 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0940 	Yu-Gi-Oh! Worldwide Edition - Stairway to the Destined Duel 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	0940  	Yu-Gi-Oh! Worldwide Edition - Stairway to the Destined Duel 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	0920 	Shin Megami Tensei 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0916 	Inukko Club 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0906 	One Piece - Mezase! King of Berries 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0896 	Made in Wario 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0896  	Made in Wario 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0884 	Koukou Juken Advance Series Eitango Hen - 2000 Words Shuuroku 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0864 	Metroid Fusion 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0852 	Battle Network RockMan EXE 3 Black 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0847 	Inuyasha - Naraku no Wana! Mayoi no Mori no Shoutaijou 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0844 	Power Pro Kun Pocket 5 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0834 	Kururin Paradise 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0826 	Bakuten Shoot Beyblade 2002 - Team Battle!! Takao Hen 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0825 	Bakuten Shoot Beyblade 2002 - Team Battle!! Daichi Hen 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0823 	Tennis no Ouji-sama - Aim at the Victory! 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	0822 	Boboboubo Boubobo - Ougi 87.5 Bakuretsu Hanage Shinken 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0811 	Chocobo Land - A Game of Dice 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0811  	Chocobo Land - Game de Dice 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0789 	Monster Maker 4 - Killer Dice 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0788 	Monster Maker 4 - Flash Card 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0785 	Shaman King Card Game - Chou Senjiryakketsu 3 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	0774 	Battle Network RockMan EXE 3 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0762 	Kirby - Nightmare in Dream Land 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0762  	Kirby - Nightmare in Dream Land 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0747 	L'Aigle de Guerre 	France 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0745 	Metroid Fusion 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0733 	Hamster Club 3 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0728 	Shin Nippon Pro Wrestling Toukon Retsuden Advance 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0722 	One Piece - Nanatsu Shima no Daihihou 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0718 	Dan Doh!! Xi 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0718  	Dan Doh!! Xi 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0686 	Silk to Cotton 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0679 	MegaMan Battle Network 2 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0676 	Metroid Fusion 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0674 	Bomberman Jetters 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0674  	Bomberman Jetters 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0668 	Hoshi no Kirby - Yume no Izumi Deluxe 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0668  	Hoshi no Kirby - Yume no Izumi Deluxe 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0660 	Gyakuten Saiban 2 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0656 	Yu-Gi-Oh! The Eternal Duelist Soul 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0656  	Yu-Gi-Oh! The Eternal Duelist Soul 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0636 	Harobots - Robo Hero Battling!! 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0621 	Hime Kishi Monogatari - Princess Blue 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0606 	Groove Adventure Rave - Hikari to Yami no Daikessen 2 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0606  	Groove Adventure Rave - Hikari to Yami no Daikessen 2 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0575 	MegaMan Zero 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0566 	Densetsu no Stafi 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0566  	Densetsu no Stafi 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0563 	J.League Pro Soccer Club wo Tsukurou! Advance 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0552 	Sakura Momoko no UkiUki Carnival 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0545 	Mutsu - Water Looper Mutsu 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0543 	Pro Yakyuu Team wo Tsukurou! Advance 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0538 	Minimoni - Mika no Happy Morning Chatty 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0530 	Combat Choro Q - Advance Daisakusen 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0509 	Kurohige no Kurutto Jintori 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0499 	Shaman King Card Game - Chou Senjiryakketsu 2 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0498 	Breath of Fire II 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0483 	Bakuten Shoot Beyblade 2002 - Ikuze! Bakutou! Chou Jiryoku Battle!! 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0458 	MegaMan Battle Network 2 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0458  	MegaMan Battle Network 2 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0425 	Jinsei Game Advance 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0425  	Jinsei Game Advance 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0419 	Kami no Kijutsu - Illusion of the Evil Eyes 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0416 	Formation Soccer 2002 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0416  	Formation Soccer 2002 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0414 	All-Star Baseball 2003 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0409 	Kurohige no Golf Shiyouyo 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0403 	Penny Racers 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0402 	Initial D - Another Stage 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0398 	RockMan Zero 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0398  	RockMan Zero 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0397 	Blender Bros. 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0397  	Blender Bros. 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0391 	Breath of Fire II 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0391  	Breath of Fire II 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0389 	Lunar Legend 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0389  	Lunar Legend 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0387 	Koukou Juken Advance Series Eigo Koubun Hen - 26 Units Shuuroku 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0376 	Isseki Hattyou - Kore 1ppon de 8syurui! 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0376  	Isseki Hattyou - Kore 1ppon de 8syurui! 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0373 	Monster Jam - Maximum Destruction 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0371 	Scrabble 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0360 	Saibara Rieko no Dendou Mahjong 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0360  	Saibara Rieko no Dendou Mahjong 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0352 	Groove Adventure Rave - Hikari to Yami no Daikessen 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0346 	Power Pro Kun Pocket 4 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0322 	Domo-kun no Fushigi Terebi 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0319 	Black Black - Bura Bura 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0312 	J.League Pocket 2 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0308 	Bomberman Max 2 - Bomberman Version 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	0308  	Bomberman Max 2 - Bomberman Version 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0300 	Captain Tsubasa - Eikou no Kiseki 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0285 	Okumanchouja Game - Nottori Daisakusen! 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0282 	Guranbo 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0255 	Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 6 Expert 2 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	128 Mbit
	0253 	Recca no Honoo - The Game 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0253  	Recca no Honoo - The Game 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0250 	Breath of Fire II - Shimei no Ko 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0250  	Breath of Fire II - Shimei no Ko 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0247 	Bakuten Shoot Beyblade - Gekitou! Saikyou Blader 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0247  	Bakuten Shoot Beyblade - Gekitou! Saikyou Blader 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0246 	Kinniku Banzuke - Kimero! Kiseki no Kanzen Seiha 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0243 	MegaMan Battle Network 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0239 	Breath of Fire 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0239  	Breath of Fire 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0238 	Battle Network RockMan EXE 2 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0228 	Advance Rally 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0201 	ESPN Great Outdoor Games - Bass 2002 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0201  	ESPN Great Outdoor Games - Bass 2002 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0193 	Adventure of Tokyo Disney Sea 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0178 	Tweety and the Magic Gems 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0167 	Wario Land 4 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0167  	Wario Land 4 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0164 	Gadget Racers 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0163 	MegaMan Battle Network 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0151 	LEGO Bionicle 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0148 	Nakayoshi Mahjong - Kaburiichi 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0141 	LEGO Island 2 - The Brickster's Revenge 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0140 	Gyakuten Saiban 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0140  	Gyakuten Saiban 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0137 	Sports Illustrated for Kids - Football 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0133 	Sports Illustrated for Kids - Baseball 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0130 	LEGO Island 2 - The Brickster's Revenge 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0130  	LEGO Island 2 - The Brickster's Revenge 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0129 	LEGO Bionicle 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0118 	Morita Shougi Advance 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0116 	Field of Nine - Digital Edition 2001 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0090 	Tweety and the Magic Gems 	Germany 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0089 	Wario Land Advance 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0086 	Kiwame Mahjong Deluxe - Mirai Senshi 21 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0080 	Minna no Shiiku Series 2 - Boku no Kuwagata 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0073 	Kinniku Banzuke - Kongou-kun no Daibouken! 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0066 	Minna no Shiiku Series 1 - Boku no Kabuto Mushi 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0065 	EX Monopoly 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0064 	Titi et les Bijoux Magiques 	France 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0062 	Mahjong Police 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0060 	Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 5 Expert 1 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0059 	Breath of Fire - Ryuu no Senshi 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0057 	Bomberman Tournament 	USA 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0055 	Toyrobo Force 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0055  	Toyrobo Force 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0054 	Choro Q Advance 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit
	0053 	Narikiri Jockey Game - Yuushun Rhapsody 	Japan 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	64 Mbit
	0051 	Tweety and the Magic Gems 	Europe 	Sram v112 - 256 kbit 	32 Mbit

*mentioned it above but for the sake of someone landing here on a search. Early GBA games sometimes used SRAM (as opposed to none/password, EEPROM or Flash) which like most RAM needs a battery to keep data there. Later on then FeRAM that does not need constant power but uses much the same protocols appeared at what I guess was an acceptable price for them (be it in general, for warranty or for ease of manufacture now they can pick and place it all rather than having to pay for and solder on a battery) and SRAM games moved to that. Indeed many games have a reprint that might be using FeRAM but original had battery backed. To my knowledge none had different ROM images for the "new" save handling but I don't know what goes as far as intermediate chips that might change levels or something.

 

[ghjfdtg]

SRAM and FeRAM save in exactly the same way. Usually the chips can be swapped and it just works. There is no need for code changes.

 

[Soulboogie]

That third chip, LV2416, is that what tells the SRAM to run from the battery? Can a fault in that chip cause issues like what the OP is having?

OP did you get any further in troubleshooting?