This article is about the Action Replay video game accessory. For other uses, see Replay

Action Replay is a series of devices created by Datel, primarily used for changing video game's behavior. Currently, Action Replay is available for the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo DS, and Playstation Portable.

Features of the Action Replay

Action Replay had its roots in the Commodore 64 home computer. Action Replay mk VI, in its trademark red cartridge, was one of the most popular "turbo modules"; in other words, cartridges that allowed faster disk and tape operations. A disk copy feature was also included, along with a memory-freeze operation, where the memory state of the machine can be saved to disk in compressed form, and loaded back, resuming program execution at exact same point where it was frozen. This allowed backup (and copying) of single-load games.

Since then, there have been many revisions of the theme for various systems, but they have all - with the exception of the Xbox Action Replay, which is a save game transfer device - retained the same feature found in C64 version; the abilitity to examine memory locations and - more importantly - modify them.

Here are some examples on how this affects modern games:

• With the Action Replay, you can obtain objects that are not obtainable during normal gameplay. Example: using the Action Replay to get the "Forbidden Four" NES games in Animal Crossing.

• Action Replay allows you to have infinite amounts of limited resources, such as lives, time, or ammunition.

• Action Replay lets you access levels that are not normally available (most of these levels were usually used for beta testing, or were removed from normal gameplay).

• The GameCube version comes with a FreeLoader, which allows you to play games from one country on a console from another country (e.g. Japanese games playing on a European GameCube).

• The Action Replay MAX (an updated version of the original Action Replay for PS2) also includes the ability to play DVDs from any region, manage memory card saves, download game saves and codes via a Network Adapter, and chat online via Datel's own network (again using the Network Adapter). The updated version also includes PC software that allows you to create discs playable on an unmodified PlayStation 2 containing items such as DivX-encoded movies, MP3s, and a Mega Drive/Sega Genesis Emulator. USB Flash drive support is also included.

Versions

• Commodore 64
  • Action Replay
  • Action Replay IV (1988)
  • Action Replay VI (1989)

• Commodore Amiga
  • Action Replay (A500 cart / A2000 CPU card)
  • Action Replay (A1200 card)
  • Action Replay Mk II (A500 cart / A2000 CPU card)
  • Action Replay Mk III (A500 cart / A2000 CPU card) (1991)

• Nintendo Entertainment System
  • Pro Action Replay

• Sega Master System
  • Pro Action Replay

• Sega Megadrive
  • Pro Action Replay (sold as GameShark in the US)
  • Pro Action Replay 2

• Nintendo Game Boy
  • Pro Action Replay
  • Action Replay Online
  • Action Replay Extreme

• Sega Game Gear
  • Pro Action Replay

• Super Nintendo
  • Pro Action Replay
  • Pro Action Replay 2

• PC
  • Action Replay PC (ISA card) (1994)

• Sega Saturn
  • Pro Action Replay (also available with 4M RAM expansion)

• Sony PlayStation
  • Action Replay (1995)
  • Pro Action Replay (1996)
  • Action Replay CDX (1997)

• Nintendo 64
  • Action Replay Pro (1999)
  • N64 Equaliser

• Nintendo Game Boy Color
  • Action Replay Pro

• Sega Dreamcast
  • Action Replay CDX

• Sony PlayStation 2
  • Action Replay 2 (2000)
  • Action Replay 2 V2 (2001)
  • Action Replay MAX (2003, significantly updated in 2004)

• Nintendo Game Boy Advance
  • Action Replay (2001)
  • Action Replay Duo (2005)

• Nintendo GameCube
  • Action Replay (2003)

• Microsoft Xbox
  • Action Replay (2002)

• Nintendo DS
  • Action Replay Duo (2005)

• PlayStation Portable
  • Action Replay MAX (2005)

See also

• GameShark
• Game Genie

External links

• CodeJunkies.com - Official Action Replay website