Difference between revisions of "Practice Hack"

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===[https://discordapp.com/channels/83054741801668608/239437762267316224/312740436471054347 J1.0 Direct download]===
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= What Is The Practice Hack? =
===[https://discordapp.com/channels/83054741801668608/239437762267316224/311247667072204800 J1.1]===
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Created by Arnethegreat, the practice hack is a modified version of Yoshi's Island that has save-states, slow down and many other useful tools for practicing/learning the game. More info. at: '''https://github.com/Arnethegreat/yoshisisland-practice-hack'''
===[https://discordapp.com/channels/83054741801668608/239437762267316224/550811734324150282 U1.0]===
 
===[https://discordapp.com/channels/83054741801668608/239437762267316224/311255712741195776 U1.1]===
 
  
= What Is The Practice Hack? =
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= How Do I Use The Practice Hack? =
The practice hack, created by Arnethegreat, is a ROM of the original version of Yoshi's Island that has been modified to have save-states, slow down and many other useful tools for learning/practicing the game. More info: [https://github.com/Arnethegreat/yoshisisland-practice-hack/releases/tag/0.3.1]
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You will need a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_cartridge flash cartridge] to run it on hardware with an SD card formatted to FAT32 or simply an emulator. Currently, the only devices that can run the practice hack are the [https://gamehacking.org/wiki/Super_NES_UFO_Pro_8 Super UFO Pro 8] and the [https://gamehacking.org/wiki/SD2SNES SD2SNES] (now known as the [https://www.retrorgb.com/the-sd2snes-rebranded.html FXPAK]). This is because no other flash cartridges support the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_FX Super FX 2 enhancement chip].
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*If you're using a Super UFO pro 8 you will need to download the version of the practice hack that matches the version of your Yoshi's Island cartridge, otherwise it won't work. Check out the [[Version_Differences|version differences page]] to determine what version you have.
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*If you're using an SD2SNES, just download the Japanese version of the game (it's slightly faster than English).
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*Copy the practice hack ROM from your computer and place it onto your SD card. Any SD card should work - the practice hack is only 2 MB.
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*Insert your SD card into your flash cartridge.
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*Play the game.
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=Features=
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*All save files start out on the hasty control style. Check out the [[Controls#Patient_vs._Hasty|controls page]] for more information.
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*A second controller can be used to access certain features easier (those will be pointed out when applicable).
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===Practice Hack Menu:===
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*Press L+R+start to open the practice hack menu at any time or just press start on controller 2.
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*Press start on either controller to close the menu.
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*Press up/down on the dpad to scroll through the list.
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*Press any face button to activate a feature. [[File:Menu1.png|thumb|right|'''Default Practice Hack Menu''']]
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*! = on.
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*X = off.
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===Complete Save:===
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*Hold L or R when selecting file 3 to enter a fully unlocked save file.
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===Level Intros:===
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*Press any button to skip the level name text as soon as possible. This won't work for some levels like 2-2 and 6-6 because they are big and need more time to load.
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===Level Clear:===
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*Press L+select when in the pause menu during a level to leave the level and mark it as cleared.
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===Savestate:===
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*Press select to make a savestate inside of a level.
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*Press X to load the savestate.
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*Press L+X to do a full load (this will regenerate terrain and regular coins).
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*Press R+X to reload from the last used screen entrance.
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*Eggs and items will be preserved when a savestate is loaded.
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===Disable Autoscroll:===
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*This will disable any currently active autoscrolling section.
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*Press Y on controller 2.
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===Warp To Boss:===
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*This will warp you to the beginning of the boss room inside of any X-4 or X-8 level.
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*Press A+X on controller 2.
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===Music Toggle:===
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*This will toggle the music on and off. Re-enabling the music will cause the default track for the current room you're in to play. For some rooms the music might not be correct, however, loading a savestate will fix this.
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*Press select on controller 2.
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===Free Movement:===
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[[File:Menu2.png|thumb|right|'''Menu With Several Settings Changed''']]
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*This will allow you to move around faster and easier without collision, though, Gusties can still hit you.
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*Hold A to move faster.
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*Press B on controller 2.
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===Egg Editor:===
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*This will allow you to edit your egg count, type and order.
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*This must be done before entering a level for it to take effect. If it's done inside of a level, you'll have to exit via start+select and then re-enter.
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*Press up/down to move the cursor left/right respectively.
 +
*Press A/Y to increase/decrease your egg count.
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*Press A/Y while hovering over an egg slot to change its type. The available option are green, yellow, red, flashing, flashing upside down key (boss key), green/red big egg, chicken and key. Check out the [[Eggs|eggs page]] and the [[Null_Egg#Getting_The_Boss_Key_Sprite|boss key]] section of the null egg page for more information.
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===Slowdown Amount:===
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*This will allow you to slow the game down.
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*Press A/Y to increase/decrease the speed of the game.
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*Press R/L on controller 2.
  
= What Is The Super UFO Pro 8? =
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===Full Load As Default:===
The <u>[https://www.emuparadise.me/reviews/SuperUFO/ Super UFO Pro 8]</u> is a type of flash cartridge that can allow players to load and play ROMs on original hardware. Yoshi's Island is one of the few games on the SNES that uses an enhancement chip called the <u>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_FX SuperFX 2]</u>. Rather than flood this section with technical information about the chip, we'll just include the link to the Wikipedia article that explains what the chip is, and how it works.  
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*This will toggle the way savestates are loaded between normal and full.
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*When on, pressing X will do a full load and L+X will be a normal load.
  
The Super UFO Pro 8 is shaped very similarly to original Super Famicom cartridges. It has a removable cap on the top that allows you to insert an SNES/SFC cartridge (physically identical to how the old Sonic and Knuckles cartridge worked on the Sega Genesis). The Super UFO Pro 8 also requires an SD card in order to function. Most sizes will work, depending how many ROMs you're planning on putting on it. If you're just planning on practicing Yoshi's Island, something as small as a 4GB SD card would be sufficient. Unfortunately the UFO is often unreliable and can crash at random, making it annoying to practice with.
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===Set Tutorial Flags:===
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*This will toggle the tutorial text boxes on/off. These are text boxes that pop up when you do things for the first time, such as getting hit, collecting a flower or entering a middle-ring.
  
= What Is The SD2SNES? =
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===Disable Kamek At Boss:===
SD2SNES is another type of flash cart. It comes in many shapes modeled after Super Famicom and SNES carts, and most are region free. It is basically a super powerful emulator inside a flash cart, and as of lately it can do Super FX2 and SA-1, two chip types that no other flash cart can do by themselves. The firmware itself is free to [http://https://sd2snes.de/blog/ download], but the hardware is rather pricey, around $200 new. The payoff is that it is super reliable and is very fast, which are two things that the UFO lacks.
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*This will disable Kamek's text box at the start of every boss fight.
  
= How Do I Use The Practice Hack? =
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=SD2SNES/FXPAK PRO=
Making the practice hack work on original hardware can be tricky at first, but it certainly isn't that complicated. Even though the practice hack is a downloadable ROM that you will place on your SD card, you will still need a physical copy of Yoshi's Island on top of the Super UFO Pro 8 for it to work. The reason for this goes back to the SuperFX2 enhancement chip inside the Yoshi's Island cartridge. Because the Super UFO Pro 8 doesn't have native support for enhancement chips, the physical Yoshi's Island cartridge is required. The Super UFO Pro 8 loads the practice hack ROM, then just uses the SuperFX2 chip inside the actual cartridge.  
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The SD2SNES, now known as the FXPAK PRO [https://www.retrorgb.com/the-sd2snes-rebranded.html] is a flash cartridge that is modeled after Super Famicom and SNES carts and is not [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_lockout#Nintendo region locked]. It is basically a powerful emulator that can run 99% of SNES games (including romhacks) on an actual SNES/SFC via a '''micro SD card'''. It also supports a majority of enhancement chips [https://krikzz.com/store/home/54-fxpak-pro.html], namely the Super FX 2 chip that Yoshi's Island uses. The firmware is free to [https://sd2snes.de/blog/ download] but the hardware is rather pricey (around $200 new). The trade-off is that it's super reliable and fast, two things that the UFO lacks.
  
To make it work, you will need to download the version of the practice hack that matches the version on your physical cartridge. See our section on version differences to determine what version your cartridge is. If you have the Japanese 1.0 cartridge, then only the Japanese 1.0 version of the hack will work. If you have the US 1.0 cartridge, then only the US 1.0 version of the practice hack will work. The same holds true for both Japanese/US 1.1 and later versions.
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=Super UFO Pro 8?=
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Similar to the FXPAK PRO, the Super UFO Pro 8 is another flash cartridge that can run ROMs on console via '''SD card'''. It is shaped very similarly to Super Famicom cartridges with a removable cap on the top that allows you to insert an SNES/SFC cartridge. Unfortunately, when running Yoshi's Island, the UFO is often unreliable and can crash at random (probably due to needing the actual cartridge plugged in on top), making it annoying to use for practice. In all honesty, it's probably best to avoid this flash cart and get the FXPAK PRO instead. At one time this was the only way to run the practice hack on console (and it was cheaper) but that's not the case anymore.

Latest revision as of 22:43, 10 July 2023

What Is The Practice Hack?

Created by Arnethegreat, the practice hack is a modified version of Yoshi's Island that has save-states, slow down and many other useful tools for practicing/learning the game. More info. at: https://github.com/Arnethegreat/yoshisisland-practice-hack

How Do I Use The Practice Hack?

You will need a flash cartridge to run it on hardware with an SD card formatted to FAT32 or simply an emulator. Currently, the only devices that can run the practice hack are the Super UFO Pro 8 and the SD2SNES (now known as the FXPAK). This is because no other flash cartridges support the Super FX 2 enhancement chip.

  • If you're using a Super UFO pro 8 you will need to download the version of the practice hack that matches the version of your Yoshi's Island cartridge, otherwise it won't work. Check out the version differences page to determine what version you have.
  • If you're using an SD2SNES, just download the Japanese version of the game (it's slightly faster than English).
  • Copy the practice hack ROM from your computer and place it onto your SD card. Any SD card should work - the practice hack is only 2 MB.
  • Insert your SD card into your flash cartridge.
  • Play the game.

Features

  • All save files start out on the hasty control style. Check out the controls page for more information.
  • A second controller can be used to access certain features easier (those will be pointed out when applicable).

Practice Hack Menu:

  • Press L+R+start to open the practice hack menu at any time or just press start on controller 2.
  • Press start on either controller to close the menu.
  • Press up/down on the dpad to scroll through the list.
  • Press any face button to activate a feature.
    Default Practice Hack Menu
  • ! = on.
  • X = off.

Complete Save:

  • Hold L or R when selecting file 3 to enter a fully unlocked save file.

Level Intros:

  • Press any button to skip the level name text as soon as possible. This won't work for some levels like 2-2 and 6-6 because they are big and need more time to load.

Level Clear:

  • Press L+select when in the pause menu during a level to leave the level and mark it as cleared.

Savestate:

  • Press select to make a savestate inside of a level.
  • Press X to load the savestate.
  • Press L+X to do a full load (this will regenerate terrain and regular coins).
  • Press R+X to reload from the last used screen entrance.
  • Eggs and items will be preserved when a savestate is loaded.

Disable Autoscroll:

  • This will disable any currently active autoscrolling section.
  • Press Y on controller 2.

Warp To Boss:

  • This will warp you to the beginning of the boss room inside of any X-4 or X-8 level.
  • Press A+X on controller 2.

Music Toggle:

  • This will toggle the music on and off. Re-enabling the music will cause the default track for the current room you're in to play. For some rooms the music might not be correct, however, loading a savestate will fix this.
  • Press select on controller 2.

Free Movement:

Menu With Several Settings Changed
  • This will allow you to move around faster and easier without collision, though, Gusties can still hit you.
  • Hold A to move faster.
  • Press B on controller 2.

Egg Editor:

  • This will allow you to edit your egg count, type and order.
  • This must be done before entering a level for it to take effect. If it's done inside of a level, you'll have to exit via start+select and then re-enter.
  • Press up/down to move the cursor left/right respectively.
  • Press A/Y to increase/decrease your egg count.
  • Press A/Y while hovering over an egg slot to change its type. The available option are green, yellow, red, flashing, flashing upside down key (boss key), green/red big egg, chicken and key. Check out the eggs page and the boss key section of the null egg page for more information.

Slowdown Amount:

  • This will allow you to slow the game down.
  • Press A/Y to increase/decrease the speed of the game.
  • Press R/L on controller 2.

Full Load As Default:

  • This will toggle the way savestates are loaded between normal and full.
  • When on, pressing X will do a full load and L+X will be a normal load.

Set Tutorial Flags:

  • This will toggle the tutorial text boxes on/off. These are text boxes that pop up when you do things for the first time, such as getting hit, collecting a flower or entering a middle-ring.

Disable Kamek At Boss:

  • This will disable Kamek's text box at the start of every boss fight.

SD2SNES/FXPAK PRO

The SD2SNES, now known as the FXPAK PRO [1] is a flash cartridge that is modeled after Super Famicom and SNES carts and is not region locked. It is basically a powerful emulator that can run 99% of SNES games (including romhacks) on an actual SNES/SFC via a micro SD card. It also supports a majority of enhancement chips [2], namely the Super FX 2 chip that Yoshi's Island uses. The firmware is free to download but the hardware is rather pricey (around $200 new). The trade-off is that it's super reliable and fast, two things that the UFO lacks.

Super UFO Pro 8?

Similar to the FXPAK PRO, the Super UFO Pro 8 is another flash cartridge that can run ROMs on console via SD card. It is shaped very similarly to Super Famicom cartridges with a removable cap on the top that allows you to insert an SNES/SFC cartridge. Unfortunately, when running Yoshi's Island, the UFO is often unreliable and can crash at random (probably due to needing the actual cartridge plugged in on top), making it annoying to use for practice. In all honesty, it's probably best to avoid this flash cart and get the FXPAK PRO instead. At one time this was the only way to run the practice hack on console (and it was cheaper) but that's not the case anymore.