Tools & utilities: ROM hacks & patches
These hacks are designed to alter a portion of code in a set game. They may unlock features, add extra levels or create an entirely new gaming experience. These files come in the form of .ips patches. See the Patching and fixing tools section for utities to use with these files. There are no ROM images are provided. Please verify you are using the correct version of the ROM before asking for help.
Final Fantasy patch by toma
Font Patches
- Chessmaster, The (U)
- Crystalis (U)
- Dragon Warrior (PRG 0) (U)
- Dragon Warrior 2 (U)
- Dragon Warrior 3 (U)
- Dragon Warrior 4 (U)
- Faxanadu (U)
- Final Fantasy (U)
- Final Fantasy II (U) (Prototype)
- Genghis Khan (U)
- Herakles no Eikou 2 - Titan no Metsubou (J) [T-Eng1.3]
- River City Ransom (U)
- Rygar (U)
- Sweet Home (J) [T-Eng1.0]
- Download pnesize
PocketNES Font Hacking
These patches increase the legibility of the text in certain NES ROMs when played in PocketNES (a common complaint). tepples has come up with a tutorial on fonts hacking with PocketNES (topic).
I've made a simple command-line tool, pnesize, that can convert between 8x6 pixel tiles and 8x8 pixel tiles, which should make PocketNES font hacking a bit easier:
- In a tile editor, draw your font in the upper 6 scanlines of each tile.
- Save the font in 1-bit-per-pixel or NES format.
- pnesize font_8x6.chr font_8x8.chr
- Replace the tiles in the NES file with the tiles in your font.
If you want to start from a game's existing font, you can do that as well:
- pnesize -d game.nes game_8x6.chr
- In a tile editor, edit the game's font and any other graphics that you wish to "enhance".
- Save the font in 1-bit-per-pixel or NES format.
- pnesize game_8x6.chr game_8x8.chr
- In a tile editor, replace the tiles in the NES file with the tiles that you edited.