Joe88
May 14th, 2008, 04:58
M3 DS Real Perfect Bundle Review
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6838/m3dsrealperfectdm0.jpg
This is a review for the M3 DS Real Perfect Bundle which I have tested for over a month now.
The Manufacturer of this cart as you guessed from the name is M3 Adapter: http://www.m3adapter.com/
================================================== ===================
Test Equipment:
Nintendo DS Lite (USA)
M3 DS Real Perfect Bundle (English) ver.CPE
Kingston 4GB MicroSDHC (Japan) class[4]
================================================== ===================
Intro:
So here we have the M3 DS Real which is meant to replace the aging M3 Simply as their main cart The M3 Real is based on many of the features of the G6 DS Real but has expandable memory and a few other neat things like built in GBA support with expansion pack
The M3 DS which I ordered the perfect bundle edition from www.RealHotStuff.com (http://www.RealHotStuff.com) for $60 USD. The Perfect Bundle version comes with the M3 DS Real as well as 2 expansion paks for the GBA slot designed to fit slim with the DS Lite:
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/512/m3rumbleexpansionvc4.jpg
The first pak is the rumble pak which can be used in games that support it such as Meteroid Pinball and Elite Beat Agents. The Second expansion pak is the GBA Expansion Pak which supports the running of GBA game roms and homebrew and also double as a ram pak for the DS Browser and some homebrew that supports it. Both of these carts are very good to have and bring out the full potential the M3 Real. It is recommended that you buy this bundle to be fully satisfied with this product.
================================================== ===================
Packaging:
Upon receiving my product I was quit surprised at the packaging. It was very small compared to pictures I saw online. However this little box was full of goodies packed tightly togther:
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5010/m3dsrgrouphugehj4.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3dsrgrouphugehj4.jpg)
Now newer versions of the bundle wont contain the CD anymore due to it being useless because of outdated firmware and they also changed the MicroSDHC reader to a glossy one. Everything came as expected and seems to be okay, nothing damaged.
================================================== ===================
Flast Cart:
http://www.electrobee.com/imagemagic.php?img=images/images_big/m3dsreal_01.jpg&w=400&h=437&page=
The cart is sturdy and doesnt squeak and creek and when bend it. It supports MicroSDHC cards and and slot for the spring loaded ejection for the card is very well built also. Only thing is you can see a bump on the front under the sticker where there is an exposed chip. Many flashcarts these days seem to do this, it does not however effect inserting and taking it out of the DS. Overall very good cart quality, nothing seems to be out of place and everything fits flush.
================================================== ===================
Installation:
The M3 Real requires a MicroSD/HC card with the firmware installed on the card in order for it to work. Flash carts work by reading the MicroSD card and loading the firmware from the card now, these cards do not need to flashed in order to work and are very easy to update when new firmwares come out.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8329/m3realthumb15bm7.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb15bm7.jpg)
Setup was very easy only requiring a drag and drop onto the MicroSD card for the firmware and NDS and GBA roms which have their own folders.
(note: it is recomended to get a better MicroSDHC card then the one included which is garbage, the same for every flash cart to be exact, mine broke after 35 uses or so, I replaced it with a Sandisk Mobile Mate MicroSDHC + M2 reader from amazon.com for $2.50)
I then removed the card from the reader and inserted it into the M3 DS Real
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5682/m3realthumb18cw7.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb18cw7.jpg)
Everything fits real nice and flush once inserted into the DS.
I also inserted the GBA expansion pak, which also went flush with the DS and was glossy, unlike other expansion paks like the EZ 3-in-1 that stick out and arnt glossy.
================================================== ===================
Operation:
I turned on the DS and was very happy to see that it skips "touch the screen to continue" upon boot the M3 DS Real then loaded and was presented with a menu:
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/1010/m3realthumb29ay4.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb29ay4.jpg)
the explanation for each icon going from left to right are as follows:
the first option will take you too the current ds games on the cart (play your NDS games)
the second to gba games on the cart (play your GBA games)
third is a file explorer (think of it as windows explorer)
fourth is for cart booting for just playing a gba game with a an actual game cart (gba cart or other 3rd party slot-2 card can also be booted)
fifth is a media player (modded version of moonshell)
sixth is a built in PDA (I felt DSOrganize was a lot better)
and seventh is cart options (just some basic options like boot method, select different skins and such)
Rom Browser
Fairly easy to navigate, no problems, little laggy though
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5581/m3realthumb30gl0.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb30gl0.jpg)
Rom Options
some of the basic ROM options such as soft reset (you hold down a combo of buttons and you will return to the M3 Real menu wihout having to shut off your DS)
Cheat Switch (to activate cheats, can be set to always on and to a button combo) and slow motion (useful and your stuck in a game that requires precision but goes to fast, music wont slow down but game play will, can be set on a button combo and can return back to normal) and also take a look at the cheat tab on the top...
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6724/m3realthumb32nr0.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb32nr0.jpg)
Cheat Menu
Just like owning a gameshark\action replay\code breaker , a cheat system is built into this cart and features many codes for almost all games, simple off and on buttons.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6590/m3realthumb33wl2.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb33wl2.jpg)
================================================== ===================
ROM COMPATIBILITY:
NDS
TetrisDS = Works
Pokemon D/P = Works
Contra 4 = Works
New Super Mario Bros. = Works
Cooking Mama 2 = Works (soft reset must be tuned off for the this rom other wise it will freeze when making a pizza)
Lost in Blue = Works
Trauma Center = Works
Fell the Magic = Works
Elite Beat Agents = Works
Final Fantasy III = Works
The World Ends With You = Works
Wario Ware Touched = Works
DS Opera Browser = Works (must be patched with the official M3 browser patch tool)
all roms run at full speed and wifi works as well, I have not yet encountered any rom errors
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8522/m3realthumb34ev4.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb34ev4.jpg)
GBA
Super Mario Advance 1/2/3/4 = All Work
Zelda III A Link to the Past / Four Swords= Works
Zelda Minish Cap = Works (must use RTS to save game, game will not save without it)
Zelda I Classic NES Series = Works (requires a IPF patch to work which I applied)
Zelda II Classic NES Series = Works (requires a IPF patch to work which I applied)
Wario Land 4 = Works (RTS must be turned off or game will crash)
Kirby Nightmare in Dream Land = Works
Pokemon Fire Red = Works
Pokemon Emerald = Works
Kirby and the Amazing Mirror = Works
Super Mario Bros. Classic NES Series = Works (requires a IPF patch to work which I applied)
Wario Ware Inc. = Works
Bubble Bobble Old and New = Works
(*note* all classic NES series must be patched with special IPS patches or else they will return a GAME PAK ERROR message upon boot of them)
all GBA games work at full speed and the M3 Expansion has superb compatibility when it comes to GBA roms
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/2990/m3realthumb41hw3.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb41hw3.jpg)
================================================== ===================
CONCLUSION:
The M3 DS Real is a very sturdy cart with excellent rom compatibility. As far as homwbrew, the only one I got to test is DSorganize which auto DLID patched its self and ran fine. I do recommended this cart for a person that wants both DS and GBA excellent rom compatibility at a low price.
================================================== ===================
PROS/CONS
Pros:
Good Cart Quality
Auto Homebrew DLID patch
100% Rom Compatibility
95% GBA Rom Compatibility
MicroSDHC cart supported
Cheat Support
GBA RTS+RTC Support
NDS RTS Support
NDS Slow Motion availability
Comes with both a Rumble Pak and GBA Expansion Pak made to fit flush with the DSL and comes glossy
Cons
Scroll list for game menu and somewhat laggy Random 10sec lag when selecting games from NDS and GBA games (fixed with M3 Sakura)
Touch screen for M3 Menu us somewhat dodogy at best and sometimes doesn't respond (fixed with M3 Sakura)
NDS+GBA game list doesnt auto alphabetic sort (fixed with M3 Sakura)
================================================== ===================
SCORE:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa112/dcemureviews/reviews/star45.gif
review quoting pending with new release of M3sakura (new firmware for M3 DS Real which will fix all problems with menu)
================================================== ===================
Any questions you have I will be happy to answer below. :)
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6838/m3dsrealperfectdm0.jpg
This is a review for the M3 DS Real Perfect Bundle which I have tested for over a month now.
The Manufacturer of this cart as you guessed from the name is M3 Adapter: http://www.m3adapter.com/
================================================== ===================
Test Equipment:
Nintendo DS Lite (USA)
M3 DS Real Perfect Bundle (English) ver.CPE
Kingston 4GB MicroSDHC (Japan) class[4]
================================================== ===================
Intro:
So here we have the M3 DS Real which is meant to replace the aging M3 Simply as their main cart The M3 Real is based on many of the features of the G6 DS Real but has expandable memory and a few other neat things like built in GBA support with expansion pack
The M3 DS which I ordered the perfect bundle edition from www.RealHotStuff.com (http://www.RealHotStuff.com) for $60 USD. The Perfect Bundle version comes with the M3 DS Real as well as 2 expansion paks for the GBA slot designed to fit slim with the DS Lite:
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/512/m3rumbleexpansionvc4.jpg
The first pak is the rumble pak which can be used in games that support it such as Meteroid Pinball and Elite Beat Agents. The Second expansion pak is the GBA Expansion Pak which supports the running of GBA game roms and homebrew and also double as a ram pak for the DS Browser and some homebrew that supports it. Both of these carts are very good to have and bring out the full potential the M3 Real. It is recommended that you buy this bundle to be fully satisfied with this product.
================================================== ===================
Packaging:
Upon receiving my product I was quit surprised at the packaging. It was very small compared to pictures I saw online. However this little box was full of goodies packed tightly togther:
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5010/m3dsrgrouphugehj4.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3dsrgrouphugehj4.jpg)
Now newer versions of the bundle wont contain the CD anymore due to it being useless because of outdated firmware and they also changed the MicroSDHC reader to a glossy one. Everything came as expected and seems to be okay, nothing damaged.
================================================== ===================
Flast Cart:
http://www.electrobee.com/imagemagic.php?img=images/images_big/m3dsreal_01.jpg&w=400&h=437&page=
The cart is sturdy and doesnt squeak and creek and when bend it. It supports MicroSDHC cards and and slot for the spring loaded ejection for the card is very well built also. Only thing is you can see a bump on the front under the sticker where there is an exposed chip. Many flashcarts these days seem to do this, it does not however effect inserting and taking it out of the DS. Overall very good cart quality, nothing seems to be out of place and everything fits flush.
================================================== ===================
Installation:
The M3 Real requires a MicroSD/HC card with the firmware installed on the card in order for it to work. Flash carts work by reading the MicroSD card and loading the firmware from the card now, these cards do not need to flashed in order to work and are very easy to update when new firmwares come out.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8329/m3realthumb15bm7.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb15bm7.jpg)
Setup was very easy only requiring a drag and drop onto the MicroSD card for the firmware and NDS and GBA roms which have their own folders.
(note: it is recomended to get a better MicroSDHC card then the one included which is garbage, the same for every flash cart to be exact, mine broke after 35 uses or so, I replaced it with a Sandisk Mobile Mate MicroSDHC + M2 reader from amazon.com for $2.50)
I then removed the card from the reader and inserted it into the M3 DS Real
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5682/m3realthumb18cw7.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb18cw7.jpg)
Everything fits real nice and flush once inserted into the DS.
I also inserted the GBA expansion pak, which also went flush with the DS and was glossy, unlike other expansion paks like the EZ 3-in-1 that stick out and arnt glossy.
================================================== ===================
Operation:
I turned on the DS and was very happy to see that it skips "touch the screen to continue" upon boot the M3 DS Real then loaded and was presented with a menu:
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/1010/m3realthumb29ay4.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb29ay4.jpg)
the explanation for each icon going from left to right are as follows:
the first option will take you too the current ds games on the cart (play your NDS games)
the second to gba games on the cart (play your GBA games)
third is a file explorer (think of it as windows explorer)
fourth is for cart booting for just playing a gba game with a an actual game cart (gba cart or other 3rd party slot-2 card can also be booted)
fifth is a media player (modded version of moonshell)
sixth is a built in PDA (I felt DSOrganize was a lot better)
and seventh is cart options (just some basic options like boot method, select different skins and such)
Rom Browser
Fairly easy to navigate, no problems, little laggy though
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5581/m3realthumb30gl0.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb30gl0.jpg)
Rom Options
some of the basic ROM options such as soft reset (you hold down a combo of buttons and you will return to the M3 Real menu wihout having to shut off your DS)
Cheat Switch (to activate cheats, can be set to always on and to a button combo) and slow motion (useful and your stuck in a game that requires precision but goes to fast, music wont slow down but game play will, can be set on a button combo and can return back to normal) and also take a look at the cheat tab on the top...
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6724/m3realthumb32nr0.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb32nr0.jpg)
Cheat Menu
Just like owning a gameshark\action replay\code breaker , a cheat system is built into this cart and features many codes for almost all games, simple off and on buttons.
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6590/m3realthumb33wl2.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb33wl2.jpg)
================================================== ===================
ROM COMPATIBILITY:
NDS
TetrisDS = Works
Pokemon D/P = Works
Contra 4 = Works
New Super Mario Bros. = Works
Cooking Mama 2 = Works (soft reset must be tuned off for the this rom other wise it will freeze when making a pizza)
Lost in Blue = Works
Trauma Center = Works
Fell the Magic = Works
Elite Beat Agents = Works
Final Fantasy III = Works
The World Ends With You = Works
Wario Ware Touched = Works
DS Opera Browser = Works (must be patched with the official M3 browser patch tool)
all roms run at full speed and wifi works as well, I have not yet encountered any rom errors
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/8522/m3realthumb34ev4.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb34ev4.jpg)
GBA
Super Mario Advance 1/2/3/4 = All Work
Zelda III A Link to the Past / Four Swords= Works
Zelda Minish Cap = Works (must use RTS to save game, game will not save without it)
Zelda I Classic NES Series = Works (requires a IPF patch to work which I applied)
Zelda II Classic NES Series = Works (requires a IPF patch to work which I applied)
Wario Land 4 = Works (RTS must be turned off or game will crash)
Kirby Nightmare in Dream Land = Works
Pokemon Fire Red = Works
Pokemon Emerald = Works
Kirby and the Amazing Mirror = Works
Super Mario Bros. Classic NES Series = Works (requires a IPF patch to work which I applied)
Wario Ware Inc. = Works
Bubble Bobble Old and New = Works
(*note* all classic NES series must be patched with special IPS patches or else they will return a GAME PAK ERROR message upon boot of them)
all GBA games work at full speed and the M3 Expansion has superb compatibility when it comes to GBA roms
http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/2990/m3realthumb41hw3.th.jpg (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=m3realthumb41hw3.jpg)
================================================== ===================
CONCLUSION:
The M3 DS Real is a very sturdy cart with excellent rom compatibility. As far as homwbrew, the only one I got to test is DSorganize which auto DLID patched its self and ran fine. I do recommended this cart for a person that wants both DS and GBA excellent rom compatibility at a low price.
================================================== ===================
PROS/CONS
Pros:
Good Cart Quality
Auto Homebrew DLID patch
100% Rom Compatibility
95% GBA Rom Compatibility
MicroSDHC cart supported
Cheat Support
GBA RTS+RTC Support
NDS RTS Support
NDS Slow Motion availability
Comes with both a Rumble Pak and GBA Expansion Pak made to fit flush with the DSL and comes glossy
Cons
Scroll list for game menu and somewhat laggy Random 10sec lag when selecting games from NDS and GBA games (fixed with M3 Sakura)
Touch screen for M3 Menu us somewhat dodogy at best and sometimes doesn't respond (fixed with M3 Sakura)
NDS+GBA game list doesnt auto alphabetic sort (fixed with M3 Sakura)
================================================== ===================
SCORE:
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa112/dcemureviews/reviews/star45.gif
review quoting pending with new release of M3sakura (new firmware for M3 DS Real which will fix all problems with menu)
================================================== ===================
Any questions you have I will be happy to answer below. :)