Compatibility and Performance

After taking care of the descriptive part, we can field test our DS ONE Mk.II. Given the card's unique features, we altered our standard testing protocol to give a full overview of all its specs.

In order to perform our tests, we used a retail DS ONE Mk.II for comparison, along with an older Supercard SD (Slot-2) and two microSD's, HC and non-HC. Here is the customary detailed breakdown:

Supercard DS ONE Mk.II - provided sample

Supercard DS ONE Mk.II - retail

Supercard SD (Slot-2) - older model

Nintendo DS "Classic" v3 (with FlashMe v7), Nintendo DS Lite v7

Kingston microSD 1GB, Kingston microSD High Capacity 4Gb

Kingston Secure Digital 512Mb

Even though a 4 Gb microSDHC was used, keep in mind that the results refer, unless otherwise specified, to tests performed with the 1 Gb one, due to this being the average user's setup. All memory cards are either new or restored to factory settings via formatting.

Homebrew
Homebrewing on the DS ONE is as simple as it can become: just copy the relevant files over and you're ready to go. DLDI auto-patching has become a common feature among recent flashcards and has significantly reduced the hassle for less experienced users. Also, the need of a specifically compiled executable, as was the case with Slot-2 Supercard units, is no more: we tested ScummVM DS, DSOrganize, ClIRC and Beup Live without encountering a single glitch.

GBA Games
As we've pointed out on a few occasions during our review, the DS ONE is fully integrated with its older Slot-2 brothers: this extends to being able to run GBA homebrews and games. Obviously, you will be able to benefit from this feature only after plugging in a Supercard SD/CF/miniSD, and quite literally for that matter: the OS autodetects compatible hardware and allows files with .gba extension to be displayed in the browser; after that, simply pushing A will start the game, or rather load it into the GBA cart and run it.

Also, the same principle is used by GBA Union: after enabling it as we explained while describing the system software, all you have to do is load the corresponding GBA game into the Slot-2 Supercard by selecting it in the browser and tapping the tiny Load button (and subsequently running the DS game, of course). It's the same concept as with the EZ 3-in-1, with the difference that GBA code is stored on volatile memory (32Mb on our Supercard SD) until the console is turned off.

We tested said integration with three GBA games and with the Opera DS Browser: Sigma Star Saga worked fine, thanks to patching on the fly, although there were minor graphical glitches; Castlevania - Aria of Sorrow showed no problem in being recognised by its DS sequel and we effortlessly surfed the web with Opera, albeit painstakingly slowly.

The most obvious advantage of this is finally getting rid of the patching software, of course, although older Supercard models are quite infamous for their GBA compatibility; neverthless, if you own one, it will effectively open up new possibilities.

Download Play
There isn't much to say: the DS ONE's performance on local multiplayer is on par with its high-end competitors. By applying patches on a per-game basis (whereas other flashcards prefer a more generlc "all fixes on, all fixes off" approach), Download Play fixing doesn't affect the overall compatibility, with the only downside of having to be activated manually via the patching dialog.

Final Thoughts

And finally, our review reaches its conclusion. After intensive testing, we're finally ready to hand down a verdict on the newest iteration of the Supercard DS ONE.

After half a decade, the Supercard brand confirms its position as one of the leading names in flashcard manufacturing: this Mk.II doesn't revolution the DS ONE design, but rather expands on it by adding SDHC compatibility and trying to solve a few relevant reliability issues. The packaging is by far one of the best we've ever seen, with the card and its accompanying card reader carefully arranged and bundled with a driver/manual disc and quickstart guide; even the seal of warranty does add a nice touch to it. Also, features such as Real Time Save and multisavers are unique to the DS ONE, definitely one step above the other DS flash kits and worth your money if you need them - and if you play the Rockman series, you will need them; those features, with the latest updates, won't even force you to withstand framerate drops and glitches, although freezes may still occur. And of course, don't forget Moonshell: listening to your favorite music is a breeze, as easy as tapping the lower screen.

Neverthless, there are still problems with this Mk.II: first of all, hardware failures have become somewhat less frequent, but still very much of an issue; the PSRAM is still the weak link and its position, exposed under the label and sticking out of the plastic casing, doesn't exactly improve the situation. Furthermore, everything is still basically an upgrade of the older Supercard way of running games and code, with a hardware different from the Nintendo original and, thus, requiring patches in order for GBA/DS software to work correctly: this leads to a system software more complex than average, whose unclearly documented features can confuse an average user and possibly give newcomers an headache. Functions like GBA union and expansion/rumble setup would benefit from refining, as well as adding some more autodetection routines.

Whether this DS ONE Mk.II is the way to go, it's your choice: it is by far one of the best flashcards around, with robust features and great support, but be prepared to spend some time figuring out its most complex aspects, as well as praying for the PSRAM not to break down.