Mario Kart DS (EU) reverse-engineering

• Mario Kart DS (EU) reverse-engineering
  • Save editor
  • ASM-hacking
  • Command-line utility
  • Credits

This repository contains my reverse-engineering work of the European version of Mario Kart DS (game code AMCP): ASM-hacking, better understanding of yet not fully documented DS/MKDS formats, additional tools (like a save editor) and hopefully more:

YouTube video showcasing an ASM-hack injection of a custom scene with custom dialogs

Screenshots of the online save editor

Save editor

Reversing save-data formats and encryption/decryption allowed me to create an almost fully-featured online Mario Kart DS save editor:

ASM-hacking

Check out the ASM-hacking examples for more detailed information on how to inject custom code in MKDS, using generated headers and symbols of my reverse-engineering work on this game.

Command-line utility

For practical purposes (to make my life easier) I made a simple command-line tool, mkdsutil, in order to work with several MKDS formats in a more straightforward way (better than staring into a hex editor).

It currently has the following features:

• Decrypt and/or encrypt save data

• Print info/fields of decrypted save data

You will need CMake in order to compile it, without any external dependencies other than standard C++.

If you wish to make your own tools or extend these ones, you may be interested in the C++ code covering various MKDS formats and utils.

Credits

• GBATEK for its great (although sometimes limited/outdated) DS docs

• mkds-asm containing some basic reference MKDS RE work

• Existing MKDS decomp headers for being a great reference for so many internal structs and types

• Super Mario Wiki for allowing me to understand some basic gameplay aspects without having to spend hours playing or watching gameplay footage :P

• Pokémon Diamond decompilation as a helpful reference for already (partially) understood DS SDK code

• simontime's MKDS time trial code encoder

• 'Hacking Nintendo DS' EnHacklopedia page as the only (and great) specifications I found regarding DS cheat codes

• NCPatcher as a great tool for simplifying the process of making DS ASM hacks

• Custom Mario Kart Wiiki for providing me some understanding of WFC-related fields and data