N64 GameShark does it matter which version I get?

[OldSchoolGamer]

Once again I take it to the experts here. Been considering an N64 Gameshark but noticed that the higher versions especially v3.3 seems to command the most money. Were there issues or problems with earlier version? Any incompatibilities? Any info or thoughts appreciated thanks.

[CelticJobber]

I don't remember the numbers of mine, but all of the N64 GameSharks I had stopped working after less than a year of use.

[A Black Falcon]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameShark_Pro

The Nintendo 64 Gameshark Pro featured an in-game code search menu. Versions 3.2 & 3.3 also had a parallel port on the back, allowing the device to be connected to a PC. This was intended primarily to make entering large amounts of codes easier, but was also used for advanced hacking. The in-game code search required that an Expansion Pak be installed and that the game not be using it.

The Gameshark Pro had several advantages to earlier devices, such as being able to use hundreds of codes at once and save thousands of codes in the Gameshark cartridge. Previous devices, such as the Game Genie, supported as few as 3 codes at a time and had no save function.

Unfortunately, the device was well-known for having numerous flaws. Physically, it was poorly constructed, lacking a proper cartridge holder which made it very unstable. It was also made from low-grade plastic and cheap components, which made it easily breakable. In addition, the software had numerous bugs. Updating the code list would frequently corrupt other parts of the list or the software itself, rendering the device unusable until it was connected to a PC and reformatted, if it was still able to even start up. It also often failed to remember which codes were selected between sessions, and had no protection against power failures - if the power was lost while the code list or software was being updated, the device was very likely to be rendered useless.

That's why the 3.2 and 3.3 cost more -- they're the only ones with the parallel port on the back, a pretty nice feature to have if you can make use of it. Unfortunately all N64 Gamesharks are unreliable and prone to breaking. I have one, it's a 2.2 I believe. It doesn't work of course, like most of them... so yeah, if you get one, make sure that it's actually working!


I also remember reading something about being able to upgrade a broken gameshark by plugging a working one into the top of it? I don't know if I'd try that though, in case it broke the other too... :D

I've heard that with a Gameshark 3.2/3.3 you can supposedly do interesting things like dump a cartridge to your computer, copy save files off of cartridges, and more, but I don't remember how. I'm sure that the information is out there somewhere though.

[josekortez]

If you're using the Gameshark as an import passthrough, it shouldn't matter.

[BetaWolf47]

It does matter. Certain games require higher versions of Gameshark. Command and Conquer for example needed a high version. The game would still run on a lower version but there wouldn't be any sound effects.

Version requirements for import games may not be very well documented, so who knows what you'll get while trying to plug Sin and Punishment into a v1.8 Gameshark?

If you want an import passthrough, you should either mod your N64 or get an actual adapter. As mentioned before, Gamesharks don't last very long these days. Back in the N64 heydey I had a v1.8 and a v3.2 that worked for years, but now I have literally 4 and at least 2 are dead.

[retrocollectorguy]

The Gameshark will always be considered a piece of shit to me. I think I had to buy 3 or 4 of these at like $40 each back in the N64 days. 1 of them almost caught on fire!! But it was good enough untill it stopped working.

[Superman]

As was mentioned before, certain games don't work well or at all with lower versions of the Gameshark. I got one to try things with Zelda Ocarina of Time but it wasn't quite a high enough version, so it didn't work.