Finding in-depth information (or even basic manuals) for this Super Nintendo cheat device is difficult. Here you find:
- revised and up-to-date manuals (de/en)
- print-ready repro labels
- further information on the built-in code database
- project "Preservaction" - a deep documentation of PAR MK III
- comparison to other cheat-devices or SNES region adapters
I've been collecting SNES equipment for over 30 years, but the trigger to start this project was something else. In zhe last year I've spent a long time researching which region adapter might be the best. The search wasn't easy, as there isn't much information about it online. Then I came across a forum post that mentioned the Action Replay MKIII - which made me curious, as I already owned this cheat device. Was there a function I had overlooked!?
Indeed! The Pro Action Replay MK III is my favorite SNES cheat device because it's much more like a Swiss Army knife:
- a region adapter
- a cheat code device
- a cheat code finder (trainer)
- a real-time opcode injector
- a cheat code database
- with a mouse or joypad-driven user interface
To make this amazing hardware appreciated again, I digitized and translated the manual, documented all the built-in codes, screenshotted each menu, and gathered more information.
Happy gaming
Tim
The original manual contains several small errors, and a revised version is available for download. Since the module's interface is in German, I have provided a translation. However, only the body text has been translated – the menu names and messages have been kept in the original language for better orientation.
To give your Action Replay MK III module an authentic look, we've provided high-resolution label downloads for printing. These are faithful recreations of the original labels and are available in case your module's label has been damaged and needs replacing:
Since no (or very little) information, screenshots, and other details are available, I think it is important to preserve the Pro Action Replay 3 details. Therefore I started this project to document all functions of the Action Replay MK III - from the interface and operation to features hidden within the ROM. Take a look at Project Preservaction?
Different from the regular cheatcodes you find DEADC0DES for the Action Replay beginning from MK II. They look very unusual, but a quick google research shows: Nothing.
This is interesting! A challenge! Why hasn’t anyone delved into this yet? Oh, the nerd in me must have awakened. If you’re interested in what deadcodes are (they’re awesome, I can already tell you), check out the corresponding archive with all the details.
The Action Replay MK III includes a built-in database of (cheat) codes. A total of 907 codes for 202 games are pre-installed on the module (version V1.0G). Alongside classics like A Link to the Past, Castlevania, Final Fight, and Street Fighter, it also features cheats for games that only later achieved cult status and are now considered “hidden gems” or “underrated”: such as Blackthorne, Goof Troop, Lost Vikings, and Mickey's Magical Quest.
Due to limited storage space, only the most essential codes were included, such as infinite lives, energy, or time. Additionally, there are codes that support region unlocking, effectively patching the software in real-time.
See a list of all included games and the amount of integrated cheat codes.
Interestingly, there are a few oddities:
Mega lo Maniais listed mistakenly asMage Lo Mania.Sküljagger: Revolt of the Westicansis listed mistakenly asSkulljagger.Eek! The Catis listed in the cheat code database mistakenly asSky Cat.Rampartis listed mistakenly asRamparts.- The cheat codes for
Street Racerare labeled mistakenly asNo Description. - Some games are listed with their Japanese or European name, but not marked with "
JAP" or "EU" as other games are. This leaves the version unclear:Contra Spirits(JAP) =Contra III: The Alien Wars(US)Dead Dance(JAP) =Tuff E Nuff(US)Super SWIV(JAP) =Firepower 2000(US)Wild Trax(JAP) =Stunt Race FX(US)Desert Fighter(EU) =A.S.P.: Air Strike Patrol(US)Mega lo Mania(EU) =Tyrants: Fight Through Time(US)Rival Turf!(INT) =Rushing Beat(JAP)Rushing Beat Shura(JAP) =Brawl Brothers(US)Super Aleste(JAP) =Space Megaforce(US)Super Pang(JAP) =Super Buster Bros(US)
Along with some misleading simplifications:
90 Minutes - European Prime Goalis listed asPrime Goal.Harley's Humongous Adventureis listed asHarleys Humongous Advent.The Legend of Zelda - A Link to the Pastis listed asZelda III.
If you're looking for even more codes beyond what's built-in, check out the SNES area at gamehacking.org, an excellent resource with a vast collection of codes for the SNES, including games that may not be covered by the built-in database.
In addition to the main information about the MK III features, I’ve also compiled other interesting insights about the cheat device that caught my attention during my research.
Many people search the internet for help finding a well-functioning cartridge adapter to play games from another region on a Super Nintendo. There are certainly a few decent options, but the best one is the Action Replay MK III. Most adapters don’t support complex late-release games, don’t pass through the cartridge’s enhancement chips, and so on.
| Adapter Name | Region | Slot Type | Cart-Slots | PAR | GG | DB | Slomo | ROM | CIC | Dead Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Converter / Fire (MD-303) | INT | simple | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Game Converter / Fire FX (MD-909) | EU | extended | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| AD-29 Universal Adapter | INT | extended | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| AD-29 Universal Adapter (Upgrade Version) | INT | extended | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Multi Converter (DIS-SFC01) | INT | simple | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pro Universal Adapter | INT | extended | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Universal Adapter | INT | simple | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Universal Adapter Expert Version | INT | extended | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Super Game Key | INT | simple | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Super Key (Universal Adapter) | INT | extended | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | Yes | - |
| Super Magic Key | EU | simple | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Honey Bee | EU/NA | simple | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Honey Bee (Super-Magic Game Converter) | NA | extended | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Honey Bee (Super-Magic Game Converter) | EU | simple | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Programmable Universal Adapter | EU | extended | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Action Replay | INT | simple | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pro Action Replay (unofficially MK1) | INT | extended | 2 | 20 | 0 | Yes | - | - | - | Maybe |
| Pro Action Replay MK2 (1.0, 2.P, 2.T) | INT | extended | 2 | 100 | 0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Yes |
| Pro Action Replay MK3 | INT | extended | 2 | 100 | 5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Yes |
| Analogue Super NT | INT | extended | 1 | 0 | 6 | - | - | - | FPGA | - |
| Hyperkin Retron 5 | INT | extended | 1 | Raw |
Raw |
- | Yes | - | Emu | - |
| Hyperkin SupaBoy | INT | extended | 1 | 0 | - | Unknown | - | Emu | - |
Why is MiSTer not listed in this section? Well, MiSTer is a cool device (specialized in ROMs), but has no cartridge slot.
Credits/Source: (1) Reddit (2) SNES Central (3) GameFAQs (4) Jungsi (german)
-
Region:
- INT: International (incl. JP)
- EU/NA: North America (without JP)
- EU: Europe
- NA: North America
- JP: Japan
-
Slot Type:
- simple: Simple contacts (no enhancement chips supported)
- extended: Extended contacts (some or all enhancement chips supported)
-
Cart Slots:
- 1: Single Slot
- 2: Dual Slot (one for local CIC 'donation' cartridge)
-
Cheat Codes:
- PAR: Pro Action Replay cheat codes supported (and how many)
- GG: Game Genie cheat codes supported (and how many)
- Raw: Raw cheat codes (from gamehacking) supported, no limit known
-
Special Features:
- DB: Indicates whether a cheat code database is integrated
- Slomo: Indicates whether slow motion is integrated
- ROM: Indicates whether ROM cheat codes are supported
- CIC: Indicates whether a CIC chip is integrated
- Dead Codes: Indicates whether dead codes are supported
Hold A as the Action Replay logo fades out to display a credits/information screen. This screen contains the program version, copyrights, build date, and checksum. While at this screen, the two cartridge LEDs will strobe.
Note: Credits/Source
Hold Y # A while booting/restarting the menu to enter a simple test mode. From here, pressing B will light up the two cartridge LEDs and then start the attached game with the code 7E001902 active.
Note: Credits/Source
At CPU address 00D48B (right after the text for the credits/info screen) is the string "THIS IS THE START OF THE END", followed by some no-longer-used routines which attempt to poll the values at CPU addresses 00D500 through 00D50F as part of some unknown functionality.
Below are images of the Action Replay MK III module showing its front and back:
- Switch: This switch toggles the activation of the Action Replay's cheat functions.
- LED A & LED B: The two LEDs indicate the status of the module when it's active and when cheats are applied.
- Cartridge Slot on Top: This is where you insert your SNES game cartridge to enable cheats and region-free functionality.
- Card Slot on Back: This slot is essential when using a game from a different region. To enable compatibility with certain expansion chips (such as those used in certain region-specific games), you will need to insert a donor module in this slot. The donor module provides the necessary additional chips required for the imported game to run correctly on the SNES console.
Further pictures as well as information about the (Action Replay board and chipset)[preservaction-pcb.md] can be found in the documentation.
The Action Replay MK III has not been manufactured or distributed for many years. While it is no longer available for purchase through official channels, it is still widely appreciated by retro gamers and collectors. Since this product is no longer sold, it is often considered abandonware, meaning there are no current copyright or distribution restrictions for personal use. However, always check your local regulations regarding abandonware before distribution or modification.
This repository, including the translated manuals, recreated labels, and any other documentation or media files, is released under the following license:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
You are free to:
- Share - copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt - remix, transform, and build upon the material
Under the following terms:
- Attribution - You must give appropriate credit, including the name of the original creator: Tim Böttiger. You must provide a link to the license and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial - You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- ShareAlike - If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
This license does not apply to:
- The original manual for the Action Replay MK III.
- The original label artwork for the Action Replay MK III.
- Any other trademarks or materials mentioned within the original manual.
These elements remain the intellectual property of their respective owners and are not covered by the license provided here.
For more details, you can view the full license at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/.