Hammerhead

A Swiss Army Knife for reading, writing, encrypting, and decrypting "video game enhancer" firmware dumps.

Written in cross-platform C# and .NET.

Usage examples

View parsed ROM data

View all information extracted by Hammerhead from a directory of ROM and cheat text files:

dotnet run --project dotnet/src/src.csproj -- \
    info *.{bin,enc}

Dump cheats from ROM files to plain text

Dump the cheats from all supported input files to their default text file formats:

dotnet run --project dotnet/src/src.csproj -- \
    cheats dump *.{gb,gbc,gba}

Copy cheats from one ROM to another

Copy decrypted cheats from a scrambled Xplorer 64 ROM file to an encrypted GameShark ROM file:

dotnet run --project dotnet/src/src.csproj -- \
    cheats copy \
        xplorer64-v1.000e-b1772-19990507-SCRAMBLED.bin \
        ar3-with-xplorer-cheats.enc \
        --overwrite

Encrypt a ROM file

Encrypt a GameShark ROM file for use with Datel's official N64 Utils:

dotnet run --project dotnet/src/src.csproj -- \
    n64 gs encrypt \
        gspro-3.30-20000404-custom-cheats.bin \
        ar3.enc \
        --overwrite

Configure ROM file preferences

Change user-configurable settings in an N64 GameShark/AR ROM file:

dotnet run --project dotnet/src/src.csproj -- \
    n64 gs config \
        libreshark-pro-v4.05-20230711-cheatocodes.bin \
            --rename-keycodes \
            --keycode-order=zelda,mario,diddy,yoshi \
            --selected-game=2 \
            --sound \
            --menu-scroll=false \
            --bg-scroll=false \
            --bg-pattern=logo \
            --bg-color=blue \
            --update-timestamp

Dump Shark MX data to JSON

Dump GBC Shark MX contacts/messages to JSON:

dotnet run --project dotnet/src/src.csproj -- \
    info sharkmx.gbc \
        --print-format=json

Extract embedded files from ROMs

Decompress all embedded files from N64 GameShark, Action Replay, Equalizer, and Game Buster ROMs:

dotnet run --project dotnet/src/src.csproj -- \
    n64 gs extract n64-*.bin

bits.png
bits.tg~
gslogo2.bin
gslogo2.pal
gslogo2.png
menuf.png
menuf.tg~
shell.bin
tile1.1.png
tile1.1.tg~
tile1.png
tile1.tg~
tile3.png
tile3.tg~
tile4.png
tile4.tg~

...

Supported file formats

Full support

Firmware (ROM) files:

File format	Detect	Read	Write	Extract
N64 GameShark ROMs	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
N64 Xplorer 64 ROMs	Yes	Yes	Yes

Cheat code files:

File format	Detect	Read	Write
N64 GameShark Datel cheats	Yes	Yes	Yes
N64 Xplorer 64 FCD cheats	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hammerhead JSON cheats	Yes	Yes	Yes
N64 EverDrive-64 X7 cheats	Yes	Yes	Yes

In progress

File format	Detect	Read	Write	Extract
GB GameShark v2.x ROMs	Yes	Yes
GBC Code Breaker ROMs	Yes	Yes
GBC GameShark v3.x ROMs	Yes	Yes
GBC GameShark v4.x ROMs	Yes	Yes
GBC Shark MX ROMs	Yes	Yes
GBC Xploder ROMs	Yes	Yes
GBA Datel GameShark ROMs	Yes	Yes
GBA FCD GameShark & Code Breaker ROMs	Yes	Yes

Planned

File format	Detect	Read	Write
GBC GameShark v3.x cheats (*.gcf)
OpenEmu XML cheats
N64 Project 64 v1.x cheats
N64 Project 64 v3.x cheats

Limited support

File format	Detect	Read	Write	Extract
GBC BrainBoy / Monster Brain ROMs	Yes
GBA TV Tuner ROMs	Yes
N64 GB Hunter ROMs	Yes

Usage

1. Install the .NET 7 SDK

2. Download N64 GameShark firmware images

3. Run the CLI with no arguments to see a list of supported commands:

   dotnet run --project dotnet/src/src.csproj

Credits

This tool would not be possible without the amazing reverse engineering work of:

• @parasyte
• @RWeick
• @BacteriaMage