Xbox Action Replay

Unfortunately, the Xbox was designed to stop cheating. Not cheating at the game, but cheating as in hacking and illegally copying games. As a result, it is impossible to bypass the code logic in order to insert some instructions that change game data in an active way. The end result is that they have stopped all cheating.

A company like Action Replay is only left with one alternative - providing game saves that will get you by a playing problem. Unfortunately, this generally means that you don't get to actually play through parts of the game. So. At best, this is a compromise solution. One I can't get all that excited about. Cheating is OK. But not playing the game the way you want to is counter productive.

This package includes a CD with software for both the Xbox and you Windows 98 or better PC (required). Included is an 8 megabyte memory cartridge and a USB based cartridge holder for the PC. Basically you collect saved games from either the CD or online, install them on the cartridge and then tote it over to the Xbox, where you can use it.

Before you get a glint in your eye about file editing, let it be known that the software uses a compression scheme that can be uncompressed, but will not work if it is recompressed. Hopefully, some underhanded hacker will find a way around this, but right now this is a lowest common denominator type solution. And not a particularly useful one.


Disappointing...but there's a reason   August 29, 2003
Christian Wheeler (St. Louis)
37 out of 43 found this review helpful

Like many other reviewers, I was hoping for something more in-depth than community saves and the occasional modification. But as I later found out, this item's shortcomings aren't entirely Intec's fault. As many XBox gamers know, there are very, very few codes and cheats available for XBox games, so this product was limited from the outset. Unlike the PS2 Action Replay, this one does not come with any pre-loaded codes. Instead, one has to use a USB-equipped port (complete with a memory card that is, unfortunately, only good for this purpose) and some accompanying software to go to codejunkies.com and download community saves and some mods. One can play as a Hunter in Halo, for example, or download the gamesave of someone who's beaten the game on Legendary mode. There are a few good mods, such as the Datel Mech on MechAssault, and some games have available codes, such as Star Wars: Obi-Wan. Many of the saves are fairly large; oftentimes one can only fit one or two downloads on the card before it is full. (At that point, take it to your XBox, download the saves to the hard drive, and go back for more). The biggest problem with this product (aside from the lack of codes) is the codejunkies site: There are so many gamesaves that it becomes extremely frustrating trying to figure out which ones are worthwhile. As it is, I cannot recommend this item...but should Microsoft ever make codes available for download, this may redeem itself. Until then, it is not worth your money.


Cheat System? Where are the Cheats?   April 8, 2003
23 out of 28 found this review helpful

As the box states; "Unleash the power - Beat the Game!" "The World's Most powerful Game Enhancer!".... sounds pretty good, and the past ones have been pretty good. As good as the Gameshark (even though they are the same, Gameshark = USA, Action Replay = Euro) in the past. Well, this one fell very short on my expectations. The only thing this offers at this time is 'PowerSaves'... Game saves for the games... Ok, sure, we've seen this on the Dexdrive, but Action Replay?.?.? It's not what I expected, and I think alot of other people are going to be disappointed in it, as I was. Where are the Cheats? Where are the Codes? Not in this package. Hopefully this will change... Save your money at this time... wait to see if they put the cheats/codes feature into it....


Pathetic   April 22, 2003
17 out of 19 found this review helpful

I could not be more disappointed with this item. It's nothing more than a glorified DexDrive. The so-called "Power Saves" are laughable and most offer nothing more than having all levels unlocked. The infinte health, ammo, etc. promised on the box are nowhere to be found. This is NOT a type of Game Shark, which is what I was hoping for. You may as well light your money on fire, because that'll do you as much good as this horrible, useless product. If I haven't made my point yet, here it is: Do not spend your hard-earned money on this worthless piece of trash.


Memory card with free USB dock- PLUS cheats   April 2, 2005
Michigoon (Mid-MI)
11 out of 16 found this review helpful

Don't listen to all the "haters". Most people just don't see what you get in this box. Look at the value:
-Xbox memory unit ($15)
-Memory card reader that connects to PC USB port ($15)
-Access to Action Replay Powersaves (priceless)

Even if you don't care about cheating at all, you're still getting what you pay for with the memory card and USB reader already. Using this device already allows you to store all of your saves on your PC for backup, or just for archiving -and that's a bonus in and of itself.

As for the cheats? It's true that Xbox itself doesn't allow for the normal code modification that people have come to expect from cheating devices. However, the powersaves still allow you to do everything from unlock all the cars and tracks in your favorite racing game to getting all the costumes you never thought you'd access in your fighting games.

This unique format also allows people to share a lot of stuff you can't get with other devices. In Halo, people have made savegames where you can start a level playing as a Covenant Elite (normally only doable with a modded Xbox). Other savegames might include allowing you to begin play at the beginning of a critical part of the game- allowing you to replay that one event as many times as you want without having to replay the entire game.

So don't let other people's complaints drive you away from an engenious device- the Xbox Action Replay opens up an infinity of gameplay possiblities, even if it's not the exact device that people were expecting.