However, if the tests pass, the string Rareware is copied to $0907 instead if this string is detected at startup, the anti-piracy checks are skipped and the game boots normally.Īlmost immediately after booting, the Emulation Flag and Direct Page register are examined.

If these tests fail again on the second boot (using the string saved in SRAM to determine if it's the second try), then the anti-piracy message is shown.

Ten seconds powered off is necessary for the contents of RAM to decay. To account for this, an error message will be displayed first:īehind the scenes, the string A thief! is copied to both $0907 and the beginning of SRAM (battery-backed memory used to hold the save game data). Note: The console's RAM is mostly random on boot and can result in a false positive for the Stack Test and RAM Tests. The Japanese version instead features a much more plain looking screen, similar to ones seen in other first-party SNES titles, though it does feature a unique font. The international versions fittingly use the background from the Game Over screen with Diddy and Dixie in jail, with the message displayed in the game's regular 8x8 font. Similar programming is also present in the next game and Killer Instinct.įailing any of the below tests (except the Checksum Verification and Reset Vector Verification) will display the above unauthorized device message on bootup. The game contains a much more thorough set of anti-piracy tests than those seen in earlier SNES titles. However, it can sometimes be heard when performing the Castle Crush glitch. Thus, it usually cannot be heard during normal gameplay. It is even called in the game's code, albeit too late, and on the same channel as the sound of the barrel breaking. This sound should be used when the Kongs are transforming inside an Animal Buddy Barrel.

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