The Ultimate Mario vs Luigi Hacking Guide!

Welcome to the Ultimate Mario vs Luigi Hacking Guide! In this Tutorial I'll show you many things you should know when editing the Multiplayer-Levels. I'll also show you the files in the archives of the Multiplayer mode. I hope you'll learn much! Enjoy!



CHAPTER 1 - The archives
In this first Chapter, I'll give you a overview of the archives for MvsL. They are very limited, but it's still enough, so dont be afraid.

At first, I try to explain what these archives are. The DS uses many archives. I think the most popular are .carc/.narc archives. New Super Mario Bros. uses .narc archives. In these .narc's are files which the DS is using. The Multiplayer Mode uses these, too. When starting DS Download-Play, the DS without the NSMB Game-Card, is downloading the .narcs form the other DS, so both can play.

Here's a list of all MvsL .narc's in NSMB:
- Dat_2D.narc
- Dat_Basement.narc
- Dat_enemy.narc
- Dat_Field.narc
- Dat_Fort.narc
- Dat_Ice.narc
- Dat_Init.narc
- Dat_Pipe.narc

You can find them if you open your NSMB ROM with the NSMB editor and go to File Browser -> root -> ARCHIVE


Each .narc contains other things. I'll explain here now, what files the archives contain.
The Dat_2D.narc contains mostly palletes, main graphics (Touchscreen etc.) and the koopa. Dont ask me, why the Goombas is not there, too.
If you want to edit the .ncg files there, see this tutorial: tutorial Editing .ncg files with NSMBe 5.2

The Dat_enemy.narc contains all enemie files (.nsbtx's, .nsbmd's and .nsbca's)
For a list off all enemies, see this: sprites MvsL Hacking

The Dat_Init.narc cotains Player-Models, Graphics for gameplay and other game files. There's also the Goomba.

The Dat_Field/Basement/Ice/Pipe/Fort.narcs contain the Level-Files. There you can also edit the Tileset or the Background.
For making good Backgrounds, see this Tutorial (by  Dirbaio): BG Editing How-To

This was all I can tell you about the archives of MvsL. I hope you understand and will have fun editing the files Let's go ahead to the next Chapter.



CHAPTER 2 - Editing the levels
Now I'll tell you, what you can do so you get no crashes/freezes. There are some cool and some silly things, but hey! Its Multiplayer and the possibilities are enough, trust me! And perhaps we are able to create new stuff in the future

Let's start with the Graphical-Stuff. I recommend to use NSMB editor 5.2 for this now. See this Guide for getting it (by  Dirbaio]): tutorial How to compile NSMBe 5.2 Beta or just download the latest revisions here!
You should use Version 5.2, because only this version can create the .narc patch. It will modify the archives so people can play together if both have the same ROM. Ok, let's begin with the Tilesets! You are able to change the Tilesets trough the Level Configuration -> Graphics -> Tileset.

There you can change it. But you can also import you own Tileset-Image and create your own blocks with the "Edit Tilest" button.


Now we continue with the BG's (Backgrounds). You can chage the Backgrounds or import a own BG in the Level Configurations, too. But before importing a HD/Very good image, you should pay attention to this Tutorial for BG editing (by  Dirbaio): BG Editing How-To


Ok, that was all about the Graphical-Stuff. Let's switch to the Sprites.
This is the silliest thing in MvsL, because Nintendo insterted only a few sprites for Multiplayer.
You can see the list here: sprites MvsL Hacking
 Freeze tested some things. He founded out, that all Sprites are usable in every level. Also the sounds will work!


Next, the Views. For now I have only tested, that you are able to change the size and camera settings of the view. I dont know if Music Changing works, but probably not. I'll edit it here, when I have tested it. And also the 3D lightning is unknown. IMPORTANT: The view width divided by 256 hast to be 2, 4, 8...! If you can test it, write it down here! Thank you


Now, the Paths. You can use the Progess Paths like you want. That's no problem, but the Normal Paths can only be used to create Connected Pipes.


Let's talk about Entrances!
Yes, you CAN add as many entrances as you want! But you CAN NOT add a Midway entrance, because the start entrance of the second player IS the Midway entrance. I still have not tested all Entrances, but I can say without testing, the Door entrance will not work, because the door uses a image AND a 3D model.

Here's a list of all working entrances I know:
- Normal
- Tile Behavior of Boss doors with normal entrance in the middle (Looks like door)


That was nearly all what I could say. But there are still some things you should know. So I made a small list. Look:
- You can warp to all the other Multiplayer Levels while playing (Credit to  Tana~)
- You can create very big levels
- You can increase the Numbers of Stars
- You can use ?-Blocks which contain Starman/Mega-Mushroom
- You can use Vines, Slopes and Ice
- You can use Custom Music, but the MvsL mode is still limited to the 2 songs (Thanks to  Shadey for testing)
- Zones will cause a freeze!
- All Sprites which are not listed here: sprites MvsL Hacking can NOT be used!
- Some Background will cause a crash!
- Water/Lava Tile-Behavior will cause a freeze!

I have not tested the Rope Tile Behavior, the Log Tile Behavior or the Cliff Tile Behavior yet. I'll edit it here then. And I'll also continue the list if I figure out more.



CHAPTER 3 - Start playing
This is the last part of the Tutorial, read it carefully. If you will not, you probably can't play with your friends

Ok then. If you want to play all that now, then go in the Editor Menu to the Tools tab. Here click on Multiplayer NARC Patch (Map) and Multiplayer NARC Patch (Tex + BG). Then you're done, you can close the editor.

There are three different ways to play your edited levels. Recommended one is placing the exact same ROM on two flashcards. For more details see tutorial How to get MvsL hacks to work. Multicart and Download Play.


Last words
Here's the end of the Guide. I hope you enjoyed and learned much. It took me much time, so create some nice Multiplayer levels! Thanks to TheJackiMonster, my friend, for testing all that with me. Without his help this Guide would not exist.
And also thanks to Dirbaio, Piranhaplant and Treeki for this very nice NSMB editor!

Thank you for reading!
~ray
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Ok. I'll edit it now, but what is FlashMe? Otherwise, cool that there are more than one way for playing it
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Thank you very much I dont think a flashed DS can do something special
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Thank you
You should use r234
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Huh, I dont know. I always use 234 and I also create the Narc patches with 234... But my friend and I are always playing with the same ROM. We've never used the firmware.nds Perhaps dirbaio can help you there
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Lol? I dont get it
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Oh OK I did not know this
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Lol, Always when I try to put the broken link into a tag, it wont work. As a normal link it works :( And at 5.2: No I think mine is ok :P
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But there's no link to your guide. Only to dirbaios thread and there he says that the compiling guide is from you (Less work )
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