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FamiTone2 Demo
This homebrew project is a simple test ROM for FamiTone2 (more specifically FamiTone2D), a free NES sound driver by the prolific hacker Shiru. The project includes a Dn-Famitracker file, all the source code and CHR data, and the completed NES rom. I am claiming the music as CC BY, a Creative Commons license that basically means you can use the songs for any purpose as long as you give me credit in your completed project.
For more information, see the included readme.
This ROM is available on itch.io if you would like to download it there instead.
Faxanadu
Exciting things have been happening with Faxanadu hacking lately (early 2026)! There's a script editor that has been updated to accept music in MML (music macro language) format. I have written a replacement soundtrack, or more to the point, cobbled it together from transcriptions from different games.
You can download the hack and use it on either North American version of the game (1.0 or 1.1, the main difference being the infamous Nello font in 1.0). I also included the MML data, which you can edit and replace using the program linked above.
Hydlide Nova
This hack is for the NES version of Hydlide. In Japan, this game is called Hydlide Special, but in the United States, it's the only version we have. It is altered from the original PC-88 version, mostly for the worse. The screen scrolling code is choppy, the music is repetitive, and the colors are less crisp. The magic isn't fun to use and the puzzles are abstruse.
In the game's defense, the developers managed to fit it inside a 40k cartridge, the same size as Super Mario Bros. Most of what we consider to be "jank" is a result of the limited ROM space. In particular, there really isn't room for more music or a more complex music driver. When I went through this code, I was at times surprised by how clever it was.
But, since it's no trouble for a ROMhack to increase the size of a cartridge and change its mapper, I have done so. This version, Hydlide Nova, has the following changes:
- New music and sound effects.
- Save RAM (saved games now persist after poweroff).
- Screen flashing is removed or replaced with other visual effects.
- Less ugly screen scrolling (the code for screen changes on high speed is used on normal speed.
- Menu option for doubling the EXP you receive.
The hack is available here.
Mega Man series
Inspired by this thread, I made hacks to remove full-screen flashing from the NES Mega Man games, in some cases removing instances where only most of the screen flashes. Examples include selecting a stage in Mega Man 1, the Wily Castle map screen in some games, and certain weapons (such as Flash Stopper in MM4). Most enemies still flash when attacked, with the exception of particularly large boss robots (Mothraya, for example). The backgrounds in Top Man stage (MM3) and the clone room (MM1) were simplified to use colors other than white. Note that I am not a medical professional, and I have no experience with epilepsy, so I cannot fully guarantee the safety of photosensitive users. My main criteria for choosing what to remove was how obnoxious it was to me personally.
These hacks, in all cases, use the exact same number of CPU cycles as the original game. No time is saved or lost by using them, so you can rely on them for speedrun practice. Whether they're allowed for official speedruns is up to the community for each game.
- Mega Man
- Mega Man 2 was hacked by Tetrahedrus
- Mega Man 3
- Mega Man 4
The MM4 hack was only tested with version 1.1 (aka Revision A), which Capcom created in response to a bug with Flash Stopper. However, the difference from 1.0 is only a single byte, so my hack should work with either one. If you want to change your 1.0 ROM into 1.1, you can use this IPS file.
How to use IPS files
An IPS file represents a set of changes to an existing ROM. To use an IPS file, get a copy of the relevant ROM (an even slightly modified ROM will typically not work). Make sure you back up your ROM before adding the hack. This website does not provide ROMs, whether modified or unmodified, as that tends to catch the attention of litigious corporate entities.
Applying the IPS file to the ROM can be accomplished with Lunar IPS or an online tool like this one. Certain emulators, such as Mesen, will automatically use any IPS file that exists in the same directory as its ROM, with the same base filename (for example, a Windows folder with Faxanadu.nes and Faxanadu.ips).