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Import games are a bit of a delicacy for gamers. They’re almost like a hidden treasure, something you might normally have the opportunity to play. So many people will take the plunge and purchase a game, even if they don’t have the language skills necessary to play it.

This is when the Action Replay DS (AR DS) can be useful. It certainly can come in handy when you need to purchase potions or weapons in an RPG or make decisions to unlock CG scenes in a game, but can’t tell what the items are. Adding a cheat code to unlock all the CG images, or provide infinite money or perhaps give infinite recovery items. Suddenly, the game became a bit more bearable.

So in Important Importables today, we’re going to see just how easy it is to find AR codes for your recent import DS purchase.

Checking the Action Replay Code Manager

The absolute first first step is to find your game ID. Plug your AR into your DS. For purposes of this tutorial, we’re going to use Hana Yori Dango -Koi Seyo Onago as our game. Once it is inserted into the DS, we learn that its game ID is CHDJ-F007CF15.

Now, your first move might be to check your Action Replay Code Manager. There is a Codejunkies JP Games catagory in the manager that lists the code names. There’s only one problem - it can’t display Japanese characters. So Japanese game titles don’t display properly. For example, 13-sai no Hello Work DS will look like this 13??? ??????DS. If your Japanese game has some English in the title, like 13-sai, any Bleach game, any Naruto title, Jump Ultimate Stars or either of the Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side games, then you’ll be able to find your game. Otherwise, you’ll have to resort to the internet.

Checking out Datel Japan

Since Hana Yori Dango DS has no English in the title, the AR Code Manager isn’t really an option for us. Instead, we have to search the internet for our information.

The first spot to check is Datel Japan‘s DS code section. It may look intimidating at first, but clicking each section will allow you to sift through all of the available AR DS codes. A quicker way to search is to plug in “Datel Japan” and the game ID CHDJ-F007CF15. Google will take us directly to the Datel Japan page for Hana Yori Dango DS. You can have Google translate the page for you then as well. We discover two codes - one for max coins (999) and one that instructs you to push select to get some sort of reaction.

Since Hana Yori Dango DS is a dating game with CG images you can collect, you might want to unlock all the CGs and voices. Datel doesn’t offer any codes like that, so let’s check the regular internet. This time, just google the game ID. When I initially did this (before August 9, 2008), there was a Chinese web forum that came up in the search results that had Wiindsbbs in the title. This fan forum features a wide selection of codes that unlocked all the game music, voices, CG images and some other codes. Unfortunately, when I redid the Google search to find the site again, I received a “404 Not Found” error. So we’ll have to make due with the two official Datel Japan codes.

Discovering what the codes do

The next part involves some trial and error. We know that the first Datel Japan code for Hana Yori Dango DS gives you unlimited coins, so you can purchase all the recipes, clothing and make as many special lunches as you want. However, the second code has a strange translation whether you attempt to translate it yourself or let Google translate it. You have to try it in game.

Once you start Hana Yori Dango DS with the second code activated, you’ll notice no change. Wait until you’ve loaded a save file, then press select. The flower stem on the right side of the touch screen will suddenly grow to its full height. During the course of the game, when an option comes up, you can press the stem to narrow down to the correct answer. Before, you’d have limited chances. Now, you always narrow down multiple choice options to increase your chances of winning the guy you like and getting a good ending.

COMING NEXT WEEK: Important Importables offers five reasons to import video games. If you don’t miss a single installment of Important Importables, or want to know right away when the next column is up, then sign up for the Gamertell Newsletter and RSS feed.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last week Important Importables reviewed Audition Portable for the PSP.

Site [Play-Asia] Site [YesAsia] Site [NCSX] Site [Himeya Shop] Site [JBox] Site [Datel Japan] Site [Hana Yori Dango Koi Seyo Onago]

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