Back in the early days of the Nintendo 64 a lot of games used SRAM batteries for game saves while others used the memory pack (which also utilized a SRAM battery). The drawback to the SRAM battery is that it has a life span of about 15-20 years give or take from when the memory was manufactured. Here are the 12 N64 games that used SRAM batteries:
1080 Snowboarding
F-Zero X
Harvest Moon 64
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Major League Baseball featuring Ken Griffey Jr.
Mario Golf
The New Tetris
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Resident Evil 2
Super Smash Bros.
WCW/NWO Revenge
WWF: Wrestlemania 2000
N64 Games that used the Memory Pak for Save Data (189):
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If your save file is still intact and your battery is still hanging on, please heed:
DO NOT CHANGE THE BATTERY BEFORE YOU BACK-UP YOUR SAVE!!!
The instant you plop the battery out of the cartridge, all memory held in the SRAM will be erased.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, here's ways you can back up your save.
METHOD 1: SANNI CART READER (PCB BUILD) (RECOMMENDED) (BACKS UP GAME PAK/MEMORY PAK)
Link: https://github.com/sanni/cartreader/wiki
Requirements:
-PCB Build Experience
-Every part listed here: https://github.com/sanni/cartreader/wiki/Needed-Parts
-Any Modern OS Computer
-SD Card
Description: This is the swiss army knife of everything related to backing up saves for the Nintendo 64, SNES, Gameboy, GBA, and more. This little device that you have to build on your own can read and back up the save files of your N64 Game Paks and Memory Pak. I recommend you go with this build if you want to back-up your saves. I have one myself and it's very intuitive and fast.
METHOD 2: ULTRA SAVE (REQUIRES 64DRIVE FLASHCART) (RECOMMENDED) (GAME PAK BACKUP ONLY)
Requirements:
-64Drive Flash Cartridge: http://64drive.retroactive.be/ $199 USD
-Ultra Save peripheral for 64Drive: http://64drive.retroactive.be/features.php#ultrasave $25 USD
-Any Modern OS Computer
Description: The Ultra Save is without a doubt the easiest backup method to operate out of the box. You basically plug in the 64drive and the cartridge you want to backup into the Ultra Save PCB, boot up the Ultra Save program on your PC, hit the backup/restore button, and wallah! This is definitely the priciest option out of the bunch but you do have the benefit of now owning an Everdrive-type device with being able to play N64 prototypes, homebrew, etc.
METHOD 3: RETRODE (GAME PAK BACKUP ONLY)
Requirements:
-Retrode 2: https://www.dragonbox.de/en/71-retr...416650091.html?search_query=retrode&results=7
-Retrode 2 N64 Plugin: https://www.dragonbox.de/en/134-retrode2-n64-plugin-cart-reader.html?search_query=retrode&results=7
-Firmware v0.23 http://forum.retrode.org/index.php/topic,382.0.html
Video Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzg862ZMx-8
METHOD 4: GAMESHARK/EVERDRIVE 64 (GAME PAK BACKUP ONLY)
Link with guide: https://assemblergames.com/threads/tutorial-backup-those-precious-n64-save-games.54845/ (READ ALL THE POSTS, NOT JUST THE OP)
Requirements:
-Gameshark or Passport Cartidge
-Everdrive 64
-Memory Pak
-PC Hex Editor
METHOD 5: DEXDRIVE (MEMORY PAK BACKUP ONLY)
Requirements:
-Computer with Serial Connection
-Computer with Windows 2000 or before recommended (Virtual Machines might work)
Description: I only recommend this method if you don't really have the skills/time/work needed for the build above. I should warn that I almost didn't post this method since it didn't work for me when I bought one, but others have had success with it. It can be really buggy at times. You can find these on Ebay still for pretty cheap.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And lastly, here's a great video on how to change the battery AFTER you've made a backup:
If you're concerned about any of your saves listed above being gone I'd go check if you got the time. Hope this helps!
1080 Snowboarding
F-Zero X
Harvest Moon 64
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Major League Baseball featuring Ken Griffey Jr.
Mario Golf
The New Tetris
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Resident Evil 2
Super Smash Bros.
WCW/NWO Revenge
WWF: Wrestlemania 2000
N64 Games that used the Memory Pak for Save Data (189):
(Note that some of these games only used the memory pack to save high-scores, time-trials, create-a-character, or make portable save back-ups)
A Bug's Life
Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage
All-Star Baseball '99
All-Star Baseball 2000
All-Star Baseball 2001
Animal Forest
Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M.
Army Men: Air Combat
Army Men: Sarge's Heroes
Army Men: Sarge's Heroes 2
Asteroids Hyper
Automobili Lamborghini
Bassmasters 2000
Battle Tanx
Battle Tanx Global Assault
Battlezone: Rise of the Black Dogs
Beetle Adventure Racing
BioFREAKS
Blues Brothers 2000
Brunswick Circuit Pro Bowling
Buck Bumble
Bust-A-Move 2 Arcade Edition
Bust-A-Move '99
California Speed
Carmageddon
Castlevania
Castlevania Legacy of Darkness
Chameleon Twist 2
Chopper Attack
CyberTiger 2000
Daikatana
Deadly Arts
Destruction Derby 64
Disney's Tarzan
Donald Duck Going Quackers
Doom 64
Dual Heroes
Duke Nukem 64
Duke Nukem: Zero Hour
ECW Hardcore Revolution
Extreme G
Extreme G 2
F-1 Pole Position
FIFA: Road to the World Cup
FIFA Soccer 64
FIFA '99
Fighter's Destiny
Fighter's Destiny 2
Fighting Force
Flying Dragon
Forsaken
Fox Sports College Hoops
Gauntlet Legends
GEX: Enter The Gecko
GEX 3: Deep Cover Gecko
Goemon's Great Adventure
Golden Nugget
GT 64: Championship Edition
Iggy's Reckin Balls
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hexen
Hot Wheels Turbo Racing
Hybrid Heaven
Hydrothunder
International Superstar Soccer 64
International Superstar Soccer '98
International Superstar Soccer 2000
Jeremy McGrath's Supercross 2000
Knockout Kings 2000
LEGO Racers
Madden Football 64
Madden '99
Madden 2000
Madden 2001
Madden 2002
Morita Shogi 64
Mia Hamm Soccer
Micro Machines Turbo
Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits
Mike Piazza's Strike Zone
Milo's Astro Lanes
MLBPA Bottom of the 9th
Monoco Grand Prix
Mortal Kombat 4
Ms. Pac Man Maze Madness
Multi Championship Racing
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon
Nagano Winter Olympics '98
Namco Museum
NASCAR '99
NASCAR 2000
NBA Hangtime
NBA In The Zone '98
NBA In The Zone '99
NBA In The Zone 2000
NBA Jam '99
NBA Jam 2000
NBA Live '99
NBA Live 2000
NBA Showtime
NFL Blitz
NFL Blitz 2000
NFL Blitz 2001
NFL Blitz Special Edition
NFL Quarterback Club '98
NFL Quarterback Club '99
NFL Quarterback Club 2000
NFL Quarterback Club 2001
NHL '99
NHL Blades of Steel '99
NHL Breakaway '98
NHL Breakaway '99
Nightmare Creatures
Nuclear Strike
Offroad Challenge
Olympic Hockey '99
Paperboy
Penny Racers
Polaris Snocross
Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue
Quake
Quake II
Quest 64
Rainbow Six
Rally Challenge 2000
Rampage: Universal Tour
Rampage: World Tour
Rat Attack!
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Razor Freestyle Scooter
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
Re-Volt
Road Rash
Roadsters
Robotron 64
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA
San Francisco Rush Extreme Racing
San Francisco Rush 2049
S.C.A.R.S.
Scooby Doo! Classic Creep Capers
Shadowgate: Trials of the Four Towers
Shadow Man
Sim City 2000
Snowboard Kids
South Park
South Park Rally
Space Invaders
Spider-Man
Stunt Racer
Super Bowling
Supercross 2000
Superman
The World Is Not Enough
Tonic Trouble
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Top Gear Hyper-Bike
Top Gear Rally
Top Gear Rally 2
Toy Story 2: Space Invaders
Track and Field 2000
Triple Play 2000
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion
Turok: Rage Wars
Twisted Edge Snowboarding
Vigilante 8
Vigilante 8: Second Offense
Virtual Chess 64
Virtual Pool 64
Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey
Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98
WCW Backstage Assault
WCW Mayhem
WCW Nitro
WCW vs. NWO World Tour
Wetrix
WinBack: Covert Operations
Wipeout
Wonder Project J2
World Cup '98
World Driver Championship
WWF Attitude
WWF War Zone.
Xena Warrior Princess: The Tailsman of Fate
A Bug's Life
Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage
All-Star Baseball '99
All-Star Baseball 2000
All-Star Baseball 2001
Animal Forest
Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M.
Army Men: Air Combat
Army Men: Sarge's Heroes
Army Men: Sarge's Heroes 2
Asteroids Hyper
Automobili Lamborghini
Bassmasters 2000
Battle Tanx
Battle Tanx Global Assault
Battlezone: Rise of the Black Dogs
Beetle Adventure Racing
BioFREAKS
Blues Brothers 2000
Brunswick Circuit Pro Bowling
Buck Bumble
Bust-A-Move 2 Arcade Edition
Bust-A-Move '99
California Speed
Carmageddon
Castlevania
Castlevania Legacy of Darkness
Chameleon Twist 2
Chopper Attack
CyberTiger 2000
Daikatana
Deadly Arts
Destruction Derby 64
Disney's Tarzan
Donald Duck Going Quackers
Doom 64
Dual Heroes
Duke Nukem 64
Duke Nukem: Zero Hour
ECW Hardcore Revolution
Extreme G
Extreme G 2
F-1 Pole Position
FIFA: Road to the World Cup
FIFA Soccer 64
FIFA '99
Fighter's Destiny
Fighter's Destiny 2
Fighting Force
Flying Dragon
Forsaken
Fox Sports College Hoops
Gauntlet Legends
GEX: Enter The Gecko
GEX 3: Deep Cover Gecko
Goemon's Great Adventure
Golden Nugget
GT 64: Championship Edition
Iggy's Reckin Balls
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hexen
Hot Wheels Turbo Racing
Hybrid Heaven
Hydrothunder
International Superstar Soccer 64
International Superstar Soccer '98
International Superstar Soccer 2000
Jeremy McGrath's Supercross 2000
Knockout Kings 2000
LEGO Racers
Madden Football 64
Madden '99
Madden 2000
Madden 2001
Madden 2002
Morita Shogi 64
Mia Hamm Soccer
Micro Machines Turbo
Midway's Greatest Arcade Hits
Mike Piazza's Strike Zone
Milo's Astro Lanes
MLBPA Bottom of the 9th
Monoco Grand Prix
Mortal Kombat 4
Ms. Pac Man Maze Madness
Multi Championship Racing
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon
Nagano Winter Olympics '98
Namco Museum
NASCAR '99
NASCAR 2000
NBA Hangtime
NBA In The Zone '98
NBA In The Zone '99
NBA In The Zone 2000
NBA Jam '99
NBA Jam 2000
NBA Live '99
NBA Live 2000
NBA Showtime
NFL Blitz
NFL Blitz 2000
NFL Blitz 2001
NFL Blitz Special Edition
NFL Quarterback Club '98
NFL Quarterback Club '99
NFL Quarterback Club 2000
NFL Quarterback Club 2001
NHL '99
NHL Blades of Steel '99
NHL Breakaway '98
NHL Breakaway '99
Nightmare Creatures
Nuclear Strike
Offroad Challenge
Olympic Hockey '99
Paperboy
Penny Racers
Polaris Snocross
Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue
Quake
Quake II
Quest 64
Rainbow Six
Rally Challenge 2000
Rampage: Universal Tour
Rampage: World Tour
Rat Attack!
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Razor Freestyle Scooter
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
Re-Volt
Road Rash
Roadsters
Robotron 64
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA
San Francisco Rush Extreme Racing
San Francisco Rush 2049
S.C.A.R.S.
Scooby Doo! Classic Creep Capers
Shadowgate: Trials of the Four Towers
Shadow Man
Sim City 2000
Snowboard Kids
South Park
South Park Rally
Space Invaders
Spider-Man
Stunt Racer
Super Bowling
Supercross 2000
Superman
The World Is Not Enough
Tonic Trouble
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Top Gear Hyper-Bike
Top Gear Rally
Top Gear Rally 2
Toy Story 2: Space Invaders
Track and Field 2000
Triple Play 2000
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion
Turok: Rage Wars
Twisted Edge Snowboarding
Vigilante 8
Vigilante 8: Second Offense
Virtual Chess 64
Virtual Pool 64
Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey
Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98
WCW Backstage Assault
WCW Mayhem
WCW Nitro
WCW vs. NWO World Tour
Wetrix
WinBack: Covert Operations
Wipeout
Wonder Project J2
World Cup '98
World Driver Championship
WWF Attitude
WWF War Zone.
Xena Warrior Princess: The Tailsman of Fate
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If your save file is still intact and your battery is still hanging on, please heed:
DO NOT CHANGE THE BATTERY BEFORE YOU BACK-UP YOUR SAVE!!!
The instant you plop the battery out of the cartridge, all memory held in the SRAM will be erased.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, here's ways you can back up your save.
METHOD 1: SANNI CART READER (PCB BUILD) (RECOMMENDED) (BACKS UP GAME PAK/MEMORY PAK)
Link: https://github.com/sanni/cartreader/wiki
Requirements:
-PCB Build Experience
-Every part listed here: https://github.com/sanni/cartreader/wiki/Needed-Parts
-Any Modern OS Computer
-SD Card
Description: This is the swiss army knife of everything related to backing up saves for the Nintendo 64, SNES, Gameboy, GBA, and more. This little device that you have to build on your own can read and back up the save files of your N64 Game Paks and Memory Pak. I recommend you go with this build if you want to back-up your saves. I have one myself and it's very intuitive and fast.
METHOD 2: ULTRA SAVE (REQUIRES 64DRIVE FLASHCART) (RECOMMENDED) (GAME PAK BACKUP ONLY)
Requirements:
-64Drive Flash Cartridge: http://64drive.retroactive.be/ $199 USD
-Ultra Save peripheral for 64Drive: http://64drive.retroactive.be/features.php#ultrasave $25 USD
-Any Modern OS Computer
Description: The Ultra Save is without a doubt the easiest backup method to operate out of the box. You basically plug in the 64drive and the cartridge you want to backup into the Ultra Save PCB, boot up the Ultra Save program on your PC, hit the backup/restore button, and wallah! This is definitely the priciest option out of the bunch but you do have the benefit of now owning an Everdrive-type device with being able to play N64 prototypes, homebrew, etc.
METHOD 3: RETRODE (GAME PAK BACKUP ONLY)
Requirements:
-Retrode 2: https://www.dragonbox.de/en/71-retr...416650091.html?search_query=retrode&results=7
-Retrode 2 N64 Plugin: https://www.dragonbox.de/en/134-retrode2-n64-plugin-cart-reader.html?search_query=retrode&results=7
-Firmware v0.23 http://forum.retrode.org/index.php/topic,382.0.html
Video Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzg862ZMx-8
METHOD 4: GAMESHARK/EVERDRIVE 64 (GAME PAK BACKUP ONLY)
Link with guide: https://assemblergames.com/threads/tutorial-backup-those-precious-n64-save-games.54845/ (READ ALL THE POSTS, NOT JUST THE OP)
Requirements:
-Gameshark or Passport Cartidge
-Everdrive 64
-Memory Pak
-PC Hex Editor
METHOD 5: DEXDRIVE (MEMORY PAK BACKUP ONLY)
Requirements:
-Computer with Serial Connection
-Computer with Windows 2000 or before recommended (Virtual Machines might work)
Description: I only recommend this method if you don't really have the skills/time/work needed for the build above. I should warn that I almost didn't post this method since it didn't work for me when I bought one, but others have had success with it. It can be really buggy at times. You can find these on Ebay still for pretty cheap.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And lastly, here's a great video on how to change the battery AFTER you've made a backup:
If you're concerned about any of your saves listed above being gone I'd go check if you got the time. Hope this helps!
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