ROM Hacking

What is a ROM Hack?

ROM hacking is the process of modifying a ROM image or ROM file of a video game to alter the game's graphics, dialogue, levels, gameplay, and/or other elements. This is usually done by technically inclined video game fans to improve an old game of importance, as a creative outlet, or to make new, unofficial games using the old game's engine. ROM hacks either re-design a game for new, fun gameplay while keeping all items the same, or unlock features that exist in the game's code but are not utilized in-game.

Super Mario Galaxy ROM Hacks introduce new level designs in order to either bring a fresh new feeling to the games with brand new levels (e.g. Neo Mario Galaxy), or make regular levels from the original Galaxy games more difficult via twisting the mechanics (e.g. Kaizo Mario Galaxy).

Installing SMG ROM Hacks

In order to install Super Mario Galaxy ROM Hacks, you must own a copy of Super Mario Galaxy or Super Mario Galaxy 2. Most ROM Hacks are only compatible with SMG2, but others are designed for SMG1. You must have a modified Wii with Riivolution installed. If you do not yet have this, install Homebrew using this either the Wii Guide or the WiiU Guide. Then, install Riivolution using this guide. You can load ROM Hacks in riivolution by extracting the game files and the XML to the SD card, then enabling the hacks in the Riivolution menu. In order to demonstrate, here is an example of the installation process of Kaizo Mario Galaxy 2.