Anyone have Kirby and the Amazing Mirror on GBA?- How to save? (Possible pirate copy)

[DavidMcGowan]

Hi,

I picked up Kirby and the Amazing Mirror on the GBA from ebay. It's just arrived, and having played through a few levels, I turned the system off (the previous GBA title 'Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland' just saved the game automatically as it went along. Turning the system back on, however, I've noticed that there's nothing saved onto the slot I'd chosen. I played it again going along a bit further, and have still found no indication of how to save. The item appears to be a European version, and there doesn't seem to be much information in the instruction booklet about saving. It was sent with full box, instructions and official-looking cart (and the seller has a strong rating) -- yet I was wondering if it was some sort of cheap copy without battery backup installed? If anyone has this game, please could you let me know if there's something stupid I've missed out on that has prevented me from saving. Thanks!

[Joober]

Have you tried pressing 'start' during the game and seeing if a 'save and continue' type option becomes available?

[DavidMcGowan]

Have you tried pressing 'start' during the game and seeing if a 'save and continue' type option becomes available?

Yes, on both occasions I cycled through the menus to see if anything was listed, but I didn't see anything - although I may just be completely oblivious! Perhaps the save points are fewer and further between in this game, but on the second occasion I played through what appeared to be a number of separate levels and even had a couple of boss battles, so I assume I should have been given the choice to save by now...

Slightly worrying is that one of the pages in the manual appears to be for Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble - a completely different game - so I'm beginning to become suspicious...

[Joober]

Look at the contacts on the bottom of the cartridge, towards the back it should say 'Nintendo'. If it doesn't it's probably a dodgy copy.

[DavidMcGowan]

Hmm yeah... I wasn't sure what you meant at first but compared it to another cartridge I bought in the UK and I see what you mean - the Nintendo logo is missing. Looking at the ebay listings, the guy has a couple of neutral ratings in which one customer also complains they cannot save in another game, and another states that a tilt sensor is not working. There are only three negative responses, none of which are in English (but altavista's translations seem to suggest they are quibbles over the processing of the order rather than the items). I'm amazed if he is selling dodgy games that he's got so much positive feedback -- are people that happy to buy counterfeit products, particularly if they are substandard compared to the official release?

Anyone know if I can do anything about this, or just grumble about the loss of the money and leave some negative feedback?

[Joober]

If you used Paypal you can, plus i'd report him to eBay.

[DavidMcGowan]

Thanks - I'll take another look at it in the morning and see if perhaps I've just missed something regarding the saving of games, but I guess it looks likely it is a pirated copy. I'm surprised he's gone to the trouble of providing the full box and manual really!

I'll perhaps email the seller and see if he has anything to say about it all, but then I'll report it to ebay and paypal. Thanks Joober for your help.

[cjanderson]

course he may not know its a pirate. I've bought games off people at work, and then sold them on after i -played them, not sure i have checked any of them for authenticity (as no reason to - seems i should be doing that)