*Read me:

.sav file for GBA Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Gamecube Content Unlocked)

What this is....

This is a battery .sav file I extracted from my game cartridge after hooking it up to a Gamecube to unlock the 2 extra features.   
When it was originally released, you could connect your GBA to a Gamecube playing the GC version of Return of the King to utilize the experience points your characters earned while playing the GBA version. (I can't imagine a lot of people doing this.....)   It was a gimmick to sell both versions and required special hardward link cables to connect the GBA to the Gamecube.  (I've heard only a few games ever used it)   

The GBA versions of Return of the King and Two Towers are some of my favorite GBA games (Let's face it they are basically Diablo II clones :) so really wanted to unlock this content on my game.  I was surprised no one had done this before and shared it, so tracked down an old copy of the GC version (I had the PS2 version) and luckily a friend had the link cables and GC console.  The hardware and game is now so old that this would get more difficult in the future so I wanted to make sure others could enjoy the extra content.



*To use:

Most likely you are using an emulator.  

-locate .sav file for Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

-backup and your current .sav file 

-rename the contained file 'Return of the King (GC content unlocked).sav' to whatever your old .sav file name was and replace it.

When your start the game again it should now start with this .sav file.


If you want to replace the data on your actual GBA Lord of the Rings: Return of the King cartridge you will need a way to extract and exchange the battery ram file.

I used a Slot 1 & 2 DS lite and a program called GBA tools.   You will need a slot 1 flash card for the DS and the GBA GBA Lord of the Rings: Return of the King cartridge.   (Be sure to backup the .sav data on the cartridge before replacing it!)

*About the .sav file

-Ancient Artifacts (GC content unlocked) - Enables additional random drops of 'blue labeled' equipment. These are 'ancient artifacts'. Usually they have decent stats though I haven't found any better then my current equipment.  They can be sold for more gems then standard.

-Sam Gamgee (GC content unlocked) - Enables Sam as a playable (and saveable) character for the Bonus Maps & Multiplayer (You can not use Sam or Smeagol on a normal new game)


-All 4 Bonus Maps unlocked (Moria, Weathertop, Fanghorn, and Helm's Deep)
-All main Artifacts found
-Smeagol unlocked - Enables Smeagol as a playable (and saveable) character for Bonus Maps & Multiplayer
-3 characters and 1 empty save slot (to play as Sam or Smeagol)
*Gimli Lv 19
*Legolas Lv 25
*Aragorn Lv 24

All have decent equipment but no artifacts.


Enjoy!

