It took enthusiasts only two months to hack the NES Classic and install more games. Shortly after, a RetroArch-based mod appeared with emulators for Game Boy, Mega Drive, and other systems. And as expected, the Super NES Classic Edition is next on the list. The fact that Nintendo used the same hardware as the NES Classic in the new mini console made things easier, and today we can enjoy a very stable version of Hakchi2.
The Super NES Classic Edition is already available. Beyond the classic availability issues and ridiculous resale prices, the console has been well received. One of the most important details is that it uses the same hardware as the NES Classic, with minimal changes on its PCB. On the emulation side, Nintendo had to step up several notches, since it needs to reproduce dedicated chips like Super FX and SA1 in software. So... if the components are identical, how hard is it to hack the console and add more games to the original list of 21? Thanks to the advances in the Hakchi2 tool, not much.
Everything starts with downloading the latest build of Hakchi2, which at the time of writing is 2.20 (2.0.20.15). Once copied to a temporary folder, we open the executable, but before loading games, for safety reasons it is recommended to make a dump of the kernel. We go to the 'Kernel' section, click 'Dump Kernel', and follow the instructions to put the console in the correct mode of operation (this requires a special controller, but Hakchi2 helps install it too). Once the dump is done, it's time to add games. The program allows you to insert dozens at a time; however, some entries may require manual intervention to specify the number of players or search for artwork.
The console enables about 300 megabytes of storage (maybe a bit less), and if we use the compression option, we're talking about an average of 250 to 275 titles. Naturally, not all games will work due to natural differences in the emulation process, but that's when the RetroArch mod comes in.
