The Game Boy Advance e-Reader is a pretty niche accessory that many gamers don't actually own. There were over 1,000 cards made to be compatible with different GBA games, and 38 of those were designed to work with Super Mario Advance 4.
This little ROM hack adds some of the benefits that those e-Cards provided, leaving you to play the game without having to purchase the e-Reader or the cards themselves. You'll be able to add plants from Super Mario Bros 2, new item boxes, and features like being able to land on a platform when you fall into a pit.
The hack also provides some nice features like finding capes on every level and turning enemies into coins when they're attacked by fireballs. It's not a massive hack, but it's certainly a cool twist on a game we know well that allows us to check out some lesser-known features.
The GBA e-Reader released back in 2001 in Japan and 2002 in North America but didn't really make the impact that Nintendo wanted. In many ways, it paved the way for Amiibo, but back then it was just a bit too ahead of its time, with people not really understanding the benefits.
Amiibo are more exciting than cards because they look more collectible and can be displayed when not in use, whereas cards just sit in a case or a book until they're used. Still, the e-Reader is a collectible piece now, and we do get ours out from time to time to feel like we're using a keycard in GoldenEye 007 and opening up new game secrets.
In other Mario-related news, you should definitely check out our list of the best Mario Kart ROM hacks before you go! I've had a blast playing titles like Pokémon Kart 64 and Mario Kart 64 Amped Up over the years, and I'm sure you will too!
