- Introduction -
The CycloDS Evolution is made by Team Cyclops. Probably
already known for their infamous Supercard clones, the CycloDS firmware, it
was a shock when Team Cyclops announced that their next flash cart, the
CycloDS Evolution would have features that no other cart on the market would
have. Despite the fact that the team started off with clone products, it
seems that they have taken a whole new approach. Their support is
phenomenal. It has only been a week and a half since the release date, and
there have already been 2 patches to correct bugs and suggestions that users
have submitted to them.
The CycloDS Evolution does not come cheaply, it costs about
$54.99, and that does not include the MicroSD card. With the high price, the
obvious question is, how well does this cart compare with cheaper products on
the market?
The CycloDS Evolution is a slot 1 cart that fits flush into
the DS and the DS Lite. It claims to have features such as slowing down
gameplay, cheating, and of course, full download play capabilities.
- Design -
The CycloDS Evolution comes in a very nice tin box with
some nice designs and of course their site and the product name. It looks
very professional. The first thought that came to my mind is that, the tin
box looks extremely familiar. The CycloDS Evolution tin box is exactly the
same as the tin box that came with the Chinese models of the DS Link.
The tin box is beautiful and it keeps everything nicely inside.
When you open the beautiful tin box, you have a nice piece
of black foam protecting your flash cart, a MicroSD reader and of course the
CycloDS Evolution. Upon first inspection, the MicroSD reader looks quite
cheap, and is the same as the first generation MicroSD readers that came with
the R4DS. Although they have an extremely bad reputation, the two MicroSD
readers I have received with the two CycloDS Evolution carts work extremely
well.
I don't know how I ever lived without MicroSD readers.
New CycloDS Evolutions have begun shipping with these new MicroSD readers
that are fairly sturdy.
When you first looks at the CycloDS Evolution, you may
think that it looks like it is flush fitting and it fits great. The cart is
perfectly white, and the sticker looks very professional. The MicroSD reader,
although not spring-loaded, works very well. However, the CycloDS Evolution
shares the same mould as the DS Link, the similarities are striking, the chip
sticks out at the exact same place, the MicroSD reader is located at the same
place, and the chips and parts of the PCB visible though the cheap plastic are
located at the same place, the MicroSD reader is the same quality, and even
the little MicroSD symbol at the back is the same. The carts build quality is
very high, just like the DS Link, the plastic, although a little transparent
at the back, is nice and hard. However, when inserted and removed from the
DS, you notice that the CycloDS Evolution is not perfect. You must push extra
hard to get the cart out. I am compelled to believe that the fault is from
the extra thick sticker they have used paired up with the chip sticking out,
causing a slight thickness issue.
There is no denying their similarities.
On August 14th, 2007, new CycloDS Evolutions appeared on the market, even
though the chip is still sticking out, most of the thickness issue and well as
bad contacts issue have been fixed.
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To read the complete review here.
