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- For the Nintendo DS accessories, click here.
- For the NTR-005 cartridges, click here.
- For other Nintendo DS cartridges, click here.
This is an in-depth guide dedicated to both legitimate and fake Nintendo DS NTR-031 cartridges. We have made this wiki entry as clear and accessible to all as we can. In order to keep this as tidy as possible, we've included collapsible tables. Simply tap (click here to expand) to see further, in-depth information.
Carts:
There are multiple ways to determine a fake NTR-031 DS game. For numbers 1-4, we'll have a common Pokemon: HeartGold fake along with a relabeled Active Health dressed as Pokemon HeartGold for number 5, with a new gen SoulSilver NTR-031 fake for number 6; and a numbered list of what to look for to determine a fake cart. We'll also share a legitimate cart for you to compare.
Explanations and Comparisons (click here to expand)
| No. | Fake | Legit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colour of the cartridge is grey. | Colour of the cartridge should be crimson (dark red), and slightly translucent. |
| 2 | Cartridge type is NTR-005. NTR-ASMP-USA. | Cartridge type should be NTR-031. |
| 3 | DB as the batch indentifier, in the wrong font. | DA and DI are the only batch indentifiers used for NTR-031 cartridges.. |
| 4 | PCB code on right states GS9-01. | Legitimate cartridges follow this format: IRx0x. This means IRC01, IRC02, IRU01 and IRU02 are legitimate cartridges. |
| 5 | Stamped code does not match. | IA8P relates to Active Health, not HeartGold which uses IPKP. This is an example of a relabeled cartridge. |
| 6 | Texture is more defined. | The texture of the cartridge should be shallower, almost flat. |
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| NTR-005 HeartGold on top. Relabeled Active Health as HeartGold middle. NTR-031 new gen fake on bottom. |
What about using light to see the red tint?
In direct light, the NTR-031 carts give a slight crimson tint as the cart is translucent. This is used for the IR capabilities of the Pokewalker and Activity Meters. In comparison, NTR-005 carts are grey or white.
From 2021 to early 2023, it was common (and remains so) for dodgy sellers to remove a label of Walk With Me/Active Health (as these are the cheapest NTR-031 cartridges), and tack on a third-party reprinted label for Pokemon Black, White, Black 2, White 2, HeartGold, or SoulSilver. However, there are new translucent counterfeit cartridges (as of May 2023) that use counterfeit NTR-031 cartridge shells. These cartridges are slightly thicker than the legitimate NTR-031 cartridges (3.76mm versus the legit 3.64mm thickness), and the texture of the cartridge back is rougher. The colour of the tint is exact.
As a result, we can't and should NEVER use this method for a verification anymore.
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| Example of the "light trick" using a relabeled HeartGold. Not a verification method as a result. Backside of same cartridge, code relating to Active Health. |
See List of NTR-031 Carts below for more information, and a list of games that use IR carts.
List of NTR-031 Carts
Contrary to popular belief, there are 8 known NTR-031 cartridges, not 6. As Pokemon is one of the most popular franchises of all time, most people are only aware of the Gen 4 (HeartGold and SoulSilver) & 5 (Black, White, Black 2 and White 2) Pokemon titles using the NTR-031 cartridges. NTSC/Jap audiences have had only 7 of these carts. PAL audiences had all 8 available. Active Health with Carol Vorderman was PAL's exclusive NTR-031 cart.
We'll also supply the serial codes to ensure you have a legitimate cart, NTSC/J and PAL separated due to space constraints.
NTSC and NTSC-J (click here to expand)
| Cart | Canada | Japan | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Trainer: Walking | N/A | NTR-IMWJ-JPN | NTR-IMWE-USA |
| Pokemon Black | N/A | TWL-IRBJ-JPN | TWL-IRBO-USA |
| Pokemon Black 2 | N/A | TWL-IREJ-JPN | TWL-IREO-USA |
| Pokemon HeartGold | NTR-IPKF-CDF | NTR-IPKJ-JPN | NTR-IPKE-USA |
| Pokemon SoulSilver | NTR-IPGF-CDF | NTR-IPGJ-JPN | NTR-IPGE-USA |
| Pokemon White | N/A | TWL-IRAJ-JPN | TWL-IRAO-USA |
| Pokemon White 2 | N/A | TWL-IRDJ-JPN | TWL-IRDO-USA |
PAL (click here to expand)
| Cart | Australia | EU | France | Germany | Spain | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Health | N/A | NTR-IA8P-EUR | N/A | N/A | N/A | NTR-IA8P-UKV |
| Pokemon Black | TWL-IRBO-AUS | TWL-IRBO-EUR | TWL-IRBF-FRA | TWL-IRBD-NOE | TWL-IRBS-ESP | N/A |
| Pokemon Black 2 | TWL-IREO-AUS | TWL-IREO-EUR | TWL-IREF-FRA | TWL-IRED-NOE | TWL-IRES-ESP | N/A |
| Pokemon HeartGold | NTR-IPKE-AUS | NTR-IPKP-EUR | NTR-IPKF-FRA | NTR-IPKD-NOE | NTR-IPKS-ESP | N/A |
| Pokemon SoulSilver | NTR-IPGE-AUS | NTR-IPGP-EUR | NTR-IPGF-FRA | NTR-IPGD-NOE | NTR-IPGS-ESP | N/A |
| Pokemon White | TWL-IRAO-AUS | TWL-IRAO-EUR | TWL-IRAF-FRA | TWL-IRAD-NOE | TWL-IRAS-ESP | N/A |
| Pokemon White 2 | TWL-IRDO-AUS | TWL-IRDO-EUR | TWL-IRDF-FRA | TWL-IRDD-NOE | TWL-IRDS-ESP | N/A |
| Walk With Me | N/A | NTR-IMWP-EUR | N/A | N/A | N/A | NTR-IMWP-UKV |
Supplemental Information
- Active Health released in Europe and the UK only. Mainly due to the popularity of the Queen of Countdown.
- Pokemon Black known as Pokemon Noire in France and Pokemon Schwarze in Germany.
- Pokemon Black 2 known as Pokemon Noire 2 in France and Pokemon Schwarze 2 in Germany.
- Pokemon HeartGold known as Pokemon Goldene in Germany.
- Pokemon SoulSilver known as Pokemon Argent in France and Pokemon Silberne in Germany.
- Pokemon White known as Pokemon Blanche in France and Pokemon Weisse in Germany.
- Pokemon White 2 known as Pokemon Blanche 2 in France and Pokemon Weisse 2 in Germany.
- Walk With Me: Do You Know Your Walking Routine? known as Personal Trainer: Walking in US and Aruite Wakaru: Seikatsu Rhythm DS in Japan.
Credits
- Written by a møøse from England, a wombat from Texas, and a pangolin from Denmark.