Intro
SMW ROM Hacks are modifications of SMW, Usually
modified levels, graphics, music, physics, and/or code.
This page is going to be a tutorial on how to hack every aspect of SMW.
It's quite hard if you're new to SMW hacking, and I might accidentally
use too much jargon, but if it has a footnote, click it for a link to the
definition, and if it has a dotted underline, hover over it to see the
abbreviated phrase.
Also no stock photos here!
Image is traced picture of the SNES from here
Enter Lunar Magic
LM is THE go-to tool for rom-hacking, It's either LM, or an alternative;
You just can't romhack without LM.
LM mods levels in a slighty user-unfriendly GUI. and I hope this will
help as much as possible.
WARNING! If you think LM is anything like Super Mario Maker, you will be dissapointed, SMW is based more or less based off objects that create your level (unless you get into more advanced stuff), while SMM is based off of tiles.
PS: I had to update this tutorial due to lunar magic 3.2.1 releasing
Image is traced LM icon, Official website
Setting up LM
I'm assuming you can get an SMW rom by yourself, but MAKE SURE
that the ROM's filename ends with "(U) [!].smc", otherwise
it's not safe to share. (Incorrect ROM)
From experience, DON'T open a .sfc file in LM and copy "smwOrig.smc"
After you have a ROM, open LM and click [File > Open ROM] or
just click the icon in the top-left as shown in the gif.
You should see level x105, which is Yoshi's Island 1.
If you don't see YI1, your ROM might be invalid.
Enter the LM level editor
Okay, this is a tall picture.
You will see three buttons at the top of LM, as represented in the picture.
Layer 1 editing mode, Layer 2 editing mode, and Sprite editing mode.
L1 (Layer 1) is the most used layer by far, all terrain, blocks, munchers, etc... are in L1.
L2 is the LEAST used layer by far, In normal SMW this layer is used for all of the moving yellow chunks of terrain.
Sprites are the moving objects that inhabit both layers, think Mario, Yoshi, Galoombas, Koopas, Chuck, 1-ups, mushrooms, you get my point.
You are automatically in L1 — thank god — so you can just start placing objects and other things.
Now — unless you're starting on a level other than level x105 — press Ctrl+Del to delete all objects in the level.
Then, click the turn block in order to start making a level.
Adding objects
Now — unless you're starting on a level other than level x105 — press Ctrl+Del to delete all objects in the level.
Then, click the turn block in order to start making a level.
You should see a dropdown similar to the one in the gif, that's your object list.
You can click on an object to select it and then right-click on the level in order to place it.
You can also resize some — but not all — objects.
Making the level
I know, this seems like a "step 1: draw a circle, step 2: draw the rest of the mona lisa", but there's not much else you need to know to make a level for a rom hack.
The rest is custom graphics, sound, or code.
Although there are small tips you chould know, like how you should press F1 to view screen boundaries, because the last object HAS to end at a screen boundary.
Adding objects
Now — unless you're starting on a level other than level x105 — press Ctrl+Del to delete all objects in the level.
Then, click the turn block in order to start making a level.
You should see a dropdown similar to the one in the gif, that's your object list.
You can click on an object to select it and then right-click on the level in order to place it.
You can also resize some — but not all — objects.