This is a sub-page of Super Smash Bros. Melee/Developer Functions.
A crash debugger is usually a tool that allows developers to input a button combination during a game crash to display information using the framebuffer that would help identify what may have caused the crash. Like most games, especially Nintendo games on the Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Nintendo DS, the crash debugger in Super Smash Bros. Melee can be accessed without any developer functions enabled. However, there are more controls possible if the game's DB Level is set to 3 or higher at the time of the crash.
Super Smash Bros. Melee's crash debugger is identical in all versions of the game regardless of revision or region. Also similar to Kirby Air Ride Crash Debugger.
Accessing the Crash Debugger#
To access the crash debugger, a fatal exception must be triggered by crashing the game. An easy way to do this in the Debug Menu is to go to VERSUS MODE, DAIRANTOU, and choose NONE under the CHAR SELECT option and press the Start button.
Once the game has crashed, input the following button combinations:
- Z, R, L
- Y, D-Pad Up
- A, D-Pad Down
- B, D-Pad Left
- X, D-Pad Right
DB Level#
The Boot-Up Message Log is displayed at the beginning of the crash debugger log. While this displays the DB Level at boot, it does not display the DB Level set at the time of the crash. If the DB Level is currentlty set to 0, 1, or 2, the crash debugger will display two different screens back and forth. The only control here is the Start button, which jumps to the beginning of the stack dump. However, if the DB Level is set to 3 or 4 at the time of the crash, the crash debugger will enable more controls as indicated by the Instruction Menu.
DB Level 2 or Below (Screen 1) |
DB Level 2 or Below (Screen 2) |
DB Level 3 or 4 |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
Instruction Menu#
If the DB Level is set to 3 or 4, the Start button can be pressed to access more controls, confirmed by a message in the top right corner of the screenː
<< Push START Button >>The message above will display as it flashes between the two main screens of the log before changing permanently toː
<<PUSH START BUTTON TO SEE INSTRUCTION>>Pressing the Start button will display a small menu of controls, and pressing the B button will close the small menu.
Option Name |
Option Button |
Description |
|---|---|---|
MOVE CURSOR UP |
(UP) |
The gray cursor can be moved with the D-Pad. |
MOVE CURSOR DOWN |
(DOWN) |
The gray cursor can be moved with the D-Pad. |
MOVE CURSOR LEFT |
(LEFT) |
The gray cursor can be moved with the D-Pad. |
MOVE CURSOR RIGHT |
(RIGHT) |
The gray cursor can be moved with the D-Pad. |
MEM DUMP AT CURSOR |
(A) |
Pressing the A button prompts a memory dump at the cursor's location. |
MEM DUMP |
(X) |
Pressing the X button prompts a memory dump. |
DUMP CPU CONTEXT |
Selecting the Dump CPU Context option on the menu adds more to the log on screen, seemingly replacing older information in the log. |
|
SPR |
Selecting the SPR option displays a list of Special-Purpose Registers that can be scrolled through. |
|
QUIT |
Selecting the Quit option will disable all controls, effectively ending the crash debbuger and forcing the system to be powered off. |
Instruction Menu |
Input Address |
Memory Dump |
SPR |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Controls#
Note that the controls in the crash debugger (unless specified otherwise) are only available if the DB Level is set to 3 or 4.
Button |
Result |
|---|---|
D-Pad |
Moving the D-Pad in any direction moves a gray cursor throughout the log. It is possible to scroll up infinitely beyond the beginning of the log. |
Start |
Pressing the Start button in DB Level 2 or lower returns to the top of the log and shows or hides the Instruction Menu in DB Level 3 or 4. |
A |
Pressing the A button prompts a memory dump at the cursor's location. Pressing A with the Input Address window open will also open the Memory Dump window. The A button can also be pressed to use the DUMP CPU CONTEXT, SPR, and QUIT options in the Instruction Menu. |
B |
Pressing the B button closes any opened windows or prompts (depending on which is currently open). |
X |
Pressing the X button prompts a memory dump of (presumably) all available memory. |