melonDS is a modern solution for replaying our favorite classic DS games. Call it nostalgia, but I’d still take DS and GBA games over the latest ones. They’re just that good.
However, not every moment in these games is always exciting. Nobody wants to grind Pidgey repeatedly, sit through endless chat, or watch sluggish animations.
Well, thanks to melonDS’ fast-forward feature, you can skip the boring parts and the tiring grind.
It’s a breeze to set up, too. You just have to set your hotkeys once, and you’re good to go.
This guide will walk you through the easy steps of setting up and using the speed-up feature in melonDS and give you the best tips to make the most out of it. Let’s go!
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Why Use Fast-Forward in melonDS
Fast-forwarding in melonDS is not just a “luxury” feature but a practical tool that enhances gameplay.
You may enjoy taking things at the original pace right now, but players like me want to maximize our time and reduce unnecessary waiting time. Below are some reasons why the feature is essential:
- Grinding and Training: Some DS games, especially RPGs like Pokemon, involve heavy grinding. Battles can feel repetitive after the hundredth encounter. Fast-forward makes it possible to shorten those sessions while still progressing effectively.
- Shiny Hunting and Training: Pokemon players especially know the pain of breeding or shiny hunting. It’s exciting to chase rare Pokemon, but it’s painfully slow without speed control. With fast-forward, egg hatching and breeding cycles go by much faster.
- Faster Experimentation: As a Pokemoncoder Trainer, I always test how a game behaves under different settings or cheats. Fast-forwarding speeds up the process of experimenting, which is perfect for when I’m tinkering with emulator features.
- Casual Replay Value: Sometimes I just want to re-experience a childhood game without dragging through every detail. Fast-forward makes replays smoother, letting you enjoy the best parts without getting bogged down by slower mechanics.
How to Speed Up melonDS Through the Fast-Forward Feature
Using fast-forward in melonDS is simple once you’ve set up the hotkeys. You can speed up melonDS in two different ways:
Fast-forward Hold vs. Toggle
There are moments when I just want a quick speed boost and others when I need the game running fast for an extended period. That’s why melonDS gives you two approaches: holding the button or using a toggle function.
Fast-Forward Hold:
This is the fast-forward button in melonDS that you set. This allows you to speed up your game temporarily while pressing the button you assigned.
It’s great for quickly forwarding through dialogue, going down that long and tiring journey on Cycling Road, or running away from wild Pokemon.
Many players map this to a key such as Tab or a controller trigger, because these are easy to hold down without interfering with main controls.
The benefit of hold mode is precision; it gives you speed only when you want it.
Fast-Forward Toggle:
This is one of the features that melonDS lacks. It may be a small and trivial thing, but it can be the reason why other players prefer DeSmuME.
Holding that fast-forward button can be tiring, especially if you’re grinding for levels or shiny hunting. Sadly, melonDS doesn’t offer this.
However, I found a workaround. I noticed that when you turn off Vsync, the fast-forward button becomes a fast-forward toggle.
And when I turn Vsync on, it becomes a fast-forward hold. Pretty weird, right? But with this, you can just turn Vsync off if you’re planning to use fast-forward for extended periods.
The only downside of this is screen-tearing on some devices. But if you prefer gameplay over visuals, this is a neat trick to try without having to switch emulators.
Mapping Fast-Forward Buttons in melonDS
One thing I like about melonDS is how customizable it is. Enabling fast forward is not complicated, but it does require proper setup.
By default, the emulator doesn’t assign a hotkey to it. Follow these three steps to configure it properly:
Step 1: Open the Input and Hotkeys Menu
- Launch melonDS on your PC.
- On the top menu bar, click Config, then select Input and Hotkeys.
- A new window will pop up displaying all the customizable controls and emulator features.
Step 2: Locate the Fast-Forward Option
- Inside the Input and Hotkeys window, switch to the General Hotkeys tab.
- Scroll through the list until you see Fast Forward.
- This is the setting that allows you to speed up your game by holding or toggling a button.
Step 3: Assign Your Hotkeys
- Click on the empty field beside Fast Forward.
- Press the keyboard key or controller button you want to assign.
Keyboard: Opt for the Tab or Spacebar, as they are conveniently positioned and super easy to access during your gaming sessions.
Controller: Choose an available button on your controller, such as the R1 or L1 joystick button, so that you can access it quickly without hindering movement controls.
Conclusion
Emulators like melonDS make it now accessible and super easy to play DS games. They run really smoothly and bring back all the feels while offering a ton of new features.
The speed-up option is just one of the few. But it takes the slow parts of gaming, like endless grinding, long cutscenes, or repetitive training, and turns them into quick, manageable moments.
If you’re into Pokemon games and emulation tips, Pokemoncoders has you covered. Check out our collection of guides, recommendations, and cheat codes created by Trainers just like you who are dedicated to helping others become the very best.
