Changing the Game Interface

The majority of these tutorials focus on modding the NewerSMBW interface, however some of these will work with retail NSMBW.

If you can't figure out the name of an element in the layout, you can open the BRLYT file in a tool like Switch Toolbox, which allows you to select the elements and see their names. However it isn't recommended to actually edit the layout using Switch Toolbox.

''Note: Some of these tutorials expect you to have some knowledge on using Windows' Command Prompt, as well as navigating to directories using the  command. If you do not know how to do this, look it up.''

Tips & Misc Info

 * If you are changing text strings in a layout, but the text won't change, the text in-game is likely pulled from the game's BMG file, see here to edit these strings.

= Controller Information Screen (Wiimote Strap Screen) =

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Benzin
 * NOTE: If you get an FAST_CWD pointer computing error with Benzin, redownload the  file here. Replace the existing   file in the Benzin download to fix the issue. Don't download the 64-bit DLL, Benzin is a 32-bit application.
 * XML or text editor (Notepad++ is recommended for this, download here)
 * Text string to hex converter capable of UTF-16 encoding (use this website here)
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and extract the file   from the   folder.

Step 2
Open the Windows Command Prompt, and switch to the directory where Benzin is located (look it up if you don't know how to switch directories with Command Prompt), and type the following text. This will convert the  file to. Now, open the  file with the XML or text editor, and search for these lines highlighted in the picture below. Delete the hex values entirely inside the  tags.

Step 3
Go to the string to hex converter website. Set the separator to, and the text encoding to   (not  ) on the bottom of the text input box. Now, think up of some words to type in, it must be 3 lines (not characters) long.

As an example, we'll change the message into the text below.

Copy the example text into the input text box of the converter website. Copy the hex string output into the  tags.

Make sure to add the text  at the end of the hex string inside the   tags, so Benzin wouldn't corrupt the hex string while converting the file. The changes should now look something like the image below.



Step 4
Save the  file. Open the Windows Command Prompt, and switch to the directory where Benzin is located, and type the following text. This will convert the  file back to.

Step 5
In BrawlBox, replace  with the newly-modified one. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * CTools
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in  (there are multiple paths, this is just an example of the path I use on the disc)
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open the  file with the SZS Tool from the CTools Library, then open the   file in it. Find Message ID 26632 among the other messages.



Step 2
Go to the Message text box to edit the Message. Now, think of some words to type in, for example, we'll replace the current text with the text below.

Copy the example text into the Message text box (at the bottom). Once you're done editing the message, click the  button in the BMG Editor. Hit  on your keyboard in the BMG Editor to save the   file, and exit the BMG Editor.

In the SZS Tool window, hit  on the keyboard to save the   file, and exit the SZS Tool. Then test it to see how it looks in-game.

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Benzin
 * NOTE: If you get an FAST_CWD pointer computing error with Benzin, redownload the  file here. Replace the existing   file in the Benzin download to fix the issue. Don't download the 64-bit DLL, Benzin is a 32-bit application.
 * XML or text editor (Notepad++ is recommended for this, download here)
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and extract the file   from the   folder.

Step 2
Open the Windows Command Prompt, and switch to the directory where Benzin is located, and type the following text. This will convert the  file to. Now, open the  file with the XML or text editor, then press , and search for  , to find the text below.

Now, edit the RGBA values (the numbers in quotes, next to the,  ,  ,   text) to get the color you want. The values are in hexadecimal and cannot be lesser than  (absolute black) or greater than   (absolute white), so keep that in mind. As an example for this tutorial, we will set the RGBA values to.

NOTE: Do not add "0x" at the start of the hexadecimal value when modifying the RGBA values. After modifying the lines, it should look something like the text below.

Step 3
Save the  file. Open the Windows Command Prompt, and switch to the directory where Benzin is located, and type the following text. This will convert the  file back to.

Step 4
In BrawlBox, replace  with the newly-modified one. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Benzin
 * NOTE: If you get an FAST_CWD pointer computing error with Benzin, redownload the  file here. Replace the existing   file in the Benzin download to fix the issue. Don't download the 64-bit DLL, Benzin is a 32-bit application.
 * XML or text editor (Notepad++ is recommended for this, download here)
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and extract the file   from the   folder.

Step 2
Open the Windows Command Prompt, and switch to the directory where Benzin is located, and type the following text. This will convert the  file to. Now, open the  file with the XML or text editor, then press , and search for  , to find the text below.

Now, edit the RGBA values (the numbers in quotes, next to the,  ,  ,   text) to get the color you want. The values are in hexadecimal and cannot be lesser than  (absolute black) or greater than   (absolute white), so keep that in mind. As an example for this tutorial, we will set the RGBA values to.

NOTE: Do not add "0x" at the start of the hexadecimal value when modifying the RGBA values. After modifying the lines, it should look something like the text below.

Step 3
Save the  file. Open the Windows Command Prompt, and switch to the directory where Benzin is located, and type the following text. This will convert the  file back to.

Step 4
In BrawlBox, replace  with the newly-modified one. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Any image editor that supports transparency
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and open the   folder. You will see the  image files listed in this table.

Step 2
Export any of the  files to   format, then edit them with your image editor. As an example, we'll recolor the Wii Remote backdrop image textures (, , and  ) to be blue. Open the exported  images of the Wii Remote backdrop image textures with your image editor, then use the image editor to recolor them blue, and save your changes.

Step 3
In the  file, replace the actual texture images of the   files with the   image files you edited, and click. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

= File Selection Screen = NOTE: This screen contains a lot of text strings that are pulled from the BMG file, and not the layout itself. If you want to edit these strings, see here.

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Benzin
 * NOTE: If you get an FAST_CWD pointer computing error with Benzin, redownload the  file here. Replace the existing   file in the Benzin download to fix the issue. Don't download the 64-bit DLL, Benzin is a 32-bit application.
 * XML or text editor (Notepad++ is recommended for this, download here)
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and extract the file   from the   folder.

Step 2
Open the Windows Command Prompt, and switch to the directory where Benzin is located, and type the following text. This will convert the  file to. Now, open the  file with the XML or text editor, then press , and search for  , to find the text below.

Now, edit the RGBA values (the numbers in quotes, next to the,  ,  ,   text) to get the color you want. The values are in hexadecimal and cannot be lesser than  (absolute black) or greater than   (absolute white), so keep that in mind. As an example for this tutorial, we will set the Red and Alpha channels to.

NOTE: Do not add "0x" at the start of the hexadecimal value when modifying the RGBA values. After modifying the lines, it should look something like the text below.

Step 3
Save the  file. Open the Windows Command Prompt, and switch to the directory where Benzin is located, and type the following text. This will convert the  file back to.

Step 4
In BrawlBox, replace  with the newly-modified one. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Benzin
 * NOTE:</b> If you get an FAST_CWD pointer computing error with Benzin, redownload the  file here. Replace the existing   file in the Benzin download to fix the issue. Don't download the 64-bit DLL, Benzin is a 32-bit application.
 * XML or text editor (Notepad++ is recommended for this, download here)
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and extract the file   from the   folder.

Step 2
Open the Windows Command Prompt, and switch to the directory where Benzin is located, and type the following text. This will convert the  file to. Now, open the  file with the XML or text editor, then press , and search for  , to find the text below.

Now, edit the RGBA values (the numbers in quotes, next to the,  ,  ,   text) to get the color you want. The values are in hexadecimal and cannot be lesser than  (absolute black) or greater than   (absolute white), so keep that in mind. As an example for this tutorial, we will set the Red and Alpha channels to.

NOTE:</b> Do not add "0x" at the start of the hexadecimal value when modifying the RGBA values. After modifying the lines, it should look something like the text below.

Step 3
Save the  file. Open the Windows Command Prompt, and switch to the directory where Benzin is located, and type the following text. This will convert the  file back to.

Step 4
In BrawlBox, replace  with the newly-modified one. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Any image editor that supports transparency
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and open the   folder. You will see the  image files listed in this table.

Step 2
Export any of the  files to   format, then edit them with your image editor. As an example, we'll recolor the 'Number of Players' button textures (, , and  ) to be blue. Open the exported  images with your image editor, then use the image editor to recolor them blue, and save your changes.

Step 3
In the  file, replace the actual texture images</b> of the   files with the   image files you edited, and click. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

=Save File Slot Editing =

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Any image editor that supports transparency
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and open the   folder. You will see the  image files listed in this table (auto collapsed due to the sheer size of it).

Step 2
Export any of the  files you wish to edit to   format. As an example, we'll recolor the active save file textures (, ,  ,  ,  , and  ) to be blue. Open the exported  images with your image editor, then use the image editor to recolor them blue, and save your changes.

Step 3
In the  file, replace the actual texture images</b> of the   files with the   image files you edited, and click. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

= World Map =

World Map HUD
coming soon

World Map Shops
coming soon

= Pregame (Level Preview Screen) =

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * A means of taking screenshots in-game (see here for taking screenshots in Dolphin)
 * A simple image editor that can crop images down (even MS Paint would work for this)
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Go to the  folder of the NewerSMBW patch, and open the   file with the same name as the level you wish to replace the screenshot of (ex.1-1 uses  ) with BrawlBox.

Step 2
Take your screenshot of your level preview. It should act as a representation of the of the level. The screenshot should include, but is not limited to, the level's primary enemies, the level mechanic (can be left out if you wish), and the primary level theme/location (ex. if it's a cavern, it shouldn't just be the starting area above-ground). Some of the things you should leave out of the image is the player(s), the checkpoint, Star Coins, bosses (if it's a castle, tower, airship, etc.), and other character-related sprites like Yoshi and Toad. Also, it's best to take your screenshot at native resolution, or something close to it, as you want your screenshots to represent the game at it's actual resolution, not how nice your computer specs allow the game to look. Be sure to look at Newer's level previews for an example of what should and shouldn't be done.

Another thing, avoid editing your screenshot beyond cropping it. Editing things into the screenshot, such as renders of enemies, adding text, or making unnecessary color edits, will lower the quality of the image.

Step 3
Click on  and replace it with the image you want. The image must be 398x242 pixels before you replace it. Save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Any image editor that supports transparency
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and open the   folder. You will see the  image files listed in this table.

Step 2
Export any of the  files you wish to edit to   format. As an example, we'll recolor the background texture to be brighter. Open the exported  images with your image editor, then use the image editor to brighten it to a light-gray, and save your changes.

Step 3
In the  file, replace the actual texture images</b> of the   files with the   image files you edited, and click. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

= In-level Pause Menu =

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Any image editor that supports transparency
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and open the   folder. You will see the  image files listed in this table. file is encoded in the  format.

You can fix this issue by changing the encoding to.

<tr style="height:40px; text-align:center; font-size:110%; color:#FFFFFF;"> im_coin_00.tpl The coin that appears when you pause the game in a Coin Battle level. Unused in NewerSMBW as there is no Coin Battle.

<tr style="height:40px; text-align:center; font-size:110%; color:#FFFFFF;"> CSM_BlueRight.tpl The rightmost part of the Continue button.

<tr style="height:40px; text-align:center; font-size:110%; color:#FFFFFF;"> im_graButton_under_24_00.tpl Unknown.

<tr style="height:40px; text-align:center; font-size:110%; color:#FFFFFF;"> im_base_00.tpl The backdrop texture of the Pause Menu screen.

<tr style="height:40px; text-align:center; font-size:110%; color:#FFFFFF;"> im_graButton_up_24_00.tpl Unknown.

<tr style="height:40px; text-align:center; font-size:110%; color:#FFFFFF;"> CSM_RedLeft.tpl The leftmost part of the Exit button.

<tr style="height:40px; text-align:center; font-size:110%; color:#FFFFFF;"> im_graButton_upRight_24_00.tpl Unknown

<tr style="height:40px; text-align:center; font-size:110%; color:#FFFFFF;"> CSM_RedMiddle.tpl The middlemost part of the Exit button.

<tr style="height:40px; text-align:center; font-size:110%; color:#FFFFFF;"> CSM_BlueMiddle.tpl The middlemost part of the Continue button.

<tr style="height:40px; text-align:center; font-size:110%; color:#FFFFFF;"> CSM_RedRight.tpl The rightmost part of the Exit button.

Step 2
Export any of the  files you wish to edit to   format. As an example, we'll recolor the Continue and Exit buttons textures (, , and   for the Continue button;  ,  , and   for the Exit button) to both be blue. Also, we'll be recoloring the background texture of the pause menu to be red. Open the exported  images with your image editor, then use the image editor to recolor it blue, and save your changes.

Step 3
Note: If you're replacing the background texture of the Pause Menu window, make sure to set the image format to  so the texture will retain it's color.

In the  file, replace the actual texture images</b> of the   files with the   image files you edited, and click. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

Recoloring the Cancel and OK! Buttons ("Are you sure you want to go back to the map?" screen)
NOTE:</b> This also edits the Yes and No buttons that appear when clicking  or the   button on the menu in the World Map pause menu, and possibly others.

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and open the   folder. You will see the  image files listed in this table.

Step 2
Export any of the  files you wish to edit to   format. As an example, we'll recolor the Continue and Exit buttons textures (, , and  ) to be yellow. Open the exported  images with your image editor, then use the image editor to recolor it yellow, and save your changes.

Step 3
In the  file, replace the actual texture images</b> of the   files with the   image files you edited, and click. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

= Messages, Titles, & World/Level Names =

Recoloring the Message Box (NewerSMBW Only)
''Note: This tutorial changes the message container that appears when hitting the Message Box. To change the way the Message Box sprite itself looks, edit the the message box tile in .''

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Any image editor that supports transparency
 * The file :
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1 (Only for LH decompression)
If you're editing Newer 1.20 or below, you'll need to decompress the  file into an   file. For this, you can use LHDecompressor.

With LHDecompressor, use the command  to decompress the file.

Step 2
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and open the   folder. You will see two image files,, and.

Step 3
Export any of the  files you wish to edit to   format. As an example, we'll recolor the message box texture itself to be red. Open the exported  images with your image editor, then use the image editor to recolor it red, and save your changes.

Step 4
In the  file, replace the actual texture images</b> of the   files with the   image files you edited, and click. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

NOTE:</b> You do not need to recompress the  file to , the game will read the uncompressed   file perfectly. Simply remove the  file and the game will use the uncompressed   file we edited.

Requirements

 * NewerSMBW
 * Level Info Editor (Source version recommended, as the latest build seems to crash)
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Open Level Info Editor. Go to, and select the   in the   folder.

Step 2
In the file, you should see 15 entries for worlds:  (contains the misc. levels, such as titlescreens), and Worlds 1-14 (1-9, A-E). Select on World 1.

Step 3
Now, go to the Levels pane on the right of the window. You will see the level information for World 1-1: Palm Beach. Replace the text in the  box. For this tutorial, we'll change the name of the level to "Yoshi's Island Shoreline".

Step 4
Save the  file and test your edits in-game.

Requirements

 * NewerSMBW Sources [Download] (See Setting Up and Compiling the Newer Sources)
 * Any text editor
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
In the NewerSMBW sources folder, open the  file with your text editor.

Step 2
Use the "Find" feature in your text editor (in most programs, simply hit "Ctrl-F" on the keyboard). Type  (with a space at the end) and you should find these lines. And edit the string to a word you can think of. Also, you must have a space at the end of the word. As an example, we'll change it into.

Make sure to specify the number of characters in the string inside the square brackets of. Please note that spaces count as characters. After changing the text, the text should now look like this.

Step 3
Save the  file. Compile the NewerSMBW sources, then put the compiled files in and test to see how it looks in-game.

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Hex Editor
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in the region specific folder:
 * (US game region, English language)
 * (US game region, French language)
 * (US game region, Spanish language)
 * (European game region, English language)
 * (European game region, French language)
 * (European game region, German language)
 * (European game region, Italian language)
 * (European game region, Spanish language)
 * (Japanese game region)
 * (Korean game region)
 * (Taiwanese game region)
 * For NewerSMBW: located in
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

NOTE:</b> This tutorial focuses only on changing the "English" version of the  file.

Step 1 (Only for LH decompression)
If you're editing Newer 1.20 or below, you'll need to decompress the  file into an   file. For this, you can use LHDecompressor.

With LHDecompressor, use the command  to decompress the file.

Step 2
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and extract the   file from the   folder.

Step 3
Open the  file with the hex editor. Use the "Find" feature in your text editor (in most programs, simply hit "Ctrl-F" on the keyboard). Type  and you should find these lines. NOTE:</b> You may only put one character when editing the highlighted characters in the pictures. Also, shorter messages (than the original ones) is possible, simply replace the characters that aren't needed with space(s).In NSMBW:



In Newer

NOTE:</b> A  is found first in the NewerSMBW course clear   file, but it is unused in NewerSMBW and is not highlighted in the picture for that reason.



Step 4
Now edit the characters of the course clear message with your own words that you can think of. For an example, we'll change the message into this.

Step 5
In BrawlBox, replace the  with the newly-modified one. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game.

NOTE:</b> You do not need to recompress the  file to , the game will read the uncompressed   file perfectly. Simply remove the  file and the game will use the uncompressed   file we edited.

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Hex Editor
 * The file :
 * For retail NSMBW: located in the region specific folder:
 * (US game region, English language)
 * (US game region, French language)
 * (US game region, Spanish language)
 * (European game region, English language)
 * (European game region, French language)
 * (European game region, German language)
 * (European game region, Italian language)
 * (European game region, Spanish language)
 * (Japanese game region)
 * (Korean game region)
 * (Taiwanese game region)
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

NOTE:</b> This tutorial focuses only on changing the "English" version of the  file.

Step 1
Open the  file with BrawlBox, and extract the   file from the   folder.

Step 2
Open the  file with the hex editor. Use the "Find" feature in your text editor (in most programs, simply hit "Ctrl-F" on the keyboard). Type  and you should find these lines. NOTE:</b> You may only put one character when editing the highlighted characters in the pictures. Also, shorter messages (than the original ones) is possible, simply replace the characters that aren't needed with space(s).

Step 3
Now edit the characters of the game over message with your own words that you can think of. For an example, we'll change it into this.

Step 4
In BrawlBox, replace the  file with the newly-modified one. Then save the  file and test it to see how it looks in-game. For editing it in NewerSMBW, put the  file in the   folder.

= Miscellaneous =

Recoloring Text (Without Editing Font)
This allows you to recolor portions game text without editing the font. A good example of this in use is the number of coins you have on the  layout, which uses yellow and orange. This applies for every text element in a layout.

Requirements

 * Device running Windows
 * BrawlBox
 * Benzin
 * <b style="color:#FF0000;">NOTE:</b> If you get an FAST_CWD pointer computing error with Benzin, redownload the  file here. Replace the existing   file in the Benzin download to fix the issue. Don't download the 64-bit DLL, Benzin is a 32-bit application.
 * XML or text editor (Notepad++ is recommended for this, download here)
 * Method of testing your edits in-game:
 * Wii Console Method
 * Dolphin Method

Step 1
Extract the BRLYT you wish to edit from it's  file. Now, use Benzin to convert it to an XMLYT file.

Step 2
Once that's done, open the layout and find the text element you want to edit. It will typically look something like this:



Near the bottom, there are two color values named  and. These can be used to recolor the text. The  value affects the top part of the text, down to the halfway point, while the   value affects the bottom part of the text, up to the half-way point. Something worth noting is these colors will fade into the other color like a gradient, instead of being a solid color and abruptly ending at the half-way point of the text.

Image Editing
See Font Editing.