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This does exactly what it says and it does so very reliably. I didn't run into any bugs except a minor sound bug when swapping out with Mega Man's auto charge equipped, and that went away as soon as I fire a single shot as Bass. No problem. (I made sure not to swap during boss battles).

A game this excessively brutal - with almost all the levels designed around having Bass' mobility - needs the flexibility this hack gives it. Don't play Rockman & Forte without it.

Why this wasn't included in the original experience, I'll never know. This hack absolutes skyrockets this game's playability, however. Mega Man and Bass can be a fun game on its own, but being able to switch between characters on the fly is huge for tackling stages and managing the (sometimes cheap) obstacle placement. I didn't experience a single bug or glitch, as switching between characters made any character-specific situation switch as well (the platform on the final King mech, for example, appeared and disappeared based on which character I used). This hack is a must-own for anybody looking to play this often-overlooked SNES game, and I can confirm that it is compatible with the 2002 translation, the title screen Addendum patch, and the Multiple Weapon Equip patch all at once (with no crashes or glitches).

Criticism of Rockman & Forte often centers around the perceived issue that the level design feels tailored to Forte, while the bosses are geared more towards being taken on by Rockman. This patch eliminates such issues by allowing you to switch characters on the fly and thus makes the game a smoother experience overall. That said, it does have some limitations.

Despite only recently having been uploaded here, the patch has been in the wild for several years. I discovered it some time ago and have been using it ever since, but it needs to be said that while you can technically switch characters at almost any time, that doesn't mean that you should. For example, the game calculates boss health differently depending on whether you enter the battle as Rockman or Forte, so switching characters mid-fight can really mess with the game's balance. Thankfully, Rockman games give you that before-the-boss hallway, so make your choice there and stick with it for best results.

The Readme notes other issues that are worth considering (basically avoid swapping characters under circumstances that are out of the ordinary), but while it warns you to save often, I haven't actually experienced any crashes in normal play. The benefits outweigh the risks here, and I might even go so far as to say that this is the way the game really ought to be played, just so long as you play it smart about when to swap.