Post by Gamesoul Master on Apr 11, 2008 19:55:59 GMT -5
This thread is to address games that are frequently asked about, with the hope that it will reduce the amount of repetitive questions about the same few games.
It is hoped that this thread will be stickied and/or moved to the Important Information section, and possibly even added to one of the "Important Links" threads across the top, if not added itself as one of those threads.
(Thanks go to Sune for the idea to make this thread in the first place)
@admins: If you so desire, go ahead and make any necessary revisions or additions to this. Hopefully we can make this thread into something that people will actually read and learn from. If nothing else, it gives us a good, solid thread to point people to when they ask about any of these games... ^^
Legend of Dragoon (SCUS_944.91 (4))
Doesn't work properly in so many ways. You must use a PAL BIOS just to get it started, and then there are freezing problems especially when doing anything related to Dragoons. To have any kind of success with running this game at all in pSX, you need to read the full contents of this thread, which contains methods of bypassing most of the serious freezes, as well as insights into avoiding most of the other freezes.
Xenogears (SLUS_006.64 (2))
Another game that is prone to many problems with random freezing. Using the -r switch passes many of those problems. Also, playing from the original disc shows improvement. If you want/need to play from an image, use Alcohol 52%/120% or CloneCD to rip a good ccd/img/sub image of the game (tends to work better than standard cue/bin rips), and also try both mounting and inserting the image. Oddly, enabling VSync for windowed/fullscreen mode (whichever you're using) has also seemed to yield possible results. There are no other known solutions to bypass freezes, but these *should* be enough to pass any freeze, though you may have to try a few times to get through them.
Final Fantasy VIII (all versions)
Game is playable, but there are known graphical problems with battle transitions, as well as whitewashed looking backgrounds and odd graphical errors that don't affect gameplay. FMV's are known to have sound problems, but nothing serious. On the NTSC-U version, the Lunar Cry FMV on disc 3 is known to freeze, with little ability to bypass it. Using the -ci switch, as well as fast forwarding, is known to get past that FMV at times (you may have to try many times to get past it, otherwise use a different emulator to bypass it).
Final Fantasy VII (SCUS_941.63 (3))
Completely playable, but known to have minor sound problems (glitchy sounds and such). Playing using CEP has been known to cause random freezes with most codes if permanently left on (sometimes hours before a freeze occurs, but it'll almost certainly happen if codes are enabled long enough). Known to have problems with certain BIOS images, especially japanese ones (use different BIOS images to bypass this). Also remember that FFVII *doesn't* support analog controls, so you'll have to make sure that the controller is set to "normal pad" in the configuration menu.
Final Fantasy IX (all versions)
Random freezes are possible in both versions (PAL apparently showing a bit more with the latest version of pSX). The -r switch and fast forwarding can help to get past any random freezes that come up. The NTSC-U version has slight sound and graphical problems, but nothing too horrible.
Valkyrie Profile (SLUS_011.56 (2))
Quite playable. There are just a few things that need to be noted before you start actually playing. First of all, make sure you have a memory card file active before starting a new game. Make sure you save at the first save point. Save often to the memory card (using save states only *during* gameplay, not to save after you're done). If you seem to lose or not have control during gameplay, switch between "normal pad" and "dualshock" modes for the controller. Also use the -r switch to avoid most of the minor freezing problems that can occur randomly during gameplay. You should be able to make a complete playthrough, but saving often will help make any scarce, unavoidable freezes only a tiny problem.
Legend of Legaia (SCUS_942.54)
Playable for sure. Except for one little part (the cutscene in Conkram before going to the past), which causes a fatal (and seemingly unpassable freeze). You'll have to either use a different emulator, or have your memory card save converted to PAL and have a PAL player get past it for you. Oddly, many people seem to go for the conversion, which would normally indicate to me that other emulators might have this same problem. I know it works in ePSXe v1.60 though (possibly v1.70, didn't test the bug on that yet), so either way.
It is hoped that this thread will be stickied and/or moved to the Important Information section, and possibly even added to one of the "Important Links" threads across the top, if not added itself as one of those threads.
(Thanks go to Sune for the idea to make this thread in the first place)
@admins: If you so desire, go ahead and make any necessary revisions or additions to this. Hopefully we can make this thread into something that people will actually read and learn from. If nothing else, it gives us a good, solid thread to point people to when they ask about any of these games... ^^
Legend of Dragoon (SCUS_944.91 (4))
Doesn't work properly in so many ways. You must use a PAL BIOS just to get it started, and then there are freezing problems especially when doing anything related to Dragoons. To have any kind of success with running this game at all in pSX, you need to read the full contents of this thread, which contains methods of bypassing most of the serious freezes, as well as insights into avoiding most of the other freezes.
Xenogears (SLUS_006.64 (2))
Another game that is prone to many problems with random freezing. Using the -r switch passes many of those problems. Also, playing from the original disc shows improvement. If you want/need to play from an image, use Alcohol 52%/120% or CloneCD to rip a good ccd/img/sub image of the game (tends to work better than standard cue/bin rips), and also try both mounting and inserting the image. Oddly, enabling VSync for windowed/fullscreen mode (whichever you're using) has also seemed to yield possible results. There are no other known solutions to bypass freezes, but these *should* be enough to pass any freeze, though you may have to try a few times to get through them.
Final Fantasy VIII (all versions)
Game is playable, but there are known graphical problems with battle transitions, as well as whitewashed looking backgrounds and odd graphical errors that don't affect gameplay. FMV's are known to have sound problems, but nothing serious. On the NTSC-U version, the Lunar Cry FMV on disc 3 is known to freeze, with little ability to bypass it. Using the -ci switch, as well as fast forwarding, is known to get past that FMV at times (you may have to try many times to get past it, otherwise use a different emulator to bypass it).
Final Fantasy VII (SCUS_941.63 (3))
Completely playable, but known to have minor sound problems (glitchy sounds and such). Playing using CEP has been known to cause random freezes with most codes if permanently left on (sometimes hours before a freeze occurs, but it'll almost certainly happen if codes are enabled long enough). Known to have problems with certain BIOS images, especially japanese ones (use different BIOS images to bypass this). Also remember that FFVII *doesn't* support analog controls, so you'll have to make sure that the controller is set to "normal pad" in the configuration menu.
Final Fantasy IX (all versions)
Random freezes are possible in both versions (PAL apparently showing a bit more with the latest version of pSX). The -r switch and fast forwarding can help to get past any random freezes that come up. The NTSC-U version has slight sound and graphical problems, but nothing too horrible.
Valkyrie Profile (SLUS_011.56 (2))
Quite playable. There are just a few things that need to be noted before you start actually playing. First of all, make sure you have a memory card file active before starting a new game. Make sure you save at the first save point. Save often to the memory card (using save states only *during* gameplay, not to save after you're done). If you seem to lose or not have control during gameplay, switch between "normal pad" and "dualshock" modes for the controller. Also use the -r switch to avoid most of the minor freezing problems that can occur randomly during gameplay. You should be able to make a complete playthrough, but saving often will help make any scarce, unavoidable freezes only a tiny problem.
Legend of Legaia (SCUS_942.54)
Playable for sure. Except for one little part (the cutscene in Conkram before going to the past), which causes a fatal (and seemingly unpassable freeze). You'll have to either use a different emulator, or have your memory card save converted to PAL and have a PAL player get past it for you. Oddly, many people seem to go for the conversion, which would normally indicate to me that other emulators might have this same problem. I know it works in ePSXe v1.60 though (possibly v1.70, didn't test the bug on that yet), so either way.