Gaming DEAD OF THE BRAIN finally ENG translated on PSP

[Nikokaro]

Do any of you remember this game? One of the first anime-horror VN/adventure game, zombie invasion themed, dating back to the early 90's and available for MSX, FM TOWN, X68000, PC-ENGINE CD-ROM and finally PC-98.
After 30 years, an english translation is finally available for the PC-98 version, and therefore playable, through Neko Project 2, on Windows, 3DS, Android and, of course, on our beloved PSP. For fans of old anime artwork and of this kind of games, it's a gem not to be missed.
https://archive.org/details/nec-pc-9801-translations

Let me also recommend YU-NO, a famous and colossal sci-fi/romantic VN, also recently available in english on Neko Project 2 (as well as for Windows, from which it was ported here).
I've already talked about it in this thread:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/is-it-p...ovel-from-win95-to-pc-98.604566/#post-9708042

 

[Yaro]

How do you workaround problem mentioned here:
https://psp-archive.github.io/emulators/PC98_emulation_PSP.html

If downscaling makes the text unreadable, there is no point in playing them.

?
Also... there is not Vita fork for NK2?

 

[Nikokaro]

How do you workaround problem mentioned here:
https://psp-archive.github.io/emulators/PC98_emulation_PSP.html

In the folder containing the emulator you need to put additional, necessary files which are listed here (font.rom, bios.rom, font.bmp etc.):
https://docs.libretro.com/library/neko_project_ii_kai/
Let me also recommend these titles recently translated into english by a resourceful and passionate user:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/my-pc-98-translation-projects.608497/
and of course these:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/pc-98-translations-updates-2023.630855/
Regarding PS Vita, I don't know anything, sorry.

 

[Yaro]

Ah, wait. Maybe the reason for the problems that author of that blog I linked above had, is that they used standalone NK2 port.
And the one you are using is retroarch core, right? So there could have been improvements over the years?

Thanks.

 

[Nikokaro]

Ah, wait. Maybe the reason for the problems that author of that blog I linked above had, is that they used standalone NK2 port.
And the one you are using is retroarch core, right? So there could have been improvements over the years?

Thanks.

Nah, even I use the PSP port of Neko Project II (the last available version, from many years ago but still excellent today), while the version contained in Retroarch for PSP is absolutely unplayable (as it is very slow).
The files I mentioned are usually not contained in NP2 archive, but must be downloaded separately: probably to that user the text did not appear due to lack of the font file I mentioned. Have I been clear? Try it and see.

 

[Yaro]

probably to that user the text did not appear due to lack of the font file I mentioned.

It was appearing, but in the way it was considered unplayable (at least, by author of that blog):

(like, you can read the phrase on this example but you need to punish eyes)

Meanwhile on your photograph from opening post it looks... fine? So I got curious whats the difference.

 

[Nikokaro]

Meanwhile on your photograph from opening post it looks... fine? So I got curious whats the difference

Clearly he does not use the default font file usually used with the emulator, but a less readable custom font (as is evident from your image).

 

[Yaro]

Thank you again for explanations.

Nah, even I use the PSP port of Neko Project II (the last available version, from many years ago but still excellent today)

That's 0.39 version, right?

 

[Nikokaro]

That's 0.39 version, right?

I would have to check, but I think so.

 

[KellyCollins]

Absolutely! I remember that game quite fondly. The artwork and storyline were way ahead of their time, and it was one of those titles that got me hooked on the anime-horror genre. Hearing about the English translation for the PC-98 version is fantastic news! It's been such a long time, and being able to experience it on modern platforms like Windows and Android is going to be a trip down memory lane. Thanks for the heads up on this; it's definitely something I wouldn't want to miss. For anyone who appreciates vintage anime artwork and immersive gameplay, this is a must-play!

 

[LarsInn]

This would be a new game for me @Nikokaro (out of the 3 games I have. lol) I'll just need to know how to install it on my PSP 3001. So, if you would please. Oops. Please excuse my not saying Hello at the start.

 

[Nikokaro]

I'll just need to know how to install it on my PSP 3001.

Clearly you must have a cfw installed on the console. Copy the folder containing the eboot of Neko Project II (PC-98 emulator) into the game folder of the PSP:
https://archive.org/details/np-2-for-psp-v-0.39.7z
English translations of this and other PC-98 titles can be found here:
https://archive.org/details/nec-pc-9801-translations
While you will find translation projects in development or already released here:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/pc-98-translations-updates-2023.630855/
https://gbatemp.net/threads/my-pc-98-translation-projects.608497/
To launch the title select the hdd option in the emulator frame at the top (game in .hdi format) and then reset the emulator to start the game.

 

[LarsInn]

Clearly you must have a cfw installed on the console. Copy the folder containing the eboot of Neko Project II (PC-98 emulator) into the game folder of the PSP:
https://archive.org/details/np-2-for-psp-v-0.39.7z
English translations of this and other PC-98 titles can be found here:
https://archive.org/details/nec-pc-9801-translations
While you will find translation projects in development or already released here:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/pc-98-translations-updates-2023.630855/
https://gbatemp.net/threads/my-pc-98-translation-projects.608497/
To launch the title select the hdd option in the emulator frame at the top (game in .hdi format) and then reset the emulator to start the game.

Why thank you. I will get on it.

 

[MattD567]

The way to fix the font on PS Vita:

You MUST use FONT.ROM (2 different font.bmp i tried looked really bad, the one that came packaged with the emulator on archive.org, as well as my own generated one on windows 10).

Once you have that file, you need to start any game at least once, and it will create a "np2.cfg" in ux0: pspemu/PSP/GAME/NP2 (or whatever you named the emulator's folder). You need to go into that cfg file using vitashell and edit lines 10 and 11, which say "fontfile=" and "biospath=". Both will be blank, and this is why the font looks really bad on Vita. Change them to:

fontfile=ms0:/psp/game/np2/font.rom
biospath=ms0:/psp/game/np2/bios.rom

Make sure they are all lowercase, if part of the path is uppercase the good font stopped working for me.

Hash of the FONT.ROM I used is:

CRC32: CD6DFABE
MD5: 2AF6179D7DE4893EA0B705C00E9A98D6
SHA-1: 541271EA46C5166A1E054379963B0DC663E9B60F