Hacking PS1/2 How I can edit the PlayStation 1 ISO file of a game for remove the FMV scenes?

[SaulFabre]

Hello!!!

So i started learning and trying to search anything for hack a PlayStation 1 (PS1/PSX) game ISO (BIN/CUE) file for remove the FMV (full-motion video) scenes, by using a blank STR file.

Specifically i'm trying to get with Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue, where i want to try to remove FMV videos with that specific blank STR file for access quickly to the gameplay, also because on emulator WiiSX (and its forks WiiSX-R and WiiSX-RX) the original game doesn't work because it can't play these scenes, but @SuperrSonic told that with hacking the PS1 iso of that game he got working the game to be playable.

I will link the blank STR for reference: https://www.mediafire.com/download/4xoh3pjks0d34uj/STR.zip

Also of PR Lightspeed Rescue, i'm also trying to hack some few games such Croc 2, Rayman 2, etc.

I've heard about tool PSX-MODE2 but i just don't know how to use, and i need many help for how to extract/rebuild a PSX ISO file, replace STR files with the blank one, say the PS1 disc specs file that the new STR files will have xxx size, and get it working.

I'm also looking for something for extract/rebuild PSX ISOs. (Just like UMDGen that is for PSP but for PS1).

Any help?

Thanks

 

[FAST6191]

Seems things have moved on a bit from having to play with the shareware "we support all 9000 formats"
Today it seems we are suggesting
Dumping: https://github.com/Lameguy64/isodump
Rebuilding: https://github.com/Lameguy64/mkpsxiso

As far as replacement then if replacing with a basic/dummy file works then great. Some find any internal time values and basically make it zero or bare minimum such that it plays one frame/no frames and then stops. If you are especially unlucky then you get to figure out what the game calls to load the video and then bypassing that, which takes it into coding territory.

 

[SaulFabre]

Seems things have moved on a bit from having to play with the shareware "we support all 9000 formats"
Today it seems we are suggesting
Dumping: https://github.com/Lameguy64/isodump
Rebuilding: https://github.com/Lameguy64/mkpsxiso

As far as replacement then if replacing with a basic/dummy file works then great. Some find any internal time values and basically make it zero or bare minimum such that it plays one frame/no frames and then stops. If you are especially unlucky then you get to figure out what the game calls to load the video and then bypassing that, which takes it into coding territory.

Hey there @FAST6191, thanks for your suggestions.

Since the old isodump you provided didn't work for me, i used this one instead: https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/1574/
I was able to extract the PSX ISO, i replaced the STR files with the blank STR, but when i try to rebuild the ISO with mkpsxiso the tool throws me this error: "ERROR: STRFILE.STR is not a multiple of 2336 or 2048 bytes."

Now my another question: how i can convert a STR file for be a multiple of 2336/2048 bytes (MODE/2336 or MODE/2048)?

Thanks in advance

 

[SaulFabre]

Nevermind, i got it.
I just used PSX-MODE2 tool (link: https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/848 (only in Spanish), English translation of the tool: https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/1417) for replace all my STR files i saw in the ISO of the game.

Blank STR by SuperrSonic: https://www.mediafire.com/download/4xoh3pjks0d34uj/STR.zip

The command for use it is: (taken from @CUE's readme)
psx-mode2.exe cd_image \filename new_file

Where:
"cd_image" is the valid MODE2/2352 CD image (BIN/ISO/MDF/IMG)
"filename" is the file to be replaced with full path and starting with "\" (it's the path of the internal file from the CD image to be replaced with the new one)
"new_file" is the file with the new data to insert/replace

"filename" must be a MODE2/FORM1 file

For example: psx-mode2.exe Croc2_EUR.bin \ARGOLOGO.STR blank.STR

Replaced everything of the STR files with my blank STR, then tried the resulting PSX ISO file with PCSX-R and it works great...

Well, time for test with more PSX games

 

[CoolMe]

If it's like in PS2 games, some games expect the FMV file to play in a certain moment, and sometimes it's forced, other times you can bypass it easily and play fine with the FMV file removed. And the skipping FMV option in OPL doesn't always work, when it reaches the FMV section it just hangs/ freezes, and it's not because of OPL, these sections could be either before the start menu or in-game, it's different for each game. I assume it's the same for PS1 games. Though i'm not sure why you want to remove them tbh..

 

[SaulFabre]

If it's like in PS2 games, some games expect the FMV file to play in a certain moment, and sometimes it's forced, other times you can bypass it easily and play fine with the FMV file removed. And the skipping FMV option in OPL doesn't always work, when it reaches the FMV section it just hangs/ freezes, and it's not because of OPL, these sections could be either before the start menu or in-game, it's different for each game. I assume it's the same for PS1 games. Though i'm not sure why you want to remove them tbh..

I want to remove them since on WiiSXRX some games can't play their FMV scenes, causing the emulator to crash and having to reset the Wii. So i decided to instead waiting for a fix on WiiSXRX, i decided to remove the FMV scenes for make it copatible and playable in WiiSXRX.

Only tested Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue and Croc 2 working on WiiSXRX without FMV scenes by now

 

[CoolMe]

I want to remove them since on WiiSXRX some games can't play their FMV scenes, causing the emulator to crash and having to reset the Wii. So i decided to instead waiting for a fix on WiiSXRX, i decided to remove the FMV scenes for make it copatible and playable in WiiSXRX.

Only tested Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue and Croc 2 working on WiiSXRX without FMV scenes by now

Ah! I understand that this is for those who wish to play PS1 games on Wii. Despite the existence of better options out there.. What can you do i guess, eh?
I know it's only a minority that keep using it.. Nevertheless i appreciate your dedication on working/improving it for their sake.

 

[Ponlork]

There was a practice back in the day called "Ripping", the term was used differently back then. Basically a game rip is when people remove content from games like Movies or Music in order to make the filesize smaller so they can either make it easier to share online, or if they want to save space.

people also used this technique to fit PS2 DVD games onto CD, or shrink it to a single layer dvd, and for Dreamcast games where they shrink a 1gb dreamcast game to fit onto a 700mb CDR where they rip some movies or music out to make it fit. The practice sorta had a resurgence around 2017 when the NES and Snes Classic came out, it had about 230mb of available space, and people were shrinking PS1 and Turbografx CD games to fit in the limited space. Though people dont really use it anymore once OTG support became available.

Anyway if you want to Rip the Str movies out without rebuilding the ISO, you can use a pocketiso, you can scan the ISO and it'll give you options to rip the str movies or XA audio. This video demonstrates it:

 

[church_foster]

Hello there, I've been trying to compress FF7 by removing video files via Pocketiso, but the game won't boot at all.

Is there a better program to shrink the ff7 iso?

 

[SaulFabre]

Hello there, I've been trying to compress FF7 by removing video files via Pocketiso, but the game won't boot at all.

Is there a better program to shrink the ff7 iso?

try using PSX-MODE2

 

[church_foster]

try using PSX-MODE2

This program is harsh on a noob like me. Do I need to use cmd and type scripts?

 

[SaulFabre]

This program is harsh on a noob like me. Do I need to use cmd and type scripts?

Please read this part
EDIT: And yes, this require to use the CMD

Nevermind, i got it.
I just used PSX-MODE2 tool (link: https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/848 (only in Spanish), English translation of the tool: https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/1417) for replace all my STR files i saw in the ISO of the game.

Blank STR by SuperrSonic: https://www.mediafire.com/download/4xoh3pjks0d34uj/STR.zip

The command for use it is: (taken from @CUE's readme)
psx-mode2.exe cd_image \filename new_file

Where:
"cd_image" is the valid MODE2/2352 CD image (BIN/ISO/MDF/IMG)
"filename" is the file to be replaced with full path and starting with "\" (it's the path of the internal file from the CD image to be replaced with the new one)
"new_file" is the file with the new data to insert/replace

"filename" must be a MODE2/FORM1 file

For example: psx-mode2.exe Croc2_EUR.bin \ARGOLOGO.STR blank.STR

Replaced everything of the STR files with my blank STR, then tried the resulting PSX ISO file with PCSX-R and it works great...

Well, time for test with more PSX games

 

[church_foster]

Thanks. I did managed to replace the str files with the blank , but after clicking new game it just stayed on a black screen.

I guess the opening fmv is really hard to remove.

 

[Nikokaro]

@SaulFabre if you are still interested in this topic, I have contacted you in PM.