Hacking Mario RPG

[the_randomizer]

really? well that is weird, what kinda chips?

Megaman X2 uses the Cx4, which allows for 3D wireframes (mini bosses) and other calculations. SuperFX for Star Fox and Yoshi's Island, helps create 3D polygons, Super Mario RPG uses the SA-1, Star Ocean uses the S-DD1 for data compression, etc. All require extra processing power to emulate in addition to the Snes's CPU, the Super FX is another 20 or so MHz if I recall correctly. The DS doesn't have a lot of headroom to emulate the other chips.

 

[grossaffe]

really? well that is weird, what kinda chips?

off the top of my head, there's the Super FX used by Star Fox and Stunt Race FX, while Yoshi's Island and Doom used a faster variant in the Super FX2 (and I believe the unreleased Star Fox 2 was supposed to use the Super FX2, though people have been known to make a clone cart from Stunt Race FX and overclocking the Super FX, I believe). The SA-1 was used by Super Mario RPG. Mode-7 was used by Chrono Trigger and a few other Square RPGs. I know there are other chips I'm missing or games that use chips I didn't include in the chips I did list, but whatever.

 

[the_randomizer]

off the top of my head, there's the Super FX used by Star Fox and Stunt Race FX, while Yoshi's Island and Doom used a faster variant in the Super FX2 (and I believe the unreleased Star Fox 2 was supposed to use the Super FX2, though people have been known to make a clone cart from Stunt Race FX and overclocking the Super FX, I believe). The SA-1 was used by Super Mario RPG. Mode-7 was used by Chrono Trigger and a few other Square RPGs. I know there are other chips I'm missing or games that use chips I didn't include in the chips I did list, but whatever.

Mode 7 was pseudo-3D effects (2D map on a 3D plane/perspective, the Snes had modes 0-9 I believe)rather than a chip, but the Snes had its share of co-processors that the DS simply won't be able to emulate that well. Cx4, maybe, S-DD1 for Star Ocean DSP-1 used by Pilotwings (which was like more advanced Mode 7).

 

[grossaffe]

Mode 7 was pseudo-3D effects (2D map on a 3D plane/perspective, the Snes had modes 0-9 I believe)rather than a chip

Huh, so it is. Makes sense, since a lot of it's uses seemed kinda tacked on. Would be a waste of money to build the carts with an extra chip for a game like Chrono Trigger that mostly just used mode-7 for that little racing minigame.

 

[the_randomizer]

Huh, so it is. Makes sense, since a lot of it's uses seemed kinda tacked on. Would be a waste of money to build the carts with an extra chip for a game like Chrono Trigger that mostly just used mode-7 for that little racing minigame.

Yeah, a lot of games used Mode 7 back in the day. The DS can probably handle it just fine but yeah, the other chips, hard to say for sure

 

[user64]

really? well that is weird, what kinda chips?

Well you know how your DSTWO has a processor inside it to let your run things on your DS that are normally too slow? Certain SNES cartridges worked on the same principle, having a co-processor inside then to allow the SNES to run that game on the system.

 

[Pablitox]

ohh, i get it now

thanks!

 

[Jstink101]

So Mario RPG lags pretty bad on catsfc.. Is there a better plugin?

 

[Rydian]

So Mario RPG lags pretty bad on catsfc.. Is there a better plugin?

No, but make sure you have the latest CATSFC.
http://gbatemp.net/threads/ndssfc-catsfc-revival.339600/

 

[Jstink101]

Yeah its up to date. The game itself is virtually unplayable.. :-(

 

[user64]

Yeah its up to date. The game itself is virtually unplayable.. :-(

Well I mean, it's beatable (I think), so it is "playable," it just depends on your standards for emulation. Look on the bright side, the slow speed makes the button timings eaiser (try 1 or 2 frameskip).

 

[Jstink101]

Mine is just laggy and I cant really play it because of it. It seems jumpy. I will try the frameskip thing.

 

[Rydian]

Make sure the CPU setting is higher?

 

[Jstink101]

All I have is a CPU frequency setting and its default to 5. Still lags bad.

 

[Jstink101]

I figured out how to frame skip. That helped significantly!

 

[user64]

I figured out how to frame skip. That helped significantly!

Just tried it out again, I found frameskip 2 to be best.