SNES, SEGA & NES Games and Emulators, what works, what doesn't and how they stack up
Ok time for some major changes as I am back with a 1.50 PSP again lol. So here is what I have so far. The size of the list is hopefully going to work with just the font size change I am trying... we shall see.
A Huge THANKS to all EMU creators & developers as well as all developers for the PSP, without you I def would not enjoy my PSP as much as I do now! (Nor would the many ppl who post here and in other communities)
Now first I want to add the EMU's that are available & how they stack up outside of my personal thoughts on them. I am also expanding to include the NES EMU's & hopefully soon the Sega EMU's.
As far as Games/ROMs compatibility look below for what’s not working on each EMU and what is. It is an on going test & some of the games I do not have so they have to be updated by those trying to play them. I will try to keep things as updated as possible though so keep checking back & if you find out before I do, let me know :D .
Downgraders for V2.0 to V1.5 are here! Use this Guide!!
http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=11365
Downgraders for V2.5/2.6 are here! This is the Easy Version.
http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=28181
Quick FAQ on installing EMU's on 1.5
Ok first Download the tool: SEI PSP Tool
For Mac Users this is VERY sim to SEI Tool: HomebrewPSP for OS X
Now get your Emulator from one of the links below, & download it to the desktop.
Unzip the files to your desktop & connect your PSP!!
Now open SEI & direct it to the desktop (Just keep pushing the icon with the folder & an arrow). When you get there you will ONLY see the EBOOT file of that EMU (Please do only one EMU at a time & delete the files on your desktop before starting the next one!!!).
Now You name the file in the first text box, select the eboot file in the second one & the third you just select which one is your psp drive letter. (The PSP Must be connected & in USB Mode for this to work!!! You can find your drive letter by looking under My Computer.)
After you have done all that just select hide corrupt files & click Generate. Now go to your PSP (Using My Computer) & go to PSP->Games->Whatever you named your EMU. Now put any remaining files (excluding text files) into the folder WITHOUT the % Sign. Also put your Roms in that same folder. Now your ready to play your Emulator(s)/and Homebrew!
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Ok first to the Super Nintendo.
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Need to Know Information:
Many have asked what settings to use for the best performance. Now there are many settings used to attain good speed & game play. I personally have discovered the following with all EMU's on the Super Nintendo Side;
Frame Skip @ 0-3 (Any higher then this will make effects such as laser blasts, flashes, etc not appear as well as when your character is hit; if they flash when damaged, most of the time they just completely disappear if the Frame Skip is above 3) With Auto Frame Skip or the Speed Limiter (They are identical just one is UO SNES and the other is SNES9X TYL) its good to leave on, it basically tells ur PSP to use up to the number you set (aka 1-3) to speed up & slow down the game (Slow down for when theres little action/sprites etc & it makes things seem like they are on super speed lol). I have found that even at 3 some enemys in Illusion of Gaia disappear so switching to 2 at times is needed!
CPU set at 333mhz (Let me clear this up for those who would ask, The PSP comes UNDERCLOCKED!! at 222mhz. It is made to run at 333mhz but that drains the battery much faster & so Sony Underclocked the PSP's Processor to increase battery life. In all actuality you are not overclocking the processor or harming it, the CPU & all its components were made to run at 333mhz from the day it was made, but since Sony locked it at 222mhz until better batteries are available (& until Gran Turismo 4 comes to PSP) we have to manually turn it back up to the normal speed. So do not be concerned with using this option. However as the PSP EMU's progress you might find that you do not need to clock as high which will help get you better battery life (Or just buy the new battery).
Sound and Graphics speeds can be changed in UO SNES but I have found it to be really more effort then its worth. The Graphics speed up works with some games and others it causes problems with, on the Sound Speed it can be useful for certain events but then it just throws the music to extreme speeds when it becomes unneeded.
Sound @ 44k (Dropping to 22k is an option but in every game that I tried it I did not see any increase in speed nor did the frame rate counter go up any).
Transparency On (While turning it off does give you 1-3 more frames, 9 times out of 10 it also drops parts of the game. In Chrono Trigger its mainly just graphics effects on special attacks however in Zelda you have to run Transparency, unless you like not seeing the ground at times lol. Personally for the small gain I found using the graphics speed up more effective then losing transparency & recommend learning to use that instead & leaving this on.)
For what screen Size to use, I run Full Screen on botht UO SNES and on SNES9x TYL. For UO SNES I use the FullBL Screen Mode. (Can be fund by going past normal Full Screen Mode). For SNES9X TYL I use the default of Accurate Mix with Full Screen.
This Emulator was made by: YoyoFr, and many others. (I am working on a full list for all those who helped)
This is a Port of SNES9X 1.39. It was ported using some of the Palm Version from what I understand and for its first release a very Fast and well done EMU. It has proven to play many games faster then what was the current champ at the time (UO SNES9X). While it is a new release it does have a few minor bugs to work out but it is def the Fastest Emulator available for SNES Gaming, playing some games at full speed with no Frame Skip at all. It is loaded with features and screen filters. Not to mention the things promised in the next release included Speed improvements across the board among other things. This is my personal choice right now for SNES Emulation. The EMU below this is very nice as well but just not as fast. Plus the menu’s in this EMU are great! (It could use an Icon in the PSP Menu though).
The Available Options Include:
Different Graphics Filters, From Speed Setups to a Mix to a Full out Graphics Eye Candy
Speed Limiter (Just like Auto Frame Skip)
Screen Sizes to include, Zoom 1, Zoom 2 and Full
Transparency On and Off
Sound Quality Filter 44k to 22k etc
CPU Overclocking from 222 – 266 – 333
Freeze States
This Emulator was made by: PSP Wiki/ Y
This is a port of SNES9x to the PSP. It is the most frequently updated of the SNES Emulators. It also sports the most options for controlling your games.
Personally I feel this to be the best EMU available for Super Nintendo Emulation, however it does not play all games. Corrections are being made but there are still problems (see the compatibility list below) Make sure your game(s) is not on the list! We try to keep it as updated as possible. I would recommend this EMU to all users as it gives you all the options you could need & is updated almost daily.
Those options include:
Graphics & Sound controls (These allow you to speed up the Sound & or Graphics up to 3 times there normal speed to help compensate if you feel they are falling behind)
Auto Frame Skip as well as Manual Frame Skip.
Screen Size Changes to include 4:3, Full Screen Width x2 & more.
Sound Options include Turning On & Off as well as Quality level.
Transparency can be Turned On & Off.
PSP CPU Processor Overclocking up to 333mhz
Freeze States
This Emulator was made by: PSP Wiki / Bifuteki
This is a port of SNES9x to the PSP. This EMU is the most Compatible of all Super Nintendo Emulators. It plays most every game. If you have a game listed on the NON-Working Side of UO SNES then I recommend using this EMU. It has a lot of the features of the UO release but not all of them. The EMU has not seen an update in some time and I do not expect it will see one any time soon.
The options of this EMU are as follows:
Auto Frame Skip as well as Manual Frame Skip.
Screen Size Changes to include 4:3, Full Screen Width x2.
Sound Options include Turning On & Off.
Transparency can be Turned On & Off.
PSP CPU Processor Overclocking up to 333mhz
Freeze States
Work in Progress & Early Emulators
Optimized SNES9x; This EMU has not seen an update for awhile & does not include many of the functions of the above EMU's.
This Emulator was made by: Yoshihiro
Super Nintendo ROMs Compatibility:
Ok guys I decided that I am going to go through the games I have & post what does not work with which EMU's.
Anyway this will go by release & for now I will list what Does not work so far & what I have tested. If anyone wants to help, thanks!
SNES9X TYL:
Working:- Romancing Saga 3 English Version (Working but text is either cut off or jumbled)
- Rudra's Treasure/Rudora No Hihou English Version (Working but text is either cut off or jumbled)
- Star Ocean English Version (For some odd reason it shows japanese character text even though it's the translated English rom)
- Rockman & Forte English Version (For some odd reason it shows japanese character text even though it's the translated English rom)
- Radical Dreamers English Version
- Contra 3
- Tales of Phantasia English Version (slow/works but I didn't check to see if *there was any text problems)
- Earthbound
- Killer Instinct
- Lethal Weapon (works, but has gfx glitches)
- Super Punchout
- Tiny Toons
- Mortal Kombat 2
- Cool Spot
- Super Double Dragon
- Fatal Fury
- Final Fight
- Mega Man X
- Mega Man X2
- Mega Man X3
- Mega Man 7
- Final Fantasy 5
- Final Fantasy 2
- Final Fantasy 3
- Chrono Trigger
- Illusion of Gaia
- Breath of Fire
- Breath of Fire 2
- The Legend of Zelda (A Link to the Past)
- Secret of Mana
- Sim City
- Star Fox (Very Slow)
- Super Mario RPG
- Ninja Gaiden Trilogy
- Terranigma
- Looney Tunes B-Ball (character selection screwed up, frame skip of 3 works)
- Troddlers (sounds TERRIBLE, without sound - works perfectly)
- Kirby's Avalanche (sound misstimed, graphics very nice)
- TMNT 4: turtles in Time (graphics choppy occ.)
- Joe & Mac: Cavemen Ninja
- Wario's Woods (playable, but slow. sound garbled)
- Super Metroid
- Super Mario Kart
- Super Mario All Stars + World
- UniRacers
- Super Bomberman 2
- Earthbound
- Earthworm Jim
- Sailor Moon Another Story
- 7th Saga
- Act Raiser 2
- Castlevania IV
- Donkey Kong Country
- Donkey Kong Country 2
- Dragonball Z Hyper Dimension
- EVO
- Star Trek TNG
- Final Fight
- Illusion of Time
- Kirby's Dream Course
- Kirby Super Star
- Lufia
- Lufia II
- Metal Warriors
- Mortal Kombat 3
- Populous
- Sailor Fuwa(?)
- Sailor Moon R
- Sailor Moon SuperS (Vol2)
- Secret of Evermore
- Secret of the Stars
- Seiken Densetsu 3
- Shadowrun
- Sailor Moon S
- Soul Blazer
- Star Ocean (sound goes out when you enter town after loading a save state)
- Super Bomberman 1
- Super Ghouls'n'Ghosts
- Super Nova
- Super Punchout
- Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo
- Tales of Phantasia
- Terranigma
- Yu Yu Hakusho: Hakusho Tokubehuten
- Zombies Ate My Neighbors
- Gundam Wing Endless Duel
Not Working:
- Bahamut Lagoon English Version
- Clock Tower English Version
- Harvest Moon
- Jurassic Park 2 (Froze PSP?)
- Panic in Nakayosi L& (Froze PSP?)
- Shadowrun
- Stargate
- Yoshy Island
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Next Up is the Nintendo System Emulation
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As for Emulator settings on the Nintendo:
As for Sound I ran at 44k all the time no problems. (NesterJ)
On Graphics I did full screen again with no problems. (NesterJ)
You can attain full speed w/ a max overclock of 270mhz (W/ NesterJ). While you do not have to overclock with most games I have found that using 270mhz seems to handle every game I have thrown at it at 50fps or above most of the time to include Mario 3. You can max it to the full 333mhz if you want but I just set mine to 270mhz & leave it there. In a few games as with my original Nintendo when to many characters hit the screen the game seem to have a split second lag but I found no difference at 333mhz in those games & since they happened on the original system I just wrote them off as being maxed for the limits of the system itself (The Nintendo that is).
Need to Know Information:
(Let me clear this up for those who would ask, The PSP comes UNDERCLOCKED!! at 222mhz. It is made to run at 333mhz but that drains the battery much faster & so Sony Underclocked the PSP's Processor to increase battery life. In all actuality you are not overclocking the processor or harming it, the CPU & all its components were made to run at 333mhz from the day it was made, but since Sony locked it at 222mhz until better batteries are available (& until Gran Turismo 4 comes to PSP) we have to manually turn it back up to the normal speed. So do not be concerned with using this option. However as the PSP EMU's progress you might find that you do not need to clock as high which will help get you better battery life (Or just buy the new battery).
The first & most widely used Nintendo Emulator is Nester J
This Emulator was made by: PSP Wiki / Ruka
This Emulator gets updated Often & seems to sport the most Features. It runs games at Full Speed with the settings mentioned above & supports Full Screen Emulation. There don't seem to be any known game problems with this Emulator that I have found.
Its Options & Features include:
Processor Overclocking
Sound Quality Changes & Options
Graphics Sizes to include Width x2, Normal & Full Screen
Freeze States
