Nemesis 2 Version in "Salamander Portable" on the PSP | MSX Resource Center (페이지 1/2)

Prophet (3346)

10-05-2019, 16:31

Funny...
Looking at the files inside the game these is a directory called msx1plus which contains the original Nemesis2 .rom file. There is also a modified .ROM of Nemesis 2 there which I can't run on my emulators. Furthermore there are .pgd files for every level & demo part of the game. Maybe these files are used as a sort of overlay on the original/hacked .ROM.
Anyway... If anyone is interested, the files are quite easy to find on the net. If you can't find them, just contact me.

The difference between the "hacked" file and the original .ROM are maybe 100 bytes, all with similar changes like this:

Here you can see the intro of the PSP version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbrEOszx620

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6067)

10-05-2019, 18:54

Very interesting indeed... This looks like MSX2 version that was newer made

Here is a bit better video

It seems it is still suffering from MSX limitations such as only 2 colors / 8 pixels, flickering start animation etc. so I think it has indeed sprites done with overlay, but backgrounds have only new palette... Maybe we could "loan" the palettes at least back to MSX2 smooth scroll version(?) If the overlays can be extracted then maybe Vampier or someone could make some openMSX script to implement these graphics?

By deepshell

Resident (57)

10-05-2019, 19:03

Thanks for your research. This is indeed fascinating!

First I wonder why they had to include gradius2.rom (the original) when there is also a RC751_HACK.BIN? And how does this game run, I don't see anything that might be some kind of MSX emulator inside the ISO and yet I cannot imagine that the PSP can execute that ROM just like that.

By tfh

Prophet (3346)

10-05-2019, 19:06

NYYRIKKI wrote:

Very interesting indeed... This looks like MSX2 version that was newer made

Here is a bit better video

It seems it is still suffering from MSX limitations such as only 2 colors / 8 pixels, flickering start animation etc. so I think it has indeed sprites done with overlay, but backgrounds have only new palette... Maybe we could "loan" the palettes at least back to MSX2 smooth scroll version(?) If the overlays can be extracted then maybe Vampier or someone could make some openMSX script to implement these graphics?

I'm still hoping for the Ultmate Nemesis 2 version:

* All stages, including from ones from the Beta Version
* Smooth Scroll
* Timing Fixes
* The pallet from this version would also be nice
* Voice set

Just imagine....

deepshell wrote:

Thanks for your research. This is indeed fascinating!

First I wonder why they had to include gradius2.rom (the original) when there is also a RC751_HACK.BIN? And how does this game run, I don't see anything that might be some kind of MSX emulator inside the ISO and yet I cannot imagine that the PSP can execute that ROM just like that.

I think, but haven't checked, that the emulator is inside mod_gra2.prx.

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6067)

10-05-2019, 20:04

It seems that the extra graphics are stored as "SCREEN 5" 8x8 blocks.

By sdsnatcher73

Prophet (3951)

10-05-2019, 20:50

deepshell wrote:

Thanks for your research. This is indeed fascinating!

First I wonder why they had to include gradius2.rom (the original) when there is also a RC751_HACK.BIN? And how does this game run, I don't see anything that might be some kind of MSX emulator inside the ISO and yet I cannot imagine that the PSP can execute that ROM just like that.

In the game's settings you can switch between 'original' and 'refine' mode... In original mode the emulator runs the unmodified rom. What you are seeing in the youtube videos is refine mode.

By sdsnatcher73

Prophet (3951)

10-05-2019, 21:04

NYYRIKKI wrote:

It seems that the extra graphics are stored as "SCREEN 5" 8x8 blocks.

COOL!

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6067)

10-05-2019, 21:23

Now, who likes conspiracy theories?

It starts to look like all of the graphic data is stored in these extra files... What if this version was originally meant to be released for MSX3? The pattern data would be kind of perfect fit for V9990 P1-mode. Now that V9978 was newer released they made this PSP version out of the stuff they already had floating around.

By Latok

msx guru (3938)

10-05-2019, 23:33

What are you smoking nyyrikki? I want it!!

By deepshell

Resident (57)

11-05-2019, 07:11

Very interesting! And of course you are right about the reason for the inclusion of the original ROM sdsnatcher73. It's such a pity that this version seems to have been exclusively released on the PSP. I'd love to play it on a bigger screen.