Trixarian/NetherSX2-patch 2.1

NetherSX2 v2.1

on GitHub

This release should correct any performance loss and visual regressions found with the NetherSX2 2.0 release while coming with a nice performance boost and several bug fixes on top of that

A huge thank you to Retro Handheld Guides, Alexwpi Game, reddit and the bug testers for pointing out these issues

Virus Total Report

Changelog:

• Bumped version to v2.1
• Hardcore RetroAchievements support has been fixed - it was temporarily broken with the v2.0.6 test build
• Setting inheritance doesn't transfer over autoFlush and cpuSpriteRenderBW since they break more than they fix
  • This fixes the fog wall in Wrath of Cortex and the black eye textures in the Jak games
• Restored the FullVU0SyncHack setting since it DOES exist in both versions
  • Should fix the performance loss with the games that use it
• Fixed the issue where the Cover Downloader didn't download the link provided by the user
• Removed InstantDMAHack from inheritance and we prefer DMABusyHack over it. This should fix the MGS games
• Implemented common fixes into the conversion script, which fixes:
  • The Atelier Iris games' FMVs
  • The Godfather's broken fullscreen colour filter
  • Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' performance
  • The Jak games' shadow issues using Vulkan
  • Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence's performance drop when camouflaged
  • The Digital Devil Saga games issue with texture alignment and lights shining through walls
  • The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers' FMVs
  • Timesplitters' light shining through walls
• Implemented an inheritance exclusion feature that can exclude games from being changed. This avoids over-tuning games (like Driv3r) that has had a lot of settings changes over the years
• Added a fix for Hitman Blood Money
• The Conversion script now output files with more descriptive names
• Implemented the ability to insert multiple hardware fixes using the game's serial
• Implemented the ability to insert multiple game fixes using the game's serial
• Better Resolution Scaling list values to help pick the best resolution for your device without sacrificing performance
• All Jak games now receive OI_JakGames which fixes some visual issues
• Brought back partialTargetInvalidation in 4248 to see if the 310 extra instances of it helps fix games
• recommendedBlendingLevel has been removed from 4248 to be more inline with 3668 (most people ignore the message anyway)
  • It only displayed a warning. We have minimumBlendingLevel and maximumBlendingLevel for setting the Blending Level automatically
• Added estimateTextureRegion to the Tales games to see if it helps with their performance issues
• Rebuilt the PartialTargetInvalidation configuration file with the better InstantDMAHack fixes implemented
• Updated widescreen and no-interlacing patches to latest provided by Saramagrean
• Updated the Controller DB to latest from SDL_GameControllerDB

Known Issues

• Google Play Protect may give you a warning when installing the APK due to us using test keys to sign the application
• SAVE STATES ARE NOT COMPATIBLE BETWEEN 3668 AND 4248! Please use memcard/in-game saves if you plan to jump between Patch and Classic
• NASCAR and Colin McRae Rally games have graphical issues with 4248 - use 3668 if you plan to play them
• Older Mali devices may have rendering issues and/or crashes on Vulkan with certain games (like Dark Cloud 2). Generally this just requires the use of OpenGL to get past the problematic parts of the game before switching back to Vulkan. The latest Mali chipsets do not have this issue. Using 3668 is also a viable solution for these games
• CHD files made with createdvd will not work with the emulator unless you use the flag -c zlib. Since createcd chd files are generally smaller, it may be preferable to use them when space is a concern
• Newer texture packs (made in or after 2024) will not work. This is due to PCSX2 changing how dumped textures are named. PCSX2 will also automatically rename the files to the new naming scheme when older packs are used with it - breaking their compatibility with NetherSX2 in the process. Hopefully the ability to dump textures with NetherSX2 will help mitigate this issue
• Newer RetroAchievements that uses the Remember and Recall functions within RA - so achievement sets made in the last year and half may not work with NetherSX2

Special Thanks

• A Huge Thank You to Miguel, WZi, McThor, protokoul, PrinceP14 and two private sponsors for their support on my Ko-fi and Github Sponsors pages! Your combined generosity makes it possible for me to work on this and many other projects!
• MrSujano, Retro Game Corps, Joey's Retro Handhelds, TechDweed, Retro Ryan, Adin Walls, Alexwpi Game, Retro Handheld Guides and many other YouTube channels for spreading awareness of and creating guides for NetherSX2

Test Devices & Huge Thanks to

• AYANEO for providing me with the powerhouse known as the AYANEO Pocket S2 Pro
• Retroid for providing me with a RP Mini and RP5