When playing PS1 shooters on the PS2...

al138 · Post by **al138** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 6:31 pm

What do you think about using the smoothing driver to improve the graphics a bit? Anyone prefer to be a purist?

I've found that it really helps titles like G Darius, Einhander, Thunder Force V, and especially R-Type Delta (which looked great for a PS1 title to begin with). I'm not so sure about RayCrisis and RayStorm, though.

Does it improve any other shooter titles?

TVG · Post by **TVG** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:37 pm

how in the hell do you access those menus???
i dont see anything like this, and i looked plenty.

i have an issue when playing strikers 2 and raiden project, both jp, th screen is constantly trembling slightly, its hard on the eyes.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:08 pm

I've only tried it with Einhander, but it definitely looks a bit better.

Vagrant: Go into the PS2's menu and go to 'version'. Then go to 'playstation driver'. I think you have to hit triangle at that point, then you can toggle smoothing and fast load on/off.

zaphod · Post by **zaphod** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:49 pm

that's not all. you have to have your ps2 memcard in slot 2, and your ps1 memcard in slot one. this will cause the changes to "stick" for that game.

Otherwise you have to do it again each time you boot.

jordy · Post by **jordy** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:14 pm

Do you need to do that on an individual game basis on just once to save the settings to the memory card???

Cheers

J.

SAM · Post by **SAM** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 4:25 am

zaphod wrote:that's not all. you have to have your ps2 memcard in slot 2, and your ps1 memcard in slot one. this will cause the changes to "stick" for that game.

Otherwise you have to do it again each time you boot.

Oh, I don't know you can save this setting on a PS2 memccard in slot 2. Thank for telling me that. I used to make the setting again every time I play a PSOne game.

Whether these features help would depends on what game you are playing. For some games these freatures really improve the quality of the game alots. Try playing Donchi or DDP in Teta for PSOne using both these features on, and see the improvements yourself.

For some other games, mainly Konami's Gradius / Parodius. If you turn the "fast load" on, the BGM would be playing too fast.

Anyway, I am the one to play PSOne game on a PS2 console just for its component output. A PSOne console won't output component AV singals. (Yes, you can plug a component cable in the PSOne vedio output slot, but it wouldn't work. You can verify this yourself but don't blame me for breaking your TV set after that.)

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:06 am

I've always seen the smoothing option and an option for fast or normal disc spinning, what's the benefit of having the disc spin faster? Doesn't that somewhat degrade the disc over time?

SAM · Post by **SAM** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:14 pm

Elixir wrote:I've always seen the smoothing option and an option for fast or normal disc spinning, what's the benefit of having the disc spin faster? Doesn't that somewhat degrade the disc over time?

If you turn the "Fast load" on, the game loading time would be shorter (reduced). Actually the PS2 got a faster DVD/CD Rom drive then the PSOne. Turning on this option just disable the software lock on the Disc drive reading speed.

I don't think using a faster Disc Drive to read a disc would degrade faster than using a slow Disc Drive.

al138 · Post by **al138** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 2:49 pm

The Fast Load feature seems to marginally improve the load times for Thunder Force V and G Darius--but please keep in mind that their load times were not bad originally! I didn't really notice a difference with Strikers: 1945 (II), Shooting King, or any of my other sprite-based titles. Most of the time I don't worry about it, since some games tend to crash when you use it. The only game I've played where Fast Load has been a GREAT help is Street Fighter Alpha 3. Load times are reduced often by more than half on that title.

The Smoothing Filter is, by far, the best of the two features! It generally makes already beautiful games like R-Type Delta and Einhander even better, and eliminates some of the graphical hitches that are indicative of all PS1 poly-based games. In some ways, it puts some textures more on the level of an early current-gen game. [Note: I mean this in the loosest of senses!]

I agree that the PS2 component output gives you a superior image, BUT there can be a drawback with some titles--especially if you have an HDTV. Castlevania looks dreadfully blocky and pixelated on my PS2 through component outputs hooked up to a widescreen HD. For some games, HDTVs make them really show their age. That is why I tend to play some titles on a regular TV when the mood hits me.

Afterbirth · Post by **Afterbirth** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 4:44 pm

I've not played G-darius with it on but seeing as it has some of the best Motherships i've seen - it must look absolutely stunning.

al138 · Post by **al138** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:05 pm

Afterbirth wrote:I've not played G-darius with it on but seeing as it has some of the best Motherships i've seen - it must look absolutely stunning.

It really smooths out the pixelated textures, especially on the bosses.

PFG 9000 · Post by **PFG 9000** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 8:39 pm

When I first picked up my PS2, the only PS1 games I played much were Castlevania:SotN, CV:Chronicles, and Silent Hill, all of which are messed up by the texture smoothing and/or fast load times on the PS2. So I never really tried any games after that.

*goes to play R-Type Delta*

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:52 am

al138 wrote:The Fast Load feature seems to marginally improve the load times for Thunder Force V and G Darius--but please keep in mind that their load times were not bad originally! I didn't really notice a difference with Strikers: 1945 (II), Shooting King, or any of my other sprite-based titles. Most of the time I don't worry about it, since some games tend to crash when you use it. The only game I've played where Fast Load has been a GREAT help is Street Fighter Alpha 3. Load times are reduced often by more than half on that title.

The Smoothing Filter is, by far, the best of the two features! It generally makes already beautiful games like R-Type Delta and Einhander even better, and eliminates some of the graphical hitches that are indicative of all PS1 poly-based games. In some ways, it puts some textures more on the level of an early current-gen game. [Note: I mean this in the loosest of senses!]

I agree that the PS2 component output gives you a superior image, BUT there can be a drawback with some titles--especially if you have an HDTV. Castlevania looks dreadfully blocky and pixelated on my PS2 through component outputs hooked up to a widescreen HD. For some games, HDTVs make them really show their age. That is why I tend to play some titles on a regular TV when the mood hits me.

I've managed to find these options, but as soon as I turn off my PS2, they're gone.

Zweihander · Post by **Zweihander** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:24 am

SPOILER: Playing a PS1 game with the "smooth" option wears out the feeble PS2 lens even faster! If you're going so far as to use the "smooth" option, you might as well use the PS2 as your primary DVD player. :/

Disclaimer: The prior statement was advice for people who obviously don't value the longevity of their system. It was entirely sarcastic in nature, and in no way/shape/form condones the use of the "smooth" option. ZOMG, this disclaimer is now longer than the actual message.

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:27 am

I believe the smooth option only works with polygon games right? Because its to do with textures.

I found most games to be horrible with smooth enabled. Tekken 3 was a travesty.

Zweihander · Post by **Zweihander** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:31 am

neorichieb1971 wrote:I found most games to be horrible with smooth enabled. Tekken 3 was a travesty.

try Tekken 2, it makes Tekken 3 look infinitely better on smooth. :/

Post by **system11** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:46 am

Zweihander wrote:SPOILER: Playing a PS1 game with the "smooth" option wears out the feeble PS2 lens even faster! If you're going so far as to use the "smooth" option, you might as well use the PS2 as your primary DVD player. :/

Please don't do that. Someone will read it and believe it. And post it to a forum.

Oh.

Monkey_Man · Post by **Monkey_Man** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:27 am

If you eat toast while your PS2 is running it will EXPLODE!

ResOGlas · Post by **ResOGlas** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 7:12 am

I once turned both options on when playing the fighting game Vampire Savior. I ended up getting this faded cross-hatch like pattern in the background?? I never used these again. They really help? All it did was make me want to eat honey-combs cereal.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 7:23 am

That must have been a bug occuring by the fast loading. There is a training mode in DarkStalkers 3 that shows the cross hatch so you ( I think this is what is used for) can see the distance and effectiveness of your attacks while in training mode. Or maybe the cross hatch is there all right though you can't normally see it, and that's how Capcom handles their hit detection in that game. Kinda like when you can see the hitboxes in RSG.

Blade · Post by **Blade** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 7:39 am

Bah, Fast loading option my foot. You try playing Samurai Showdown 3 for PSone (it's rare, but it's out there), I don't care what anyone says it still has the worst load time even with the PS2 assisting it. Fast loading also seems to mess up FMVs in certain older games too.

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 7:49 am

bloodflowers wrote:
Zweihander wrote:SPOILER: Playing a PS1 game with the "smooth" option wears out the feeble PS2 lens even faster! If you're going so far as to use the "smooth" option, you might as well use the PS2 as your primary DVD player. :/
Please don't do that. Someone will read it and believe it. And post it to a forum.

Oh.

MAX CHAIN = 92389843123.

Moogs · Post by **Moogs** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:43 am

PFG 9000 wrote:When I first picked up my PS2, the only PS1 games I played much were Castlevania:SotN, CV:Chronicles, and Silent Hill, all of which are messed up by the texture smoothing and/or fast load times on the PS2. So I never really tried any games after that.

*goes to play R-Type Delta*

2D games (games with all or mostly all sprite-based artwork) have no textures to smooth, really, so there's no point turning that option on when playing them. The fast loading screws with the vocals in Silent Hill, as it kind of makes them play like they're in fast forward. I would imagine games that use any type of "streaming" don't work very well with that option, either.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 12:16 pm

Texture smoothing doesn't seem to make much of a difference with Xevious 3D + G and, of course, the 2D games with it look terrible with it on.

Elixir · Post by **Elixir** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 12:19 pm

Blade wrote:Bah, Fast loading option my foot. You try playing Samurai Showdown 3 for PSone (it's rare, but it's out there), I don't care what anyone says it still has the worst load time even with the PS2 assisting it. Fast loading also seems to mess up FMVs in certain older games too.

I happen to own that game. And yeah, it's pretty slow with the whole system attempting to "improve" default visuals.

Texture smoothing doesn't seem to make much of a difference with Xevious 3D + G and, of course, the 2D games with it look terrible with it on.

What about 2D games made specifically for PS2, for example, Makai Kingdom?

freddiebamboo · Post by **freddiebamboo** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 12:33 pm

I think the option is more for 3d games rather than 2d, it definetly improves games like metal gear etc...

Zweihander · Post by **Zweihander** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:30 pm

i found G-Darius looks like absolute shit on Smooth. the poly's are nice, almost an early Dreamcast-level look (see also: Vagrant Story on Smooth.) but the backgrounds... dear god, the backgrounds. cross-hatching across every sky. yowza.

then i learned that it degrades the lens, and stopped playing on smooth completely, as my PS2 is ALREADY having a problem reading my Swap Magic CD-version boot disc. (blue discs of doom still work tho)

Post by **system11** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:47 pm

Zweihander wrote: then i learned that it degrades the lens, and stopped playing on smooth completely, as my PS2 is ALREADY having a problem reading my Swap Magic CD-version boot disc. (blue discs of doom still work tho)

Seriously, dude, where the hell did you hear that? We're talking grade A crazy talk. The smoothing option just applies software smoothing to textures. There's no sane reason on earth why this would even increase data read from the CD.

zaphod · Post by **zaphod** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 12:42 am

yeah. it's the fast load option that would wear down the ps2 more than the smoothing one.

the smoothing one applies bilinear filtering to every texture. it sometimes looks good, and sometimes looks crappy.

the fast loading option makes the drive spin faste,r but breaks many ps1 games thatt stream.

sethsez · Post by **sethsez** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 1:40 am

Yep, gotta toss my hat in with everyone else who's saying that there's no reason smooth texturing would affect the lens in any way. It's like putting a new radio in your car, only for the tires to start degrading faster.