PS3:PS2 Games, Multiplayer, and Fixes
One of the features introduced by Cobra is the ability to force any PS2 ISO (or BIN/CUE) to run in the software PS2 emulator used for PS2 Classics. Keep in mind this is not a fully featured emulator and many games are not in a playable state. You can check compatibility with the PS2 Backup Compatibility list.
Playing PS2 ISOs
CFW
On modern CFW, you can utilize PS2 ISOs even on non-BC consoles by placing the ISO files in /dev_hdd0/PS2ISO
and mounting them using Webman or Multiman, and then clicking the disk icon that appears after mounting.
- If you are on a firmwares older than 4.75, you will need to run the PS2 Classics Placeholder after mounting instead. No other steps should be needed. There may be an issue with wireless controller syncing with this method.
HEN
On HEN, PS2 games must be encrypted with either PS2 Classics GUI or Apollo Save Tool, where the resulting iso.bin.enc file can be played with PS2 Classics Placeholder, or further turned into a .pkg
A video guide can be found on MrMario2011's Youtube channel here
Local Multiplayer
Through built in emulated Multitap, the PS3 can support up to seven players for PSX and PS2 games. A list of games that support three or more players can be found here. You can set up multiple controllers as follows:
- Turn one controller and launch the game. Press the PS button and select Controller Settings.
- Choose the controller number as listed below
- Player 1 | 1/1-A
- Player 2 | 1-B (or 2/2-A)*
- Player 3 | 1-C
- Player 4 | 1-D
- Player 5 | 2-A
- Player 6 | 2-B
- Player 7 | 2-C
(*) 2/2-A can be used if playing 2 player
- Repeat steps for each controller
CONFIG File Fixes
Some games require an extra CONFIG file to be applied to be able to avoid certain game-breaking bugs. If your game is listed here, you can fix it with the following process. If it is not listed and is having freezing issues at a certain point of the game, it may be worth trying the config fixes and adding to the wiki page if it is successful. If you continue to have issues with a game, try importing a PS3:PS2 Saves that is past the freezing point and use it. You can create your own PS2 Config file using PS2 Config commands and the PS2 Config Editor. A zip of premade configs can be found here.
- Note that ManaGunZ has all the known config files built in to it and will automatically apply them to games that need them.
Cobra 7.5+ Firmwares
- Download and install a hex editor such as HxD and create a new file.
- Copy the data on this page that lies between "00000000" and "=" next to your game and paste it into the hex editor. Do the same for each of the lines of data (i.e. 00000010) and copy and paste that data into the next line in the hex editor.
- Save the file with a name matching the game's name, with file extension ".ISO.CONFIG". For example, if your game is
Hello Kitty 2.ISO
, name the fileHello Kitty 2.ISO.CONFIG
. - Open an PS3:Transferring Files with FTP session with your PS3 and copy the file into the same directory as your game (i.e.
/dev_hdd0/PS2ISO/
).
Older Firmwares
- Download and install a hex editor such as HxD and create a new file.
- Copy the data on this page that lies between "00000000" and "=" next to your game and paste it into the hex editor. Do the same for each of the lines of data (i.e. 00000010) and copy and paste that data into the next line in the hex editor. Save the file as "CONFIG.DEC".
- Open the PS2 Classics GUI within AldosTools. Select the "Encrypt" tab → Open File → Choose "All Files" in the drop-down menu in the lower right → CONFIG.DEC → Open → Encrypt. A file called CONFIG (without an extension) will be generated.
- Open an PS3:Transferring Files with FTP session with your PS3 and copy the file into
/dev_hdd0/game/PS2U00001/USRDIR/
. - Start the game. If it launches correctly, proceed with the game and see if it has fixed the issue. If it does not launch correctly, delete the CONFIG file and try again.
Troubleshooting
- Error messages saying "Unsupported data" or clicking on the disk says "This model of the PS3 System is not compatible with PS2 format software".
- Try reinstalling your firmware. SEN Enabler is known to mess up the Cobra hash, and although there is a "Cobra hash fix" button in SEN Enabler, it does not always work.
- No aspect ratio option when you press the PS button in-game
- On the XMB, go to Settings > Game and enable HD scaling. This should enable the option in PS2 games to change the aspect ratio.