PS1:PAL Optimized Titles: Difference between revisions

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Due to technical limitations, PAL games cannot take full advantage of the PAL resolution (the image is effectively squeezed down). However, if you look at games like the Crash Bandicoot series, they do not have big black borders (because of quality optimsation) and run at a perfect speed. Forcing these games to 60Hz would break them, speed up the gameplay or cause UI elements to draw out of the viewable area. With a CRT that has overscan, you will not see the small borders, hence why they might be called 'fullscreen'. In terms of forcing these games to 60Hz on original hardware, some tests have been carried out with the FreePSXBoot softmod for the PlayStation and GSM tool for the PlayStation 2. Below is a table with some information of games that have undergone testing.  
Due to technical limitations, PAL games cannot take full advantage of the PAL resolution (the image is effectively squeezed down). However, if you look at games like the Crash Bandicoot series, they do not have big black borders (because of quality optimsation) and run at a perfect speed. Forcing these games to 60Hz would break them, speed up the gameplay or cause UI elements to draw out of the viewable area. With a CRT that has overscan, you will not see the small borders, hence why they might be called 'fullscreen'. In terms of forcing these games to 60Hz on original hardware, some tests have been carried out with the FreePSXBoot softmod for the PlayStation and GSM tool for the PlayStation 2. Below is a table with some information of games that have undergone testing.  
[[File:Fully-pal-optimised-games-fullscreen-and-full-speed-read-v0-ni8p26zwz55d1.webp|thumb|232x232px|Gran Turismo (Part Optimised)]]
[[File:Fully-pal-optimised-games-fullscreen-and-full-speed-read-v0-ni8p26zwz55d1.webp|thumb|252x252px|Gran Turismo (Part Optimised)]]
[[File:Fully-pal-optimised-games-fullscreen-and-full-speed-read-v0-6d21xewlz55d1.webp|border|left|thumb|231x231px|Crash Bandicoot 3 (Fully Optimised)]]
[[File:Fully-pal-optimised-games-fullscreen-and-full-speed-read-v0-6d21xewlz55d1.webp|left|thumb|252x252px|Crash Bandicoot 3 (Fully Optimised)]]
This is by no means a definitive list, as unfortunately one does not exist. '''Titles tagged with Fully Optimsed or Part Optimised might run too fast if forced to NTSC (60Hz). Fully Optimised means no big black borders.'''
This is by no means a definitive list, as one does not exist. '''Titles tagged with Fully or Part Optimised might run too fast at 60Hz. Fully Optimised means no big borders or games that are bordered, running in native aspect ratio.'''


{{Note|If the game you're looking for is not listed here, generally it is safe to assume that European developers optimised their games for the PAL region. Codemasters, Psygnosis and Rockstar North / Rockstar Lincoln have done so for many of their releases. Prominent offenders include developers such as Square, Konami and Namco, as they are based in NTSC territories.}}
{{Note|If the game you're looking for is not listed here, generally it is safe to assume that European developers optimised their games for the PAL region. Codemasters, Psygnosis and Rockstar North / Rockstar Lincoln have done so for many of their releases. Prominent offenders include developers such as Square, Konami and Namco, as they are based in NTSC territories.}}
Line 40: Line 40:
|Yes
|Yes
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|-
|Alundra
|No
|Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed)
|No
| Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Army Men: Lock 'N' Load
|Army Men: Lock 'N' Load
|Yes
|No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|No
|-
|Beatmania
|Yes, has localised music and is optimsed due to it being a rhythm based game
|No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|No
|-
|C-12 - Final Resistance
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
Line 81: Line 105:
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|-
|Cool Boarders 4
|Yes
|No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|No
|No
|-
|-
Line 133: Line 165:
|Destruction Derby
|Destruction Derby
|No
|No
|No
|No  
|Yes
|Yes
| Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
| No
|No
|-
|-
|Destruction Derby 2
|Destruction Derby 2
|Yes
|Yes
|No
| No
|No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
Line 147: Line 179:
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Die Hard Trilogy
|Destruction Derby Raw
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
Line 153: Line 185:
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|No
|-
|Die Hard Trilogy
|No
|Yes, small borders but slower gameplay
|No
|Untested
| Untested
|No
|No
|-
|-
Line 158: Line 198:
|No
|No
|No
|No
|No
| No
|Untested
| Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|Dino Crisis 2
| Dino Crisis 2
|No
|No
|No
|No
|No
|No
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
| Untested
|Not Known
|Not Known
|-
|-
|Driver
|Driver  
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
|No
| N/A
|N/A
|No
|No
|-
|Driver 2
|Yes
|No
| No
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Driver 2
|Exhumed
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
Line 199: Line 247:
|Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed)
|Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed)
|No
|No
| Music and game run too fast
|Music and game run too fast
|Music and game run too fast
|Music and game run too fast
|No  
|No
|-
|-
|Final Fantasy VII
| Final Fantasy VII
|No
|No
|No
|No
Line 224: Line 272:
|Yes
|Yes
|Reverts to 50Hz
|Reverts to 50Hz
|Works in NTSC mode
|Works in NTSC mode  
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
Line 241: Line 289:
|Hangs at loading screen
|Hangs at loading screen
|Runs too fast
|Runs too fast
|No
|-
|Grandia
|No
|Yes, big borders but only cutscenes optimised
| No
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|No
|-
|-
Line 248: Line 304:
|No
|No
|Runs too fast
|Runs too fast
|Untested
|Untested  
|No
|No
|-
|-
Line 257: Line 313:
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|No
| No
|-
|-
|Grand Theft Auto
|Grand Theft Auto
Line 268: Line 324:
|-
|-
|Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone
|Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone
|Yes
|No
|No
|Yes, small borders but slower gameplay
|No
|No
|N/A
|Yes, image is slightly shifted to the side, but working
|N/A
| Untested
|No
|No
|-
|-
Line 284: Line 340:
|-
|-
|Jackie Chan Stuntmaster
|Jackie Chan Stuntmaster
|No
|No  
|No
|No
|Yes
|Yes
Line 308: Line 364:
|-
|-
|Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
|Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
| No
| Yes, wrong speed, however small borders at 50Hz
|No
|No, causes bouncing image
|Squashed image
|Yes
|-
|Medal of Honor
|No
|No
|Yes, however small borders in 50Hz
|Yes, small borders but slower gameplay
|No
|No
|Untested, suspect it might cause overscan
|Untested
|Untested
|Yes
|Untested
|No
|-
|-
|MediEvil
|MediEvil  
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
|No
| No
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
Line 326: Line 390:
|No
|No
|No
|No
|Yes
| Yes
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
Line 340: Line 404:
|-
|-
|Mega Man X6
|Mega Man X6
|No
|No  
|No
|No
|Yes
|Yes
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|Metal Gear Solid
|Metal Gear Solid
|No
|No
|Yes, cutscenes same speed as NTSC
|Yes, small borders but only cutscenes optimised
|No
|No
|Untested
|Untested
Line 361: Line 425:
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|No
| No
|-
|-
|Music
|Music
Line 369: Line 433:
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|No
| No
|-
|-
|Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
|Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
|No
|No
|No
|No
| Yes
|Yes
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
| Untested
|No
|No
|-
|-
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|No
|No
|-
|-
|Pandemonium  
|Pandemonium
|Yes
|No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|No
|-
|PaRappa the Rapper
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
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|-
|-
|Parasite Eve 2
|Parasite Eve 2
| No
|No
|No
|No
|Yes  
|Yes
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
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|No
|No
|No
|No
|Yes
|Yes  
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
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|Resident Evil 2
|Resident Evil 2
|No
|No
|No  
|No
|Yes
|Yes
|Untested
| Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
|Ridge Racer
|Ridge Racer
| No
|No
|Yes
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|-
|Rage Racer
|No
|Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed)
|No
|No
| No
|Yes
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
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|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
|No
|No  
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|No
| No
|-
|-
|Silent Hill
|Silent Hill  
|No
|No
|Yes, small borders but slower gameplay (PAL version has minor censorship)
|Yes, small borders but slower gameplay (PAL version has minor censorship)
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|Correct speed, but causes overscan (picture draws out on viewable area)
|Correct speed, but causes overscan (picture draws out on viewable area)
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|-
|Sled Storm
| Yes
|No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|No
|No
|-
|-
Line 455: Line 543:
|No
|No
|Yes
|Yes
|Untested
|Untested  
|Broken
|Squashed image
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Spyro the Dragon  
|Spyro the Dragon
|Yes
|Yes
| No
|No
|No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
Line 468: Line 556:
|-
|-
|Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!
|Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
|No
| No
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
| N/A
|Yes
|Yes
|-
|-
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|No
|No
|Yes
|Yes
|Untested
|Untested  
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
|Syphon Filter
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
| No
| No
| N/A
|N/A
|N/A
| N/A
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Tiny Toon Adventures - Buster and the Beanstalk
|Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
| No
|Yes, small borders but slower gameplay (PAL version has minor censorship)
| No
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|No
|-
|Tiny Toon Adventures - Buster and the Beanstalk
|No
|No
|Yes
| No
|Yes  
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|No  
|-
|-
|Tekken
|Tekken
|No
|No
|No  
|No
|Yes
| Yes
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
| No
|-
| Tekken 2
|No
|No
|-
|Tekken 2
|No
|No
|No
|Yes
|Yes
|Untested
|Untested
Line 531: Line 628:
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Tekken 3
|Tekken 3 (Western releases have minor censorship in one cutscene)
|No
|No
|No
|No
Line 558: Line 655:
|No
|No
|Yes, aspect ratio correct at 50Hz, intended to run in 60Hz speed (PC version is definitive)
|Yes, aspect ratio correct at 50Hz, intended to run in 60Hz speed (PC version is definitive)
|No  
|No
| Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|No
|-
|-
|Tomb Raider II Starring Lara Croft
|Tomb Raider II Starring Lara Croft
| Yes
|Yes
| No
|No
|No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|No  
|No
|-
|-
|Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft
|Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft
|Yes
|Yes
| No
|No
|No  
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
Line 590: Line 687:
|Yes
|Yes
|No
|No
| No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
Line 602: Line 699:
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|No
|-
|Urban Chaos
|Yes
|No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|Yes
|-
|-
|Vagrant Story
|Vagrant Story
Line 610: Line 715:
|Untested
|Untested
|No
|No
|-
|Vib-Ribbon
|Yes
|No
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|Yes
|-
|-
|Wipeout
|Wipeout
Line 628: Line 741:
|-
|-
|Wipeout 3
|Wipeout 3
| Yes
|Yes
| No
|No
|No  
|No
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|Yes
|Yes
|}
|}
{{Note|More data from personal testing is welcome, with an emphasis on the use of original hardware (PS1, PS2). Side to side runs from the Duckstation emulator can also provide valid results, as the emulator does not remove the PAL picture squeeze you would get on original hardware.}}
{{Note|More data from personal testing is welcome, with an emphasis on the use of original hardware (PS1, PS2). Side to side runs from Duckstation emulator can also provide results on resolution differences, as the emulator does not remove the PAL picture squeeze you would get on original hardware.}}

Revision as of 13:50, 3 July 2024

Considering the PAL and NTSC region differences, many PS1 titles released in the PAL region had gameplay speed that ran 17% slower than NTSC counterparts in the US and Japan. The PAL standard allowed for a higher vertical resolution of 576 lines compared to NTSC's 480, which meant PAL players saw big black borders in many games, due to a lack optimisation. Some titles may also have issues with sound and music being slower or clocks and timers being inaccurate. This is partially because of timing differences in the PS1's internal frequency oscillator and developers not compensating for these differences.

If you have not modified your PS1 by installing a Dual Frequency Oscillator (DFO) to address these problems, even MM3 modchipped consoles can experience minor issues while running out of region games on original hardware. If you do not plan to install a DFO, there are some PAL optimised titles available within the PS1 library. This means the speed of gameplay has been corrected while still running at 50hz / 50 fps, the music and sound effects being identical in tempo to NTSC. Clocks, timers and save game data are accurate to the second.

Due to technical limitations, PAL games cannot take full advantage of the PAL resolution (the image is effectively squeezed down). However, if you look at games like the Crash Bandicoot series, they do not have big black borders (because of quality optimsation) and run at a perfect speed. Forcing these games to 60Hz would break them, speed up the gameplay or cause UI elements to draw out of the viewable area. With a CRT that has overscan, you will not see the small borders, hence why they might be called 'fullscreen'. In terms of forcing these games to 60Hz on original hardware, some tests have been carried out with the FreePSXBoot softmod for the PlayStation and GSM tool for the PlayStation 2. Below is a table with some information of games that have undergone testing.

Gran Turismo (Part Optimised)
Crash Bandicoot 3 (Fully Optimised)

This is by no means a definitive list, as one does not exist. Titles tagged with Fully or Part Optimised might run too fast at 60Hz. Fully Optimised means no big borders or games that are bordered, running in native aspect ratio.

Exclamation-circle-fill.svgIf the game you're looking for is not listed here, generally it is safe to assume that European developers optimised their games for the PAL region. Codemasters, Psygnosis and Rockstar North / Rockstar Lincoln have done so for many of their releases. Prominent offenders include developers such as Square, Konami and Namco, as they are based in NTSC territories.


PAL PlayStation Games Tested for Optimisation
Fully Optimised Part Optimised Unoptimised 60Hz with FreePSXBoot 60Hz with GSM Modchip Protected
007 The World Is Not Enough Yes No No N/A N/A No
007 Tomorrow Never Dies Yes No No N/A N/A No
Alone in the Dark - Jack Is Back No No Yes Untested Untested No
Alundra No Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Untested Untested No
Army Men: Lock 'N' Load Yes No No N/A N/A No
Beatmania Yes, has localised music and is optimsed due to it being a rhythm based game No No N/A N/A No
C-12 - Final Resistance Yes No No N/A N/A No
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night No No Yes Untested Untested No
Colin McRae Rally Yes No No N/A N/A No
Colin McRae Rally 2.0 Yes No No N/A N/A No
Cool Boarders 2 No No Yes Untested Untested No
Cool Boarders 4 Yes No No N/A N/A No
Crash Bandicoot Yes No No N/A N/A No
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back Yes No No N/A N/A No
Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped Yes No No N/A N/A No
Crash Bash No No Yes Untested Untested Yes
Crash Team Racing Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos No No Yes Yes Untested No
Destruction Derby No No Yes Untested Untested No
Destruction Derby 2 Yes No No N/A N/A No
Destruction Derby Raw Yes No No N/A N/A No
Die Hard Trilogy No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Dino Crisis No No No Untested Untested Yes
Dino Crisis 2 No No No Untested Untested Not Known
Driver Yes No No N/A N/A No
Driver 2 Yes No No N/A N/A No
Exhumed Yes No No N/A N/A No
Final Fantasy Anthology No Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Music runs too fast, graphical corruption Music and game run too fast No
Final Fantasy VI No Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Music and game run too fast Music and game run too fast No
Final Fantasy VII No No Yes Yes, image slightly shifted up and right Untested No
Final Fantasy VIII No No Yes Reverts to 50Hz Works in NTSC mode Yes
Final Fantasy IX No No Yes Reverts to 50Hz Works in NTSC mode Yes
Firestorm - Thunderhawk 2 No No Yes Yes Untested No
Formula One No Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Hangs at loading screen Runs too fast No
Grandia No Yes, big borders but only cutscenes optimised No Untested Untested No
Gran Turismo No Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Runs too fast Untested No
Gran Turismo 2 Yes No No N/A N/A No
Grand Theft Auto Yes No No N/A N/A No
Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Yes, image is slightly shifted to the side, but working Untested No
Heart of Darkness No No Yes Untested Yes No
Jackie Chan Stuntmaster No No Yes Untested Untested Yes
Jumping Flash No No Yes Untested Untested No
Klonoa No No Yes Untested Untested No
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver No Yes, wrong speed, however small borders at 50Hz No No, causes bouncing image Squashed image Yes
Medal of Honor No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
MediEvil Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
Mega Man X4 No No Yes Untested Untested No
Mega Man X5 No No Yes Untested Untested No
Mega Man X6 No No Yes Untested Untested No
Metal Gear Solid No Yes, small borders but only cutscenes optimised No Untested Untested No
Mickey's Wild Adventure No No Yes Untested Untested No
Music Yes No No N/A N/A No
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee No No Yes Untested Untested No
Oddworld: Abe's Exodus No No Yes Untested Untested No
Pandemonium Yes No No N/A N/A No
PaRappa the Rapper Yes No No N/A N/A No
Parasite Eve 2 No No Yes Untested Untested Yes
Rayman No No Yes Untested Untested No
Resident Evil No No Yes Untested Untested No
Resident Evil 2 No No Yes Untested Untested Yes
Ridge Racer No No Yes Untested Untested No
Rage Racer No Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Untested Untested No
Ridge Racer Type 4 Yes No No N/A N/A No
Silent Hill No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay (PAL version has minor censorship) No Correct speed, but causes overscan (picture draws out on viewable area) Untested No
Sled Storm Yes No No N/A N/A No
Sports Car GT No No Yes Untested Squashed image No
Spyro the Dragon Yes No No N/A N/A No
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
Spyro: Year of the Dragon Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
Suikoden No No Yes Untested Untested No
Suikoden II No No Yes Untested Untested No
Syphon Filter Yes No No N/A N/A No
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay (PAL version has minor censorship) No Untested Untested No
Tiny Toon Adventures - Buster and the Beanstalk No No Yes Untested Untested No
Tekken No No Yes Untested Untested No
Tekken 2 No No Yes Untested Untested No
Tekken 3 (Western releases have minor censorship in one cutscene) No No Yes Untested Untested No
TOCA World Touring Cars Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
Tony Hawk's Skateboarding Yes No No N/A N/A No
Tomb Raider No Yes, aspect ratio correct at 50Hz, intended to run in 60Hz speed (PC version is definitive) No Untested Untested No
Tomb Raider II Starring Lara Croft Yes No No N/A N/A No
Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft Yes No No N/A N/A No
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation Yes No No N/A N/A No
Tomb Raider: Chronicles Yes No No N/A N/A No
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six No No Yes Untested Untested No
Urban Chaos Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
Vagrant Story No No Yes Untested Untested No
Vib-Ribbon Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
Wipeout Yes No No N/A N/A No
Wipeout 2097 Yes No No N/A N/A No
Wipeout 3 Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
Exclamation-circle-fill.svgMore data from personal testing is welcome, with an emphasis on the use of original hardware (PS1, PS2). Side to side runs from Duckstation emulator can also provide results on resolution differences, as the emulator does not remove the PAL picture squeeze you would get on original hardware.


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