PS1:PAL Optimized Titles: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 18:19, 6 August 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 LibCrypt Protection
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
40 Winks No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Actua Soccer Yes No No N/A N/A No
Actua Soccer 2 Yes No No N/A N/A No
Actua Soccer 3 (PAL Exclusive) Yes No No N/A N/A No
Air Combat No No Yes Untested Untested No
Aironauts (PAL Exclusive) Yes No No N/A N/A No
Alien Trilogy No No Yes Untested Untested No
Alone in the Dark - Jack Is Back No No Yes Untested Untested No
Alundra No Yes, correct music speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Untested, music will probably run fast Untested No
Alundra 2 No Yes, correct music speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Untested, music will probably run fast Untested No
Ape Escape No Yes, small borders but only cutscenes optimised No Untested Untested Yes
Army Men: Land, Air, Sea Yes No No N/A N/A No
Army Men: Lock 'N' Load Yes No No N/A N/A No
Asterix (PAL Exclusive) Yes No No N/A N/A No
Battle Arena Toshinden No Yes, timer optimised, slower gameplay, big borders No Untested, will probably break timer Untested No
Beatmania Yes, has localised music and is optimsed due to it being a rhythm based game No No N/A N/A No
Bloody Roar - Hyper Beast Duel No Yes, timer optimised, slower gameplay, big borders No Untested, will probably break timer Untested No
Bomberman No No Yes Untested Untested No
Bomberman World No Yes, timer optimised, slower gameplay, small borders No Untested, will probably break timer Untested No
Broken Sword - The Shadow of the Templars No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Bushido Blade No No Yes Untested Untested No
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
C-12 - Final Resistance Yes No No N/A N/A No
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night No No Yes Untested Untested No
Clock Tower 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 No Yes, timer optimised, slower gameplay, small borders No Untested, will probably break timer Untested 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 Yes, small borders but only cutscenes optimised No Yes, cutscenes play too fast Untested Yes
Crash Team Racing Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos No No Yes Yes Untested No
D No No Yes Untested Untested No
Darkstalkers 3 No No Yes Untested Untested No
Dead Or Alive Yes No No N/A N/A No
Descent No No Yes Untested 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
Diablo Yes, squares become rectangles when running in NTSC, due to British developer No No N/A N/A No
Die Hard Trilogy No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Correct speed, but causes glitches and overscan (picture draws outside of viewable area) Untested No
Dino Crisis No No Yes Untested Untested Yes
Dino Crisis 2 No No Yes Untested Untested No
Disney's Treasure Planet No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Correct speed, but causes slight overscan on UI elements (picture draws outside of viewable area) Untested No
Disney-Pixar Toy Story 2 - Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue! No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Doom No No Yes Untested Untested No
Driver Yes No No N/A N/A No
Driver 2 Yes No No N/A N/A No
Duke Nukem Yes No No N/A N/A No
Dynasty Warriors No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Earthworm Jim 2 (PAL Exclusive) No No Yes Untested Untested No
EA Sports Superbike 2000 No Yes, timer optimised, slower gameplay, small borders No Untested, will probably break timer Untested Yes
Ehrgeiz - God Bless the Ring No No Yes Untested Untested No
Evil Dead - Hail to the King No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Exhumed Yes No No N/A N/A No
Fade to Black No No Yes Untested Untested No
Fear Effect No No Yes Yes, image is slightly shifted to the side, but working Untested No
FIFA 2000 No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Yes, image is slightly shifted to the side, but working Untested No
FIFA Football 2005 No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Final Fantasy Anthology No Yes, correct music 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 music 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, probably works same as other FF games - video skip, X & Y adjust in NTSC mode 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
Galerians No No Yes Untested Untested Yes
Gex No No Yes Untested Untested No
Gex 3D - Enter the Gecko No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Ghost in the Shell No Yes, optimised movement speed, big borders, slower gameplay No Untested, probably speeds up walking Untested No
Grandia No Yes, big borders but only cutscenes optimised No Untested, probably breaks cutscenes 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
Granstream Saga No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Grudge Warriors No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Yes, image is slightly shifted to the side, but working Untested No
Guardian's Crusade No Yes, correct music speed, small borders No Untested, music will probably run fast Untested 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 Squashed image No
Harvest Moon - Back to Nature No Yes, optimised movement speed, slow text boxes, small borders No Untested, probably speeds up walking Untested No
Heart of Darkness No No Yes Untested Yes No
Hydro Thunder Yes No No N/A N/A No
ISS Pro Evolution No Yes, small borders but only cutscenes optimised No Untested, probably breaks cutscenes Untested No
Jackie Chan Stuntmaster No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested Yes
Jade Cocoon - Story of the Tamamayu No No Yes Untested Untested No
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure No No Yes Untested Untested No
Jumping Flash No Yes, timer optimised, slower gameplay, small borders No Untested, will probably break timer Untested No
Kagero - Deception II No No Yes Untested Untested No
King's Field No No Yes Untested Untested No
Kingsley's Adventure No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Klonoa No No Yes Untested Untested No
Koudelka Yes No No N/A N/A No
Kula World Yes No No N/A N/A No
Kurushi No No Yes Untested Untested No
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No No, causes bouncing image Squashed image Yes
Legend of Kartia No No Yes Untested Untested No
Legend of Legaia No No Yes Untested Untested No
Lifeforce Tenka No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Loaded No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Lost Vikings 2 - Norse by Norsewest No Yes, big borders but only cutscenes optimised No Untested, probably breaks cutscenes Untested No
Louvre - The Final Curse (PAL Exclusive) Yes No No N/A N/A No
MDK No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
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 Legends 2 No No Yes Untested Untested No
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
Metal Slug X No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Mickey's Wild Adventure No No Yes Untested Untested No
Mortal Kombat Trilogy Yes No No N/A N/A No
Music Yes No No N/A N/A No
NBA Jam - Tournament Edition No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Nightmare Creatures Yes No No N/A N/A No
Ninja - Shadow of Darkness No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
No Fear Downhill Mountain Biking 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
One No Yes, small borders but only cutscenes optimised No Untested, probably breaks cutscene Untested No
OverBlood No No Yes Untested Untested No
Overboard Yes No No N/A N/A No
Pac-Man World 20th Anniversary Yes No No N/A N/A 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
Quake II Yes No No N/A N/A No
R-Types No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Rage Racer No Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Untested Untested No
Rayman No No Yes Untested Untested No
Rayman 2 - The Great Escape No Yes, small borders but only cutscenes optimised No Untested, cutscenes stutter under Duckstation emulator forced 60Hz Untested No
Re-Loaded No Yes, small borders but only cutscenes optimised No Untested, briefings run too fast under Duckstation emulator forced 60Hz Untested No
ReBoot No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested No
Return Fire Yes No No N/A N/A 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
Ridge Racer Revolution 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
Road Rash No No Yes Untested Untested No
Shadow Man No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested 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
Skullmonkeys No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No N/A N/A No
Sled Storm Yes No No N/A N/A No
Soul Blade No No Yes Untested Untested No
Spider-Man No Yes, small borders but only cutscenes optimised No Untested Untested 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
Star Ocean - The Second Story No Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Untested, probably speeds game up Untested No
Star Wars - Dark Force No No Yes Untested Untested No
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
Team Buddies No Yes, timer optimised, slower gameplay, small borders No Untested, will probably break timer Untested No
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay (PAL version has major censorship) No Untested Untested No
Terracon (PAL Exclusive) Yes No No N/A N/A No
Time Crisis - Project Titan No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay and slow timer 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 Yes, image is slightly shifted to the side, but working Untested No
Tekken 3 (Western releases have minor censorship in one cutscene) No No Yes Untested Untested No
The Italian Job Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
The Unholy War Yes No No N/A N/A No
TOCA World Touring Cars Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
Tombi! No Yes, small borders but slower gameplay No Untested Untested 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
Tony Hawk's Skateboarding Yes No No N/A N/A No
Twisted Metal No Yes, correct game speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Untested, probably speeds up game Untested No
Urban Chaos Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
V-Rally - 97 Championship Edition Yes No No N/A N/A No
Vagrant Story No No Yes Untested Untested No
Vandal Hearts No Yes, big borders but only cutscenes optimised (opening cutscene) No Untested, probably breaks opening cutscene Untested No
Vib-Ribbon Yes No No N/A N/A Yes
Vigilante 8 Yes No No N/A N/A No
Wacky Races (PAL Exclusive) Yes No No N/A N/A No
Warcraft II - The Dark Saga Yes, squares become rectangles when running in NTSC, due to British developer No No N/A N/A No
Wild Arms No Yes, correct music speed, wrong aspect ratio (letterboxed) No Untested, music will probably run fast Untested No
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
Worms No Yes, timer optimised, slower gameplay, big borders No Yes, timer runs too fast, but game fills whole screen - screen is slightly shifted to the side N/A No
X-Men - Children of the Atom No Yes, timer optimised, slower gameplay, big borders No Untested, will probably break timer Untested No
Yusha - Heaven's Gate (PAL & JP Exclusive) No No Yes Untested Untested No
Z (PAL Exclusive) Yes No No N/A N/A No
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.