Best Rom Hacks?

thelostsoul

I just reading this:

http://retrogamingmagazine.com/2018/04/10/fan-updates-nes-castlevania-with-new-graphics-and-sound/

Looks impressive. Unsure if it'd run on any of our emulators, but it looks rather nice!

It indeed looks impressive. But I can't find a link or the hack itself. In the article, I even can't find the title of the hack or even the maker of it. These are essential informations lacking. Did he even check if the game is at romhacking.net? I then headed over to romhacking.net and searched for Castlevania hacks in 2018 and found out the subtitle "Opposing Bloodlines" in screen matches a hackname. But that hack I found on romhacking.net doesn't have same graphics and is from 2008. So someone or the author itself grabbed the old hack and updated it. I then searched the web with Google and gave up. Btw, maybe not worth to search for it, because the article says Mesen emulator is needed.

pjft

@thelostsoul Thanks for checking. I also fixed the broken english from typing on my phone with the swipe keyboard. Shame on me.

It seems the source is this one:

http://www.romhacking.net/news/2021/

But indeed it seems to be a very Mesen-specific improvement. Sorry for that.

EDIT: It seems there's a Mesen RetroArch core.

https://forums.libretro.com/t/mesen-core/14124/111

thelostsoul

@pjft said in Best Rom Hacks?:

It seems the source is this one:

Thanks for finding it, I couldn't. And no need to sorry on your side, i was criticizing the article.
On my side, I am not really interested in trying it out, as it uses a different emulator than my favorite.

martincrocenzi

Has anyone played a Street Fighter II - Champion Edition hack (assuming that this version is a hacked one) in which whenever you attempt a special move like hadouken with Ryu / Ken or sonic boom with Guile, the screen filled with that movement? I remember playing with Ryu and once I do the shoryuken, it also fires like four or five hadoukens, crazy sh1t. And Blanka finished his ball attack with electricity. Was the Champion Edition since the sky in the Japan's scenario (Ryu) was dark at night. Did you ever play this version? Does someone know where can I get that? Thanks!

mediamogul

@hooperre

Looks like there's some interest in RetroArch Power Pad Support after all. I don't know if you've considered a way to actually connect the Power Pad itself to the Pi, but this article appears to be just the ticket. I own a Power Pad and don't want to cut into it, so I'll probably use a NES extension cord and turn it into an adapter.

hooperre

@mediamogul Awwwwwweeeeeeesommmmmmmmeeeeeee. Thanks! I have a USB dance pad and am hoping there are just ways to configure that to the buttons. That being said, I imagine Power Pads are not a hot commodity either.

mediamogul

@hooperre said in Best Rom Hacks?:

I have a USB dance pad and am hoping there are just ways to configure that to the buttons. That being said, I imagine Power Pads are not a hot commodity either.

Yeah, you can pick 'em up all day long for pretty cheap. A USB dance pad might work too though.

mediamogul

@mediamogul said in Best Rom Hacks?:

but this article appears to be just the ticket.

The images on the original page seem to be broken, so for the sake of posterity, here's a link from the Wayback Machine.

https://web.archive.org/web/20131111000457/https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/ArchiePrakash/20130702/195484/CONNECTING_NES_POWER_PAD_TO_PC_FOR_ITS_25TH_ANNIVERSARY.php

SuperPitendo

SUPER GHOULS N GHOSTS (combined hack Edition)

I used 2 hacks on that and made a pretty different game...

First I used the RESTORATION hack. It uncensores the game AND make it harder (enemy appereance etc.) just like the japanese Version.
Than I used the SUPER ARTHUR hack. With that hack you can collect weapons and switch between them (with L & R), also you dont loose the whole armor if you get hit, just the last you´ve collected.

The combination of both let it feel like a MEDIEVAL CONTRA!!!

I really recommend to check this out!!!!

pjft

@superpitendo The latter one sounds like a fantastic hack on its own! I'll need to look into that.

SuperPitendo

@pjft
The game will be to easy with just the Super-Arthur-Hack, thats why the combination of both is necessary ;)

thelostsoul

@superpitendo That makes absolutely sense.

Btw, we (my friends and me) played the japanese Super Ghoulsn Ghost on a real Snes with drinking alkohol. Everytime someone lose have to drink and next random one plays. We managed got to level 8 or so, don't remember the count. That game is really hell of a fun. And the hack you mentioned is really good idea, lovely. Will try it out (maybe) today.

SuperPitendo

@thelostsoul HAHAHA good idea, but this was my first SNES game (with Zelda 3). After I touched it after all these years, I was suprised that I made it to the first fortress without getting hit once ;)

Actually I like to have things as original as possible, so my hack list just includes improvements without touching the actual gameplay

Here are some other hacks I use/love and found on romhacking.net

Zelda (SNES) item switch cycle with L & R
Zelda (SNES) pegasus boot improvement allows to change direction while running
Secret of Mana (SNES) scroll hack - while moving you are a lot more centered instead of be glued to the edge of the screen...
Secret of Mana (SNES) balance & droprate hack
Secret of Evermore (SNES) balance & 2 player hack
Links Awakening (GB/GBC) restoration of a cut out dungeon and other nice stuff
Super Mario Land (GB) color hack
Super Mario Land 2 (GB) color hack
Super Metroid 2 (GB) color hack
Pokemon Blue/Red (GB) color hack and improved HUD - it is the HUD of Gold/Silver
Contra/Probotector (SNES/SMD) restoration to japanese Version for Konami code etc.
EVO Search for Eden (SNES) balance hack
Cybernator (SNES) restoration of portraits and let you play during the ingame communication Scenes instead of stoping the game and waiting til it ends...
Killer Instinct (SNES) enhancement to play Eyedol out of the box

puuuuhhhh... I think I forgot a lot more :D

GtBFilms

Alright so it's not a major ROM rework like those mentioned above, but this still tickled me:

mediamogul

@gtbfilms said in Best Rom Hacks?:

this still tickled me

You're not alone. This hack created a lot of enthusiasm when it was released. There's a really great write up on Wired about the guy creating it for his daughter after she asked why she couldn't select Pauline in the same way she could Princess Toadstool in 'Super Mario Bros. 2'. Since then, someone else has altered the MAME ROM (as shown in your video) and even made a few improvements, such as replacing Pauline's scattered paraphernalia with that of Mario's carpentry tools. There was even a trend for a while to create dedicated cabinets. One element that I love is the care that was given to the animation. There's this one frame as she reaches the top of a ladder where she is almost eclipsed by her petticoat and it appears as though she's really making an effort to get back on her feet. The whole idea of this hack is very charming.

thelostsoul

Got it recommended by SNESdrunk in one of his videos at YouTube. This is a webpage, doing some randomizing stuff on the rom and then you can save it I bet. Still didn't try it out, but sounds like a great idea.

A Link to the Past: Randomizer
http://vt.alttp.run/start

Here the video from SNESdrunk:

SgtJimmyRustles

Sonic 3 Complete for me.

thelostsoul

@sgtjimmyrustles said in Best Rom Hacks?:

Sonic 3 Complete

Although, I don't have any other hacks than NES and SNES currently, this one looks promising to start looking for Sega hacks. Here is a link for your suggested game. Its like the definitive version, cool find:
http://info.sonicretro.org/Sonic_3_Complete

hooperre

@sgtjimmyrustles said in Best Rom Hacks?:

Sonic 3 Complete for me.

I've seen this a lot, but I've wondered if there was any reason to include it in my build as I've already got everything included. Is there an advantage outside having anything in one place?

SgtJimmyRustles

@hooperre said in Best Rom Hacks?:

I've seen this a lot, but I've wondered if there was any reason to include it in my build as I've already got everything included. Is there an advantage outside having anything in one place?

Basically, it's Sonic 3 & Knuckles with the Sonic 3 music and more customization and fixes. They even have FM Versions of the Alternative Sonic 3 & Knuckles tracks on the S&K collection for PC.