thank you. I did not change any video modes via run command. Not even sure how to do this? I know during emulation you can make changes but I can't see the options because the screen is so zoomed in I can only see the first few options. Same for changing emulators but I may be wrong with that as well.
I may need to switch emulators but I'm not 100% how to do this through the CLI / config menu's ATM. I'm going to take a stab at that too. Update: I was already using lr-fbalpha (NEOGEO), and tried switching to pifba but got a black screen no sound no nothing (so worse). Thinking I can update the emulator software and have better results? worth a try.
OK I tried editing the config.txt and it didn't make a difference in the menu or the emulation.
here is the current config.txt
# For more options and information see
# http://rpf.io/configtxtreadme
# Some settings may impact device functionality. See link above for details
# uncomment if you get no picture on HDMI for a default "safe" mode
hdmi_safe=1
# avoid warnings, 1 only remove overlay, 2 allos turbo
avoid_warnings=2
# hide splash rainbow
disable_splash=1
# uncomment this if your display has a black border of unused pixels visible
# and your display can output without overscan
disable_overscan=0
# uncomment the following to adjust overscan. Use positive numbers if console
# goes off screen, and negative if there is too much border
overscan_left=16
overscan_right=16
overscan_top=16
overscan_bottom=16
# uncomment to force a console size. By default it will be display's size minus
# overscan.
#framebuffer_width=1280
#framebuffer_height=1024
# uncomment if hdmi display is not detected and composite is being output
#hdmi_force_hotplug=1
# uncomment to force a specific HDMI mode (this will force VGA). Now 720p is set (josete2k)
#hdmi_group=2
#hdmi_mode=4
# uncomment to force a HDMI mode rather than DVI. This can make audio work in
# DMT (computer monitor) modes
#hdmi_drive=2
# uncomment to increase signal to HDMI, if you have interference, blanking, or
# no display
#config_hdmi_boost=4
# uncomment for composite PAL
#sdtv_mode=2
#uncomment to overclock the arm. 700 MHz is the default.
#arm_freq=800
# Uncomment some or all of these to enable the optional hardware interfaces
#dtparam=i2c_arm=on
#dtparam=i2s=on
#dtparam=spi=on
# Uncomment this to enable the lirc-rpi module
#dtoverlay=lirc-rpi
# Additional overlays and parameters are documented /boot/overlays/README
# Enable audio (loads snd_bcm2835)
dtparam=audio=on
#gpu_mem_256=128
#gpu_mem_512=256
#gpu_mem_1024=256
#overscan_scale=1
# Overclocking (moderate)
#dtparam=sd_overclock=100
#arm_freq=1300
#core_freq=500
#over_voltage=5
#sdram_freq=400
#gpu_freq=400
gpu_mem=256
#sdram_schmoo=0x02000020
#over_voltage_sdram_p=6
#over_voltage_sdram_i=4
#over_voltage_sdram_c=4
#v3d_freq=500
#h264_freq=333```