Sonic 4 Episode I & II

Master Emerald · Post by **Master Emerald** » 17 May 2012, 03:15

So, guys! I'm creating this topic because both ports of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 have their internal resolution fixed at maximum 1280x720.

On the consoles the game (EP1 at least) runs natively on 1920x1080. So I believe removing the limit used on the PC port isn't so difficult.

Episode 1:

PC Version:

PSN/XLBA Version:

I can't confirm if Episode II runs on 1080p on XLBA but at least EP1 is fixable.

Shame really.

Episode 2:

Here it's how it runs on PC and PSN:

Here it's how it COULD look (8x AA + Morphological Filter + Edge Detect + Perfect Resize 7)

I'm posting this here because this guy was able to make it run on 1050p natively. He used a debugger to do it but doesn't know how to make a more flexible solution.

I'd be happy with 1080p at least :((

Post by **jackfuste** » 17 May 2012, 15:08

Fix for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode 2 v1.0r11 THETA - available from the PC Gaming Wiki Community Files (search there)

Includes two versions - a native resolution and supersampling 2x2.
Note: Some effects, such as lighting may be calculated differently than designed by developers.

Default 1280x720:

Native 1920x1080:

Supersampling 2x2:

Master Emerald · Post by **Master Emerald** » 17 May 2012, 15:50

Man. I love you!

Thanks!! :DDD

tank · Post by **tank** » 17 May 2012, 16:57

i love you too! thanks!

Kokonoe · Post by **Kokonoe** » 17 May 2012, 17:08

Thank you jackfuste, the Sonic Community greatly appreciates this.

W.A.C. · Post by **W.A.C.** » 17 May 2012, 17:14

I registered as a way to say thanks, but also to state I get an "unsupported compression method" error everytime I try to unzip it with 7zip. Can someone recommend an unzipping program that works with this patch?

Master Emerald · Post by **Master Emerald** » 18 May 2012, 04:20

Tried redownloading? I use 7zip and it works fine!

Also, make a backup of the original files. This patch makes all 4:3 resolutions act like wide-screen. ]

Ah. Jack, the game menu becomes all messed up after the patch, as well as the blurs and similar things. Just so you know, doesn't affect the gameplay in the slightest, though. Here is my savefile so you can test the game with it's full contents unlocked:

http://www.mediafire.com/?thw8d7trdf814a0

Mythrill · Post by **Mythrill** » 18 May 2012, 06:47

Fix for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode 2 v1.0r11 THETA - Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II.7z
Includes two versions - a native resolution and supersampling 2x2.
Note: Some effects, such as lighting may be calculated differently than designed by developers.

Jack, amazing work! Unfortunately, I have a CRT monitor (letterbox format,) and
the patch doesn't keep the aspect ratio like the original does. I get a distorted vertical image.

Is it possible for you to fix that, please?

Master Emerald · Post by **Master Emerald** » 18 May 2012, 23:52

I'd like to add that since this patch is made on the cracked version, Steam users won't be able to go online and such. Could you explain more or less what did you do to patch it? I was trying to patch the uncracked exe but the whole section of the 6 bytes you changed is not present on the legit release o.o.

Also, thanks again, this shit made a good confusion on Sega forums, as I posted everywhere how shitty the game looks compared to the patch hahah.

I hope they release a real fix for every platform! 720p on HDTVS suck!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/37936015/Sonic.exe

Here is the LEGIT exe so you can take a look.

Master Emerald · Post by **Master Emerald** » 19 May 2012, 22:26

Jackfuste sent me some code so I could email Ken what did the patch change (he asked this to me!).

Now an official patch is likely!

Here are two versions of the patch! Cracked and Legit

http://www.multiupload.nl/AXBLYQ66BU

All thanks to jackfuste :)

Thanks really!!

Master Emerald · Post by **Master Emerald** » 20 May 2012, 01:24

I guess it's better to open a thread for SADX.

Also Ezo, can you test the steam version of the patch? People are saying the game doesn't launch!

ezodagrom · Post by **ezodagrom** » 20 May 2012, 02:22

I guess it's better to open a thread for SADX.

Also Ezo, can you test the steam version of the patch? People are saying the game doesn't launch!

Application load error 3:0000065432

Master Emerald · Post by **Master Emerald** » 20 May 2012, 03:43

So yeah it's confirmmed. Changing those 4 bytes makes the game unlaunchable I don't understand steam at all.

crystallize · Post by **crystallize** » 22 May 2012, 13:05

Thanks a lot, Master Emerald! How exactly do you did it? Sonic and SEGA All-Star Racing have the same problem: http://i.imgur.com/8AWhp.jpg
I've tried to hack its resolution the same way with SADX 2004, you know, converting 640 and 480 to HEX, swapping ABCD I've got to CDAB, like Big Endian, and searching this HEX number into the EXE file, but I failed. May be you'll help me, with thery at least. Also, hi-res screenshots looks like there's no MIPMAP generation for partially transparent textures: http://s019.radikal.ru/i610/1205/68/f9d0691aefed.png Can you help us with it? And, may be, with proper Anti-Aliasing?

ezodagrom · Post by **ezodagrom** » 22 May 2012, 16:58

Thanks a lot, Master Emerald! How exactly do you did it? Sonic and SEGA All-Star Racing have the same problem: http://i.imgur.com/8AWhp.jpg
I've tried to hack its resolution the same way with SADX 2004, you know, converting 640 and 480 to HEX, swapping ABCD I've got to CDAB, like Big Endian, and searching this HEX number into the EXE file, but I failed. May be you'll help me, with thery at least. Also, hi-res screenshots looks like there's no MIPMAP generation for partially transparent textures: http://s019.radikal.ru/i610/1205/68/f9d0691aefed.png Can you help us with it? And, may be, with proper Anti-Aliasing?

I don't think All Stars Racing has the same issue, it's just the game doesn't have anti-aliasing.

crystallize · Post by **crystallize** » 22 May 2012, 18:08

[quote]Thanks a lot, Master Emerald! How exactly do you did it? Sonic and SEGA All-Star Racing have the same problem: http://i.imgur.com/8AWhp.jpg
I've tried to hack its resolution the same way with SADX 2004, you know, converting 640 and 480 to HEX, swapping ABCD I've got to CDAB, like Big Endian, and searching this HEX number into the EXE file, but I failed. May be you'll help me, with thery at least. Also, hi-res screenshots looks like there's no MIPMAP generation for partially transparent textures: http://s019.radikal.ru/i610/1205/68/f9d0691aefed.png Can you help us with it? And, may be, with proper Anti-Aliasing?

I don't think All Stars Racing has the same issue, it's just the game doesn't have anti-aliasing.
Yes, Sonic Racing is aliased. But aliased-only edges are SHARP. Sonic Racing's edges are jagged and blurry at the same time. There's plenty of aliased screenshots in this topic for you to compare.

ezodagrom · Post by **ezodagrom** » 22 May 2012, 18:47

[quote][quote]Thanks a lot, Master Emerald! How exactly do you did it? Sonic and SEGA All-Star Racing have the same problem: http://i.imgur.com/8AWhp.jpg
I've tried to hack its resolution the same way with SADX 2004, you know, converting 640 and 480 to HEX, swapping ABCD I've got to CDAB, like Big Endian, and searching this HEX number into the EXE file, but I failed. May be you'll help me, with thery at least. Also, hi-res screenshots looks like there's no MIPMAP generation for partially transparent textures: http://s019.radikal.ru/i610/1205/68/f9d0691aefed.png Can you help us with it? And, may be, with proper Anti-Aliasing?

I don't think All Stars Racing has the same issue, it's just the game doesn't have anti-aliasing.
Yes, Sonic Racing is aliased. But aliased-only edges are SHARP. Sonic Racing's edges are jagged and blurry at the same time. There's plenty of aliased screenshots in this topic for you to compare.
The game has a motion blur option in the config tool though, so the blurriness could be related to that. If it was the same issue as Sonic 4 and the 2010 port of Sonic Adventure DX, there should be one resolution where the game looks sharper than the others.

Master Emerald · Post by **Master Emerald** » 22 May 2012, 23:37

Thanks a lot, Master Emerald! How exactly do you did it? Sonic and SEGA All-Star Racing have the same problem: http://i.imgur.com/8AWhp.jpg
I've tried to hack its resolution the same way with SADX 2004, you know, converting 640 and 480 to HEX, swapping ABCD I've got to CDAB, like Big Endian, and searching this HEX number into the EXE file, but I failed. May be you'll help me, with thery at least. Also, hi-res screenshots looks like there's no MIPMAP generation for partially transparent textures: http://s019.radikal.ru/i610/1205/68/f9d0691aefed.png Can you help us with it? And, may be, with proper Anti-Aliasing?

Jackfuste used floating point instead of Hex!

The image he sent me I sent to Ken:

crystallize · Post by **crystallize** » 23 May 2012, 11:51

[quote][quote][quote]Thanks a lot, Master Emerald! How exactly do you did it? Sonic and SEGA All-Star Racing have the same problem: http://i.imgur.com/8AWhp.jpg
I've tried to hack its resolution the same way with SADX 2004, you know, converting 640 and 480 to HEX, swapping ABCD I've got to CDAB, like Big Endian, and searching this HEX number into the EXE file, but I failed. May be you'll help me, with thery at least. Also, hi-res screenshots looks like there's no MIPMAP generation for partially transparent textures: http://s019.radikal.ru/i610/1205/68/f9d0691aefed.png Can you help us with it? And, may be, with proper Anti-Aliasing?

I don't think All Stars Racing has the same issue, it's just the game doesn't have anti-aliasing.
Yes, Sonic Racing is aliased. But aliased-only edges are SHARP. Sonic Racing's edges are jagged and blurry at the same time. There's plenty of aliased screenshots in this topic for you to compare.
The game has a motion blur option in the config tool though, so the blurriness could be related to that. If it was the same issue as Sonic 4 and the 2010 port of Sonic Adventure DX, there should be one resolution where the game looks sharper than the others.
Blurred edges appears even in menu. It affects logo, spinning car models, and chars riding their cars here and there.

crystallize · Post by **crystallize** » 23 May 2012, 12:01

Jackfuste used floating point instead of Hex!

The image he sent me I sent to Ken:

Oh, thanks again, finally something have become clear about it.
Storing resolution in floats? Isn't it weird? Resolution is integer values anyway. What's that debugger called? I'll try it on Sonic Racing when I'll have time.

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