Tales of the Abyss: Difference between revisions

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{{infobox
{{infobox
|image            = TotAfrontbox.jpg
|image            = TotAfrontbox.jpg
|caption          = Tales of The Abyss NTSC Cover Art
|caption          =  
|developer        = [[Namco|Namco (Tales Studio)]]
|developer        = [[Namco]]
|publisher        = [[Namco|Namco Bandai]]
|publisher        = [[Namco]] (JP, AS), [[Bandai|Namco Bandai Games]] (US, JP)
|genre            = RPG
|genre            = RPG
|gameinfo          = Taking place in a fantasy world, the story focuses on Luke fon Fabre, a young swordsman whose pampered life turns upside down when he unwittingly becomes the target of a military-religious organization known as the Order of Lorelei, who believe him to be the key to an ancient prophecy. Together with his companions, Luke attempts to discover the truth and significance of his own birth, as well as unravel the mystery of The Score, the prophesy that has bound humanity's actions for thousands of years.
|wikipedia        = [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_the_Abyss Link]
|wikipedia        = [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_of_the_Abyss Link]
|reviewlinks      = [http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/tales-of-the-abyss Metacritic]
|reviewscore      = 78/100
|gamefaqslink      = [http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/929343-tales-of-the-abyss Link]
|gamefaqslink      = [http://www.gamefaqs.com/ps2/929343-tales-of-the-abyss Link]
|reviewlinks      = {{ReviewLink|[http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/tales-of-the-abyss Metacritic]|78/100}}
|gameinfo          = Tales of the Abyss follows the story of the young aristocrat, Luke fon Fabre. Kidnapped seven years ago, Luke returns to his family with no memories of his life before. In order to protect him, Luke's family keeps him confined to the quite lifestyle of the palace. Suddenly, Luke is thrust into the outside world and caught in the workings of the Order of Lorelei and the Oracle Knights who serve as keepers of the prophecy known as the Score. He knows nothing of those who might be his allies or those who are already his enemies. He must learn of the power of friendship and feel the pain of sacrifice. Luke's actions could save the world or destroy it.
<!-- General props -->
|numberofplayers  = 4
|multitap          = 1
|widescreenpatch  = 1
|na_rating        = T
|na_rating_text    = Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Simulated Gambling, Suggestive Themes
|japan_rating      = A
<!-- Language props -->
|japanese          = SCAJ-20163 & SLPS-25586 & SLPS-73252
|english          = SLUS-21386
<!-- NTSC-U props -->
<!-- NTSC-U props -->
|NTSCU            = 1
|NTSCU            = 1
|serialsNTSCU      = SLUS-21386
|serialsNTSCU      = SLUS-21386
|CRCsNTSCU        = 14FE77F7
|CRCsNTSCU        = 14FE77F7<br />045D77E9 <small>(Undub Patch)</small>
045D77E9 (Undub Patch)
|releasedateNTSCU  = October 10, 2006
|releasedateNTSCU  = October 10, 2006
|statusNTSCU      = 2
|statusNTSCU      = 2
|linuxstatusNTSCU  =
|linuxstatusNTSCU  =
|macstatusNTSCU    =
|macstatusNTSCU    =
<!-- PAL props -->
|PAL              = 0
|serialsPAL        =
|CRCsPAL          =
|releasedatePAL    =
|statusPAL        =
|linuxstatusPAL    =
|macstatusPAL      =
<!-- NTSC-J props -->
<!-- NTSC-J props -->
|NTSCJ            = 1
|NTSCJ            = 1
|serialsNTSCJ      = SLPS-25586<br />SCAJ-20163<br />SLPS-73252 <small>(PlayStation 2 the Best)</small>
|serialsNTSCJ      = SLPS-25586<br />SCAJ-20163<br />SLPS-73252 <small>(PlayStation 2 the Best)</small>
|CRCsNTSCJ        =
|CRCsNTSCJ        =
|releasedateNTSCJ  = December 15, 2005<br />June 28, 2007 <small>(PlayStation 2 the Best)</small>
|releasedateNTSCJ  = December 15, 2005<br />June 28, 2007 <small>(PlayStation 2 the Best)</small><br />2005 <small>(Asia)</small>
|statusNTSCJ      =
|statusNTSCJ      =
|linuxstatusNTSCJ  =
|linuxstatusNTSCJ  =
Line 43: Line 43:
|Region=NTSC-U
|Region=NTSC-U
|OS=?
|OS=?
|CPU=Core2Quad at 2200 mhz
|CPU=Intel Core2 Quad @ 2.20 GHz
|GPU=NVIDIA 8800 GT
|GPU=NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT @ 512 MB
|Revision=1888
|Revision=pre-0.9.7 Beta (r1888)
|Graphics=GSDX 1763
<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">
* Speed Hacks:
** EmotionEngine Sync Hacks: Use x1.5 Cycle Rate
** INTC Sync Hack
** IOP x2 Cycle Rate
** Idle Loop
</spoiler>
|Graphics=GSdx (r1763)
|Sound=
|Sound=
* SPU2-X 1.2.0
* SPU2-X 1.2.0
* Lilypad (r1388)0.10.0
* LilyPad 0.10.0 (r1388)
|Comments=x1.5, INTC Sync, IOP 2x, idle loop, FPS: 55 - 60 (capped). You may want to try using speed hacks, but all cycle modifying speedhacks (sync hacks) are likely to break the game such as loose music and crash in battles.  
|Comments=FPS: 55 - 60 (capped). You may want to try using speed hacks, but all cycle modifying speedhacks (sync hacks) are likely to break the game such as loose music and crash in battles.  
|Tester=KabooZ
|Tester=KabooZ
}}
}}
{{TestingEntry
{{TestingEntry
|Status=2
|Status=2
|Region=<center>NTSC-U</center>
|Region=NTSC-U
|OS=<center>Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (SP1)</center>
|OS=Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (SP1)
|CPU=
|CPU=
ASUS MAXIMUS VI HERO
Intel Core i5-4670K @ 3.40 GHz
*Intel Core i5-4670k @ 3.4 GHz
|GPU=AMD Radeon R9 280 @ 3 GB
|GPU=Radeon HD 7850
|Revision=1.5.0 (dev-2000 g92aa270)
*6GB DDR3-1333
<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">
|Revision=
* Speedhacks:
* 1.3.1-20 (GIT)
** EE Cyclerate: 0
<small style="font-size:10px;">
** VU Cycle Stealing: 0
*Speedhacks:
** mVU Flag Hack: Enabled
** EEC: 1 & VUCS: 0
** MTVU: Enabled
** mVU Flag: ON
</spoiler>
** MTVU: ON
|Graphics=GSdx 0.1.16 AVX2 (ToTA 05052015)
</small>
<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">
|Graphics=
* Renderer: Direct3D11 (Hardware)
* ToTA GSdx32 (03012015)-SSE4
* Internal Resolution: 4x Native
** D3D11 Hardware
* Texture Filtering: Bilinear (PS2)
** Resolution: 5x Native
* Anisotropic Filtering: 16x
** Enable FXAA: ON
* Hardware Hacks:
** FPS: 60/60
** ToA Ghost Fix
* Shader Configuration:
** FXAA: Enabled
** Shadeboost: Enabled
</spoiler>
|Sound=
|Sound=
* SPU2-X 1.3.1-20
* SPU2-X 2.0.0
** Module: XAudio2
* LilyPad 0.12.1
** Latency: 150ms
|Comments=BIOS: USA 2.30, Game still runs fine using the patched GSdx to fix the ghosting. Finished the game from start to finish on PCSX2.
** Sync Mode: TimeStretch
* LilyPad 0.11.0
|Comments=BIOS: USA 2.30, With the new GSdx patch for the ghosting glitch, this game is running perfectly now. With 5x scaling the game looks awesome and I no longer have ghosting issues.
|Tester=Ryudo
|Tester=Ryudo
}}
{{TestingEntry
|Status=2
|Region=NTSC-U
|OS=Windows 10 x64
|CPU=
Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.40 GHz
|GPU=Nvidia Geforce GTX 660 @ 2 GB
|Revision=1.5.0 (dev-2175 g420f11161)
<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">
* Speedhacks:
** EE Cyclerate: 0
** VU Cycle Stealing: 0
** mVU Flag Hack: Enabled
** MTVU: Enabled
</spoiler>
|Graphics=GSdx 0.1.16 AVX2 (ToTA 05052015)
<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">
* Renderer: Direct3D11 (Hardware)
* Internal Resolution: 4x Native
* Texture Filtering: Bilinear (PS2)
* Anisotropic Filtering: 16x
* Hardware Hacks:
** Alpha
** ToA Ghost Fix
* Shader Configuration:
** FXAA: Enabled
** Shadeboost: Enabled
</spoiler>
|Sound=
* SPU2-X 2.0.0
* LilyPad 0.12.1
|Comments=Added Alpha hardware hack to fix issues with yellow squares around shadows in some areas
|Tester=Soichiro
}}
{{TestingEntry
|Status=2
|Region=NTSC-U
|OS=Windows 10 Pro x64
|CPU=
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
|GPU=Nvidia Geforce GTX 1080 @ 8 GB
|Revision=1.6.0-20200506140834 (07-05-2020)
<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">
* Speedhacks:
** INTC sping detection
** Wait loop detection
** mVU Flag hack
** MTVU
</spoiler>
|Graphics=GSdx 0.1.16 AVX2 (ToTA 05052015)
<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">
* Renderer: OpenGL(Hardware)
* Large Framebuffer
* Internal Resolution: (12x) 6144x5376
* Texture Filtering: Bilinear (PS2)
* Anisotropic filtering 16x
* Mipmapping (Ins) Full (slow)
* CRC Hack level Aggressive
* DATE Accuracy Full (slow)
* Blending accuracy high
* Hardware Hacks:
** Preload Frame Data
** Trillinear Filtering: Ultra/slow
** Align Sprite
** Merge Sprite
** Half pixel offset: Special (texture)
** Round sprite: full
* Shader Configuration:
** Texture Filtering of Display: disabled
** FXAA: Enabled
</spoiler>
|Sound=
* SPU2-X 2.0.0
* LilyPad 0.12.1
|Comments= game 100ish %ed , 1 game breaking issue as noted below
|Tester=aRciii
}}
}}
{{TestingFooter}}
{{TestingFooter}}


<!--
<!--
Line 106: Line 192:


== Trivia ==
== Trivia ==
* To make use of 3 and 4 player support you have to enable Multitap for Port 2 under LilyPad's options.
* Original names: '''テイルズ オブ ジ アビス''' (SLPS-25586) & (SLPS-73252)
:The controls will then be as follows: <b>1</b> = Player 1, <b>2A</b> = Player 2, <b>2B</b> = Player 3, <b>2C</b> = Player 4.
 
* If the game fails to load any area, effectively trapping you in maybe one or two areas that you can access, it's due to a patching error in the ISO. This can be the case with the undub version if the patch is not applied correctly, or if the ISO was already ripped incorrectly from the original disc.


== Some settings information ==
==== Which hardware renderer to use? ====
* Direct3D 11
** Faster (uses less GPU) of the two
** Simpler to operate (less options to mess with)
* OpenGL
** Seems to be more stable/accurate (less frame drops / stutter)
** More options to help defer GPU resources if Vram is limited
==== Options that have the largest impact on visual quality ====
* Resolution - If you can spare the GPU horsepower putting the resolution to 2x or 4x native is the best option to improve visuals of TotA
* Half-Pixel offset - The blending/mixing of the native picture can stand to be improved by enabling either of the listed half-pixel offset settings
** Normal (Vertex) - The more accurate of the two methods as the crystal grid artifacts don't appear, but has a pixel wide flashing bar on the left and top sides (can help be mitigated by increasing the resolution and thus decreasing the size of the flashing when down-sampled to the screen)
** Special (Texture) - Fixes the mixing/blending without the flashing bars, but crystal grids can occur (only observable at title screen so far)
* FXAA - When using resolution settings under 2x-4x, this shader option helps sharpen the game, but for anything higher it is unnecessary
* Shade Boost - Enabling this feature allows the tweaking of brightness, contrast, and color saturation (these settings should be calibrated into your monitor first, BUT if the emulator/game is displaying odd enough from other applications/games then try tweaking with this option)
==== Other graphical notes ====
* Vsync - Standard and Adaptive didn't seem to improve stuttering/frame-drops and in two reproducible instances would cause it
* The various tick-box rendering hacks - None seemed to help GPU usage or stability in anyway and would sometimes cause a pixel wide streak from top left to bottom right of the screen 
* Lines Reappearing - Switching between the  half pixel offset:: (normal (vertex))and  half pixel offset:: (special (texture)) should remedy the issues. (I think only one time it wouldn't work - aRciii)
== Known Issues ==
== Known Issues ==
{{Issue
{{Issue
Line 117: Line 220:
|IssueLevel=0
|IssueLevel=0
|Description=If you set a resolution that's higher than the game's native resolution, a "ghost" effect will occur.
|Description=If you set a resolution that's higher than the game's native resolution, a "ghost" effect will occur.
|Workaround=<br/>
|Workaround=A patched GSdx has been made available to fix this issue. After you set this version of GSdx as your active plugin, you have to tick "Enable HW Hacks" under GSdx options, and then enable the "ToA Ghost Fix" hack. Use Native Scaling (x2, x3, etc.) or higher. Don't use custom resolutions or the patch will not work. You can find the patched GSdx [http://forums.pcsx2.net/Thread-tota-s-ghosting?pid=444255#pid444255 here]. (Latest GSdx version of the patch was compiled on May 05, 2015 and is currently available for SSE2, SSSE3, SSE4, and AVX2. Other versions or newer versions in the future can be requested.)
:: A patched GSdx has been made available to fix this issue. After you set this version of GSdx as your active plugin, you have to tick "Enable HW Hacks" under GSdx options, and then enable the "ToA Ghost Fix" hack. Use Native Scaling (x2, x3, etc.) or higher. Don't use custom resolutions or the patch will not work. You can find the patched GSdx [http://forums.pcsx2.net/Thread-tota-s-ghosting?pid=444255#pid444255 here]. (Latest GSdx version of the patch was compiled on May 05, 2015 and is currently available for SSE2, SSSE3, SSE4, and AVX2. Other versions or newer versions in the future can be requested.)
* '''Note:''' The patch causes a 1px border on the left and top side of the screen. This is caused by the offset hack and can't be avoided unfortunately. Compared to the ghosting though it's a very minor issue and still makes it worth using.
* '''Workaround Update:''' Old workaround saved for postatirty and clarity, but new link for the files is contained within the thread: [https://www.reddit.com/r/PCSX2/comments/9vau9o/tales_of_the_abyss_upscaling_ghosting_fix/ here], however if you read the comments the ghosting issue should be fixed in developments >1.5.0, but if you still have ghosting then you can manually force the said fix without the files using the graphics plugin setting > advanced settings and hacks > half pixel offset:: (normal (vertex)) and setting the internal resolution to anything not native (it is not recommended to use custom resolutions) as thats what causes the ghosting :P.
}}
 
{{Issue
|IssueName=Vertical and horizontal lines.
|IsFixed=0
|IssueLevel=0
|Description= When upscaling you could see black lines forming in rectangle form.
|Workaround= Go into Config > GSdx > Plugin Settings > Set mipmapping to Full and Enable HW Hacks > Trilinear Filtering > Trilinear.
}}
 
{{Issue
|IssueName= Teleporter miscalculation causing a soft lock
|IsFixed=0
|IssueLevel=1
|Description= When presented with 5 concurrent Teleporters, the back right (white?) one will teleport you, but put you in the floor and you cant get out of it casueing a soft lock till you reload your save
|Workaround= None. save frequently (as you should)
}}
}}
:: '''Minor note:''' The patch causes a 1px border on the left and top side of the screen. This is caused by the offset hack and can't be avoided unfortunately. Compared to the ghosting though it's a very minor issue and still makes it worth using.


== Screenshots ==
== Gameplay Screenshots ==
<gallery widths="175px" heights="100px">
<spoiler show="Show images" hide="Hide images">
<gallery widths="350px" heights="200px">
ToA Gameplay - Ghosting Fixed 001.jpg|<center><small>1. Ghosting fixed with the patched GSdx - Sheridan</small></center>
ToA Gameplay - Ghosting Fixed 001.jpg|<center><small>1. Ghosting fixed with the patched GSdx - Sheridan</small></center>
ToA Gameplay - Ghosting Fixed 002.jpg|<center><small>2. Ghosting fixed with the patched GSdx - Battle Screen</small></center>
ToA Gameplay - Ghosting Fixed 002.jpg|<center><small>2. Ghosting fixed with the patched GSdx - Battle Screen</small></center>
Line 133: Line 253:
Tales_of_the_Abyss_Forum_1.jpg
Tales_of_the_Abyss_Forum_1.jpg
Tales_of_the_Abyss_Forum_2.jpg
Tales_of_the_Abyss_Forum_2.jpg
File:Without half pixel offset .png|<center><small>Standard way the emulator will show the game (without half pixel offset)</small></center>
File:With half pixel offset.png|<center><small>This is with the half pixel offset set to: special (texture). Looking much sharper</small></center>
File:Weird lines.png|<center><small>With the half pixel offset set to: special (texture) the [ghosting] is fixed but instances where lines can appear now, however this seems to be the only case so far</small></center>
File:Resolutions multiples.png|<center><small>Resolution table for custom multiples of native for TotA (can differ from game to game and even scene to scene in the same game (however TotA seems to be fixed for the whole game))</small></center>
File:SpeedHack settings.PNG|<center><small>(aRciii)my current speedhack settings **note** you can unlock the settings by unchecking presets</small></center>
File:GS window settings.PNG|<center><small>(aRciii)my current Gs window settings</small></center>
File:Graphics settings.PNG|<center><small>(aRciii)my current graphics settings</small></center>
File:Advanced settings and hacks.PNG|<center><small>(aRciii)my current advanced settings</small></center>
File:Shader config.PNG|<center><small>(aRciii)my current shader settings</small></center>
</gallery>
</gallery>
</spoiler>


{{Tales series}}
{{Tales series}}

Revision as of 13:26, 28 July 2021

Tales of the Abyss

Game general and emulation properties:
CERO rating: A
ESRB rating: T (Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Simulated Gambling, Suggestive Themes)
Game supports multi-tap
Widescreen patch available
Supports up to four local players
Languages supported:
English: SLUS-21386
Japanese: SCAJ-20163 & SLPS-25586 & SLPS-73252
Region NTSC-U:
Serial numbers: SLUS-21386
Release date: October 10, 2006
CRCs: 14FE77F7
045D77E9 (Undub Patch)
Windows Status: Playable
Linux Status: ?
Mac Status: ?
Region NTSC-J/C/K:
Serial numbers: SLPS-25586
SCAJ-20163
SLPS-73252 (PlayStation 2 the Best)
Release date: December 15, 2005
June 28, 2007 (PlayStation 2 the Best)
2005 (Asia)
Windows Status: ?
Linux Status: ?
Mac Status: ?

Developer(s): Namco
Publisher(s): Namco (JP, AS), Namco Bandai Games (US, JP)
Genre: RPG
Wikipedia: Link
Game review links: Metacritic78/100
Game description: Tales of the Abyss follows the story of the young aristocrat, Luke fon Fabre. Kidnapped seven years ago, Luke returns to his family with no memories of his life before. In order to protect him, Luke's family keeps him confined to the quite lifestyle of the palace. Suddenly, Luke is thrust into the outside world and caught in the workings of the Order of Lorelei and the Oracle Knights who serve as keepers of the prophecy known as the Score. He knows nothing of those who might be his allies or those who are already his enemies. He must learn of the power of friendship and feel the pain of sacrifice. Luke's actions could save the world or destroy it.


Test configurations on Windows:


Environment Configurations Comments Tester
Region OS CPU/GPU Revision Graphics Sound/Pad
NTSC-U ?
  • Intel Core2 Quad @ 2.20 GHz
  • NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT @ 512 MB
pre-0.9.7 Beta (r1888)

<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">

  • Speed Hacks:
    • EmotionEngine Sync Hacks: Use x1.5 Cycle Rate
    • INTC Sync Hack
    • IOP x2 Cycle Rate
    • Idle Loop

</spoiler>

GSdx (r1763)
  • SPU2-X 1.2.0
  • LilyPad 0.10.0 (r1388)
FPS: 55 - 60 (capped). You may want to try using speed hacks, but all cycle modifying speedhacks (sync hacks) are likely to break the game such as loose music and crash in battles. KabooZ
NTSC-U Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (SP1)
  • Intel Core i5-4670K @ 3.40 GHz
  • AMD Radeon R9 280 @ 3 GB
1.5.0 (dev-2000 g92aa270)

<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">

  • Speedhacks:
    • EE Cyclerate: 0
    • VU Cycle Stealing: 0
    • mVU Flag Hack: Enabled
    • MTVU: Enabled

</spoiler>

GSdx 0.1.16 AVX2 (ToTA 05052015)

<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">

  • Renderer: Direct3D11 (Hardware)
  • Internal Resolution: 4x Native
  • Texture Filtering: Bilinear (PS2)
  • Anisotropic Filtering: 16x
  • Hardware Hacks:
    • ToA Ghost Fix
  • Shader Configuration:
    • FXAA: Enabled
    • Shadeboost: Enabled

</spoiler>

  • SPU2-X 2.0.0
  • LilyPad 0.12.1
BIOS: USA 2.30, Game still runs fine using the patched GSdx to fix the ghosting. Finished the game from start to finish on PCSX2. Ryudo
NTSC-U Windows 10 x64
  • Intel Core i7-4770K @ 3.40 GHz
  • Nvidia Geforce GTX 660 @ 2 GB
1.5.0 (dev-2175 g420f11161)

<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">

  • Speedhacks:
    • EE Cyclerate: 0
    • VU Cycle Stealing: 0
    • mVU Flag Hack: Enabled
    • MTVU: Enabled

</spoiler>

GSdx 0.1.16 AVX2 (ToTA 05052015)

<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">

  • Renderer: Direct3D11 (Hardware)
  • Internal Resolution: 4x Native
  • Texture Filtering: Bilinear (PS2)
  • Anisotropic Filtering: 16x
  • Hardware Hacks:
    • Alpha
    • ToA Ghost Fix
  • Shader Configuration:
    • FXAA: Enabled
    • Shadeboost: Enabled

</spoiler>

  • SPU2-X 2.0.0
  • LilyPad 0.12.1
Added Alpha hardware hack to fix issues with yellow squares around shadows in some areas Soichiro
NTSC-U Windows 10 Pro x64
  • AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
  • Nvidia Geforce GTX 1080 @ 8 GB
1.6.0-20200506140834 (07-05-2020)

<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">

  • Speedhacks:
    • INTC sping detection
    • Wait loop detection
    • mVU Flag hack
    • MTVU

</spoiler>

GSdx 0.1.16 AVX2 (ToTA 05052015)

<spoiler show="Settings" hide="Hide">

  • Renderer: OpenGL(Hardware)
  • Large Framebuffer
  • Internal Resolution: (12x) 6144x5376
  • Texture Filtering: Bilinear (PS2)
  • Anisotropic filtering 16x
  • Mipmapping (Ins) Full (slow)
  • CRC Hack level Aggressive
  • DATE Accuracy Full (slow)
  • Blending accuracy high
  • Hardware Hacks:
    • Preload Frame Data
    • Trillinear Filtering: Ultra/slow
    • Align Sprite
    • Merge Sprite
    • Half pixel offset: Special (texture)
    • Round sprite: full
  • Shader Configuration:
    • Texture Filtering of Display: disabled
    • FXAA: Enabled

</spoiler>

  • SPU2-X 2.0.0
  • LilyPad 0.12.1
game 100ish %ed , 1 game breaking issue as noted below aRciii



Trivia

  • Original names: テイルズ オブ ジ アビス (SLPS-25586) & (SLPS-73252)

Some settings information

Which hardware renderer to use?

  • Direct3D 11
    • Faster (uses less GPU) of the two
    • Simpler to operate (less options to mess with)
  • OpenGL
    • Seems to be more stable/accurate (less frame drops / stutter)
    • More options to help defer GPU resources if Vram is limited

Options that have the largest impact on visual quality

  • Resolution - If you can spare the GPU horsepower putting the resolution to 2x or 4x native is the best option to improve visuals of TotA
  • Half-Pixel offset - The blending/mixing of the native picture can stand to be improved by enabling either of the listed half-pixel offset settings
    • Normal (Vertex) - The more accurate of the two methods as the crystal grid artifacts don't appear, but has a pixel wide flashing bar on the left and top sides (can help be mitigated by increasing the resolution and thus decreasing the size of the flashing when down-sampled to the screen)
    • Special (Texture) - Fixes the mixing/blending without the flashing bars, but crystal grids can occur (only observable at title screen so far)
  • FXAA - When using resolution settings under 2x-4x, this shader option helps sharpen the game, but for anything higher it is unnecessary
  • Shade Boost - Enabling this feature allows the tweaking of brightness, contrast, and color saturation (these settings should be calibrated into your monitor first, BUT if the emulator/game is displaying odd enough from other applications/games then try tweaking with this option)

Other graphical notes

  • Vsync - Standard and Adaptive didn't seem to improve stuttering/frame-drops and in two reproducible instances would cause it
  • The various tick-box rendering hacks - None seemed to help GPU usage or stability in anyway and would sometimes cause a pixel wide streak from top left to bottom right of the screen
  • Lines Reappearing - Switching between the half pixel offset:: (normal (vertex))and half pixel offset:: (special (texture)) should remedy the issues. (I think only one time it wouldn't work - aRciii)

Known Issues

Ghosting at non-native resolutions.

  • Status: Active
  • Type: Minor
  • Description: If you set a resolution that's higher than the game's native resolution, a "ghost" effect will occur.
  • Workaround: A patched GSdx has been made available to fix this issue. After you set this version of GSdx as your active plugin, you have to tick "Enable HW Hacks" under GSdx options, and then enable the "ToA Ghost Fix" hack. Use Native Scaling (x2, x3, etc.) or higher. Don't use custom resolutions or the patch will not work. You can find the patched GSdx here. (Latest GSdx version of the patch was compiled on May 05, 2015 and is currently available for SSE2, SSSE3, SSE4, and AVX2. Other versions or newer versions in the future can be requested.)
  • Note: The patch causes a 1px border on the left and top side of the screen. This is caused by the offset hack and can't be avoided unfortunately. Compared to the ghosting though it's a very minor issue and still makes it worth using.
  • Workaround Update: Old workaround saved for postatirty and clarity, but new link for the files is contained within the thread: here, however if you read the comments the ghosting issue should be fixed in developments >1.5.0, but if you still have ghosting then you can manually force the said fix without the files using the graphics plugin setting > advanced settings and hacks > half pixel offset:: (normal (vertex)) and setting the internal resolution to anything not native (it is not recommended to use custom resolutions) as thats what causes the ghosting :P.

Vertical and horizontal lines.

  • Status: Active
  • Type: Minor
  • Description: When upscaling you could see black lines forming in rectangle form.
  • Workaround: Go into Config > GSdx > Plugin Settings > Set mipmapping to Full and Enable HW Hacks > Trilinear Filtering > Trilinear.

Teleporter miscalculation causing a soft lock

  • Status: Active
  • Type: Serious
  • Description: When presented with 5 concurrent Teleporters, the back right (white?) one will teleport you, but put you in the floor and you cant get out of it casueing a soft lock till you reload your save
  • Workaround: None. save frequently (as you should)

Gameplay Screenshots

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Public compatibility forum links