Ancient Aliens: New Nin. 3DS now offers the best SNES emulation on any handheld

Thanks for this thread Rich. I got this up and running with retroarch on my n3ds. I've only tried Super Mario World, but it runs perfectly.

Can anyone recommend me some good video settings for CatSFC.

Also what is the difference between CatSFC and the Plus version?
 
/subscribed.

Will try this later with my N3DS when I am back home from work. Thanks for the Info, sounds amazing!

But from a :"never done this before" perspective. How high is the chance that I am going to brick my N3DS?

Impossible. It doesn't have access to do that.
 
Not to be rude or anything because Rich is doing an excellent job of answering as many questions as he can but at this point I would suggest a FAQ in the OP.
 
/subscribed.

Will try this later with my N3DS when I am back home from work. Thanks for the Info, sounds amazing!

But from a :"never done this before" perspective. How high is the chance that I am going to brick my N3DS?

I found out the hard way that you can screw up and make it _seem_ like you've bricked it, but if that happens, all you have to do is remove the SD card, start it up, reinsert the card, delete the Youtube app, redownload it, and start the process anew.
 
(N3DS here) ok so I tried the latest nightlies as .cia (need to be fw 9.2 or under) this time to see if there was any speed improvement over .3dsx, well not that I can tell really :
Sonic3 is still full speed.

Yoshi's Island on snes is 45-60 fps (more like around 50-55 most of the time)
Star fox is like 25-30
"normal" games are full speed though. (Chrono Trigger/Super Metroid)

Super Puzzle Fighter 2X on cps2 was fullspeed too^^ (wanna try progear now :D)

Parasite Eve on PCSX ReARMed : 45-50fps (managed to load a 2 year old RetroArch android savestate (7hours in), nice!)

by the way Circle Pad Pro is definitely working as left-right on Jugement Silverword on Wonderswan was mapped on RZ - LZ by befault. (and the R-stick works when mapping)
(you can use analog circle and R-thumb as 2nd Dpad : settings>input>analog to digital (up and down are reversed and need to be re-bound (+-1(left analog) and +-3 (C Stick) in input user binds))
something is still wonky with Left analog 100% down, as it goes up :\

Rich : can you help me with rotation ?
I tried to set it to 90 or 270 and get a mirror effect.. (180 is fine though, but not really what I'm looking for here lol)
 
Wow this is awesome! Question though, is there anyway to get a SuperCRT shader like you can get on SuperRetro16 on Android?

e9W6M33.jpg
 
I have a n3ds on older firmware. The one that supported tubhax. I have not done any hack yet. How will I got about installing retroarch? A tutorial will be appreciated,
 
please state your fw ver :) (pretty much every fw support ythax, but my gues is you are on 9.9) (if you are on 9.3 or above might as we update you n3ds to 10.1)

http://smealum.github.io/3ds/ (click on youtube and follow the instructions)

just put retroarch core on your SD Card in /3ds/, run the homebrew menu via youtubehax.

(or for ease of use, install homemenuhax via youtubehax, then run the homebrew menu by turning your n3ds on and holding L)

MagnetoWned> I didn't see the shader option on the 3DS port yet. (that being said the resolution being a lot lower than most android device kinda makes it tough)
 
Anyone having trouble with SNES games not behaving properly after loading a save state? I'm playing Final Fantasy 6 and whenever I restore a state, the next encounter fails to load in. Like if I'm on a map, the state will load, but when I encounter an enemy, the screen just stays black instead of loading in the battle.

Other games like Super Castlevania IV just run extra slowly after restoring a state.

I'm on the 9/29 nightly but this issue was present back to 9/26 or so. 9/29 rules by the way, you can turn the bottom screen off with a tap!
 
Anyone having trouble with SNES games not behaving properly after loading a save state? I'm playing Final Fantasy 6 and whenever I restore a state, the next encounter fails to load in. Like if I'm on a map, the state will load, but when I encounter an enemy, the screen just stays black instead of loading in the battle.

Other games like Super Castlevania IV just run extra slowly after restoring a state.

I'm on the 9/29 nightly but this issue was present back to 9/26 or so. 9/29 rules by the way, you can turn the bottom screen off with a tap!

I've had similar experiences. I think the save state functionality isn't rock solid yet. I remember reading about ePSXe save states, years ago, that it's recommended you save states from a screen with not much going on (something like the menu screen where you access items, equipment, etc. for instance). Then afterwards, you load state while on that screen.
Ex.
1. Save state on menu screen right before a boss
2. Lose fight
3. Reload from save point, open menu screen then load state

I don't know if this helps any in practice, though.
 
Wow this is awesome! Question though, is there anyway to get a SuperCRT shader like you can get on SuperRetro16 on Android?

Honestly, set the screen to 8:7 with integer on and you don't need it. you don't get the bulge but you get nice pixel perfect images without blur.
 
I'm completely lost. Installed themehax, but that retroarch doesn't seem install friendly to me. :( Added a bunch of files on my SD card, but doesn't seem to do anything. :( How do you install and run it on the N3DS?
 
I'm completely lost. Installed themehax, but that retroarch doesn't seem install friendly to me. :( Added a bunch of files on my SD card, but doesn't seem to do anything. :( How do you install and run it on the N3DS?

you literally copy and paste the 3DS folder onto the root of your SD. thats all you need to do. the emulators then appear in the homebrew launcher.

The newest retroarch builds (nightly updates) are here: http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/nintendo/3ds/

unzip them with 7zip.
 
I'm completely lost. Installed themehax, but that retroarch doesn't seem install friendly to me. :( Added a bunch of files on my SD card, but doesn't seem to do anything. :( How do you install and run it on the N3DS?

If you've installed themehax, then you've been to the homebrew launcher. If your retroarch cores are extracted in the 3ds folder, the emulator cores should appear on your homebrew menu.

Edit: Beaten by Rich of course.

So how many of these other emulators work like a charm on N3DS? Going to add some CPS2 but does the Genesis/PCEngine resolution fit the 3DS screen 1:1?
 
If you've installed themehax, then you've been to the homebrew launcher. If your retroarch cores are extracted in the 3ds folder, the emulator cores should appear on your homebrew menu.

Edit: Beaten by Rich of course.

So how many of these other emulators work like a charm on N3DS? Going to add some CPS2 but does the Genesis/PCEngine resolution fit the 3DS screen 1:1?

get ready to get your mind blown by my next video (full speed gba emulation)

uh, as soon as it uploads that is
 
you literally copy and paste the 3DS folder onto the root of your SD. thats all you need to do. the emulators then appear in the homebrew launcher.

The newest retroarch builds (nightly updates) are here: http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/nintendo/3ds/

unzip them with 7zip.

If you've installed themehax, then you've been to the homebrew launcher. If your retroarch cores are extracted in the 3ds folder, the emulator cores should appear on your homebrew menu.

Edit: Beaten by Rich of course.

So how many of these other emulators work like a charm on N3DS? Going to add some CPS2 but does the Genesis/PCEngine resolution fit the 3DS screen 1:1?



Yes, done. Thank you for your patience. I didn't copy the build directly on the root, but just in one of the folders, that's why they didn't show up, silly me.
 
Got MCD working great in GPGX, renaming the bios worked! Played through the first level of Keio and it was flawless outside some voice echo on the cutscenes.

Now I've got everything going except NeoGeo in FBA, which seems to crash no matter what bios package I stick in there. :/
 
So is this the wrong thread to request instructions?

Nah, I'll update the OP.

I really didn't want the thread treading on the toes of the general 3DS homebrew thread, but that's a monster of a thread and this is more emulator-centric (like my retroarch OT)

edit: hm. the instructions are already in the OP. Just follow the links.
 
Nah, I'll update the OP.

I really didn't want the thread treading on the toes of the general 3DS homebrew thread, but that's a monster of a thread and this is more emulator-centric (like my retroarch OT)

edit: hm. the instructions are already in the OP. Just follow the links.

The instructions in the OP are incomplete. I did all that and don't even see any emulators except a GBA emulator, then I can't even get that to run.
 
The instructions in the OP are incomplete. I did all that and don't even see any emulators except a GBA emulator, then I can't even get that to run.

what? I have absolutely no idea where you got that from. The OP contains a link to the retroarch nightlies. These contain all the emulator cores.

untitledhxrut.png


Anyhow. All you need for this is smealum's Homebrew Launcher (youtube app will do fine to launch it) and the newest retroarch nightlies.

See? Download the newest nightly (todays is the 29th, of course), extract with *.7zip or similar. Copy the 3DS folder into the root of your SD. Done. Bear in mind the GBA gpsp core requires a GBA bios file (gba_bios.bin) to run. That goes into SD:/retroarch/cores/system
 
what? I have absolutely no idea where you got that from. The OP contains a link to the retroarch nightlies. These contain all the emulator cores.

untitledhxrut.png




See? Download the newest nightly (todays is the 29th, of course), extract with *.7zip or similar. Copy the 3DS folder into the root of your SD. Done. Bear in mind the GBA gpsp core requires a GBA bios file (gba_bios.bin) to run. That goes into SD:/retroarch/cores/system

Thank you! This is what should be added to the OP
 
(barring the nvidia shield and android devices of course)

For those unaware, Retroarch was recently ported to the 3DS. So far, the cores available range from SNES, GBA, GB, CPS1/CPS2/NeoGeo, NES, Mega Drive and more - but the single most impressive element is the SNES emulation via CatSFC (Snes9x).

Up to now the best benchmark for SNES emulation on a handheld was the PSP -. In two weeks however, the N3DS port of Retroarch has absolutely blown it out of the water.

On a N3DS (OG3DS is slower unfortunately), almost every single game on the SNES is 60fps with sound, special chips supported (SFX2 and SA-1 are a bit slow right now). It's simply the best experience of SNES on the go I've encountered via homebrew. It's absolutely fantastic. I've so far completed DKC2, DKC3, SMW, Link to the Past, most of Super Mario Kart and Pilotwings and there have been absolutely no issues apart from minor slowdown on the snow level in world 1 of DKC3.

But either way, pictures speak louder than words so here is a video I took. Make sure you watch it using the 60fps Youtube option:

https://youtu.be/U2vmzqte12k

It really does pose the question of why exactly Nintendo have left the Virtual Console to go to waste - it's clear that SNES runs fine on the N3DS, so why haven't they offered it? It's easy fucking money.

Anyhow. All you need for this is smealum's Homebrew Launcher (youtube app will do fine to launch it) and the newest retroarch nightlies.

ps: mega drive is at the same level too, via genesis plus gx.

Thank you! This is what should be added to the OP

heh, will do.
 
I think this needs arguing against now. Useless?

https://youtu.be/7EGvqYPKc-U

Nah. Retroarch gpsp now runs full speed on every GBA game I own. Proof in the video above.

Other games I have tried which are a locked 60fps with sound on this:

- Mario Kart Super Circuit
- Kirby
- Yoshis Island (majority of gameplay)
- Mario Advance 1 and 2
- F Zero
- Wario Land 4
Can you tell me if you did something special while setting this up, cause on my end Wario Land 4 drops to 50fps during most 'Hurry Up!' portions of the game and MKSC has a bad case of hickups during races breaking the 60fps pretty regularly. I'm not sure if you were exaggerating by calling it locked 60fps or you just meant most of the time.

Minish Cap and F-Zero do run well constantly on my end. All the games I tried that aren't on your list ran very subpar so far, making gba emulation pretty meh so far for me.
 
heh, will do.

Not to be contentious but the only instruction in your OP is this:

Anyhow. All you need for this is smealum's Homebrew Launcher (youtube app will do fine to launch it) and the newest retroarch nightlies.

I followed the very clear instructions in the first link and got the homebrew launcher working.

I then clicked your second link, saw a list of files and was stuck.

I'm not the only one who asked for clarity here. I hope you don't honestly believe you were very clear...

Anyway thank you for finally helping
 
Another video, this time GBA emulation.

https://youtu.be/wbJ2gc_Yx6E

Using the 29th September nightly build.

Games shown:

1. Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
2. Mario Kart Super Circuit
3. Metroid Zero Mission
4. Wario Land 4
5. Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland
6. Zelda: Minish Cap
7. F Zero: Maximum Velocity
 
It has one. Three in fact.

Unless you mean one suited for keyboard and mouse, because that isn't what it's built for.

Correct! I understand that is was originally a mobile app, but as it is I don't use retro arch for anything because it's such a pain in the rear on PC.
 
Correct! I understand that is was originally a mobile app, but as it is I don't use retro arch for anything because it's such a pain in the rear on PC.

? That isn't the case. Retroarch was developed for PC and then mobile devices much later.

It's designed to be navigated purely with a controller, not keyboard and mouse.
 
? That isn't the case. Retroarch was developed for PC and then mobile devices much later.

It's designed to be navigated purely with a controller, not keyboard and mouse.

Yup. I couldn't stand Retroarch until I got a wireless 360 pad and suddenly everything worked like intended. Now I swear by it.
 
Another video, this time GBA emulation.

https://youtu.be/wbJ2gc_Yx6E

Using the 29th September nightly build.

Games shown:

1. Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
2. Mario Kart Super Circuit
3. Metroid Zero Mission
4. Wario Land 4
5. Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland
6. Zelda: Minish Cap
7. F Zero: Maximum Velocity

Woah my mind broke at the thought of how many games I'd have to play now on the N3DS. Anyways, I did hear some audio crackling. Does this issue ever go away with further work on Retroarch?
 
Woah my mind broke at the thought of how many games I'd have to play now on the N3DS. Anyways, I did hear some audio crackling. Does this issue ever go away with further work on Retroarch?

I noticed the same thing, but tbh, I had experienced similar thing emulating on android and I think even pc.
 
Another video, this time GBA emulation.

https://youtu.be/wbJ2gc_Yx6E

Using the 29th September nightly build.

Games shown:

1. Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
2. Mario Kart Super Circuit
3. Metroid Zero Mission
4. Wario Land 4
5. Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland
6. Zelda: Minish Cap
7. F Zero: Maximum Velocity

I've watched this 3 times waiting for my wife to give me back my 3ds...curse you Happy Home Designer...
 
I'm using Catsfc and I'm trying to play super Mario all-stars. I can go through the opening menu, select the mario I want to play, and even select how many players, but after that it doesn't register any of my button presses. Is there a setting I need to mess with?
 
I figured out that the cause of my problems is that Retroarch doesn't seem to like my games being zipped -- unless I don't understand how to handle this properly. Also, it doesn't seem to like smc files.
 
The 9/30 nightly adds support for the zL and zR buttons! I bound them to fast forward for the NES emulator and it works. Not yet for CatSFC, but it's super cool to see the little things get added day by day.
 
? That isn't the case. Retroarch was developed for PC and then mobile devices much later.

It's designed to be navigated purely with a controller, not keyboard and mouse.

Eck, that's even worse, because I find that the control scheme is terrible with the controller. I was forced to use the controller, naturally, and the whole thing was slow, awkward, and unintuitive.
 
(tried Marvel vs Capcom and Progear no arashi, both run at fullspeed, guess it's safe to say CPS2 stuff runs like that all across the board. wish they'd port more of the Final Burn Alpha system like CPS3, PGM, Cave gen1, etc well, all of them (CPS3 was too demending for PSP though, which could run CPS2/NeoGeo fine))

something you should add to the OP :

- make sure you have a correct gba bios (and state the md5 of gba_bios.bin)
- if you get a blackscreen test your bios and roms on Retroarch on another platform (windows/android for example)

because you will get horrible performance from a faulty one.

- might wanna add this https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/commits/ to follow changes (is it possible to filter to see only 3DS related stuff?

- also those a nighlies with verbose debug on by default...for you to read them ? missing a file ? well the bottom screen tells you where it's expecting it for example.

sörine>haven't tried NeoGeo yet myself... are you sure you're running the right fba version of the dumps?
 
It works! I am so going to replay chrono Trigger now!

But one simple question, for the YT Methode. Do I need an internet connection just once to start it up or all the time?
 
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