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Final Fight 3 Optimized 1.1

Original game : Final Fight 3

Platform : SNES

Author : MaxwelOlinda

Release date : 04 June 2024

Category : Improvement

Patch version : 1.1

Modifications : O

Downloads : 2264

ROM Information

Database match: Final Fight 3 (USA)
Database: No-Intro: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (v. 20210222-050638)
File/ROM SHA-1: 09D542FBB06DCAFEC26602BDC626BCDAF56B23CB
File/ROM CRC32: A916E708

Hack description

This hack optimizes Final Fight 3 so that there are fewer slowdowns during the game.
Several optimizations have been made, none of which alter the original gameplay or are explicitly notable.
Some of the changes made are:
- The routine that pulls unused sprites off the screen has been completely replaced with a faster one.
- The game originally and unnecessarily updated all 256 colors every frame, now it has been divided into four steps.
- If there is excessive CPU load, CGRAM mirror updating is paused to prevent a lag frame.
- During an interruption routine, the game originally waited until it reached H-Blank. The horizontal starting point of the interrupts has been moved to avoid wait loops.
- The routine for storing the sequence of inputs has been optimized.
- Some loops that used RAM as a scratchpad now use DMA registers as a faster RAM alternative.
And a few more small things.

The top black border is 3 lines smaller now, showing background details that weren't visible before.

Version 1.1 Update:
- Many more optimizations have been made, including a new lag prevention system. If lag is about to occur, the game will give the CPU a little more time to finish before updating the next frame.
- Fixed a rare sprite glitch from the previous version.

Screenshots

Contributions

ContributorType of contributionDescription
MaxwelOlindaHackingHacking and ASM work

Reviews

Less slowdowns for a great SNES beat 'em upRHZ2024-03-24Version 1.0

It's awesome that Final Fight 3 could be optimised despite already being on FastROM. It's one of the best SNES beat 'em ups and it feels better with less slowdowns and more smooth gameplay. This hack also removes part of the black border, so more details from the background are visible.

It'd be great if other Capcom SNES games like Final Fight 2 (Japanese uncensored version), Marvel Super Heroes or Demon's Crest could benefit from this type of code optimisation for better gameplay. Thanks!