[ISSUE]: Xenosaga Episode 1 doesn't play cutscene when I start a new game and weird black screen issue

[DorDur215]

Checks

• [X] I have checked existing OPL issues for duplicates and found none
• [X] I am using either OPL latest stable version, or archived version or OPL beta version

Describe the issue

Ok so I'm having trouble getting Xenosaga Episode 1 to work properly.

The game starts fine and I can get to the main menu no problem.

But when I start a new game it should play a cutscene but what happens instead is I get a black screen with only the radar in the bottom right.

That radar also shows my character moving when I tilt the analog stick.

I can also open and browse the menu/inventory.

I've tried a few different .iso files and a few different OPL versions and it's always the same issue.

Console model

SCPH-50004

OPL version / revision

OPL v1.0.0 / OPL v1.1.0 / OPL v1.2.0-Beta-1938-f36e568

In which device(s) have you experienced this issue?

HDD

Context and extra information

Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht [SLUS_204.69] http://redump.org/disc/365/

[BatRastard]

Hmmm, this is a dual layer game because of those cutscenes ... :\

Two questions: are you using a GameStar clone adapter, and what software did you use to install the dual layer ISO to the HDD?

[DorDur215]

I am using a Kaico HDD Adapter. I am using the latest version of HDL Batch Installer to install the ISO's to my HDD.

Could it maybe be my HDD since I've read that some might have compatibility issues.

I just grabbed an old 2tb HDD I had lying around and other games work fine with it.

[J013k]

For now I checked this game through SMB with OPL 1938 and I do not have any of these problems:

Although the game crashes in the 2nd FMV after: However this FMV can be skipped...

Long ago (when a support for DVD9 games was broken as BatRastard mentioned) these problems existed: https://www.psx-place.com/threads/open-ps2-loader-game-bug-reports.19401/page-47#post-247208.

Additionally from I remember support for dual layer games was fixed in: rev1553 - Use lseek64 instead of lseek (#309).

I also checked GoW II (SCES_542.06) through HDD and so far so good. I load a save game (~5 hr gameplay) without a problem.

[DorDur215]

Ok so I think I know what caused the problem.

It was HDL Batch Installer.

Specifically the version of HDL Dump that is included in the latest HDL Batch Installer release.

So what I did to fix the Xenosaga issue was the following:

1. Download latest HDL Batch Installer release.

2. Download the latest STABLE release of HDL Dump (HDL Dump/Dumb rev. 47 25/12/2015).

3. Delete HDL.exe in the extracted HDL Batch Installer folder.

4. Copy boot.elf / hdl_dump.exe / hdl_svr_093.elf from the extracted HDL Dump folder to the extracted HDL Batch Installer folder and rename hdl_dump.exe to HDL.exe.

5. Reinstall all my .ISO's with this combination of HDL Dump and HDL Batch Installer on a freshly PS2 formatted HDD.

Doing all of this fixed the issue and now I can finally play Xenosaga!

[AKuHAK]

it should be fixed in the latest beta of hdl-dump

@israpps @gdx-x I changed hdl-dump logic. Now you should select the original ISO file and just before installation, hdl-dump will check if in the same folder exists zso file with the same name and will install that zso file instead. I understand it is not the best solution, cause you need to keep both files on PC, compressed and uncompressed. Someone can call maxcso extraction if the ISO file does not exist - its up to you. Currently, there is no way to get the DVD-9 second layer from zso file, so you must use an iso.

[AKuHAK]

I'll reopen this issue, as this can be Feature Request: ignore incorrect HDL-header and retrieve information directly from iso.

[whitezombie2000]

For now I checked this game through SMB with OPL 1938 and I do not have any of these problems:

Although the game crashes in the 2nd FMV after: However this FMV can be skipped...

Long ago (when a support for DVD9 games was broken as BatRastard mentioned) these problems existed: https://www.psx-place.com/threads/open-ps2-loader-game-bug-reports.19401/page-47#post-247208.

Additionally from I remember support for dual layer games was fixed in: rev1553 - Use lseek64 instead of lseek (#309).

I also checked GoW II (SCES_542.06) through HDD and so far so good. I load a save game (~5 hr gameplay) without a problem.

I'm glad you reported and confirmed this. I opened an issue for this with SMB linked below. https://github.com/ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader/issues/645