Current issues with the port and Steam changes (Q&A)

[GillianMC]

Q: What are the current issues of the port in general?

*Issues that are in Italic are fixed by Re:Freshed.

Issues that affect everyone:

• High framerates (>60 FPS) are still unstable, even though the game does support them just fine - the game is just way more prone to crashing, so it should be fixable.
  
• Even if you play at high framerates, the game will randomly decide to lock you to 60 FPS which is jarring (whenever the Destiny Islands waterfall or KH2 sun is seen, for example).
  
• In-game cutscenes are still 30 FPS even though they support 60 FPS just fine without any extra work.
  
• FMV's are also locked to 30 FPS display which causes audio-video desync. They can be unlocked to 60 FPS with no issues which fixes the problem, too.
  
• Bad-quality AI upscaled textures[x.com]
  
• Audio issues (crackling sound (can be fixed by setting audio to 2 channels), sound cut-offs, missing voicelines; Re:Fined recently got to fix that too)
  
• Several broken visual effects[imgur.com] (PS3 port issue carried over to pc)
  
• Scuffed Re:COM controls (a PC-exclusive change - the d-pad actions got shifted clockwise which doesn't even make sense) and rebinding controls doesn’t help (plus it’s more limited than the console releases).
  
• Quit Game crashes the game or hangs it. Quite a simple fix in the code actually.
  
• Alt-tabbing occasionally turns borderless mode into windowed for no reason (notably when you throw mouse to top right of the screen right after alt-tabbing - happens often if using discord on second screen). Also a simple fix.
  
• Not sure which exact release removed this, but KH1 gummi ship minigame allowed to rebind controls on the PS3 - you can not do this on PC anymore and the default controls are personally bad.
  
• Muting the game is not possible from system settings (only goes down to 1)
  
• You still cannot buy&install the games in the collections separately, even though games like Halo: MCC support that and even this game in fact does: you can replace the game files of every other game but KH2 with dummy files, which saves space and you can still play KH2.
  
• FMVs are *bloated* in size. They take way more space than they should - Steam Deck depot has them reduced in size without any notable quality sacrifices.

Issues that affect a smaller amount of people but still worth acknowledging all the same:

• Shadow issues on the Steam Deck
  
• VRR (G-Sync, FreeSync etc) causes stutter. They're meant to eliminate tearing.
  
• No ultrawide, 16:10, 4:3 or any other aspect ratio support (mods can add this, why can't square?[imgur.com] also the games were 4:3 on the ps2 lol)
  
• The game crashes really badly on some GPU's, especially on RX7000 GPUs and select RTX GPUs.
  
• The game crashes frequently when alt-tabbing in Exclusive Fullscreen mode
  
• The game crashes frequently during load screens, notably in Port Royal, but may happen completely randomly
  
• Still no universal fix for FMVs on Linux (FMVs are fixed on the Steam Deck and the fix is easily applicable to PC too) Fixed on Proton Experimental
  
• There's no way to play with Japanese audio & English subtitles, even though mods have been able to do that even back in the PS2 days and on the EGS version too. With toggles.
  
• You can not unpause Atlantica sections for some reason
  
• You can’t share savefiles between friends or even between EGS and Steam due to arbitrary ID checks that aren’t even necessary.
  
• (Minor) Steam Cloud carries over your configs even between devices, which may break the configs on one or the other device if you play on multiple.
  
• (Minor) Achievement names are not sorted by game name, which makes them hard to navigate.
  
• (Minor) There is no quick way to go to the menu and reload the savefile without either wasting your time going to the savefile or reloading the whole game. The game, in fact, has soft resets implemented in the code, but you cannot execute them without a mod.
  
• (Minor) Kingdom Hearts Re:COM... reads again.... changes some text to.. spanish when using a controller.. how did this even happen... (workaround: change button type to 1 or 2)

Q: Isn't it unreasonable to ask Square to fix all of this?

No. Square only acknowledged one of the issues in the list, but they're capable of fixing all of them if people actually pushed them into it.

Q: But isn't it normal for 20-year old games to be broken?

A: If the ports were 20 years old sold at 5 bucks, maybe they would be. We're talking about a recent port sold as a native PC game that nobody bothered to fix up, however - which they have all the resources in the world to do. Modders shouldn't have to do developers' job, either.
List of PS2-era games with actually decent ports you can buy on Steam:

• Katamari Damacy REROLL
  
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
  
• Okami HD
  
• Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX
  
• Disgaea
  
• Disgaea 2
  
• Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R
  
• Persona 4 Golden
  
• .hack//G.U. Last Recode
  
• Onimusha Warlords
  
• TY The Tasmanian Tiger Trilogy

If anybody has more examples, please list them in the comments.

Furthermore, select old games that never even were on PC received some of the best PC version treatments ever:

• Super Mario 64 received a decompilation effort which allowed to clean up the code and manually port it to PC (and other platforms) allowing the best SM64 experience ever - sm64ex[github.com], SM64 Coop Deluxe[sm64coopdx.com]
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time also received a decompilation effort with all the same results: cleaned up code, pc (and other platforms) ports and enhanced releases - Ship of Harkinian[www.shipofharkinian.com]
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask currently has an ongoing decompilation effort and received a recompilation effort[github.com], which supports unlimited framerate, ultrawide, several fixes and even ray tracing!

If passionate fans can fix up old games and make them some of the best PC experiences ever, why can't companies?

Q: What's different between EGS and Steam releases ignoring the update?

A: Steam version supports Steam Cloud, playing without an internet connection, has fixed FMVs for Steam Deck and seems to have improved gamepad compatibility. Oh, and you can open the System Setings with a gamepad now.

Q: Was Epic Games Version updated to be on-par to the new Steam versions?

A: Yes, although cloud saves, offline capabilities and fixed linux FMV's didn't make it to Epic Games.

Q: What did the update itself change?

A: It has fixed driver crashes on RX7000 GPU's (although people report frequent in-game crashes now instead) and blue checkerboard patterns on RTX 3000/4000 GPU's. It seems they have also introduced way more crashes with this release. They have also AI upscaled textures[x.com]. Most issues in the list are actually old issues from the EGS version and even the PS3 version.

Q: Did the FMVs get fixed on linux?

A: Yes. Use Proton Experimental.

Q: What mods are currently compatible?

A: At the moment, only stuff that uses KHPCPatchManager, which was updated recently[github.com].

Q: Are 358/2 Days and Re:Coded finally playable? Did they fix missing cutscenes or re-render them in higher quality?

A: Nope, nope and nope. For those unaware, 358/2 Days and Re:Coded were originally playable Nintendo DS games (really fun ones at that) which Square decided to lazily turn into cutscenes instead, never re-rendered or revisited or bothered to be remade. There's multiple community efforts to making these games more enjoyable on PC, and Square could also do one if they cared: Melon Mix[github.com], 358/2 Days Final Mix. I highly recommend you check them out and even try them out.

Q: Why do people complain about the pricing? Seems reasonable for the amount of games you're getting

A: They're all almost 20 years old PS2/PSP games, with issues of the both PS3 and older PC version still unfixed. You can also buy ALL the games up to KH3 on PS4 for just $20 on sales (+$15 for remind). Just so you get the picture, here's the full list of KH1 re-releases:

• Original PS2 release ($50, around $84 today if adjusted for inflation)
  
• Japanese-exclusive PS2 Final Mix release (same price, enhanced game)
  
• PS3 1.5 re-release ($40, around $52 today if adjusted for inflation); <- this release had bugs that are still unfixed up to today, like the audio bugs
  
• PS4 1.5+2.5 re-release ($50, included in an all-in-one $100 collection you can buy for $20 online and this collection goes at $20 on sales too);
  
• Xbox One 1.5+2.5 re-release ($50, goes at $20 on sales);
  
• PC (EGS) 1.5+2.5 re-release ($50, went as low as $25 on sales); <- this release was based on the Xbox One release and introduced a ton of new bugs you can see today even in the current Steam release
  
• PC (Steam) 1.5+2.5 re-release ($50, went as low as $35 on sales); <- we are here

In total, a person who bought a KH1 release every time, would've spent $420 (or $320 on sales) on KH1 alone and they still get almost the exact same experience after PS3 without making Square improve.

In hindsight, these prices are not that much, but consider the fact they are not improving the game with each subsequent port anymore - it's not a remaster, they don't fix most bugs. Regardless, if the price doesn't bother you - that's all good too, just ask Square to treat you better as a customer and understand the people who already bought the games on other platforms.

Remember: you don't have to defend a multi-millionaire corporation, especially when you're paying *them* for a 20 year old product released for the full price for the 5th time in the past decade and they didn't even bother to fix most issues nor make a proper native PC game experience despite claiming it is.

If you can, please leave a bad review highlighting these issues. Make Square aware of them so we have a chance at a fix. This is not a call to hate the game, but rather a call for Square to improve and make the experience better for everyone. Bringing attention to these issues shows how much you actually want to see these great games be truly great. Also leave a comment here if you see this so the post gets bumped on Discussions and more people are aware of the issues.

About me "not owning the game"

Some clowns may accuse me of "not owning the game" - keep in mind every issue relevant to the PC version I list here is also what I put on the PCGW page (and not just me! plenty of people are maintaining the page) with proof and references. The issues I list here date back to either the PS3 2012 version or the 2021 EGS release, and you can find plenty of reports online on Reddit, Steam Discussions, Steam Reviews and generally people online who own the game (me personally, I interact with the people in the Re:Fined community which bought the game the first minute it went online on Steam and aren't hypocritical when a game is broken). So yeah, think about embarassing yourself before accusing me of lying. The reason I don't own the games is simple - I don't have money to throw *again* at the exact same broken ports and I've double checked the issues with other people I trust instead.

Also you don't have to send me awards, I have plenty of points and this is not done for clout-chasing, but rather spreading awareness.

[add]

bump

[the_randomizer1889]

GillianMC původně napsal:

not really a deal breaker

Did you even read?

[JC]

the_randomizer1889 původně napsal:

GillianMC původně napsal:

not really a deal breaker

Did you even read?

Pretty sure his reply was about no trading cards. That's not a deal breaker for most people.

[KingSimpson369]

Someone please send this error report directly to HQ of Square Enix so they can rid the game of all those problems.

[the_randomizer1889]

JC původně napsal:

the_randomizer1889 původně napsal:

Did you even read?

Pretty sure his reply was about no trading cards. That's not a deal breaker for most people.

oooh ok

[add]

KingSimpson369 původně napsal:

Someone please send this error report directly to HQ of Square Enix so they can rid the game of all those problems.

Square won't listen, better off telling Disney.

[the_randomizer1889]

add původně napsal:

KingSimpson369 původně napsal:

Someone please send this error report directly to HQ of Square Enix so they can rid the game of all those problems.

Square won't listen, better off telling Disney.

Who is even less likely to listen

[JC]

Maybe it's cope, but I heard they resolved the Steam Deck issues today, so hopefully we see improvements soon. When they do, I'll flip my review.

[superbegita76800]

Ok so i can reconfirm but at 30 fps with a rtx 3090 fe no crash at all, and NO STUTTERS at all too

CLEARLY the problem for stutters if VRR so G synch or Freesynch any form of VRR.

If you have anything else than a gpu based on RNDA3 arvhitecture you wil good to go with that

- 30 fps lock in nvidia control setings BOTH settings (the normal fps cap and also for the background one)

- v synch in game (yes it doesn't break anything , the problem is the VR not the v synch)

- performance mode

- let the ap choose his prefered refresh rate (s yeah you don't have to put EACH TIME Windows in 60 hz, i have tested in 60 hz refresh rate AND 120 hz no problem game was lock at 30 fps very stable not a single crash since well i play the game KH1 FM)

One thing i have notice however who is.. "funny" depending on the location it seem than the latency for rendering is much different

In menu by ex for 30 fps it s the usual 33ms etc but in game by ex Traverse's Town it can be 20/25ms and 5ms all of the sudden

No stutters at all or ever but just notice that

Gpu usage ius very very weak but it's expected with an rtx 3090 fe (no more than yes...5%+ maybe a little more for boss or when ther eis much foes ?

Gamme was smooth (really i mean it i have the habit of 30 fps console wise and there you can the stutters is completely gone of course not as smooth than 60 fps but copamparing too with stutters ?? yes clearly

So if yu want stable game it's simple 30 fps original intented no more and it will avoid also theswitch between cutscenes at 30 fps and game at 60 fps

Saw no probem at all, at least nothing game breaking (yes even the gummy no problem) , i have just complete Deep forst (Tarzan's world).

[tommy_lop]

maybe its been a while but I have no problems with REcom controls

[add]

tommy_lop původně napsal:

maybe its been a while but I have no problems with REcom controls

In every other port of ReCoM you could jump to your card reload by pressing up on the dpad. If you press down on the dpad, it jumps to whatever shortcut card you have selected. Left and right dpad are used to cycle through your cards.

Well, for no reason at all it is changed in PC. It is now left and right dpad to jump to shortcuts and cycle your cards is up and down. It's extremely visually confusing, because your cards cycle left and right on screen. There is also no way to rebind the controllers without messing with your menuing in the game. So basically your pause menu UI would be controlled with left and right, and not up and down dpad. So it makes things like deck editing a complete nightmare to do or even basic menu navigation.

The cherry on top is on every other port of ReCoM there is a control type option call "Battle Controls" in the settings option on the pause menu. Well, this is removed on PC on both Steam and Epic versions. What it does is let you remap lock on enemies with R1 instead of R2 and R2/L2 would be used to cycle through cards.

[Bitwolf]

So a few things.

1. The deck cutscenes are simply smaller, they are in an identical format to the windows ones, you can make them work fine on standard Linux by using steamdeck=1 as a launch command, which switches to an internal player.

2. Cutscenes don't work fine at 60 fps, animations flip flop between being too fast and too slow, physics objects also bug out https://youtu.be/5YLOd7DiS-U?si=Q3eM58oXHgaUXYcr
Also what would unlocking pre recorded 30 fps video to 60 achieve for the FMV?

3. The achievement names are actually in order, they work fine in a browser or the mobile app, it's the steam client itself ignoring the order, report it as a bug to valve.

The rest of this list is valid. I'd also throw in the small cloud storage.

[Drake Platinum THE WORLD]

All valid grievances for the most part. The only thing I do wanna bring up is the cost of the games (on psn at least ignoring physical as that is both a lottery and becomes somewhat moot since there is no physical for PC. Also going to forgo epic because a good portion of people such as myself will never support or touch that store). The all in one pretty much hovers at about 40 dollars on sale it has gone on sale for 25 dollars a very small handful of times but historically hasn't happened since 21' and ever since it bounces between 40-50 on sale. That version is falsely named because it does not include re-mind either which is 30 dollars (goes on sale occasionally for 12 dollars) Which brings the cost range from a low of 52 to about 70 dollars if you were to get re-mind on no sale (basically what its currently going for while the steam sale is going) So it does seem to kind of skew how cheap it really gets compared to the other store fronts. And that's why I think the current steam sale is a fair price (not a steal but "fair")

You could argue what about the people who got the games on the other platform. I'm one of them and I paid probably a bit more than what I paid on steam for these titles on ps4. I have to be impartial and respect the fact they didn't falsely release a version of the game that did not include all the content like they did on ps4. So each game is roughly 10-11 dollars which imo is not terrible. Are the games older? Yes but how many older titles are on steam that cost way more and are even more broken (I am currently one of the people with no issues other than the 30 fps lock in cutscenes as that is baked in and not a variable like some of the other issues). While a lot of the things you pointed out need to be addressed and handled accordingly I will say the current deal going on isn't highway robbery as a lot of people are claiming it to be. And lets not forget ports like P4G on release for some people (myself included again) were so broken we couldn't even get to the main menu for months before it was fixed. The game just got dropped on steam so I think only time will tell if they actually fix things since steam has a decent turnabout. I personally cannot give it a bad review since I've had zero issues since release. I can only review based on my experience. I do hope SE can fix the issues that other people are having though without hopefully creating new problems. But I will gladly comment and discuss so square can see the issues plaguing other users.

[GillianMC]

Bitwolf původně napsal:

2. Cutscenes don't work fine at 60 fps, animations flip flop between being too fast and too slow, physics objects also bug out https://youtu.be/5YLOd7DiS-U?si=Q3eM58oXHgaUXYcr
Also what would unlocking pre recorded 30 fps video to 60 achieve for the FMV?

I don’t see it actually, do you have a comparison rather than a cutscene itself? I’ve played the whole game with 60 FPS cutscenes and genuinely didn’t any issues myself.

As for pre-recorded videos, there’s some weird video-audio desync which doesn’t happen on 60 FPS weirdly

Bitwolf původně napsal:

I'd also throw in the small cloud storage.

Not a problem actually, the game reserves the storage for all save slots when you first create the save file so you shouldn’t ever be able to reach the cap in normal circumstances

[Bitwolf]

GillianMC původně napsal:

Bitwolf původně napsal:

2. Cutscenes don't work fine at 60 fps, animations flip flop between being too fast and too slow, physics objects also bug out https://youtu.be/5YLOd7DiS-U?si=Q3eM58oXHgaUXYcr
Also what would unlocking pre recorded 30 fps video to 60 achieve for the FMV?

I don’t see it actually, do you have a comparison rather than a cutscene itself? I’ve played the whole game with 60 FPS cutscenes and genuinely didn’t any issues myself.

As for pre-recorded videos, there’s some weird video-audio desync which doesn’t happen on 60 FPS weirdly

Bitwolf původně napsal:

I'd also throw in the small cloud storage.

Not a problem actually, the game reserves the storage for all save slots when you first create the save file so you shouldn’t ever be able to reach the cap in normal circumstances

No comparison unfortunately, but to my eyes it's incredibly obvious the animations are speeding and slowing down to ensure they fit within the timeframe, Sora's keyblade flying everywhere when Roxas stabs it is also pretty obvious.

Here's the cutscenes running at normal speed, watch how fast Sora reacts to Roxas saying "he defeated a Riku once" as an example. https://youtu.be/y4yQioUhk9E?si=eDyJ0L2gSlMCUGML

Also, when Xenmas leaves the portal to walk to Roxas during the "you seek answers" in 60fps he starts slow then begins to powerwalk, at 30 he remains the same speed throughout it all.

Roxas's coat also jitters sometimes at 60, while some cutscenes look fine, most are a stop and start fest, just really look for when characters have to freeze for a second cause they're too fast.