BetterSADX

BetterSADX is an easy to install / automated patch that transforms the Steam version of Sonic Adventure DX into an enhanced version with many more features added by the community over the last several years.

Get updates, help and discuss - join the BetterSADX Steam Group.

Latest Version: 4.4.8 (Updated 10 July 2021)

Install & Updating

Install

Download the latest version from Google Drive here.[drive.google.com]

During install, you will be given 2 options:

• Complete Dreamcast Experience - Dreamcast everything, models, stages and sounds with all the benefits of being a modern PC game.
  
• Enhanced Director's Cut Experience - Director's Cut style, featuring loads of favorable improvements over the base game. Runs well even on lower performance machines.

Updates

Please join the Steam group to see when BetterSADX is updated.

Features

Dreamcast Conversion

Includes the incredible Dreamcast Conversion mod by PkR. This project aims to return the PC version of Sonic Adventure DX to it's appearance on the original Sega Dreamcast. This includes the restoration of the palette lighting engine, as well as ports of the Dreamcast land tables, level models, and textures.

Resolution Options

Use any custom resolution. With “Windowed Fullscreen” and “Stretch Fullscreen” (enabled by default), you can specify resolutions larger than your native which will downsample.

Improved Graphics, Sound and Fixes

Texture filtering, Mipmapping, better sound and an extensive range of layout and bug fixes, created by the community.

Mod Support

BetterSADX includes and relies on the latest version of SADX Mod Manager, which provides a clean entry point and effective way to manage mods for the game! All of BetterSADX is fully modular, meaning, you can configure and tweak it here to your heart's content.

Full Controller Support

Includes the latest version of the Input Mod by SonicFreak94. This provides improved support with use of the right stick and trigger buttons. It also includes Smooth Cam to give you a smoother first person camera.

We now support the Steam Controller as well. Here's a profile for BetterSADX, upvote it if you want.
steam://controllerconfig/71250/1957635702

Super Sonic in Action Stages

Once you’ve completed the 7 main story modes, you can play as Super Sonic who is faster, invincible and can run along most water. He loses 1 ring per second and will lose the power once his ring count hits 0.

To activate:

• Make sure you've completed the Super Sonic story at least once.
  
• Play as Sonic.
  
• Collect 50 rings.
  
• Jump and press the B button to transform into Super Sonic (or to transform back).

Please Note: Some stages and items/set-pieces (which force you to spindash) will auto-transform Sonic back to his normal form to stop the game from crashing. If you are unable to transform for this reason, Sonic will say "Huh?".

Dreamcast DLC

The wonderful DLC mods by PkR! These mods allow you to experience the original Dreamcast DLC at any time by toggling them from the Mod Manager! Simply open the game and choose configure to bring up the mod manager.

Playable Game Gear titles

The Game Gear games from previous SADX releases are back.

• Sonic the Hedgehog
  
• Sonic Drift
  
• Sonic Chaos
  
• Sonic Spinball
  
• Sonic Labyrinth
  
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
  
• Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
  
• Sonic Triple Trouple
  
• Sonic Drift 2
  
• Tails' Skypatrol
  
• Sonic Blast
  
• Tails Adventure

You can unlock them by collecting emblems and beating missions in Mission mode. It is recommended you run the game in 640 x 480 if you plan on playing these.

Seamless Integration

You can enjoy all the features just from running the game via Steam and choosing Play or Configure, and in addition, this also supports Steam Achievements.

Discord Rich Presence

Show what you're doing in-game to your Discord friends and servers.

Configure

When you launch the game from Steam, you can still choose “Play” or “Configure” to change settings. Other than the resolution, we recommend you leave the settings as their defaults.

Configure Mods

Configure opens the SADX Mod Manager, where you can manage and tweak what we've provided to you in any way you'd like. We've included the mods in the optimal order by default as well, but for future reference, mods have a priority system. The lower on the list the mod is, the higher the priority for that mod is, meaning if multiple mods replace the same thing, only the lowest one on the list will show it's changes.

Set your resolution

By default, the installer will set your desktop resolution.

To set your own resolution:

• Start the game from Steam and choose the Configure option.
  
• Click the “Options” tab.
  
• Next to “Use Custom Resolution” you can specify your own or click the “Native Resolution” button to use what your Desktop is currently set to.
  
• Click “Save” and close the window or click “Save and Play”.

Converting your Steam saves

This is now done automatically during the install.
If a "SAVEDATA" folder already exists in your game folder from a prior install of BetterSADX, then no saves will be copied (to prevent overwriting and save loss)

Customizing Keyboard Controls

It is now possible to use the keyboard to play the game with customized keyboard controls thanks to PkR's Keyboard remapper mod. To enable keyboard controls, you must open the SADX Mod Manager, uncheck "Input-Mod" and check "Keyboard Remapper".

From there you can edit the controls using the configure button for that mod, or by right clicking on it and choosing "Open Folder" you can find a config tool for editing the controls conveniently. Some keys, such as shift, ctrl, and caps lock are not bind-able due to limitations of the game's keyboard support.

Thanks for Reading!

Credits

CheatFreak - HD GUI 2 Button Prompts, Planning & Design
Carlmundo - Mod Conversion, Patcher, Planning & Design
Danhanado - Original Guide and BetterSADX Logo
SonicFreak94 - Mod Manager and Loader, SADX Fixed Edition, Input-Mod, Pause Hide, Smooth Camera, Super Sonic Mod, HUD Scaling, Camera Code Error Fix, Idle Chatter, SADX-DC-Lighting
MainMemory - Mod Manager and Loader, Modding Tools, Achievements, Save Tool, Egg Carrier Ocean Music, Misc Help
PkR - Dreamcast Conversion, Dreamcast DLCs, Work on SADX:FE, Sound Overhaul, Time of Day, SA1 Style EXE Icon (4.2+), HD GUI 2, SADX-Keyboard-Remap, Feedback on HD GUI 2 Button Prompts, Feedback and Help in general
SuperCoolSonic - Fixes, Adds, and Beta Restores mod
Dark Sonic - Work on HD GUI 2 Mod
Sonikko - Work on HD GUI 2 Mod, Feedback on HD GUI 2 Button Prompts.
Speeps - Work on HD GUI 2 Mod
SteG - Work on HD GUI 2 Mod
SuperSonic16 - DiscordSADX Mod
ZorakaroZ - Updates to MimicDCTextures
Spoonm - App Launcher Clone
VeritasDL - Camera Code Error Fix
Shanekilz - Help with figuring out Speedrun Stuff
IndyTheGreat - Water texture fixes
Jeff - Past work on stuff
TheArcadeStriker - Dreamcast Conversion (past work)
RonnChyran - App Launcher based on BOIL (past work)
Yoyoyoshio - xBRZ Textures (past work), Feedback and Testing
Endri - Super Sonic in Action Stages (Past Work)
OldClassicGamer - Inspiration that got this project kicked off
Sonic Retro - Resource for SADX Modding

Disclaimer

This patch is designed to only work for the Steam version and will not install unless you have a legitimate Steam version installed.

Help

Frequently Asked Questions
Need Help? Go here to find out how to get help!

Need More Mods?

Here's a few noteworthy places! Note that some of the mods on the below pages are actually included.

• MainMemory's SADX Hacks[mm.reimuhakurei.net]
  
• SonicFreak94's SADX Hacks[sf94.reimuhakurei.net]
  
• GameBanana Modding Hub[gamebanana.com]

[volkswagenitalia]

FPS drop to 30 during cutscenes

[Machine Gun Mac]

Weird. It all worked fine for me when I installed BetterSADX not too long ago. It just asked me to download the new mod manager, and everything worked fine. Maybe it's just me, though?

[WeirdCon]

If you download off the link provided above (as of 6/20/24), after you finish downloading/applying and launch the mod manager config do NOT update the mods it prompts you to. This will end up breaking some of the mods since the mod manager in this pack is outdated and will cause the game not to launch unless those mods are disabled. Hope this helps.

[SonicAtAllHours]

Ehem, I mean, SA Mod Manager, not the old one... I still can't get used to the fact that it got discontinued... RIP.

[SonicAtAllHours]

Guys, don't get BetterSADX, this project went obsolete years ago. Instead, get the new SADX Mod Manager, and get the mods from gamebanana.

[dark-harvet]

girl this needs an upgrade stat because after like half an hour or so of playing the game crashes + it slows down on occasion, specifically on the egg carrier

[Madden8021]

The new Mod Manager is glitchy and can only be used once and when you start it up again that it no longer works. It's kind of sad to see it be like this now a days

[Danteren666]

Will this work on Windows 11?

[Shyam]

So, say if you chose to install Dreamcast Complete Dreamcast Experience, and you wanna switch to the Enhanced Director's Cut Experience, would you just reinstall the whole thing or.. is there a way to switch between the two?

[Jesus Christ lmao]

bro the download link doesnt work