IPF file of Double Dragon 2 without copy protection

[Slapshot]

Can anyone upload their own copy and remove the copy protection and/or at least make it work with action replay? I'm trying to practice the game with my action replay and all three of my copies simply cannot be brought back to the game once the action replay is accessed. So save states and codes from it clearly won't work.

Actually, you can use my copies from my originals. The NTSC and PAL version in scp format are available in the link below. Id prefer to focus on the NTSC as that matches my system. If anyone can tweak the files or suggest what to alter somewhere to get them running to be able to get them working on action replay with codes, although I do not know how to hack or to get into technical things beyond a certain limit.

Here are the scp files. https://we.tl/t-MSUwofNpKB

PS - Are there any regular non-action replay cheat codes for the NTSC version? I also have the pal version and there were a few weird codes that claim to be working even though I couldn't do it, and would like to know the trick.

[TCD]

An IPF without the copy protection wouldn't be an IPF.

[Slapshot]

Originally Posted by TCD

An IPF without the copy protection wouldn't be an IPF.

Couldn't an ipf be tweaked still ? Scp file, is fine. I've provided scp files from my originals, so if those can be tweaked with the same files ive provided. Suggestions how to make them work via action replay or to bypass the copy protection would be useful, unless it requires having indepth technical/hacking knowledge.

[gimbal]

How does action replay work? I have some malfunctioning segments of brain tell me that it works by changing values in memory during runtime.

... if true, I'd think you'd want to avoid any and all tampering to the software, hence pristine IPF. So no copy protection removal.

[Snoopy1234]

The WHDLoad install of DDII has done that and includes the NTSC version. I have no Action Replay exp so I assume this "screen grabber" would run with WHDLoad?

[kremiso]

my god, this required a lot of work back then

its not just a copy protection track, the entire disk is a wasp nest
the Whdload page has a lot of useful infos, like always

ie this cut :

66 x Encrypted files
66 x Encrypted protection check code in each file
4 x Loaders (encrypted/non-encrypted) in code file
13 x Routines to access loader (activated by an address error!)
3 x Checksums (testing and shifting data on the stack)
1 x In game loader that decrypts when called, then re-encrypts itself after!
1 x MFM filesystem with $1800 data blocks the wrong way around
1 x protection track that was tested more times than Ben Johnson
1 x encrypted bootblock loader
235 x address errors, in Mr.Aplins vain attempt to 'disguise' his code!
16 x address errors in the copperlist

THAT.... was just the protection! Never mind getting down to the actual job of
fixing the fucking game!

Its at least inventive, but why did Mr.Aplin decide he needed to disguise every access
to a custom register, no matter how mundane the operation?

This is a case of a copy protection too far. The game doesn't work on AGA Amiga's because
of the stupid levels of copy protection, the game code itself is generally fine.

The way the code operates, meant that every piece of protection had to be removed BEFORE I
could even start fixing it for WHDLoad!

I remember Richard Aplin bragging about how tricky this protection was. Access fault city
aside, it took me 4 hours to pick apart the filesystem, have code to decrypt and disable
their protection checks, and remove the ingame protection checks, perhaps if the protection
wasn't so formulaic (i.e. address error for every access to the loader, and 'RA89' as a
decrypt key!!) then it might have been of some use.

To quote: Another attempt by Mr.Aplin!

Kindest Regards, Galahad of Fairlight

[Ian]

If only they spent as much time on the game lol