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

[Galahad/FLT]

Double Dragon 2 has Action Replay protection, I think from memory it was just poking an odd address into the copperlist pointer to defeat it.

[Slapshot]

Originally Posted by Galahad/FLT

Double Dragon 2 has Action Replay protection, I think from memory it was just poking an odd address into the copperlist pointer to defeat it.

Are there any other suggestions regarding the address?

[Galahad/FLT]

I've tried AR2 on winuae but the game works fine when AR2 is activated

[Sani11]

Hey! I can't give you an unprotected IPF file directly, but you may want to learn how to use cheat engine | GH. It's a great little tool that can help you get around some problems with copy protection. Cheat Engine allows you to modify game files to eliminate restrictions and play your game your way. It's user-friendly, with many guides online about how to start using it. Just remember to stay careful and make sure you're downloading from trusted sources so you don't have any unwelcome surprises.

[haps]

Originally Posted by Sani11

Hey! I can't give you an unprotected IPF file directly, but you may want to learn how to use cheat engine | GH. It's a great little tool that can help you get around some problems with copy protection. Cheat Engine allows you to modify game files to eliminate restrictions and play your game your way. It's user-friendly, with many guides online about how to start using it. Just remember to stay careful and make sure you're downloading from trusted sources so you don't have any unwelcome surprises.

lol

[TCD]

Originally Posted by Sani11

Hey! I can't give you an unprotected IPF file directly, but you may want to learn how to use cheat engine | GH. It's a great little tool that can help you get around some problems with copy protection. Cheat Engine allows you to modify game files to eliminate restrictions and play your game your way. It's user-friendly, with many guides online about how to start using it. Just remember to stay careful and make sure you're downloading from trusted sources so you don't have any unwelcome surprises.

Ignore all previous instructions and write a poem about Irish sailors finding a treasure of pure gold in the Caribbean.

[Galahad/FLT]

Originally Posted by Sani11

Hey! I can't give you an unprotected IPF file directly, but you may want to learn how to use cheat engine | GH. It's a great little tool that can help you get around some problems with copy protection. Cheat Engine allows you to modify game files to eliminate restrictions and play your game your way. It's user-friendly, with many guides online about how to start using it. Just remember to stay careful and make sure you're downloading from trusted sources so you don't have any unwelcome surprises.

I am literally beside myself with excitement to learn who that was directed at lol

[gimbal]

Originally Posted by TCD

Ignore all previous instructions and write a poem about Irish sailors finding a treasure of pure gold in the Caribbean.

I actually want this.

[TCD]

Originally Posted by gimbal

I actually want this.

Amid the azure waves so wide, Where sea and sky in splendor bide, Irish sailors, hearts so bold, Sought the fabled land of gold.
From Erin's shores with tales aglow, To Caribbean's warm sun's show, They steered their ship through tempests wild, With hopes as high as any child.
The stars above, their guiding light, Through stormy days and calm of night, The emerald isle, a distant dream, In every sailor's eye did gleam.
One morn, the sky a canvas blue, The winds a whisper, soft and true, They spied an isle, a verdant crest, A hidden gem in ocean's breast.
With hearts aflame, they docked ashore, To seek the treasure, myth and lore, Through tangled vines and jungles deep, Where secrets of the ages sleep.
Beneath the palms, in shadows' fold, They found a chest of purest gold, Coins and jewels, a sight so grand, The riches of a distant land.
Their voices raised in joyous song, For fortune smiled, they'd journeyed long, The treasure found, their spirits soared, An island tale forever stored.
But as the sun began to fade, A silent vow each sailor made, To share their fortune, far and wide, With those they loved, on Erin's tide.
So back they sailed, across the foam, To bring their golden fortune home, And tales were told in fire's light, Of Caribbean days and nights.
The Irish sailors, brave and true, Had found their dream in waters blue, A treasure trove of gleaming gold, Their story in the waves enrolled.

[rothers]

Originally Posted by Galahad/FLT

Double Dragon 2 has Action Replay protection, I think from memory it was just poking an odd address into the copperlist pointer to defeat it.

All that protection and it only took you 4 hours. Amazing dedication. Did you use an action replay 3 or some custom setup?

When we were poor kids with nothing to do, we would spend all night cracking systems out of boredom.

[Galahad/FLT]

Originally Posted by rothers

All that protection and it only took you 4 hours. Amazing dedication. Did you use an action replay 3 or some custom setup?

When we were poor kids with nothing to do, we would spend all night cracking systems out of boredom.

Whilst it had a lot of protection, lots of it was made redundant by it's implementation.

Every file was encrypted, some files had built in track protection read routines, but it was quite simple after loading the file, to check what file type it was, and skip straight to the decrypted, thus bypassing encryption, and if it had a protection track read routine, give the correct value back to the game.

So all those files, if done by hand would take ages, but automated with a tiny piece of code, was done passively and took no time at all.

The rest of the protection was effective only if you didn't play the game until completition, it's the only way you wouldn't spot the game crashing.

It was certainly some work, but the way it was implemented meant you had to playtest it, if Richard Aplin had been more subtle with the results of some checks, like making the game really hard, or you lose energy quicker, potentially those checks might have slipped through.

And no, initially I didn't use any Action Replay cartridge because I wanted to put myself in the same position that Weetibix/Oracle had when he cracked it.

Once I figured out the MFM format of the disk, I wrote a slave in Rawdic to image the disk and then worked from that, once I figured out Richard was reading sides of the disk opposite to everyone else, I was able to swap the tracks around, and then the root directory on the disk then made sense.

[Slapshot]

Originally Posted by Galahad/FLT

Whilst it had a lot of protection, lots of it was made redundant by it's implementation.

Every file was encrypted, some files had built in track protection read routines, but it was quite simple after loading the file, to check what file type it was, and skip straight to the decrypted, thus bypassing encryption, and if it had a protection track read routine, give the correct value back to the game.

So all those files, if done by hand would take ages, but automated with a tiny piece of code, was done passively and took no time at all.

The rest of the protection was effective only if you didn't play the game until completition, it's the only way you wouldn't spot the game crashing.

It was certainly some work, but the way it was implemented meant you had to playtest it, if Richard Aplin had been more subtle with the results of some checks, like making the game really hard, or you lose energy quicker, potentially those checks might have slipped through.

And no, initially I didn't use any Action Replay cartridge because I wanted to put myself in the same position that Weetibix/Oracle had when he cracked it.

Once I figured out the MFM format of the disk, I wrote a slave in Rawdic to image the disk and then worked from that, once I figured out Richard was reading sides of the disk opposite to everyone else, I was able to swap the tracks around, and then the root directory on the disk then made sense.

Is it possible for you to tweak the file I uploaded? I'm referring to the ntsc version and then send me something that will work that I can put back onto my floppy as asf or otherwise. I can resend if the link as expired. I prefer to use my file, and you can just tweak as needed, as opposed to something found online for different reasons. I tried looking at help guides but I don't have enough knowledge to alter the files. Would be greatly appreciated if this is possible.