FINAL FANTASY VII PC - NEAT COMPILATION OF PATCHES AND MODS v1.3 Remake of Final Fantasy 7 for PC on XP coming true...

notes before installing:

you have to choose maximum installation of the game if you are about to apply mods don't install DirectX and Directshow components that the installation program offers (use latest DirectX) beware and avoid unofficial so-known Animevamp 1.4 XP patch which screws your system files.. for more details read this or this follow this order of patching to avoid mutual incompatibility there are altogether cca 15 separate and individual patches so if you don't like certain modifications you can skip them and have the others Jedwin's Chocobo racing patch which solves crashing on 2k/XP systems is integrated in "2. The SaiNt's High Res FF7PC Patch v1.00" so if you want it separately look for it e.g. at EmperorSteele's website if you own non-english version of the game you have to follow TazDef's guide in patch #2 to apply 1280x960 patch and others maybe (not tested) download and install the latest drivers for your graphic card to avoid unexpectable problems game's FMV sequences are handled by TrueMotion codec and there are many infamous problems if you don't have it correctly installed (blank screen, upside down, cosmo canyon freeze or Junon cannon FMVs). Therefore I strongly recommend you clean up your codec mess (see TrueMotion codec step) It's recommended to copy your FMVs to hard drive to avoid slowdowns, freezes and issues while reading movies from hard-to-read CDs. To do so copy "movies" directory from ff7 discs (some files repeat so overwrite) anywhere on your harddrive then regedit Windows registry and search for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Square Soft, Inc.\Final Fantasy VII\ - there change "MoviePath" to where you put the movies. If you are lame use this guide by EmperorSteele some of the projects are still under development so check them all at the topic hyperlink stated under the name of each patch some patches have their own readme file with more detailed information if you have any problems getting some of these to work or experiencing strange issues try searching for the answer at the related topic that is shown under the name of every patch I take no responsibility for any unfortunate accident you may experience after using anything this compilation offers

TrueMotion codec Recommended setup to clean your codec mess and make FF7 use this filter:
0. Have latest DirectX and latest drivers for your graphic adapter installed 1. Download and install the latest K-lite codec pack (google yourself) - the installation program will prompt you to remove all installed codecs or corrupted entries...answer yes to do it automatically. - it's recommended to install default profile of the codec pack 2. Install duck.exe (TrueMotion codec) 3. Now run ffdshow video decoder configuration via Start->Programs->K-lite codec pack->Configuration>ffdshow->video decoder configuration and disable TrueMotion handling as shown on Image1.jpg

This should solve all codec problems you may come across with FF7.

Upside-down FMV cutscenes patch Warning:

This patch may interfere with some other codecs and cause some errors. Please try to solve your problem by following the steps described in TrueMotion codec FIRST. If that won't help (what I don't believe) go for this.

Laptop Keypad patch Patches the game to be playable without numpad (good for laptops). To use this patch:
Just put it in your ff7 directory, and hit "yes" when windows asks if you want to overwrite. It should work =)

1. ff7 v1.02 official patch "The Great FF7 FAQ (read before posting for FF7 support!)" This is the latest and only official patch from Eidos. You definitely want this to pass graphical test in configuration to play with Direct3d rendering on high-end machines. In other words playing in software rendering sucks and we have to avoid this. The patch also fixes some other minor bugs and you won't be able to apply next patch without this and altogether go for it no matter what! Installation:
Simply replace ff7.exe and ff7config.exe files with those patched

Usage:
In ff7config on graphical tab tick nVidia and TNT to use hardware renderer (even ATI users) :P

Known problems:
- I have a non-English version of the game. Now what? SOLUTION: There are zipped patches of different languages but note that you won't be able to apply at least The SaiNt's High Res FF7PC Patch v1.00 so I highly recommend you use US patch 1.02 and then follow the guide in next patch - Upon running I hear Eidos logo theme but the screen is black. After that it freezes. SOLUTION: You probably have the latest ffdshow [rev. 571]. Step 3 in TrueMotion codec above solves this. - nVidia users - I have the latest drivers for my GeForce and I am able to choose hardware rendering without checking the nVidia box SOLUTION: So what's your problem? :D Be glad. - background images are covered in colorful squares or grids making it look like a puzzle. SOLUTION: Use next patch OR turn off any antialiasing you have set on your graphic card via RIVATUNER (nVidia users) resp. ATI TRAY TOOLS (ATI users) or such - nVidia users - the game crashes on startup when using hardware renderer. SOLUTION: Try to UNCHECK nVidia box in ff7config and maybe you can use hardware rendering without it. If not disable 8-bit Palletized Textures in your graphic card's Direct3D settings using e.g. Rivatuner tool. - nVidia users - ingame fonts are somewhat screwed. SOLUTION: enable FSAA (antialiasing) in settings of your graphic card - nVidia users - HEEY! You tell me to turn off FSAA to fix background but then to turn it back on to fix garbled fonts! WTF?! SOLUTION: use next patch OR (if you don't want 1280x960) read info on solving this at the topic "The Great FF7 FAQ (read before posting for FF7 support!)"

2. The SaiNt's High Res FF7PC Patch v1.00 "[BETA RELEASE] Higher Resolution FFVIIPC [v1.00]" Puts the game in 1280x960 resolution which looks damn pretty (3D models only) and enables to use antialiasing modes without screwing graphics. Also has integrated Jedwin's Chocobo racing patch which solves crashing on 2k/XP systems at chocobo race. As far as I know it modifies only one file - ff7.exe Installation:
run [The_SaiNt]_High_Res_FF7PC_Patcher.exe select "patch" and search for file ff7.exe which must be the patched one 1.02 from step 1 (unaltered) (optional) THEN if you want resolution 1280x1024 (not 1280x960) repeat the same procedure with file [The_SaiNt]_High_Res_FF7PC_1280x1024_Fix_Patcher.exe

Usage:
you must set 640x480 Full screen, hardware rendering, nVidia ticked and TNT otherwise it won't work

Known problems:
- The game don't start at all. No message...just a blink. SOLUTION: Your display probably don't support such high resolution. Buy newer and larger display or skip this patch (you will need to download and install Jedwin's chocobo racing patch separately from this site). - After quitting the game program remains intact and has to be terminated via task manager (otherwise it can't be executed again). SOLUTION: Right-click on ff7.exe and select Properties in context menu and on Compatibility tab TURN OFF any compatibility with older OS (why do you have it on anyway?) - I have a non-English version of FF7 but this supports only English ff7.exe and I want this badly! SOLUTION: Follow the next guide taken from http://forums.qhimm.com/

Quote from: TazDef

Here is the tutorial for applying the great HighRes Patch on non-English versions: 1. Make a fresh FULL install from your original FFVII CD. 2. Get the English 1.02 XP Patch. 3. Overwrite the original FF7.exe and the FF7Config.exe in your Gamefolder with the patched ones found in the archive. 4. Apply Saints great HighRes Patch, just like posted in these thread. 5. Replace your language-code from following files: ..\data\cd\cr_gm.lgp ..\data\cd\disc_gm.lgp ..\data\menu\menu_gm.lgp ..\data\wm\world_gm.lgp ..\data\minigame\high-ge.lgp (YES it's "-" in stead of "_") ..\data\minigame\snowboard-ge.lgp (YES it's "-" in stead of "_") -> into filename_us.lgp (ie. ..\data\cd\cr_gm.lgp -> ..\data\cd\cr_us.lgp) 6. Remove the language-letter form follwing files: ..\FFVII\data\field\gflevel.lgp ..\FFVII\data\minigame\gchocobo.lgp ..\FFVII\data\minigame\gcondor.lgp ..\FFVII\data\minigame\gsub.lgp (ie. ..\FFVII\data\field\gflevel.lgp -> ..\FFVII\data\field\flevel.lgp) These are the german files, if you want to patch another version, just look for the same files ending with your language code (ie. _sp for spanish or _fr for french, _it for italian i guess). The files beginning with g, in my german version, should start with s, f or i, relating to your language.

After doing so, you should be able to play the game in HighRes and in your language. Only the Menu still remains in english, but this should not to be a problem.

3. YAMP - Yet Another Multi-Patcher by dziugo "[BETA] Yet Another Multi-Patcher" This is a set of very useful patches (also see samples and txt files):
MiniGamesPatch - This program will enable a frame limiter for the Bike, Snowboarding and Rollercoaster Minigames and for battleswirl effect. It allows minigames to run at normal, manageable speeds on mid-tohigh-end systems. It ALSO helps to solve crashing issues that some people may experience with the snowboarding game. This ALSO has integrated BattleSwirlFix which fixes an issue with FF7 crashing randomly when entering battles (mostly after Alt+Tabbing out of game and then returning) TransparentDialogBoxesPatch - Will make the big blue dialog boxes transparent. NoDialogBoxesPatch - Will make the dialog boxes vanish and only text appear (will overwrite the TransparentDialogBoxesPatch). 9999LimitBreakingPatch - Removes the 9999 limit for HP/MP/Damage in your FF7 allowing to go above this number. See screenshot and 9999LimitBreaking.txt. GyptInstant - Allows you to skip FMVs when playing FF7. Very useful for those who experience freezes or crashes during FMV sequences. See GyptInstant.txt. LuckyTifa - Tifa will always get "Yeah!" in her limit break. (cheat) LuckyCaitSith - Allows you to manipulate CaitSith's TheSlotsLimitBreak. (cheat)

All of them are used in ff7.exe so other files remain untouched I think. Installation:
copy PATCHES dir, install.bat and skerb.ex_ to your main game folder delete those patches (in PATCHES\) you do not wish to be installed. I personally delete LuckyTifa and LuckyCaitSith since I consider that cheating. Also pick either TransparentDialogBoxesPatch or NoDialogBoxesPatch but not both. - I delete these but it's up to you: CSith.srb, LuckyTifa.srb, NoDialogBoxes.srb CSith.txt, LuckyTifa.txt, NoDialogBoxes.txt - now run install.bat from your main game folder (patching process should commence) - after all's done press any key -

Usage:
all of them are used automatically except for GyptInstant and LuckyCaitSith so see related .txt file to know how to use them

note: you can alter the settings of some patches here but it's not necessary..for more details see !READme.txt

4. Higher quality Cloud mod by Dreakon "Using the high quality Cloud model in game?" quote from EmperorSteele: "The better-looking Cloud model from the final battle replaces your normal battle Cloud! Studs on his armor, detail on his belt, darker uniform, more detailed face, etc. Looks great!" ...or see the sample.

It modifies only your battle.lgp file. Installation:

run cloudquality.exe click on "..." and browse to your gamedir\data\battle\ select ok and patch at pop-up question answer no

5. either a) FF7PC Hand Patch mod v01.6 by Srethron Askvelhtnod or b) NPC Reconstruction Project for FF7PC 0.6 mod by Borde+ice_cold513+Stormmedia You can't have both of them 'cause they both handle the same files - char.lgp and world_us.lgp. Additionally NPC Reconstruction alters chocobo.lgp. Choose Hand patch if you prefer more original touch or NPC RP for more perfect look compare screenshots. Note that NPC RP is only cca 60% complete and still under development (check NPC Reconstruction Project at this topic) a) FF7PC Hand Patch mod v01.6 by Srethron Askvelhtnod (LGPtools by ficedula - http://ficedula.co.uk/) "Hand Patch" This adds normal hands to ingame characters. No more lego blocks. )) It modifies char.lpg and world_us.lpg files. Installation:
copy files handPatchFieldV016.ffpatch and handPatchWorldMapV015.ffpatch to your gamedir\data\ run lgptools.exe in menu go tools-patches-apply patch and find handPatchFieldV016.ffpatch then open repeat the same with handPatchWorldMapV015.ffpatch

b) NPC Reconstruction Project for FF7PC 0.6 mod by Borde+ice_cold513+Stormmedia (LGPtools by ficedula http://ficedula.co.uk/) "NPC Reconstruction Project" (possible incompatibility with non-english versions of FF7) This awesome mod completely replaces childish lego characters for normal ones like in battle fields or in FF8. This is expanded mod of the REUNION patch that conversed only main characters with annoying clipping. This one currently covers cca 60% of ALL ingame characters. Note that this mod most of all changes the original look of the game. So if you are into nostalgic feeling go for a) FF7PC Hand Patch mod v01.6 by Srethron Askvelhtnod instead. This mod modifies char.lgp (surprisingly), world_us.lgp and chocobo.lgp files. Installation: - IMPORTANT!!! If your Regional Settings in Control Panel aren't US and English set them now!
Temporarily. After patching you may revert them back to your nation of course. ;) (for more details about this step see this) run lgptools.exe click on icon OPEN and find char.lgp in your gamedir\data\field\ and open it

you can see all character files loaded..now click on icon EXTR.ALL and browse to your gamedir\data\field\ and there create new folder named "CHAR" (as shown on screenshot.jpg) click OK to extract all files in your gamedir\data\field\char\ (that would take a while to complete) now run NPC RP v0.6.exe follow the installer instructions (point out the DATA dir etc.) at the question to overwrite files answer yes patching process should take a few minutes to complete so wait (in fact almost all the extracted files in CHAR directory are processed) now return to lgptools click on icon CREATE (you are going to create new .lgp file from the patched char dir) and browse to your gamedir\data\field\char\ and click OK new dialogue window will pop-up asking what would be the name of your new .lgp file so name it char2.lgp. After confirming the name lgptools should look like it freezes but that's ok, just wait a while for the task to complete check the filesize of your freshly created char2.lgp - it should be 61 614 106 bytes you may backup the original char.lgp by renaming it to char.lgp.bak or whatever but be sure to rename newly created char2.lgp to char.lgp so the game will use this one you may now delete the extracted char dir congratulations you are ready to go after all (so revert back your regional settings if you changed them)

Stay tuned for the update on the project at "NPC Reconstruction Project".

6. New Spell Patch by zero88 "New Spell Patch" This patch edits the following spells, giving them these names:
Fire - Fire, Fira, Firaga (originally Fire1, Fire2, Fire3) Ice - Blizzard, Blizzara, Blizzaga (originally Ice1, Ice2, Ice3) etc. Lightning - Thunder, Thundara, Thundaga Earth - Tremor, Quake, Earthquake (Quakera and Quakega didn't sound cool enough) Restore/Full Cure - Cure, Cura, Curaga, Full Cure Revive - Life, Full Life Gravity - Gravity, Gravira, Graviga (derived from Kingdom Hearts) Poison - Bio, Biora, Bioga (made these ones up...) Mystify - Confuse, Berserk Seal - Silence, Sleep Exit - Exit, Remove (I think Remove is with Exit...) Barrier - Barrier, Magic Barrier, Reflect, Wall Comet - Comet, Meteo Time - Haste, Slow, Stop Destruct - DeBarrier, Dispel, Death Contain - Freeze, Break, Tornado, Flare Shield and Ultima remain the same...

It also changed the description of some of the spells. The description of the Buster Sword was changed and the name of Cloud's Heaven's Cloud was changed to Excalibur :P Installation:
just replace kernel2.bin file in you gamedir\data\kernel\ (or simply copy whole data dir into your main game folder)

7. Advent Avatars mod by Wuz "Changing the menu icons." (possible incompatibility with non-english versions of FF7)

Very simple mod to replace the menu character icons with Advent Children Style (taken from the movie). See samples. It alters menu_us.lgp file. Installation:
run Advent_Avatars.exe click on "..." and browse to your game dir\data\menu\ select ok and patch

You can even revert the changes to original portraits by executing Advent_Avatars_Uninstall.exe and repeating the same steps.

8.1 ff7music by ficedula (http://ficedula.co.uk/) "New version of FF7Music" or "The Idiots Guide To FF7Music (JK xD)" This allows you to put any music in your game replacing the midi music. In other words you can use Playstation files to play with original PS music or ANY MP3 you wish!!! Nice if you own OST of FF7 or FF7 Reunion tracks or FF7 Advent Children. How does it work? You choose a profile in this console that tells the game which file to play instead of midi at which situation then run FF7 via console an viola - your mp3s or whatever you chose are in the game. See readme.txt for more details. This compilation I'm providing will save you hours of time trying to figure out how to make it work and solve most problems including infamous music delays at changing scene! This comes with all necessary files (excluding OST mp3s of course), configs and plugins that you need and psf files containing music from PlayStation. You should just click and go. FF7MUSIC.ini of this compilation has fixed some of the mistakes in profile PSF which originally missed and misplaced some tracks (red=121 Red XIII's Theme.minipsf or si=902 unknown.minipsf or missing yume=117 Who Are You.minipsf for example). Installation & Usage:
copy whole FICEDULA directory in your main game folder run FF7Config.exe and on tab MIDI select Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth as MIDI Driver and uncheck Logarithmic Volume Control run FF7.exe and go to configuration of the game...there set volume of midi music to 0 (you can do this later but not to forget) run ff7music.exe in your gamedir\ficedula\ (console should pop-up) click on "Configure" button switch to tab "Files" choose the profile you want (psf - playstation music files..they're included in this compilation; mp3 - use if your mp3 files are named exactly as original midi files..not likely; CDtracks - mp3 tracks grabbed from your OST of FF7 in format x-yy.mp3 where x is disc number and yy is track number...see below) go to tab "Playback Options" and select Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth as MIDI device if you've chosen profile psf you can click on "Save and Exit" and then click on "Run FF7" button (game should run with PlayStation music) if you've chosen profile CDtracks you have to follow "Using OST FF7 in the game guide" first

Using OST FF7 in the game guide:

(note that OST tracks don't cover all the midis used in the game but don't worry, I've provided the missing tracks in MP3 directory and the profiles are already set to use them) - grab all tracks from your 4 discs of OST with your favorite CD audio grabber utility (use output filename format described in next step) - the names of all grabbed mp3s must have the following format: x-yy.mp3 where x means CD number and yy means track number so for example track 6 from disc 2 (Waltz de Chocobo) should be named 206.mp3 etc. - put them all in your gamedir\ficedula\mp3\ (the directory MP3 is there already) - now you can set your profile to "CDtracks" and "Save and Exit" and then click on "Run FF7" button (game should run with OST mp3 music)

Replacing some mp3s by tracks from OST FF7 - Reunion tracks and FF7 - Advent Children (now this makes action scenes really ACTION and dramatic scenes really DRAMATIC):
(attention! highly optional tweaking) - to achieve this you should be experienced with using wave editing software like Cool Edit or something similar - here's list of some Advent children and Reunion tracks that I think are fine to be used in the game (original track replaceable --- Advent children or Reunion track applicable instead): ADVENT CHILDREN DISC 1 (Hurry) aseri or 1-07.mp3 --- 12 - Battle in the Forgotten City (from 1:08 to 3:20) horror --- 03 - Beyond The Wasteland (from 0:00 to 1:34) (Fighting) bat or 1-10.mp3 --- 03 - Beyond The Wasteland (from 1:48 to 3:42) (Fortress of Condor) condor or 2-10.mp3 --- 10 - Black Water ob --- 10 - Black Water (Aerith's Theme) earis or 3-19.mp3 --- 11 - Aerith's Theme [Piano Version] (Flowers Blooming in the Church) earislo or 1-12.mp3 --- 08 - Water (The Great Northern Cave) kita or 3-21.mp3 --- 14 - The Great Northern Cave [FFVII AC Version] (Jenova Absolute) pj or 4-14.mp3 --- 13 - Violator (The Birth of a God) lb1 or 4-15.mp3 --- 06 - For the Reunion (from 0:34 to 2:29) (Tifa's Theme) tifa or 1-05.mp3 --- 05 - Tifa's Theme [Piano Version] ADVENT CHILDREN DISC 2 (Hurry Faster!) aseri2 or 4-08.mp3 --- 03 - Those Who Fight Further [FFVII AC Version] (Those Chosen by the Planet) cephiros or 3-05.mp3 --- 01 - ~Divinity I~ (Interrupted by Fireworks) date or 3-16.mp3 --- 10 - Cloud Smiles (Crazy Motorcycle) chase or 1-22.mp3 --- 06 - The Chase of Highway (Still More Fighting) chu or 1-20.mp3 --- 07 - Savior (J-E-N-O-V-A) chu2 or 2-14.mp3 --- 08 - J-E-N-O-V-A [FFVII AC Version] (One Winged Angel) lb2 or 4-16.mp3 --- 09 - ~Advent- One-Winged Angel~ (Staff Credits) roll or 4-18.mp3 --- 12 - CALLING REUNION TRACKS (Main Theme) ta or 2-01.mp3 --- 17 - Final Fantasy VII Opening Theme [orchestra version] tb --- Final Fantasy VII Opening Theme [orchestra version] (from 3:47 to end) - note that FF7Music uses looping for all tracks so check if all of those above sound nicely when looped - you have to normalize volume of all tracks so that those new are not louder and those other from OST FF7 too quiet - you have to either rename the desired mp3s you wish to use to x-yy.mp3 format and copy to ficedula\mp3\ or you can double-click the songname (in profile) to assign the desired mp3 whatever its name is and wherever it's stored

Possible problems:
- experiencing music delays at switching scenes - it takes some seconds for the music to actually kick in. SOLUTION: If your cpu isn't strong enough to handle that you can try ff7_lessdebug by Aali (see next patch) - the first time I run a new game or load, everything is slowed down and it takes a while for music to start playing...after that everything goes just fine SOLUTION: If this really annoys you...every time you run FF7 via ff7music console open and then close configuration of ff7music before clicking "run FF7". It works for me.

8.2 ff7_lessdebug by Aali (use with ff7music) "FF7 lessdebug - preliminary fix for ff7music delay problems"

This little patch tries to fix delays at switching scenes while using ff7music - prevents ff7music to flood its console with undesired debug info thus saving some cpu. Usage:
copy all files (without directory) of ff7_lessdebug to your main gamefolder in lessdebug_cfg.txt file there are three most flooding messages (or first part of them) that are excluded from debugging...you can add more that you don't wish to display but I think that should suffice...remember to add empty line at the end of file otherwise it may not work! (see readme.txt for more details about this step) run ff7_lessdebug.exe in you main game folder (lessdebug_cfg.txt must be there too)

9. SceneRedux v1.2 by Salk

This patch makes almost all enemies morphable into items, It also prevents to steal and win the same item at once a makes the stealing rate more realistic and less frustrating. The Mod also introduces some items that were not carried by any enemy before thus trying to rebalance the underrepresentation and uniformity of the number of stealable items. More info in packed file. Installation: Just replace your Scene.bin and Kernel.bin in gamedir /data/battle with the patched ones. It's recommended to make a backup of the original files first by renaming it to scene.bin.bak or such...

that's all folks...

-miracle.flame