X-Men 2: Clone Wars for PC, v1.2.0

An update of X-Men 2: Clone Wars (Sega Genesis, 1995) as a native PC game for Windows and Linux: smooth high frame rates, and the picture set up for your display.

You still need your own copy of the game. Neither zip contains anything from the cartridge (every packaged file is scanned for ROM content). The program reads the game from your ROM file each time it starts, and accepts only the USA/Europe cartridge (SHA-1 61409e6cf6065ab67d8952b891d8edcf47777193).

Changes since v1.1.1

Three and four players: fixes from a playtest

• A player 3 or 4 standing on a moving object (an elevator) was steered by player 2's controller. Each now uses their own.
• Fire walls and other chain explosions (SentinelsB2 and elsewhere) hit players 3 and 4 too. Before, they bounced off unhurt.
• Players 3 and 4 now land on floors the way players 1 and 2 do. Before, one could fall through a floor (seen in AvalonA3).
• With high_fps: player 2's health bar no longer jumps out of place in the frames in between, standing players no longer shake near a stage's ends in 16:9, and the player select after a stage no longer shows leftover sprites from players 3 and 4.

Sound: the samples play evenly (new defaults)

• The game's sound driver gets its samples (the sampled sounds in the music and the effects) to the sound chip at uneven times. sample_retime (on by default) plays them at a steady rate, each at most 4 ms late.
• sample_smooth (on by default) draws a straight line from each sample value to the next, where the cartridge holds each value until the next (a stair-step that adds high frequencies).
• Both change only the sound, never the game. sample_retime=0,sample_smooth=0 gives the cartridge's sound.
• New option fm_chip=ym3438: the FM sound on the YM3438, the later version of the Mega Drive's sound chip, without the YM2612's DAC "ladder" distortion (clearest in quiet passages). The default stays the cartridge's YM2612.

Experimental: pacing=display

• Shows pictures on the display's own refreshes (vsync). It is not yet tested on a live display, so it is off by default: the default, timer, paces as before.

Netplay: players 3 and 4 play differently in this version, so v1.2.0 refuses earlier versions online (they would desync). Every seat needs v1.2.0. The sound options and pacing are each seat's own.

Downloads

xmen2-native-windows.zip	Windows 10/11, 64-bit. SDL2 included
xmen2-native-linux.zip	Linux x86-64, including Steam Deck / Bazzite. Needs SDL2 (Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt install libsdl2-2.0-0)

Unzip and start it (or give it your ROM: XMen2.exe path\to\xmen2.bin on Windows, ./xmen2 path/to/xmen2.bin on Linux).

Windows may say "Windows protected your PC" the first time, because the program is unsigned: click More info > Run anyway. The options, controls and netplay setup are in the README.

SHA-256:

c5ba379d8bac151e3a24614c12c63d55b047d74a17a3321a107f5f5e5cddac02  xmen2-native-windows.zip
c78e4ddc54d5f71464973e3e635d72eea67496964db64ac605d0890f92dc0db4  xmen2-native-linux.zip

Built from 4ad6207. The port uses segagenesisrecomp (PolyForm Noncommercial), so these builds may not be used commercially. No rights in the original game are claimed or granted. Licenses of the included components are in each zip's LICENSES folder.

X-Men 2: Clone Wars for PC, v1.1.1

An update of X-Men 2: Clone Wars (Sega Genesis, 1995) as a native PC game for Windows and Linux: smooth high frame rates, and the picture set up for your display.

You still need your own copy of the game. Neither zip contains anything from the cartridge (every packaged file is scanned for ROM content). The program reads the game from your ROM file each time it starts, and accepts only the USA/Europe cartridge (SHA-1 61409e6cf6065ab67d8952b891d8edcf47777193).

Changes since v1.1.0

Fix: stutter at high frame rates

• With high_fps on, every few seconds the picture stuttered for a second or two, which could look like slowdown. The game wasn't slowing down: at high_fps=120 the program sent about 180 frames a second, unevenly spaced, and a 120 Hz screen dropped some of them. It now sends 120 evenly spaced frames a second (240 at high_fps=240). 144 and 165 are smoother too, though not yet fully even: frame timing locked to the display (vsync) is next.

The picture follows your display

• high_fps and widescreen now default to auto. On a display faster than 60 Hz, frames are interpolated at its rate (moving the window to another display re-checks it). On a display wider than 3:2 (16:10, 16:9, ultrawide) the stages are shown in 16:9. Both only change what you see, never the game. high_fps=0,widescreen=0 gives the original picture.
• F9 (high frame rate), F10 (16:9) and F11 (fullscreen) now say on screen what they did.

Starting without a ROM

• Double-clicking the program now plays the ROM it was last given, or one in its folder. Otherwise it asks for yours with a file picker and remembers it ([rom] in xmen2.ini). You can also drag the ROM onto the program. On Linux the picker needs zenity or kdialog.

Netplay: v1.1.1 plays online with v1.1.0. Only the picture and the program's start-up changed, not the game. v1.0.x is still refused.

Downloads

xmen2-native-windows.zip	Windows 10/11, 64-bit. SDL2 included
xmen2-native-linux.zip	Linux x86-64, including Steam Deck / Bazzite. Needs SDL2 (Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt install libsdl2-2.0-0)

Unzip and start it (or give it your ROM: XMen2.exe path\to\xmen2.bin on Windows, ./xmen2 path/to/xmen2.bin on Linux).

Windows may say "Windows protected your PC" the first time, because the program is unsigned: click More info > Run anyway. The options, controls and netplay setup are in the README.

SHA-256:

6d5deac4f0aa13e1a15b142a646c7bb156f8ebc7af2184b72fdb753c23f5a483  xmen2-native-windows.zip
9f5eab8208f4bd07d88b3800f6141a85dc114d8794ebd81ef59900f5f91bfd7f  xmen2-native-linux.zip

Built from e25a838. The port uses segagenesisrecomp (PolyForm Noncommercial), so these builds may not be used commercially. No rights in the original game are claimed or granted. Licenses of the included components are in each zip's LICENSES folder.

X-Men 2: Clone Wars for PC, v1.1.0

An update of X-Men 2: Clone Wars (Sega Genesis, 1995) as a native PC game for Windows and Linux, mostly for three and four players.

You still need your own copy of the game. Neither zip contains anything from the cartridge (every packaged file is scanned for ROM content). The program reads the game from your ROM file each time it starts, and accepts only the USA/Europe cartridge (SHA-1 61409e6cf6065ab67d8952b891d8edcf47777193).

Changes since v1.0.1

Three and four players (--options players=3 or 4)

• The player select has four columns, players 1 to 4 from the left. Each has its character's portrait, "PRESS START" or "READY", and its lives, and its cursor box carries the player's number. Players 3 and 4 are light blue and yellow.
• A Start pressed while a portrait is flying is now kept until the flight ends. Before, it was dropped, and a player could miss joining.
• Every player's HUD panel is now their character's portrait, in player order from the left: 1, 2, 3, 4.
• Fix: in the Siberia opening, when player 2 joined after player 3 or 4, player 2's HUD panel showed scrambled letters for the rest of the game. It now shows player 2's panel.

Sound

• music_voices now defaults to full: every player's music part plays in full, as one player hears it. The cartridge thins each part when two or more players are in. music_voices=1 gives the previous default (the game's thinned parts), music_voices=0 the cartridge's sound.

New option

• select_idles=1: on the player select, the characters play their idle animations now and then, as when standing in a stage, and Magneto's pick is his standing shot with the flux bomb's sound. Gambit's idle, which the original never plays, plays on the select and in the stages.

Netplay: v1.1.0 doesn't connect to v1.0.x, since the game with three or four players changed. Everyone in a session needs v1.1.0.

Downloads

xmen2-native-windows.zip	Windows 10/11, 64-bit. SDL2 included
xmen2-native-linux.zip	Linux x86-64, including Steam Deck / Bazzite. Needs SDL2 (Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt install libsdl2-2.0-0)

Unzip, put your ROM next to the program (or anywhere), and run:

XMen2.exe path\to\xmen2.bin          Windows
./xmen2 path/to/xmen2.bin            Linux

Windows may say "Windows protected your PC" the first time, because the program is unsigned: click More info > Run anyway. The options, controls and netplay setup are in the README.

SHA-256:

185d8c4994c724afdddef5ce4777e19951239a8f33685a3865038d9e1629130e  xmen2-native-windows.zip
782035da8285f222dc356a25c95bfeed6f47038cac6b18018ec2e1c236481c17  xmen2-native-linux.zip

Built from 022e467. The port uses segagenesisrecomp (PolyForm Noncommercial), so these builds may not be used commercially. No rights in the original game are claimed or granted. Licenses of the included components are in each zip's LICENSES folder.

X-Men 2: Clone Wars for PC, v1.0.1

A fix release for X-Men 2: Clone Wars (Sega Genesis, 1995) as a native PC game for Windows and Linux.

You still need your own copy of the game. Neither zip contains anything from the cartridge (every packaged file is scanned for ROM content). The program reads the game from your ROM file each time it starts, and accepts only the USA/Europe cartridge (SHA-1 61409e6cf6065ab67d8952b891d8edcf47777193).

Changes since v1.0.0

Fixes

• One controller no longer controls players 1 and 2. With a controller plugged in before launch (seen on Linux), it was assigned to two player slots at once, so one pad played two characters. Each controller now takes one slot. Unplugging a controller frees its slot, and plugging it back in returns it there.
• Four-player camera: when no player was in play, the camera's position could come from leftover memory. With three or four players this could make the game play out differently on different builds, including Windows against Linux online. It now follows players 1-2 as the original does.

Three and four players (--options players=3 or 4)

• Enemies now choose their target among all players in play. Before, they chased only players 1 and 2.
• Player 2's random character in the Siberia opening no longer duplicates player 3's or 4's.
• With music_voices on (the default), every player's part of the stage music now plays with four players. In four-player Siberia, one player's part could go missing.

Other

• If the program crashes, it now prints where (useful in a bug report).
• Netplay: v1.0.1 doesn't connect to v1.0.0, since the game with three or four players changed. Everyone in a session needs v1.0.1.

Downloads

xmen2-native-windows.zip	Windows 10/11, 64-bit. SDL2 included
xmen2-native-linux.zip	Linux x86-64, including Steam Deck / Bazzite. Needs SDL2 (Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt install libsdl2-2.0-0)

Unzip, put your ROM next to the program (or anywhere), and run:

XMen2.exe path\to\xmen2.bin          Windows
./xmen2 path/to/xmen2.bin            Linux

Windows may say "Windows protected your PC" the first time, because the program is unsigned: click More info > Run anyway. The options, controls and netplay setup are in the README.

SHA-256:

b2d9a9a4184397060f1d1abd5750ee5ef7218d2d9c0de12d7882d7ac784751be  xmen2-native-windows.zip
887ae94c8cdd4a400ad76b2b3cdc5f9a3fae2a3a28b43091d669af6297b414c0  xmen2-native-linux.zip

Built from d92922d. The port uses segagenesisrecomp (PolyForm Noncommercial), so these builds may not be used commercially. No rights in the original game are claimed or granted. Licenses of the included components are in each zip's LICENSES folder.

X-Men 2: Clone Wars for PC, v1.0.0

The first release: X-Men 2: Clone Wars (Sega Genesis, 1995) as a native PC game for Windows and Linux, built from the complete decompilation in xmen2disasm.

You need your own copy of the game. Neither zip contains anything from the cartridge (every packaged file is scanned for ROM content). The program reads the graphics, sound and levels from your ROM file each time it starts, and refuses any file but the USA/Europe cartridge (SHA-1 61409e6cf6065ab67d8952b891d8edcf47777193).

Downloads

xmen2-native-windows.zip	Windows 10/11, 64-bit. SDL2 included
xmen2-native-linux.zip	Linux x86-64, including Steam Deck / Bazzite. Needs SDL2 (Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt install libsdl2-2.0-0)

Unzip, put your ROM next to the program (or anywhere), and run:

XMen2.exe path\to\xmen2.bin          Windows
./xmen2 path/to/xmen2.bin            Linux

Windows may say "Windows protected your PC" the first time (the program is unsigned): More info > Run anyway.

What's in it

• The whole game as native code: no 68000 emulation, checked equal to the original on every frame of the test runs and the full TAS.
• Optional enhancements, each off by default: 16:9 widescreen, high frame rates (120-240 Hz), two players at the full 60 fps, up to four players.
• Rollback netplay for two to four players (LAN or internet), each player with their own ROM.
• music_voices (on by default): the music gets sound chips of its own, so sound effects and players' parts no longer cut notes out of it. music_voices=0 gives the cartridge's sound.

The options, controls and netplay setup are in the README, and --options --json lists the options.

SHA-256:

df9a6587d32eba0b8fe7d55183726a89f58e40173fb582ee06e28786fb1eff3f  xmen2-native-windows.zip
fd0b5a0e35699743c8bfc231023b7aed821e4bd0aa2dbf9ace1834bce6552fce  xmen2-native-linux.zip

Built from d71c669. The port uses segagenesisrecomp (PolyForm Noncommercial), so these builds may not be used commercially. No rights in the original game are claimed or granted; licenses of the included components are in each zip's LICENSES folder.