Modern AA2 installation guide

Why does this guide exist?

1. Using AAUnlimited's PPeX functionality, a repack of AA2 was created, called AA2MiniPPeX that comes preinstalled, sized down to just 4gb,  and it also runs significantly faster than the vanilla game.

2. Mods are now drag and drop, which means AA2Install, Wizzard, and ANY other external mod program is outdated.

3. AA2's gameplay has been enhanced with many new features.

4. Koikatsu isn't AA3, but SVS is 😏

Relevant as of 02/03/2025
Thank you Clay and Lani

Table of Contents

Installation

Step 1: Basics

Step 2: PPeX Files

Step 3: Other Important Mods

Troubleshooting

Misc

Community and Support

Installation

Step 1: Basics

• Download AA2MiniPPX: https://tsukiyo.me/AAA/AA2MiniPPX.xml (use a torrent client to open the file, like QBitTorrent)
• Ensure that the latest AAU and the AAU found in the mini are the same. You can find the latest releases here https://github.com/aa2g/AA2Unlimited/releases If these two versions aren’t the same, you are using an older version that will likely crash.
• Unzip AA2MiniPPX.7z and place the AA2MiniPPXfolder in wherever you plan to play it from. (If i have to teach you how to unzip a .7z at this point, then fuck off)
• Run directx_Jun2010_redist.exe located in the extra folder.
• Run vc_redist.x64.exe and vc_redist.x86.exe in the extra folder.
• Run windowsdesktop-runtime-3.1.9-win-x64.exe in the extra folder.

Before continuing, try running the game first. If the AAU launcher won’t show or the game crashes on start up, read the Troubleshooting section below. Ensure you have followed the instructions in the Tsukiyo link before continuing further.

Note: DO NOT, for any reason, delete the content in AAUnlimited Folder or run the install.bat again. AAU comes preinstalled with AA2MiniPPX, you don't need to run the install.bat

Step 2: PPeX Files

Next, you need to get a few more .ppx mods from the PPeX Mediafire: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/vwrmdohus4vhh/Mods

If you just wanna play the game and don't care about explanations on what everything is, follow these four steps:

• Download all .ppx and .7z mod packs in the main folder of the PPeX mega. This means to ignore the Alternative folder unless you're interested.
• Place all .ppx files into AA2MiniPPX\data. Overwrite if asked.
• For .7z files: Extract .ppx files and any folders you find in them into your data folder. Overwrite all if asked.
• Play (Read Troubleshooting section if you have low FPS)

If you want to know what mods they are or want to choose your own variant continue to read.

After unzipping AA2MiniPPX you will find certain .ppx files in your data folder. Those are the base game data files along with a few essential mods that come with the Mini.

Note: DO NOT download the whole PPeX Mediafire as a zip. Download them individually. You don’t need every mod in the Mediafire. The reason why AA2MiniPPX doesn't include all of these files below the chart is because a lot of these mods are constantly updated, and allows some degree of mixing and matching.

Current mods you need in PPeX Mediafire:

*Unified Personality Pack (UPP)

The UPP is a unified personality pack (duh) created by So_What. It’s comprised of all personality ports to date in one place. No more individual installs! You can download the English version of the UPP here:

Link: https://mega.nz/folder/7z5nXZJT#-OcSKkb2uwq1hi3pdHmPUA

*Tot Hairpack v9.0

A hairpack made by Tot.

Link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/72832384

*Council Clothing Collection (CCC) and Uncensor:

The current standard is Council Clothing Collection (CCC) and its uncensor 02_uncensor_CIV_v1_2.ppx.

The Current CCC is broken down into 21_CCC_CIV_v2_3a.ppx and 21_CCC_Male_CIV_v2_2.ppx. These may be found in the CIV ppx and Male CIV ppx folders in the Clothing Pack Mega linked below.

The current uncensor is found in the patreon link, it is 02_uncensor_CIV_v1_2.ppx. Do not download the set version unless you need it.

CCC: https://mega.nz/folder/Yk5yxZQA#5AiAepF37ZJ7x40XUj5Mww

Uncensor: https://www.patreon.com/posts/61540838

*3D Rooms and Morecum:

Get JapaneseMCPv25.1.7z and extract it to your data folder.

Get 20_3drooms_v18.ppx and extract it to your data folder.

After merging, you will have a single folder in your sets folder named !3drooms+vanilla_ahegao_jmcp_patch_v25.1.

The reason this folder has a ! in front of it is because it is a shadowset. This shadowset is meant to provide compatibility with 3drooms.

*Hipixel Skin:

Hipixel Version 7 includes an override folder to override old textures with higher res ones.

Drag and drop the override folder inside the zip into your data folder and let it override any potential existing files. Read readme.txt for more info about the files.

This mod also allows you to use AAU's tan tab on boys.

*Faceparts Pack:

This pack contains an override folder and 20_facesliders_pack_v543.ppx. To install, simply select the override folder and the included .ppx, then drag and drop them to the data folder. Choose overwrite all if asked. Read instructions.txt and image guides included for more info about the files.

*Faiz Kitbashes V 1.6

A collection of clothing from the modder Faiz

Link: https://mega.nz/folder/HAUSzLba#ga3EoLgj8dRikBFftgHqJA

Step 3: Other Important Mods

For the next step, get these mods to improve your gameplay experience further.

The Harderlinker: 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1d9ThkewWJ83kG_3ikjI7MefWZTyMLDZT

This is a very important tool for AA2MiniPPX as it makes using clothing textures very easy. Please read the guide included in the hardlinker.

You will need to get the harder_linker.7z The other zip will have textures to put in the folders.

Please download the entire harderlinker folder to have the correct clothing textures according to each folder.

Note: Do not use Admin Rights with the hardlinker or else several folders will be created in system32.

The Texture Starter Packs:

Inside this google doc link https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1niC6g-Xd2a2yaY98NBFdAXnURi4ly2-lKty69rkQbJ0/edit#gid=2085826690, there are texture packs compiled together here to help you. You'll want to get the Eyes, Tans, Hair Texture, Hair Highlight, and Sclera Textures.

For the Eyes pack, you will get Eye and Highlight folders, place them in AA2MiniPPX\data\texture and overwrite all if asked.

The Tans, Hair Texture, Hair Highlight, Sclera Textures will go in AA2MiniPPX\data\override. Place them as instructed in their readme files.

Modules: 

https://github.com/aa2g/AA2Unlimited/wiki/Module-list

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/86wdxunajbjpi13/AAAR8ExVfV1Y3_rDm2gx0gPDa?dl=0

Also found in your override folder is the module folder. These are essentially custom traits meant to add more variation to your cards and game. Make sure your modules are up to date, as the .ppx may not have the latest.

Standalone outfits outside of CCC:

Female: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gwmoVpKuSuF0PtEPLEB17eK_dexPaKU106ShZEpBLhg/edit#gid=112914247&range=A1

Male: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gwmoVpKuSuF0PtEPLEB17eK_dexPaKU106ShZEpBLhg/edit#gid=406008310&range=A1

List of available outfit slots, including outfits that aren't include in CCC. Most of these are obsolete and can be ignored, or can be recreated with overrides.

Cards Database:

Bepis card database: https://db.bepis.io/aa2

Mega cards database: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1niC6g-Xd2a2yaY98NBFdAXnURi4ly2-lKty69rkQbJ0

In this spreadsheet, you will find several Mega links that have AAU cards, as well as many poses and texture packs made by anons throughout the years.

Troubleshooting

1. AAU launcher won't show up

Do not put your AA2MiniPPX in folders with moonrune names, as in anything beside the standard english alphabet, the AAU launcher won't appear if you do.

2. Launch Settings for win10 to avoid crash on startup and better FPS

Your game will come with 4 available options: wined3d, win10fix original, win10fix dgVoodoo2, and win10fix dxvk. If your game won’t launch, try enabling win10fix by clicking on the toggle on the left. It’s encouraged to try all 4 options and see what works best for you:

• win10fix original - works for people who have win10 and old drivers.
• win10fix dxvk - works fine for new drivers but has some graphical glitches.
• win10fix dgVoodoo2 - is for win10fix + newest drivers. Offers best speed and stability.
• wined3d - performance is kinda meh but it should work at least.

Note: win10fix and wined3d cancel each other out, don't use both at once.

"What the heck win10fix doesnt have a settings box I can click." Yes it does, enable win10fix and then select a different script, and click back to win10fix to have the settings box appear.

If you have tried all 3 options above and still get bad fps or crashes, try them with Software vertex processing (SVP):

• Enable ‘Original d3d9’ in ”win10fix” and SVP in the Graphics tab [win10fix standard, SVP]
• If that fails, switch to "dgvoodoo2" and enable SVP [win10fix dgvoodoo2, SVP]
• If that fails, disable "win10fix”, then enable "wined3d" and SVP [wined3d, SVP]
• If that fails, enable “Type 2 Renderer” along with "wined3d" and SVP [wined3d, Type 2 Renderer, SVP]

Remember to relaunch your game every time you switch to a new combination. If none of those combinations work, you're out of luck. Your best chance is running AA2 in Windows 7 or 8.

3. Language Fixing

If you play the game as is, you might encounter the text looking strangely or get 0% chance during all interactions. To fix this, go to your script tab and change the settings of fixlocale by pressing the settings button, set it to Always.

4.DPI/Scaling/High Res Issues

If you are having difficulty running this game on higher resolution, disable display scaling for AA2Edit.exe and AA2Play.exe - right-click the executable, click on "Properties". Then go to the "Compatibility" tab:

• If you have a check box labeled "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings", check it.
• If you have a check box called "Override high DPI scaling behavior", check it and pick "Scaling performed by application" from the drop down menu.

Click "OK" when you're done and then try running the game.

5. Card edits don't save or disappear

While making a new character with overrides or sliders, DO NOT press "Open File", unless you have already saved the card you were working on. If you do this, the character will lose the AAU data you gave them.

6. “My game looks ugly and jagged, how to make it look like x”

• Set the Antialiasing higher in AAU launcher's Graphics tab
• Add a profile for the game in your graphic card's control panel to adjust the graphic settings only for the game :

Intel (Intel is trash and don't expect it to look great even after adjusting)

AMD

Nvidia

Those are suggestions, you can find more guides online

• If you're on a laptop with Switchable Graphics then make it switch to whatever isn't Intel when playing

7. For all other problems, consult the Github FAQ

Misc

How to use AAU's functions to beautify your card:

There are 2 links, read whichever you like:

https://github.com/aa2g/AA2Unlimited/wiki

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17qb1X0oOdMKU4OIDp8AfFdLtl5y_4jeOOQfPQ2F-PKQ/

Community and Support

Discord Server (READ THE RULES before joining. This guide should cover the most important errors, if you read through and exhaust all options feel free to seek help. If you skip this entire guide, join, and ask for help everyone has a right to refuse and bully you for being ignorant and lazy.)

AAUnlimited github