Duckstation Rollback: Setup Guide
Current rollback version: v0.4
Github Last updated: Sunday, July 30th, 2023 @ 9AM EDT
Have something to add to this guide? Contact me on Discord: @yuri_bacon
Join the Duckstation Netplay Hub Discord!
Direct Mode vs Traversal Mode
Short answer: use Traversal mode.
Direct Mode requires the host to port forward and share their IP address, or for everyone to use a VPN software like ZeroTier or Radmin (which isn’t covered in this guide anymore).
The easier and more preferable solution is Traversal Mode. It handles all of the port opening and IP addresses and everything for you, and replaces it all with a simple host code. When the host starts the netplay session, they are given a host code to share with other players. Everyone else can join by simply entering in the host code.
Download Links
First Time Setup
Download duckstation from the link above. Find “duckstation-netplay-windows.zip” in your Downloads, right click on it and select “Extract All…”. You can extract duckstation to wherever you’d like. Once done, open duckstation.
BIOS: Before changing any settings, you’ll need to download the PS1 BIOS from the above link. Click on the “Settings” drop down, and select “BIOS”, then click the “Open in Explorer” button. Copy the BIOS from your download folder to here.
GAME LIST: Next, you’ll need to make sure you see the games you want to play in the main window’s game list. If not, you’ll need to go to “Settings” -> “Game List”, and click on the + icon in the top right and select the folder with all of your games in it.
CONTROLS: Click on the “Settings” drop down, and select “Controllers”, then configure the player 1 controls (these will be used in netplay, even if you’re player 2). “Automatic Mapping” in the top right of the window can speed things up, but double check your mapping afterward.
CHAT HOTKEY: Finally, go to “Settings” -> “Hotkeys”, and you can find “Open Netplay Chat” in the list of hotkeys. This will open up a chat bar for you to send messages in game.
That should be it! Double check with your game’s community if anything else should be configured, such as complete save files, CPU overclocking, Gameshark cheat codes, netplay save states, etc.
Hosting Netplay
To start hosting netplay, start by opening the game from your game list. Then, click on the Netplay drop down, and select “Create Session…”. You will get a pop up window asking you for a few different settings. Enter your nickname, and a password if you’d like (or leave it blank if it’s a bother). Port can simply be left at the default. Make sure to check “Traversal Mode”!!
The most important setting is “Input Delay”. How far away you are away from your opponent, and how stable each of your internet connections are, will affect how many delay frames you need. If you’re unsure, start with 2, and work from there. If you are getting stutters, raise the input delay.
When you’re ready to start, simply click OK. If you can’t click okay, maybe sure “Players” is “2”, that “Input Delay” is not above “10”, and that your nickname is not empty.
Joining Netplay
To join someone who is already hosting, click on the Netplay drop down, select “Join Session…”, and switch to “Traversal Mode”. Enter your nickname, and the password if the host used one. Port should be left at the default. Input delay should be set to the same number the host used. Finally, the host should give you the “Host Code”, which will let you join them (otherwise, enter the host’s IP address in “Hostname” if using Direct Mode).
To join as a spectator, just click the “Enable Spectator Mode” check box in the lower left (up to 4 spectators are currently supported).
Ah! Desyncs! Crashes! Help!
If you’re having issues with desyncs or crashes, try the following.
- Make sure you’re both using the latest build! Older builds have desync issues, and are incompatible with each other. If in doubt, just redownload duckstation from the link above.
- Make sure you are both using the same BIOS! If in doubt, you should both redownload your BIOS from the links above. Open Settings → BIOS, and click “Open in Explorer” to find the BIOS folder.
- Make sure you are both using the exact same gameshark cheats! If in doubt, share your cheat file (found in the “cheats” folder) with each other, or just disable cheats.
- Open Settings → General, and hit “Restore Defaults” in the lower left, then close and reopen duckstation. You might have an enhancement setting turned on that is causing desyncs, but in newer versions this is unlikely (settings that cause desyncs are synced with the host during netplay sessions).
Game Specific Setup
Hey, got some niche esoteric bullshit that your game needs to make it *just so* for competitive play? Or simply need a complete save file? Contact me on Discord (@yuri_bacon) for suggestion access, then go ahead and add it down below! Please just keep the formatting in line with everything else, and I’ll approve the suggestion when you’re done shitting all over the page. Oh and fuck it, drop your community’s discord link too, but just the one link!
Formatting Rules:
- Keep the games in alphabetical order.
- Titles should be centered and bold.
- Paragraphs should be double-spaced, with an extra blank line between games.
- Links should be embedded, like this example link, with the color changed to the 4th blue from the right, 2nd down.
Armored Core Gen 1 (Project Phantasma + Master of Arena)
Join the Discord to download the AC Gen 1 netplay pack. Extract the pack and everything should already be set up except for the location of the games folder, which is _games inside the folder. Once that’s set up, the saves included have all parts unlocked and a beginner AC ready to go, allowing you to hop right in or make an AC of your own. If you wish to make your own AC prior to playing and netplay with it, make sure to share the memory card with your AC in it and have both players put said memory card in the same slot. Alternatively, you can share your save with your opponent and have it in the exact same spot in the memory card, but this is easier to mess up and get a desync. Note, the Japanese version of MoA is used since the radar is broken for player 1 in the NTSC version.
Digimon Rumble Arena
Simply download the True OG Edition hack, which includes everything unlocked by default, as well as no items / no stage hazards hacks all built in.
Goiken Muyou II Anarchy in the Nippon
Translation of menus. Credit to blackwind677 on GameFAQs for translation of all menu content.
Memory Card Save. Extract this into your memory card folder. It contains all characters unlocked, and all costumes. To get bonus characters, scroll off the character select screen. To get bonus costumes, hold up when selecting a character. If you already have a Goiken Muyou II memory card, delete or rename it before extracting the linked save. Credit to blackwind677 for the save file, uploaded to GameFAQs.
Gundam Battle Assault 2
Duckstation Cheats .cht file. Drop this file into your cheats folder. By default, it’s:
<This PC\[Drive]:\DuckStation\cheats>
Load the game, then from the Cheats Manager in Duckstation, you need to press [Import…], then select the cheats file.
Make sure the 60 FPS and Hidden Mechs cheat is activated. To prevent the codes from causing a desync, make sure to set a non-zero value to input delay when connecting with someone.
To select the hidden-on-disk characters (2P vs. only), select a character as usual with start for alt color or the other buttons for standard color, then press a shoulder button on "Level" (Handicap) select to change the character to the hidden character. Now with audio prompts! Deselect and reselect to revert to the character highlighted.
L1 = The-O
L2 = Zeta Gundam
R1 = Qubeley
R2 = Hamma-Hamma
Memory card save. Drop this .mcd file into your memory card folder. By default, it’s:
<This PC\Documents\DuckStation\memcards>
A 180% overclock setting seems to remove all the in-game slowdown and is the current recommended setting when playing. You can change this setting in Settings → Console (move the slider with the arrow keys if you can’t get exactly 180% otherwise).
Kamen Rider
Memory card save. Extract this into your memory card folder. It contains all characters and costumes unlocked, but not all of the Rider Cards (meaningless for gameplay). It’s important that both players have the same memory card save. If you already have a Kamen Rider .mcd file, delete or rename it before downloading the linked save. A guide about the game and its modes can be found here, it might be required since it’s in Japanese only.
Kamen Rider Kuuga
Memory card save Extract the corresponding file to your memory card folder. Has all the characters, secrets, and digital cards unlocked. It’s important that both players have the same memory card save. If you already have a memory card for this game, please delete or rename it before extracting the linked save.
Kamen Rider Agito
FAQ (courtesy of kenyuen1 of GameFAQS) translates the menus and fills in the other stuff as all of the game is in Japanese
Guide (courtesy of Mazinger_Kaiser of GameFAQs) all of the characters’ movesets and translates the menus as all of the game is in Japanese
Memory Card save (a pack of mcd files courtesy of Nootos) Extract that zip and go copy the Agito save to your memory card folder. It contains everything unlocked (to our knowledge). Certain characters are exclusive to certain modes. It’s important that both players have the same memory card save. If you already have a memory card for this game, please delete or rename it before extracting the linked save.
Kamen Rider Ryuki
Memory card save. Extract the corresponding file to your memory card folder. Has all the characters and cards unlocked plus 999 card points. It’s important that both players have the same memory card save. If you already have a memory card for this game, please delete or rename it before extracting the linked save.
Kensei Sacred Fist
Memory card save. Extract this into your memory card folder. It contains all characters unlocked. It’s important that both players have the same memcard save. If you already have a Kensei memory card, delete or rename it before extracting the linked save.
Mortal Kombat Trilogy
Game File. For Tournament standards, among other things, this file is preferred. Furthermore to enhance loading times and avert issues - Go to Settings -> Console -> CD-ROM Emulation then change Async Readhead to 32 Sectors; change Read Speedup to 10x (20 speed); and finally change Seek Speedup to 10x.
An example of how it should look:
Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger
Memory card save. Extract the corresponding file to your memory card folder. All modes, characters, and stages unlocked. It’s important that both players have the same memory card save. If you already have a memory card for this game, please delete or rename it before extracting the linked save.
As all of the game is in Japanese: here’s a visual tutorial on how to access 2P VS mode:
Go highlight the menu item on the bottom-center-left and press circle.
Then, go highlight the menu item on the bottom-center of the screen and press whatever you mapped your circle button to
Now, you’re set!
Movelist (courtesy of Ned) A guide detailing all of the characters’ movesets.
Real Robots Final Attack
Savestate. Seeing as the game doesn’t save anything to a memory card, I created this savestate with all the characters unlocked. Extract the mcd file to your memory card folder and the sav file to your savestate folder. Make sure that both players have the same memory card and savestate and load the latter after both have joined one another by going to “System > Load State > Game Save 1” inside the game window. If you already have a savestate in the 1st game save slot and a memory card for this game, then please delete or rename them before extracting the files included in the zip.
Mini-FAQ (courtesy of SephirothX of GameFAQs) This explains how to do super moves in this game.
Tekken 3
Simply download this ISO which includes everything unlocked by default without the need for a memory card or cheat codes.
Thrill Kill (US, Final Beta)
Memory card save. This save has autosave disabled, all the stages and characters unlocked, as well as the alternate costumes unlocked (available by holding L1+L2 during selection).
Touki Denshou: Angel Eyes
Memory card save. Extract this into your memory card folder. It contains all characters and modes unlocked. It’s important that both players have the same memcard save. If you already have an Angel Eyes memory card, delete or rename it before extracting the linked save.
Trap Gunner
Xenogears (Disc 2)
Memory card save (updated 4/13/22). Extract this to your memory card folder. Both saves have all
Gears unlocked and are in a room where the VS minigame can be accessed. The first save is a normal save for those who simply want to play. The second save is in the debug room, where it keeps the active song. This room numbers songs, so use this guide to see what the songs are.
PS1 FGC Discord List
Because people just started throwing their games in the esoteric information section just to add their Discord link, despite not having any esoteric information at all, or even a memory card file. If all you got to slap down is a discord link, please keep it to just this table!
Armored Core | |
Bushido Blade 1 & 2 | |
DESTREGA | |
Digimon Rumble Arena | |
Gundam Battle Assault 2 | |
Hot Shots Golf/Everybody’s Golf 1 & 2 | |
Tekken 1 2 3 | |
Thrill Kill | |
Trap Gunner | |