Dark Cloud 2 — PC port (static recompilation)

A native Windows port of Dark Cloud 2 / Dark Chronicle (NTSC-U, SCUS_972.13), built on the PS2Recomp static recompilation platform. The retail game runs as native x64 code — not emulation — with modding, scripting, and built-in online co-op.

Features

• Native PC port — recompiled R5900 code + emulated PS2 hardware peripherals (GS/VU1/SPU2), 60 FPS patch (opt-in), resolution scaling, save files.
• Built-in 2-player online co-op — host-authoritative world sync (positions, chests, events), chat/roster HUD, classic relay protocol + experimental authority mode. Play with a friend over any TCP relay.
• Mod framework — drop-in mod folders (Mods/<name>/modinfo.json): file/DATA.DAT overlays, memory patches at boot, asset packs, per-mod settings. No tooling required to install.
• Embedded Lua 5.4 — game scripts: game_frame/map_load/entity_spawn hooks, entity/player/input/memory/network/chat APIs.
• GUI launcher (dc2_Launcher) — pick your ISO, extract the game, configure graphics/60 FPS/debug options, scan mods, configure controllers, launch.
• Debug/cheat menu (opt-in) for quick warps and testing.

Requirements

• Windows 10/11 x64
• Visual Studio 2022 or 2019 (Community/Pro/Enterprise or Build Tools) with the Desktop development with C++ workload
• CMake + Ninja (VS-bundled works; build.bat picks them up automatically)
• .NET 8 SDK (optional — only to build dc2_Launcher)
• Your own copy of Dark Cloud 2 (NTSC-U SCUS_972.13). No game files are included in this repository — supply the disc/ISO yourself.

Quick start

build.bat          :: configure + build (first run downloads deps; ~30-60 min)
play_game.bat      :: play (uses DATA\ folder, DC2_ISO env var, or an ISO in the repo root)

To play you need game data from exactly one of:

Source	What to do
ISO file	Put Dark Cloud 2 (USA) (v2.00).iso (or any *.iso) in the repo root, or set DC2_ISO=C:\path\to\game.iso
Extracted folder	Extract the disc contents to a DATA\ folder in the repo root (the launcher does this automatically)

SCUS_972.13 (the main ELF, at the disc root) must be present in the repo root or in DATA\.

GUI launcher (recommended)

cd dc2_Launcher
dotnet build -c Release
dotnet run --project src\DC2Launcher.App -c Release

The launcher extracts your ISO into DATA\, writes settings to Config\launcher_settings.json, and launches the game with your chosen options (60 FPS, debug menu, resolution, mods, controller mapping).

Co-op (2 players)

Classic relay mode (recommended, proven):

tools\coop_classic_server.bat   :: run once anywhere (or a public server)
tools\coop_classic_host.bat     :: player 1 (WASD)
tools\coop_classic_guest.bat    :: player 2 (arrow keys) — set DC2_COOP_SERVER to the relay host

Experimental authority mode lives in tools\coop_authority.bat / coop_host.bat / coop_guest.bat. Details and troubleshooting: docs/COOP.md, docs/COOP_PLAYTEST.md.

Modding

• Install mods: drop folders into Mods\ (see Mods\Example Mod\modinfo.json).
• Manage mods: tools\mods.bat (or the launcher's Mods tab).
• Write Lua scripts + full API reference: docs/MODDING.md.
• HD texture packs (dump/upscale/replace pipeline): docs/HD_TEXTURES.md.

Environment variables (common ones)

Variable	Effect
DC2_ISO_PATH	ISO file to mount for game data
DC2_DATA_DIR	Extracted game folder to use instead of an ISO
DC2_PATCH_60FPS	1 = 60 FPS mode (opt-in)
DC2_DEBUG_MENU	1 = debug warp menu
DC2_COOP / DC2_COOP_ROLE / DC2_COOP_SERVER	co-op arm / role / relay address
DC2_MEMCARD1_DIR / DC2_MEMCARD2_DIR	save directories

Regenerating the game code (optional)

The recompiled game sources under ps2xRuntime/src/runner/ are already generated and committed. To regenerate them from your own ELF:

build.bat && build64\ps2xRecomp\ps2xRecomp.exe config_dc2_final.toml

then copy the output over ps2xRuntime\src\runner\ and rebuild.

Repository layout

Path	Contents
ps2xRuntime/	runtime + all Dark Cloud 2 overrides, co-op netcode, mod/Lua/HUD subsystems
ps2xRuntime/src/runner/	recompiled game code (generated from SCUS_972.13)
ps2xRecomp/ ps2xAnalyzer/ ps2xIOP/ ps2xStudio/ ps2xTest/	recompiler toolchain (upstream PS2Recomp modules)
dc2_Launcher/	C# WPF launcher (ISO extraction, settings, mods, controller config)
tools/	mod manager, co-op scripts, relays, launcher scripts, dev harness
Mods/	installed mods (example included)
docs/	modding API, co-op docs, architecture registry, dev notes
config_dc2_final.toml	recompiler configuration (453 stubs + patches)

License

• The port, overrides, co-op, mod framework, Lua integration and tools: GPL-3.0 (see LICENSE).
• dc2_Launcher/: AGPL-3.0 (see dc2_Launcher/LICENSE), originally from Red-tv141/DC2-PS2RECOMP.
• Upstream platform: ran-j/PS2Recomp, GPL-3.0.

This project contains no game assets or game code derived from the ISO at runtime — you must own the game and supply SCUS_972.13 yourself. Dark Cloud 2 is © Level-5 / Sony Computer Entertainment; this project is not affiliated with or endorsed by either.

Credits

• ran-j and the PS2Recomp contributors — recompilation platform.
• Red-tv141/DC2-PS2RECOMP — DC2 game-override lineage, recompiler config, C# launcher.
• The co-op, mod, Lua, and packaging work in this repository is an independent continuation of that lineage.