Hello,
yesterday it was discovered that you can by-pass the block of FAST DISC SPEED on 79K and 90K model PS2s (which were previously ignoring the setting FAST DISC SPEED and instead played it with NORMAL speed). This is due to an internal list of PS1 games that had issues for some reason and got its FAST DISC SPEED option removed even though you enable it (it had no effect).
There is a way to by-pass this check easily by inserting another PS1 game of the same region until the SONY PLAYSTATION logo appears (then open disc tray and insert your The Legend of Dragoon Disc 1). It will boot up as normal but it will have ENABLED the Fast Disc Speed on a 79K or 90K model. But there is more...
All Japanese PS2 consoles seemed to ban Fast Disc Speed on JP version. The current records in JP board use "NORMAL" speed at the moment, but now you can run with FAST.
Details about how the block works:
- Some games have its GAME ID blocked due to issues that can cause softlocks or similar issues. In some cases the issues were so extreme that the PS2 had to block FAST DISC SPEED option since it broke some games. It's true that Dragoon would softlock 100% somewhere if you use dragoon during some boss battles, but that's not due to Fast Disc Speed... They didn't know that so my guess is that they banned it due to too many issues. Want to see it softlock? Try Dragoon on Lenus 2 and you won't get past the EXP screen.
PS VITA/TV has banned some games from using Fast Disc Speed: The Legend of Dragoon (JP/US), Final Fantasy VIII + Final Fantasy IX. To by-pass the check you change the game's ID which is normally looking like this:
- Disc 1 (Disc ID SCUS94491 + Game ID SCUS94491)
- Disc 2 (Disc ID SCUS94584 + Game ID SCUS94491)
- Disc 3 (Disc ID SCUS94585 + Game ID SCUS94491)
- Disc 4 (Disc ID SCUS94586 + Game ID SCUS94491)
So to by-pass it you would change both the Disc's ID and the GAME ID to something else like Wing Commander 3 (4 disc game on PS1). Game will work like normal with saves being displayed as The Legend of Dragoon even though the GAME ID is Wing Commander 3. Only thing that happens is that you avoid the ban list of the PS VITA/TV to automatically disable Fast Load Speed (same as Fast Disc Speed on PS2).
This could be useful even if you just want to play casually with enhanced read speed. That's it. Merry Christmas!
In summary, to enable Fast Disc Speed on consoles that have Legend of Dragoon blocked from using Fast Disc Speed (such as 79K and 90K PS2 Slim models):
- Insert another game that allows Fast Disc Speed.
- Turn on Fast Disc Speed like normal.
- Close the disc tray to boot up the game.
- When the Playstation logo screen appears, quickly open the disc tray and insert Legend of Dragoon Disc 1 and close the disc tray.
- The game should boot up with Fast Disc Speed still enabled.
- To check that Fast Disc Speed is working, the timing from New Game to Rose's first text box appearing with Fast Disc Speed should be ~3:18.5. With Standard Disc Speed, this text box doesn't appear until after 3:20.
@Deathtome Have you verified that this method works with JP console as well?
Every console is different I think. Games any true gamer would have would be like ff9, chrono cross, ect
For PS2 I don't know of any other game that is blocked besides this one. There could be others but if there are other games I would guess it's only like 2-3 games of the entire PS1 library.
However... the PSTV/PS VITA have blocked a lot more PS1 games from using FAST DISC SPEED because they have known issues when you load faster than was intended. Mostly it will be fine to run with Fast Disc Speed but if you by-pass the block you could get unintended softlocks or similar game freezing issues at random if you are unlucky.
Dragoon was plagued by softlocking issues in the past, especially while using dragoon form. The speedrun routes today utilizes dragoon form in a minimal amount so it's not a major issue anymore. The same crashes do happen in digital versions of this game too just like PS2. Those never happened on original PS1 hardware. :)
