Darksoft CPS-2 output for the Arcade Patches kits

[strygo]

Downloads and instructions at arcadepatches.com
Tools update of October 22, 2026. Game versions and file names are unchanged.​

Sixteen of the Arcade Patches kits can now write ready-to-copy game folders for the Darksoft CPS-2 multi, next to the MAME, HBMAME and MiSTer outputs they already make.

Each kit builds the game on your own machine from the files you already own, as before. Ask for the Darksoft output and it also writes one folder per edition and region: the flash files, the key and the menu name. Copy the folder to your card's games folder and the game appears in the Darksoft menu, named in the pack's own style.

How to build it​

• The English restorations, translations and the two Enhanced editions of the Street Fighter II and Marvel kits: run python3 apply.py --rompath YOUR_ROMS --platform darksoft --out-dir out. Your arcade romset is the only input, as before.
• Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold and Alpha 2 EX: use the same disc and region options as before and add --platform darksoft.
• Ultra Street Fighter II: use your Switch files and keys as before, with --platform darksoft --audio 8.
• Copy only the folder you want from out/darksoft/games/ to the card. --platform all now includes it too.

What you get​

• The finished game: every restoration, translation and enhancement the kit makes, with the original key.
• Where a kit has a smaller and a larger sample version, the Darksoft folder uses the larger one, the same sound the HBMAME set has. That covers Alpha 2 Gold, Alpha 2 EX and Ultra Street Fighter II. Ultra keeps its native music and sound effects, with the MODERN and CLASSIC choice.
• One folder per edition and region, so the original games and each build sit side by side on the card.
• Menu names that match the pack: fourteen characters, then =U, =J, =E or =A for the presentation. R marks a restoration and T a translation.

The kits​

• Street Fighter Alpha: SFAlpha R =U, =A and SFZero R =J
• Street Fighter Alpha 2: SFAlpha 2 R =U, =A and SFZero 2 R =J
• Street Fighter Alpha 3: SFAlpha 3 R =U and SFZero 3 R =J
• Street Fighter Zero 2 Alpha: SFZero2Alpha R=A
• Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold: Gold =U, Dash =E, and the two Zero 2 Dash builds =J and =A
• Street Fighter Alpha 2 EX: SFAlpha 2 EX =U and SFZero 2 EX =J
• Super Street Fighter II Turbo: Grand Master Challenge: SSFII T GMC =U
• Super Street Fighter II EX: SSFII EX =U and =J
• Ultra Street Fighter II: Ultra SFII =U and =J
• Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter: MSH vs SF R =U and =J
• Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter EX: MSH vs SF EX =U and =J
• Vampire Savior: VampSavior R =U
• Vampire Savior 2: VampSavior2 T =U
• Night Warriors 2: NightWarrior2T=U
• Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors: Darkstalkers R=U
• Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge: NightWarrior R=U

What isn't included​

• The Vampire Savior, Vampire Savior 2 and Night Warriors 2 Arrange editions go beyond a standard CPS-2 game, so they have no Darksoft version.
• CPS+ and NG+ play streamed replacement soundtracks, which need their own hardware logic. A game folder can't carry them.
• Final Fight EX is CPS-1 and the Alpha 3 Upper GD-ROM patch is a NAOMI disc, so neither is a CPS-2 card game.

Updating​

Download the kit again from its page. Each shows "Tools updated 2026-10-22" and keeps its game version and file name, so nothing about the games changes. Every output you already make is byte for byte the same.

As always, nothing here hosts game data. The kits are tools only, and everything is built from your own files.

Questions, problems and requests are welcome in this thread.

 

[arcadeaction]

This would work on the original Darksoft CPS2 multi that to my understanding does not use encrypted ROM versions yes? I do own the original CPS2 SSF2T board.

 

[strygo]

This would work on the original Darksoft CPS2 multi that to my understanding does not use encrypted ROM versions yes? I do own the original CPS2 SSF2T board.

These all use the encrypted rom sets.

 

[arcadeaction]

Ok, I believe there was a way to update the original Darksoft CPS2 kit to use encrypted ROMs. Will have to look into that, and then figure out the instructions on this. Looks like an amazing way to enjoy more from these great games. Looking forward to trying the versions with new music etc also.