16:9 Sega Dreamcast via Flycast - Norms True Anamorphic Widescreen Project

[Warped Polygon]

So I have caught the widescreen bug for games that were made before the widescreen revolution. This is mostly 3D games of the 5th and 6th Console Generation. Whilst there are quite a few games that have native widescreen support there are hacks and cheats to unlock the aspect ratio to display a true Anamorphic 16:9 Widescreen image. NO IN GAME STRETCHING HERE. 

What is True Anamorphic 16:9? - When you set a 4:3 game to run 16:9 and that title doesn't support it, the image will be stretched. True Anamorphic is adjusted for the 16:9 space so everything is rendered and displayed with no stretching. There are 3 ways to achieve this below.
 

Native Widescreen? - Some games actually have widescreen support from the older generations. I was surprised to discover Goldeneye has native widescreen support, which would have made 4 player deathmatching wayyyyy better.
Cheat Codes? - For games that have no Widescreen support there are some coding geniuses out there that have made easily implementable cheat codes to achieve Anamorphic 16:9. A small number of games need directly patching however most use cheat codes. These are made on a per game basis and yield far better results than Emulator Hacks.
Emulator Hacks? Most emulators and cores now have a "Widescreen Hack" option. This option only works on a handful of games and is generally not the way to go as pop-in is really obvious outside the 4:3 space.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND EMULATOR HACKS ARE NOT CHEAT CODES. THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

POP-IN

Pop-in is the enemy of getting games to run in 16:9. Because games were made to display in 4:3, anything that is displayed outside of that space will pop-in and out unless something is done to manipulate the code to render everything in the 16:9 space. This is due to devs simply not needing to use recourses on displaying anything outside 4:3 in those days. As I mentioned above, emulator hacks have terrible pop-in outside the 4:3 space. This is why cheat codes are the way to go if a game doesn't have native widescreen support. Cheat codes generally just work....... but not always.

UI, HUD, FMV & Menu Stretching

When using any widescreen solution there is more often than not, some 2D elements that will be stretched or not adjusted to display in the 16:9 space e.g speed dials in racers. Even native widescreen games have 2D asset stretching as the devs didn't adjust any or some of these elements. There are some examples where this doesn't happen, mostly with cheat codes as the coding genius behind it figured out how to resize or move UI elements. Sometimes selection cursors wont line up with what you are selecting as a result of the clashing 4:3 2D assets and adjusted 16:9 assets. FMV is generally stretched also, but not always.
These are really small issues and not deal breakers. Just a small price to pay for glorious in game 16:9.

Regional Differences / 60Hz

Some titles for PAL/JP regions are easier/better to make codes/patches for over their USA counterparts. I had to change up my set to accommodate widescreen. I will be listing what region version is needed. Most games run at 60Hz thanks to codes but if not it will be in the notes section on the list.

What am I doing? What is the project all about?

Testing. Lot's of time consuming testing. Not all cheat codes work and have noticeable pop-in, ruining the experience. Emulator hacks work on very few games. I am testing most if not all games for certain platforms to see what works correctly with no pop-in using cheat codes or emulator hacks. Also finding out what region version works better as I have come across differences in pop-in. I am collating lists of working games with notes and presenting them to everyone to enjoy. These will be definitive up to date lists. For platforms like GC I will be providing ini's with the cheat codes to save everyone some time. If it has bad pop-in it gets cut.
I'm also trying to consolidate information.

Sega Dreamcast 16:9 Widescreen Games via Flycast List

The Flycast core has all of the up to date Widescreen Cheat Codes hard coded to the core itself. No copy and pasting. All you need to do is go to Quick Menu -> Options -> Emulation Hacks -> and enable "Widescreen Cheats".
Please make sure "Widescreen Hacks" is NOT ENABLED.

You will need to set RetroArch itself to 16:9. "Auto" won't work. YOU ONLY NEED DO THIS FOR NATIVE WIDESCREEN GAMES You can set the Flycast core resolution to how you want it. You may want to save an Game Options Override on a per game basis for RetroArch.

Here is the GitHub link to the widescreen cheats for the Flycast Core that I referenced. All available codes are present at this time - https://github.com/flyinghead/flycast/blob/master/core/cheats.cpp 

Native 16:9 Support - Requires RetroArch itself to be set to 16:9 & requires in game display options to be set to 16:9/Wide

AeroWings	(USA)
Donald Duck: Goin' Quackers	(USA)
F355 Challenge: Passione Rossa	(USA)
MSR - Metropolis Street Racer	(USA)
Rayman 2: The Great Escape	(USA)
Starlancer	(USA)
Test Drive: V-Rally	(USA)
Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2	(USA)
Toy Commander	(USA)
Toy Racer	(USA)
TrickStyle	(USA)
Wacky Races	(USA)

Games With Working Widescreen 16:9 Cheats via Flycast Core - Requires "Widescreen Cheats" to be Enabled

18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker	(USA)
4 Wheel Thunder	(USA)
AeroWings 2: Airstrike	(Europe)	Game Runs at 50Hz - 25fps
Alien Front Online	(USA)
Blue Stinger	(USA)
Bomber Hehhe!	(Japan)
Bomberman Online	(USA)
Buggy Heat	(Japan)
Cannon Spike	(USA)	Slightly miss aligns target overlay when locking on.
Carrier	(USA)
ChuChu Rocket!	(Europe)
Charge 'n Blast	(Europe)
Coaster Works	(Europe)
Cosmic Smash	(Japan)
Crazy Taxi	(USA)
Crazy Taxi 2	(USA)
Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram	(USA)
D2	(USA)
Daytona USA	(USA)
Dead or Alive 2	(USA)
Death Crimson OX	(USA)
Draconus: Cult of the Wyrm	(USA)
Dragon Riders: Chronicles of Pern	(USA)	Widescreen Cheat causes game to run slower.
Dynamite Cop	(USA)
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future	(Europe)
Evolution 2: Far Off Promise	(USA)
Evolution: The World of Sacred Device	(Europe)
Fighting Vipers 2	(Europe)
Floigan Bros.: Episode 1	(Europe)
Fur Fighters	(Europe)
Gauntlet Legends	(Europe)	Has a black bar at top of screen. Playable.
Godzilla Generations	(Japan)
Godzilla Generations Maximum Impact	(Japan)
Golem no Maigo	(Japan)
Headhunter	(Europe)
Illbleed	(USA)
Karous	(Japan)
La Mans 24 Hours	(Europe)
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver	(USA)
Looney Tunes: Space Race	(USA)
Maken X	(USA)
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes	(USA)
Millenium Racer - Y2K Fighters	(Unl)
Mortal Kombat Gold	(USA)
Nightmare Creatures II	(USA)	Widescreen Cheat causes game to run slower.
Outtrigger	(Europe)
Pen Pen	(Europe)
Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein	(USA)
Power Stone	(USA)
Power Stone 2	(USA)
Project Justice	(USA)
Propeller Arena	(Unl)
Rainbow Cotton	(Japan)
Re-Volt	(Europe)
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2	(Europe)
Record of Lodoss War	(Europe)	Hud and menu elements don't line up. Playable.
Red Dog: Superior Firepower	(Europe)
Resident Evil Code: Veronica	(USA)
Rez	(USA)
Rippin' Riders Snowboarding	(USA)
Samba de Amigo	(Europe)
Seaman	(USA)
Sega GT	(Europe)
Sega Marine Fishing	(USA)
Seven Mansions: Ghastly Smile	(Japan)
Seventh Cross: Evolution	(USA)
Shadow Man	(Europe)
Silent Scope	(Europe)	Miss aligns target overlay on enemies when zoomed out. Playable.
Skies of Arcadia	(USA)
SoulCalibur	(USA)
Space Channel 5: Part 2	(Japan)
Spawn: In the Demon's Hand	(USA)
Star Wars: Episode I: Racer	(USA)
Super Magnetic Neo	(USA)
Super Runabout: San Francisco Edition	(Europe)
Surf Rocket Racers	(Europe)	Game Runs at 50Hz - 25fps
Suzuki Alstare Extreme Racing	(Europe)	Slight pop-in on bike models. Playable
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage	(USA)	Slight pop-in. Playable
Time Stalkers	(Europe)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2	(USA)
Vanishing Point	(Europe)
Virtua Fighter 3tb	(Euope)
Virtua Tennis 2	(Europe)
Wetrix+	(Europe)
Zero Gunner 2	(Japan)	Code causes some pop-in. Playable.
Zombie Revenge	(USA)
Zusar Vasar	(Japan)

Games That Work With 'Widescreen Hack' In Flycast Retroarch Core

Chaos Field	(Japan)
F1 World Grand Prix	(USA)
F1 World Grand Prix II	(Europe
Fire Pro Wrestling D	(Japan)
Heavy Metal: Geomatrix	(USA)
Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX	(USA)
Mr. Driller	(USA)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater	(USA)
WWF Royal Rumble	(USA)

Games with Widescreen Cheat Codes but DO NOT WORK / Causes Pop-in

Biohazard: Code: Veronica Complete	(Japan)	Cheat will pick this version up and apply cheat codes. They do not work.
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001	(Japan)	You can see the edges of the backgrounds.
Capcom vs SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 Pro	(Japan)	Cheat Misplaces health bars and menu systems.
Confidential Mission	(Europe)	Cheat causes too much pop-in.
Deadly Skies	(Europe)	PAL Version of Airforce Delta. Cheat causes too much pop-in.
Death Crimson 2: Meranito no Saidan	(Japan)	Cheat causes too much pop-in.
Frame Gride	(Japan)	Cheat causes too much character pop-in.
Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise From the Ashes	(USA)	Cheat causes too much pop-in.
Jet Grind Radio	(USA)	Cheat causes too much pop-in.
Kao the Kangaroo	(USA)	Cheat causes too much pop-in.
Max Steel	(USA)	Cheat causes too much pop-in.
Napple Tale: Arsia In Daydream	(Japan)	Cheat causes too much pop-in.
Shenmue	(Europe)	Cheat causes too much pop-in.
Shenmue II	(Europe)	Cheat causes too much pop-in.
Silent Scope	(Europe)	Miss alignes target overlay on enemies. on when zoomed out. still playable
Slave Zero	(Europe)	Cheat causes emu to go to console/bios menu
Sonic Adventure	(USA)	Cheat causes pop-in on the right hand side of the screen only.
Sonic Adventure 2	(USA)	Cheat causes pop-in on the right hand side of the screen only.
Sonic Shuffle	(USA)	Cheat causes pop-in and graphical glitches.
Tennis 2K2	(USA)	Cheat only stretches to 16:9.
The House of the Dead 2	(USA)	Cheat causes aiming to be off. Black bars during cut scenes.
The Ring: Terror's Realm	(USA)	Cheat causes too much pop-in.
TNN Motorsports Hardcore Heat	(USA)	Cheat only stretches to 16:9.
Tokyo Xtreme Racer	(Europe)	Cheat causes distracting graphical issues.
Ultimate Fighting Championship	(USA)	Cheat causes camera to not be aligned. Euro vers has major pop-in
Virtua Tennis	(USA)	Cheat causes too much pop-in.
World Series Baseball 2K2	(USA)	Cheat causes shadow issues on models.

 

Edited March 22, 2022 by normchomsky

[Hemi-Cuda]

Are there any other steps to enable the widescreen cheats other than turning it on under core options? I've done that, restarted, but games like Crazy Taxi are still in 4:3. I've left the Video > Scaling option set to Core Defined, if I manually set it to 16:9 then the image is just stretched. The widescreen cheats don't appear to be doing anything