How to Play Metal Gear 2 on Emulators

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How to Play Metal Gear 2 on Emulators
Last update : May 28, 2000

This page is for those impatient emulator users who prefer to start playing Metal Gear 2 .rom file within split seconds.
Note this page does not cover Macintosh, Unix, or anything that is not covered in this page (hey).
BrMSX instructions are not yet ready. Sorry!

(1) Use fMSX-DOS

fMSX-DOS requires knowledge with MS-DOS commandline, which I would like you to learn in somewhere else. Well, here is instruction useful for those who have faintest idea with MS-DOS. ;)
General information about fMSX-DOS, the MS-DOS based MSX emulator, is here. Since some of you aren't curious enough to learn all the architectures, here is the least info required to run Metal Gear 2.

1.1 Install fMSX-DOS

1.1.1 Go to, well, here and download the necessary archives. Also, download solide12.rom from here.

1.1.2 Decompress the downloaded archives, and put the files into one single folder.(a distinguishable folder name like "mg2fmsx" is recommended)
Your folder should contain at least the following files;

1.1.3 Make sure to have a .dsk image to save the game to.

How To Create A Save Disk

Method 1 (prior knowledge with fMSX-DOS required)

a. Run fMSX without any disk image or external ROMs (such as game ROMs) specified. (Ex: Just type "fmsx-dos", from MS-DOS)

b. You will enter MSX BASIC. Type in "CALL FORMAT" and press ENTER. The current disk image (always drivea.dsk) will be formatted. You can then change the name of the file into whatever name you like, like "mg2save.dsk".

NOTE: If you wish to use a name other than "drivea" for fMSX-DOS, you must specify one! Type "fmsx-dos -diska NAMEOFDISK.dsk" (Ex: "fmsx-dos -diska MG2SAVE.dsk")

If you use a different name, a batch file with the appropriate commands must be created.

Method 2 Use Diskmgr. Make sure to save in same "game folder" specified in 1.1.2.

1.2 Run fMSX-DOS

1.2.1 To start playing the game, you need to execute appropriate commandline from MS-DOS prompt.
Firstly, choose "MS-DOS prompt" from Start menu.

1.2.1 Then go to the directory you specified in the procedure 1.1.2, by typing "cd \foldername" then return.

1.2.2 Startup fMSX-DOS with solide12.rom. The following line works fine for most cases.
<I><FONT FACE="Courier New" SIZE=2 COLOR="#ffff00"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">fmsx-dos -msx2+ -video 1 -ifreq 60 -rom 2 solide12.rom -diska
You can even download a .bat file by clicking here. Just put the solid.bat file in the game directory ("mg2fmsx" in this case), proceed to procedure 1.5, then type in "solid" from MS-DOS commandline, and off you go!!

(2) Use RuMSX

RuMSX is a Windows95/98/NT-based MSX emulator with a lot of usable features. You need at least MMX 200 CPU to play Metal Gear 2 at original speed.

2.1 Install RuMSX

See here.

2.2 Run RuMSX

2.2.1 Obtain solide12.rom or whatever Metal Gear 2 ROM image.

2.2.2 Double-click the ROM image, which, after installation of RuMSX, would look like. RuMSX will boot up automatically.

Alternative method; double-click icon of RuMSX. RuMSX boots up. Then press button. Press "Change" and choose the ROM image, check "Reboot MSX" box, then press "OK". Metal Gear 2 will start.

2.2.3 When the need to save the game arises, you should "insert" a disk image.

Firstly, you must make a new disk image.

2.2.3.1 Download Diskmgr.

You can read general info here.

2.2.3.2 Click icon to boot Diskmgr.

Then carry out following steps to make a new disk image.

Select New.

Selet Disk format/capacity.

Select Save as.

You can save your Metal Gear 2 save disk image in any name, and in any location you like.

Specify file location and name. <- Example.
After saving. <- After saving the image.
Now you can "Exit" Diskmgr.

2.2.3.3 Before you save the game while playing Metal Gear 2, press button in RuMSX, then choose the disk image you created in step 2.6.2.

The game data will be saved into the disk image. In next occasion of gameplay, make sure to "insert" the disk image you previously saved to.

2.2.4 If RuMSX is in TR800 mode, Metal Gear 2 would run too fast. If you want to play slower, carry out as follows. Note this cause the game to terminate; make sure to save prior if necessary.

Then press OK.

RuMSX (and Mgear2) will boot again in slower (Z80) mode.