Grandia II Anniversary Edition

3D Vision fix and several mods for Grandia II Anniversary Edition. Tested with the GOG version.


Fixed
- The game now renders in 3D and without a bad frustum culling setting, thanks to custom profile settings.
- Backgrounds and lens flares pushed to full depth.
- Battle effects that were at screen depth are now at a custom depth, but there isn't a way to fix it properly so it's just an approximation.
- Correctly scaled prerendered cutscenes and spells.
- HUD depth, toggle, scaling, etc.
- Aspect ratio mod while preserving fullscreen fade in and fade out effects.


Installation
- Download this file and extract its contents in the "Grandia II Anniversary Edition" folder, where "grandia2.exe" is.
- Launch the game, and in the launcher settings make sure "Keep Aspect Ratio" is disabled and "Shadows" is enabled. Then let the fix apply the Nvidia profile change when Windows asks you to do it.

The fix supports the HD interface mod linked in pcgamingwiki. I support the default game and that mod, but I've used that mod since near the beginning, so I actually recommend using it just in case.

Not related to 3D, I recommend using the HQ music mod too.


Aspect ratio, zoom and custom camera features

Aspect ratio:

This is a game that originally can only be played in pillarboxed 4:3 or stretched 4:3. With my fix, you have to choose stretched ("Keep Aspect Ratio" disabled) to play the game properly.

If 3D Vision is enabled in the Nvidia Control Panel, the fix will automatically correct the aspect ratio to the aspect ratio of the resolution you are using. If it's disabled and you're going to play at anything other than 16:9, you have to open "d3dx.ini", go to lines 121 and 124, and then put your horizontal and vertial resolution there respectively. The important thing is actually the calculated aspect ratio and not the resolution itself, so 2560x1440 is the same as 1920x1080, for example.

The F5 hotkey has a few aspect ratio correction presets, but you shouldn't need it.

Many of the spells of the game consist of 4:3 prerendered cutscenes put on top of the game graphics. By default, they will be centered, so they won't cover the screen completely.


Zoom:

When I was exploring caves, areas and towns, I noticed right away that the camera was too close to the characters, and I wanted to see more. With the XB_RIGHT_THUMB button or F4 key you can use a few zoom out presets that let you see a lot more of the game world, as you can see in the screenshots I posted. There is culling, but the game is very lenient about it and most of the time you'll see what you need and more.

For smoother and smaller steps, you can instead hold the 1 (zoom out) or 2 (zoom in) keys (not from the numpad). While you hold them, the camera will zoom in or out smoothly. They time out after 30 seconds, so just press them again for more zoom.

This zoom feature also makes the HUD smaller or bigger, depending on the zoom level. With one press of the F6 key you can tell the game to not scale the HUD. With another press, the HUD will be return to its original stretched 4:3 size. With the third press it returns to normal. This hotkey also applies to spells cutscenes.


Custom camera navigation:

This is another extra feature I made. Following similar principles to the zoom feature, you can use the i, j, k and l keys to move the camera in the X and Y axes. It will also move the HUD unless you use the F6 hotkey. There isn't a way to rotate the camera or move in the Z axis (the zoom feature can be used as a similar substitute to the Z axis). It doesn't modify the culling the game is doing.


Press F10 to reset the state of all hotkeys and features.


Hotkeys (the numbers are not from the numpad)
- F1 or XB_LEFT_THUMB: convergence presets. Keep in mind that battles need less convergence than exploration.
- F2 or XB_BACK: HUD and prerendered cutscenes depth presets.
- F3: HUD toggle. It doesn't affect prerendered cutscenes, but it affects spells cutscenes.
- F4 or XB_RIGHT_THUMB: zoom out presets.
- F5: aspect ratio correction presets, but you shouldn't need it.
- F6: HUD and spells scaling presets. One press: doesn't scale with zoom/camera mods. Two presses: same as one press bt in stretched 4:3. Three presses: back to default state.
- 1: zoom out when you hold it.
- 2: zoom in when you hold it.
- i, j, l, k: free camera navigation in the X and Y axes.


If you liked the fix and want to contribute for more future fixes, you can donate to this PayPal account: masterotakusuko@gmail.com