Genesis Paprium (Aftermarket) SEGA Genesis ROM

[Spike's iconSpike]

The file size is due to the music files on mp3. The actual game is 8MB. To play this on retroarch you have to use the core included, a modified genesis plus core, else the game will play a fake low res "mockup". So go to your retroarch cores folder, backup and delete your genesis_plus_gx_libretro.dll and replace it with the one included with the game. After that just load content and find the game .bin.

Download from Repo​

• Paprium (Aftermarket) SEGA Genesis ROM
• -

 

[Skull_Wanderer]

Will this run on a PSP emulator like Picodrive

 

[lorp]

Has anyone manged to get this working on a Mega SG without using an everdrive. Was hoping to just chuck it on an sd car and plug it into the console.

 

[Yoritoshi]

Doesn't work. Even after placing the modified core .DLL on the cores folder, Retroarch refuses to actually list it as an option upon loading the Paprium.bin file.

 

[ParmShellwood]

So that's why those 8-bit characters were fighting on my X6 [Handheld Console]... because it needed a very specific core... . I'm glad to know it wasn't my console's fault.

 

[molasar]

And like most of the combat is like two buttons mainly.

The best beat'em up I have ever played is Capcom's AvP and it uses 3 buttons where one of them is for special attack (shooting) only. And it has enough moves (memorable and not overwhelming) which are easy to execute.

Paprium has a move set similar to SoR3 and Golden Axe 3. It can be played with 3 buttons or 6 buttons controller. With the former combination of inputs is required to execute moves which are executed by one button with the latter. Plus the latter gives an option for taunt and to control a CPU character.

The main point is that it is not a game which limits you to do only one type of punch and jump kick.

 

[deltaminus]

Getting this game going was a lot of work, I bought a controller from China for my PC. I wanted to play this on my RG35XX Pro, but that's not possible at the moment. So much work to get one game going on my PC.

And like most of the combat is like two buttons mainly.

 

[molasar]

I think you're onto something, i did some more digging, and found this video where the graffiti shows up as well on original hardware.

look at 40:59, the video is from 2020, which means this obviously was played on an actual cartridge. The uploader says that he played this on a Sega CDX, a rare Mega drive/CD combo console from 1995. My guess is, that graffiti is probably triggered also if the game detects you're playing on a clone console, but since the CDX is so rare, it probably tripped the clone console check even though it's still a Mega Drive.

In boom box mode you can see what type of console is detected. A bad clone is shown as a pile of poo. In emulator Model 1 is shown. So I do not know what a trigger is for graffiti or video clip.

 

[neon-enzyme]

This graffiti occurs on Model 1 and 2 of OG Sega consoles with OG carts as well. And on Mega Sg too.
Maybe one of secret codes can replace it with a video clip.

I think you're onto something, i did some more digging, and found this video where the graffiti shows up as well on original hardware.

look at 40:59, the video is from 2020, which means this obviously was played on an actual cartridge. The uploader says that he played this on a Sega CDX, a rare Mega drive/CD combo console from 1995. My guess is, that graffiti is probably triggered also if the game detects you're playing on a clone console, but since the CDX is so rare, it probably tripped the clone console check even though it's still a Mega Drive.

 

[molasar]

I'm not sure if it's related, i got past this screen and got the "piracy stinks" graffiti but managed to get through police hq just fine without any freezes. Perhaps this affects something else later on? Using the latest core that is in the repo.

Edit: To add to this, i've also spotted it on this longplay i found on youtube

It's at 1:41:53, you can tell the graffiti is there in the police station and yet the game doesn't crash and proceeds as normal. Could be a cosmetic anti-piracy thing.

This graffiti occurs on Model 1 and 2 of OG Sega consoles with OG carts as well. And on Mega Sg too.
Maybe one of secret codes can replace it with a video clip.

 

[neon-enzyme]

I'm getting a very strange freeze which only happens on the police HQ route.

The craziest part is? You know if it's going to happen shortly because the poster at the start of the level is different! How many anti piracy checks does this game have?!View attachment 87752View attachment 87753

I'm not sure if it's related, i got past this screen and got the "piracy stinks" graffiti but managed to get through police hq just fine without any freezes. Perhaps this affects something else later on? Using the latest core that is in the repo.

Edit: To add to this, i've also spotted it on this longplay i found on youtube

It's at 1:41:53, you can tell the graffiti is there in the police station and yet the game doesn't crash and proceeds as normal. Could be a cosmetic anti-piracy thing.

 

[aiodjed]

paprium up & running!

 

[aiodjed]

So I'm super new to RetroArch & I can't get past the dumb mini-game easter egg, mainly because I can't even select the correct core. RetroArch keeps having me choose from a "Suggest Cores" list prior to booting it & the patched core doesn't show up as an option. Anyone charitable enough to show me the error of my ways please?

Post automatically merged: Jul 8, 2025

Nevermind, I saw someone have the same issue & used their tip, we’re Gucci now! i have the same issue

i have the same issue on android
must have overlooked the solution somehow
thanks in advance for anyone helping me out

 

[molasar]

Basically all the soundtracks were recorded or something like that, not coming from the "game" itself

Yes, music tracks were recorded while they were played in game's boombox mode on OG Paprium cart. Then they were uploaded on YT and archive websites in 2021/22. The very same files from archive were used for this hack.

But music data is compressed in a rom. And it should be allegedly decompressed into 2MB or 16Mb memory of extra chips where it is processed, mixed and modulated. Or sent after decompression to console's YM if extra cart pins can't be used (in unmodded Nomad and Model 3 consoles) for passing audio signal from external DAC.

 

[natinh0]

Distortion caused by what?
A weak hardware which can't handle emulation and external music files?
That cheat comment is not substantiated. This code does not make a weaker hardware more powerful.
What I cited about this code comes from people who own OG carts and knowledge from them was gathered on

Paprium: The Unofficial, Incomplete Guide - Wafflenet

Something which you ignore.

So yes, go touch grass if you do not know what you are talking about.

Basically all the soundtracks were recorded or something like that, not coming from the "game" itself

 

[Noside]

Bizhawk!
File > Open Advanced.
be happy :D

No thanks, plus, I don't like having unnecesary cores from other emulators, such a mess, I stay with a simple click and play emulator.

Post automatically merged: Jul 24, 2025

i've been in the emulator scene since 97, but this is really the first time (and certainly the last) that i've read this.

how on earth could you hate retroarch?!

I like single click and play emulators, unlike retroarch that force you to have cores from other emulators that I don't care or use, plus, having to naviate trough tons of options is annoying, I don't like it at all.

 

[molasar]

I didn't write the original comment. It's common knowledge that there is distortion on the sound with this game via emulation on genesis plus gx (maybe not FB neo). Plenty of people have mentioned it. Hence why someone came up with that "cheat" comment.

Now, you go touch grass.

Distortion caused by what?
A weak hardware which can't handle emulation and external music files?
That cheat comment is not substantiated. This code does not make a weaker hardware more powerful.
What I cited about this code comes from people who own OG carts and knowledge from them was gathered on

Paprium: The Unofficial, Incomplete Guide - Wafflenet

Something which you ignore.

So yes, go touch grass if you do not know what you are talking about.

 

[keefoid]

I am talking about this.
"

• B-B-Up-Down-Up-Down-Left-Right: Changes the system flag used to store what console model it is being played on to "2" (Model 2 Genesis). Can be used to resolve the system detection/compatibility "issues" (which are entirely intentional, by the way -- if a clone console is detected the game code forcibly adds random lag)

"

There is no distortion in emulator as Model 1 console is detected which is visible in boombox mode. A clone console or bad detection would show a poo icon.

So I do not know why you are trying to mislead with your uninformed comment?

I didn't write the original comment. It's common knowledge that there is distortion on the sound with this game via emulation on genesis plus gx (maybe not FB neo). Plenty of people have mentioned it. Hence why someone came up with that "cheat" comment.

Now, you go touch grass.

 

[molasar]

"To remove any distortion in the sound and performance: After pressing the "Start" button, the menu will display the options "Arcade," "Original," "Options," etc. Press the following : B, B, Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right. You will then hear a sound. The distortion in the sound and performance you will experience if you do not follow this code was actually implemented deliberately as a second stage protection by the developers.
Note: "B" Button refers to the B button on the Genesis/Mega Drive controller, not the Xbox or Nintendo."

I don't know what the hell your talking about but that's the post and info I'm referring to.

I am talking about this.
"

• B-B-Up-Down-Up-Down-Left-Right: Changes the system flag used to store what console model it is being played on to "2" (Model 2 Genesis). Can be used to resolve the system detection/compatibility "issues" (which are entirely intentional, by the way -- if a clone console is detected the game code forcibly adds random lag)

"

There is no distortion in emulator as Model 1 console is detected which is visible in boombox mode. A clone console or bad detection would show a poo icon.

So I do not know why you are trying to mislead with your uninformed comment?

 

[keefoid]

I already explained what that code is addressing. It is not a cheat code. The emulator does not detect a bad console clone. Otherwise it would be visible as a poo icon in boombox mode.
Also I still do not know what you mean by distorted sound. Some specific sound effect or music, or both. Could you be more specific about it or link videos?
Maybe people play this game on devices which can't handle mp3 files properly. That is why there is an issue.

Post automatically merged: Jul 23, 2025

fbneo uses Genesis Plus GX core which was updated (here there is still the old one). And I do not think that there is any glitching unless you mean glitches which occur on OG hardware due to hardware limitations like sprite flickering (happens in Paprium with too many sprites in one line on OG hardware). This limit can be turned off in core options but some games use this effect intentionally. Thus without this limit they would not be emulated properly.

"To remove any distortion in the sound and performance: After pressing the "Start" button, the menu will display the options "Arcade," "Original," "Options," etc. Press the following : B, B, Up, Down, Up, Down, Left, Right. You will then hear a sound. The distortion in the sound and performance you will experience if you do not follow this code was actually implemented deliberately as a second stage protection by the developers.
Note: "B" Button refers to the B button on the Genesis/Mega Drive controller, not the Xbox or Nintendo."

I don't know what the hell your talking about but that's the post and info I'm referring to.

 

[Arikado]

So for the MegaSG and the Mega Everdrive Pro you can download the pack here with the Mp3's and use the Krikzz cue converter to convert them to Wav.

You should update or downgrade your MegaSG console to 4.7 then enable Cart Audio on the system.

You should then create a folder on the Mega Everdrive Pro and put the game rom in there converting the extension from .bin to .md and put the mapper file, the cue file, and all the wav files in there.

You then need to go to cart options on the folder and change the save file to World, SRAM, 4kb, EEP wiring Unused. (you should also do this on the Paprium rom on the folder).

When you start select the folder to run the game, the screen will go black, when the LED stops on the Mega Everdrive Pro press the button on top of the cartridge.

The Mini game will load, exit the game, select the folder and run the game again, press the button on top of the cartridge, and it will now boot into Paprium.

 

[molasar]

Apparently there's another layer of copy protection that gives distorted sound. When you apply that cheat it supposedly fixes it but for me it doesn't. I've seen some yt videos with the corrupt sound but not many people have mentioned it which I found strange. Maybe they were just so excited they didn't notice.

I already explained what that code is addressing. It is not a cheat code. The emulator does not detect a bad console clone. Otherwise it would be visible as a poo icon in boombox mode.
Also I still do not know what you mean by distorted sound. Some specific sound effect or music, or both. Could you be more specific about it or link videos?
Maybe people play this game on devices which can't handle mp3 files properly. That is why there is an issue.

Post automatically merged: Jul 23, 2025

this glitching issue been fixed in fbneo latest and build nightly even fixed clipping glitch like in bion mart, chinatown gate.
if you have android or pc try fbneo..

the dev very active to fix some of the games.

fbneo uses Genesis Plus GX core which was updated (here there is still the old one). And I do not think that there is any glitching unless you mean glitches which occur on OG hardware due to hardware limitations like sprite flickering (happens in Paprium with too many sprites in one line on OG hardware). This limit can be turned off in core options but some games use this effect intentionally. Thus without this limit they would not be emulated properly.

 

[Gyro_5000]

i've been playing it on the Mega Everdrive Pro on a Genesis 1. seems to work great, but there is some graphical glitching in the 3rd stage (in multiple paths). had to convert the MP3s to WAVs myself, but if you do, make sure they're in the same folder as the rom. hopefully the glitches get figured out soon

this glitching issue been fixed in fbneo latest and build nightly even fixed clipping glitch like in bion mart, chinatown gate.
if you have android or pc try fbneo..

the dev very active to fix some of the games.

 

[keefoid]

What do you mean by the sound is distorted?
Did you compare it with YT videos showing the game which was played and recorded from OG cart?
Is your PC powerful enough to handle this emulation?
BTW this code is allegedly for OG cart when it detects a bad clone of consoles or OG console incorrectly. In emulation Genesis Model 1 is detected. Thus it is not necessary to use this co

Apparently there's another layer of copy protection that gives distorted sound. When you apply that cheat it supposedly fixes it but for me it doesn't. I've seen some yt videos with the corrupt sound but not many people have mentioned it which I found strange. Maybe they were just so excited they didn't notice.

 

[isfet]

i've been playing it on the Mega Everdrive Pro on a Genesis 1. seems to work great, but there is some graphical glitching in the 3rd stage (in multiple paths). had to convert the MP3s to WAVs myself, but if you do, make sure they're in the same folder as the rom. hopefully the glitches get figured out soon

 

[Arikado]

Krikzz got this working on the Mega Everdrive Pro, he has download links for the custom mapper file, and you have to convert the Mp3's to Wav files at 48khz. I got it working on the MegaSG with the Everdrive Pro on MegaSG firmware 4.7 but I couldn't get the audio to work.