The ao486 is a hardware emulation core for the MiSTer FPGA. In theory it’s supposed to be more accurate than software emulation. The sound emulation should work the same way without CPU involvement. I only mentioned the CPU in case it could influence enemy behavior, since on MiSTer you can configure whether to emulate a 386 or a 486 and slightly adjust the clock speed.
The main difference is that FPGA emulation recreates the hardware logic itself, so it’s generally more accurate and has less input lag compared to running DOSBox on a modern PC with Windows, GPU drivers, buffering, etc. The CD, sound, and CPU behavior are meant to be very close to how an actual old PC would behave.
From what people usually measure, DOSBox on a modern system can introduce maybe 1–2 frames of input lag (some say up to 4, but I personally doubt it’s that high in most cases). With MiSTer, if there is any lag, I honestly can’t notice it, maybe half a frame or one frame at most. It just feels more immediate.
My first experience with DOSBox was about 20 years ago on an old Windows XP machine. Rayman ran slow because the PC wasn’t very powerful, so I tried partitioning the drive and installing Windows 98… unfortunately I deleted the XP partition in the process
good memories though.
To be honest, my overall experience with software emulation hasn’t always been great. I don’t know if it’s placebo, but I often feel a slight input delay. With MiSTer, I just don’t feel that.
Originally I wanted to play on my CRT TV, but because of signal compatibility issues (and I don’t have a VGA CRT monitor), I’m currently playing on a normal LED monitor.
Before you replied, I tried using the VHD in DOSBox-X to replicate the issue and see if the same thing happened with version 1.12, but I ran into a BIOS mismatch error and got frustrated, so I stopped trying
The version I’m currently using is 1.00, because the VHD image I downloaded came with that version. However, I also own Rayman Forever on GOG and I have a 1.12 image, so I suppose I could use one of those. The problem is I don’t want to lose my save file or configuration, so for now I’ll keep using the current image. For the levels where the copy protection triggers, I’ll just use the original image, and for the rest I’ll use the patched one. If you can tell me exactly which levels trigger it, I’d really appreciate it, otherwise it’ll just be trial and error, like everything else in this game
I only played a couple of levels with the patch so far, since I just managed to get it working yesterday. I completed some cages in the early levels, and when I played the helicopter level, the game closed twice and showed the “Thank you for playing Rayman” message. That’s when I assumed it was the copy protection, but I wanted to be sure. Allegro Presto was actually the only level where I already had all cages, so I didn’t use the patched image there.
Anyway, thank you again for your response and dedication. This is a game I care deeply about, and it brings back so many good memories, even when it trolls me.
I still remember playing the demo hundreds of times from one of those old shareware CDs and asking my dad to buy us the full game. I’ll never forget the night he came home from work and brought Rayman along with a Disney game that included The Lion King and Aladdin.
So when I start tinkering with DOS commands, struggling with mounting images or failed installations, hearing the “Perfect!” from the magician, Rayman saying “ectole!”, or watching those black-screen mini cutscenes where Rayman does silly things (which weren’t in the PSX version), it feels like unlocking memories in my brain.
Last year when I replayed the PSX version, I didn’t even remember those little cutscenes after beating the bosses
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for keeping up the spirit!
I mean, if it hadn't been for your work on the original TPLS, I might never have started iterating the concept in the first place 
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