DarkSoft CPS1 Multi Kit: Reference Level Arcade Hardware

The definitive way to experience the Capcom CPS1 library is here. This is Dark Soft's elite arcade gaming option for one of the most beloved Capcom collections of all time.
When speaking of "no emulation" in the video, yes, I neglected to consider the FPGA used for the CPS 1.5 QSound games. Sometimes excitement gets the better of me.
Buy Your DarkSoft CPS1 kits here...
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highscoresave.com/darksoft-cp...
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www.saveyourgames.it/en/prodo...
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www.candycabclub.com/product/...
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[@stgenerations]

“I don’t have 2 friends.” 😂

[@daty2k1]

It was cool to reiterate the fact that these kinds of kits or the RT4K are high end pieces of hardware and not for everyone. What I think is often missing from the conversation is also the fact that most of the time, they are developed by just one guy or a very small company and we cannot expect the kind of prices that big companies with huge volumes can get.

[@ScarletSprites]

It’s such a small market. These things aren’t high volume where you’re taking advantage of economies of scale along with every other product you might be cranking out. Like you mentioned, this isn’t hitting shelves at WalMart.

[@christianjonker8181]

That looks awesome, so glad to see you upload something this cool.

[@ScarletSprites]

Thanks man, glad you liked it.

[@WarriorTier]

Always great seeing you back!

[@ScarletSprites]

It felt good to be back!

[@Emceemur]

Man, that was heavy duty and probably above my pay grade. But still amazing to me. Quality of life upgrades ftw. Congrats on your triumphant return to uploading! Lol

[@ScarletSprites]

Yeah, I forgot how much fun it is to edit from 11pm-12am only to realize you forgot to make a thumbnail.

[@Emceemur]

@@ScarletSprites And don't forget coming back to the upload dashboard to see VidIQ has completely redone their interface and SEO scoring. I was only gone 4 weeks yall. Lol

[@drfunkenstein2k]

@axunworks and I saw your video! Thank you for the kind plug.

[@ScarletSprites]

You’re lucky to have one man, it’s a really awesome kit. The RT4K is going to blow your mind. It’s been really awesome on the arcade boards I’ve tested it on.

[@GhaleonStrife]

This is a pleasant surprise. Great to have you back!

[@aaronreid8375]

Thanks for making a video on this kit! I love the CPS-1 games, so I've been curious about this solution.

[@ScarletSprites]

It’s definitely the penultimate. What a fun library to rip back through though.

[@AaronKraten]

Great video , I appreciate you going through this pcb. This is very helpful.

[@blackvulcan3]

Nice to see you back on YT man, X just isn’t enough SS.

[@ScarletSprites]

Hah, thanks man!

[@Evercade_Effect]

Frist off welcome back! I enjoy seeing high-end and low end options out there. For me I geek out over it and I like to educate myself as well. I think it's great in 2023 we're lucky to have all these retro gaming options out there. In the end it matter doesn't how people do their gaming as long as it brings them happiness in the end.

[@ScarletSprites]

Totally THIS. I said in the video I don’t own the kit and I don’t get to keep it. I was just happy to get to play with it and enjoy it. It’s back to MiSTer and MAME for me with these for now. So many great options across the board though.

[@DavidGarcia-qf7gc]

Good to see you back, Joe!

[@ScarletSprites]

Was fun to be back. I have some other things I hope to push out soon too.

[@profchaos354]

I was excited to see this video on my feed! I’m currently working on a Capcom cabinet that will house both a CPS1 multi and CPS2 multi that you can just flip a switch to swap between. I hope your personal life gets less hectic. I really enjoy the videos you put out.

[@ScarletSprites]

Thanks so much for the kind words. Your project sounds awesome, I had a similar thought when playing with this. Would be really awesome to have the CPS family lined up on a switcher inside a cab. Good luck!

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Darksoft does amazing work Scarlet. I can't believe how dedicated the team is on helping out the community to make this games perfect for us to play. I wish I was talented like them bro. 8^) Anthony..

[@XeCuTioNR]

Heck yeah a new video 😄

[@Chuck-RETROGAMECAVE]

:) Thanks for making this video. I've been curious about it since it was 1st talked about. For me, over the wait, I've acquired the few cps1 games I really wanted (all but forgotten worlds) so I'll pass on this but yes. It is awesome this was made and there are people who will want it in their arcade cabinet.

[@ScarletSprites]

I’m kind of in a similar position. I have Final Fight and CE. Would like a UN Squadron and Forgotten Worlds. I don’t know if it’ll happen but I totally get where you’re coming from.

[@PabstOban]

So happy to hear from you and what a video to come back with. Now you can now have a dedicated cab for each CPS line! The Darksoft arcade line is so niche… you have to appreciate that they even make this stuff when I can imagine they are probably only selling maybe a few thousand of these in their initial run before doing another production. Still haven’t gotten a cab yet, but it will happen before I die. My tiny little office can’t fit a cabinet and a Sony KV-36FV310 with the stand. If only I could find someone interested in it down the line so I can use that space for something like an Astro City or even better… an Egret II. How old is your son now? He’s gotta be 3 right? Time flies!

[@ScarletSprites]

Egrets have gotten soooo expensive. The easily rotated monitor is obviously a huge selling point though. Glad to hear from you as well. One of the downsides of being MIA from YT is not having the exchanges with the people you’ve come to know. My son is only 18mos. thankfully. It hasn’t quite been that long yet. It’s certainly consumed a lot of time though.

[@yjmechanic]

Very cool piece of kit. And I agree put your money where you will find value. Only someone passionate will see the effort and investment is worth it for the experience you get from original hardware. Good to see a new video from you man.

[@justysilverman]

Nice. Very nice. Gotta look into this for our arcade.

[@ScarletSprites]

Honestly for a commercial arcade I’d probably roll with a MiSTerCade or equivalent option. Cheaper, smaller, and easy to switch games with a BT remote. No need to open the machine up.

[@MitsurugiW]

Great video! Well worth the wait. :)

[@ScarletSprites]

Thanks man, I’m so sorry I had your board this long. I’m dropping it off tomorrow morning!

[@MitsurugiW]

@ScarletSprites All good. I've had other stuff to keep me preoccupied in the mean time.

[@kennynunez6792]

Great review! As of yet, I have not bought this set-up, yet. Im just a little gun shy paying 795 + dollars. IF, it was a little less expensive I wouldve bought this already. BUT, as a serious gaming person, its a must have: IMO.

[@ScarletSprites]

Agree, it’s certainly not something most people pick up on a whim. Capcom die harder or owners of a real cab are likely the most ideal audience for this.

[@3rdFloorArcade]

Very cool. Excellent video!

[@ScarletSprites]

Thanks man!

[@Riz2336]

Very cool, if I had a CPS1 cab I'd definitely consider getting this for it

[@ScarletSprites]

I bought the CPS2 kit (before MiSTerCade was ever a thing) and it was maybe the single best arcade purchase I had made at the time. Definitely a cool thing to run in the Big Blue cab. This CPS1 kit is equally as cool imo. I found myself enjoying it a lot over the two months I had it.

[@JT-bzzzt]

Very cool kit, I don't have the space or money to invest in this but it's nice to see it in action and hear your thoughts. Street Fighter Champion's Edition is my favorite Street Fighter 2 version as well.

[@ScarletSprites]

CE blew my mind that you could play as the bosses 😂. I like the other iterations but I always felt the speed change was literally a game changer. It changed how I played and I just didn’t love it as much.

[@gwildor8543]

Might have to get this kit for my Big Blue. Looks great.

[@ScarletSprites]

That’s honestly the ideal situation for this in my mind. I’d probably do the same if I were to pick it up. Real cabs deserve real hardware imo.

[@gwildor8543]

@@ScarletSprites In agreement 100%. It’s an expensive set, but worth it versus purchasing original CPS boards. This with the CPS2 Darksoft multi kit in a Big Blue, and you’d have a killer centerpiece dedicated to Capcom. As a fellow BB owner, we should make it happen lol.

[@ScarletSprites]

I have the CPS2 multi in my Big Blue now. I have the CPS3 superbios setup as well. Theres just one family missing from the set. 😬

[@MysticGargoyle]

Can't wait to run my MISTer with some of the CPS1 games on the Retrotink 4K

[@ScarletSprites]

I hooked that up for the first time last night. I also played a little MK8 with Switch. It’s definitely a bump but unsurprisingly not as night and day as older consoles or boards.

[@gumby510]

This looked amazing on your setup. Thanks for showing it off. Now do a new arcade tour it’s been awhile.

[@ScarletSprites]

It really has been a while. You’re not the first person to ask this today either. Maybe I’ll do a 2024 wrap up video.

[@gumby510]

@@ScarletSprites ya I need to do one as well. Waiting on Szabo to send back my Zeke’s peak panel.

[@user-nd5ww9sy2w]

Absolutely love my kit. I was one of the lucky few to get the authentic 1.5 Q1 chip.

[@ScarletSprites]

That’s really cool. I recall seeing the pics of those in the early launch.

[@dlang6487]

Same! When it showed up, I was so excited to see it had the actual chip! All goes great into Jasens awesome cases!

[@DNASlotCars]

Enjoyed the video, but also would have loved to see it installed in one of your cabs on a CRT.

[@ScarletSprites]

The CRT shots early on and I think one later of SF is from it running on the Astro City. I made the decision because of time. It’s far easier for me to leverage the Supergun setup in the room where all my recording equipment already is. It’s good feedback though and I’ll try to mix some things like that in in the future.

[@dlang6487]

I have the multi and I love it! The only mod I want for my CPS arcades are those amazing Ultra Simms for CPS3. Please make another run, Darksoft!

[@ScarletSprites]

The simms are really cool but also pricey. Since I had the multibios solution in place I just decided to roll with it.

[@dlang6487]

@ScarletSprites I also have the multi bios that I updated to work with the Ultra Simms, but since having a kid, it's harder to wait 45 mins to switch games. My gaming sessions don't even last 45 mins anymore 🤣! Thanks for the awesome content as always!

[@ScarletSprites]

@@dlang6487Having a kid is why KZbin videos now take three months to make.

[@dlang6487]

@ScarletSprites I completely understand! Makes it even more exciting when I get that notification of a new video! Congrats to you, your wife, and your families!

[@googleboughtmee]

There are so many misinformed voices on the internet, so it's great to hear from somebody who knows that CE is the best version of Street Fighter II.

[@ScarletSprites]

Hahaha. Look, we all know that Bison is ridiculous. Just don’t be the a-hole that picks him against your friends and it’s fine.

[@adonian]

Strider ROCKS.. I never finished it... Gotta get the ROM for it now.... Oh wait I have a BATOCERA build on my Win600.

[@ScarletSprites]

It’s a fun trip down memory lane. I was playing 2 at the end of summer. Got my fix for a while now.

[@jaxson3887]

Nice! It’s been a while. End of year game room tour?

[@ScarletSprites]

I’ve thought about that. It would be an easy one to knock out.

[@pacsonic9000]

I can't believe you didn't run Street Fighter 2 Mix on this thing. Street Fighter 2 Mix is a hack of Champion Edition that's a complete overhaul that adds a lot of stuff, balances, new healthbars, hyper moves, run, Street Fighter 5 voice announcer, and even Evil Ryu. It would make a good video.

[@ScarletSprites]

I didn’t show it running but yes, it’s in the rom pack and runs on the multi. As I noted with FF, hacks really aren’t my thing regardless of how “good” they are. It’s just a personal preference thing. I see it as a deviation from history and I typically don’t want that on most days, for better or worse.

[@ninetendopesaitama2107]

Seeing the efforts and money you have to spend to get an accurate arcade experience I'm glad having a MiSTer. ^^ Still interesting to see the hw which makes it possible to get a picture from old gaming hw on modern flat panels. ☮️

[@ScarletSprites]

Yep, don’t get me wrong I love my MiSTer and MiSTerCade as well. Like I mentioned in the video I was fortunate to have the opportunity to play with this kit.

[@troymeredith521]

Crazy expensive but for that true arcade feel and experience like how you really played is unmatched. This also matches perfectly in Jasen's CPS1 case for mounting the dip switch board and LCD. Put it inside an arcade cab and you got the true experience. Still expensive as hell...

[@ScarletSprites]

Yep, it’s definitely going to cost you. It’s just a matter of whether the CPS1 library is that important to you. It comes back around to my audiophile comparison scenario.

[@jerryvoluptuous9543]

Awesome stuff. Just need a Big Blue to put it in.

[@ScarletSprites]

I thought about that actually; A Big Blue with a switcher for the CPS1, 2, and 3 multi cart. 🤔

[@jonnyesper6698]

A tough sell ,but we're talking Premium here.. I already own a CPS2 darksoft, STV multi cart and recently Noami netdim set up , hard to drop that sought of coin when I have 2 misterscades and Mars just around the corner😏 But definitely getting a Retrotink 4K🤟 *take my money Mike Chi* Good to see another vid from you Joe. Father life chews a lot of time up I know... Look forward to your vid👍

[@ScarletSprites]

Thanks man! We have a lot of the same arcade hardware it seems. The CPS2 and ST-V are musts imo. Definitely agree that MiSTerCade makes things tough to justify costs of other boards and multis at times.

[@JeffYPbPr]

I restored an hs-1 cab into a Capcom play system theme and was going to do this with OG hardware via dark soft cps-2 and 1 kits but I ended up using mister via a irken labs jamma kit. I dunno. I don’t think I can go back to the hassle and price of OG pcbs. Mister is set to boot right into the cps-1 / 1.5 core and I’ve never looked back. Awesome product though. Glad there are options for people.

[@ScarletSprites]

I bought (and love) the CPS2 kit well before MiSTerCade was ever a thing. I’d never sell or unload it and I love having it hooked up as the primary board for my Big Blue. MiSTerCade running in the Astro City though? It’s compact, easy, semi-cost efficient if considering bang for the buck, and I don’t think I’d look back either.

[@JeffYPbPr]

I have a mvc board that I still wanna do the cps-2 multi on it. Mabye some day!

[@gettin_lit6594]

This is awesome little expensive for the normal person but if its your thing get after it..

[@TheGamingHoser]

Well said.

[@mayamanign]

Noice!

[@locked01]

Speaking of expensive things: will you please ask them to do another batch of NEOGEO AES carts? The stuff Terraonion is selling is horribly overpriced.

[@ScarletSprites]

I think there are quite a few people who want those.

[@ignaciojanerlopez5308]

Excellent kit but I m not enought hand skilled to built it, any way to purchase a full and complete built multi cps1?

[@ScarletSprites]

I’m sure someone from Arcade-Projects forum would assemble it for you for a small fee. I don’t think any retailers sell complete kits and they definitely don’t sell the SD cards with roms on them for legal reasons.

[@Sinn0100]

The CPS-1.5 Multi Kit costs 800 bucks? Are you serious?! Looking at your setup for this video...I would not have guessed in a million years it could be done for that price. As a Neo Geo AES/MVS/CDZ collector I understand all too well how much this stuff gets in a hurry. The kit is very clean and looks like it belongs in a stand-up cab. It gets the Pro Gear Spec seal of approval from me. ;) Question- Can the CPS-1.5 Multi Kit be used with a CPS-1 Changer? If so that would vary likely get me to jump in. I am also a pretty big Capcom fan as well. I just...I know this is weird but I prefer using a controller with a D-pad. I actually play most of my AES games with a CDZ pad plugged into my AES. The CPS-1 Changer actually comes with two 7-pin Snes controller ports which would be perfect.

[@ScarletSprites]

My assumption is that the Changer uses the right A board for this. You’d have to open the casing and install this though. I’m not sure I’d do that in this case vs. sourcing another A board to install the kit. FWIW, there are certain games that I really prefer using the Neo Geo CD pad for as well.

[@wasabinator]

Gotta wonder if simply using a MiSTer vs all this expensive hardware results in anything perceptably different? Like you say it's good to have options, but even the most diehard purists likely can't spot any difference.

[@PabstOban]

It probably isn’t much different, but going the Darksoft route is like going the NES with an Everdrive over say a MiSTer. Its appeal I imagine is that purist that finds pride in owning the physical history of the thing they love, and not just the digital. Another comparison is the CIB game collector. I mean… it’s a game, what’s most important is playing it right? Some people want the box, the manuals and any maps and posters because it completes the nostalgic experience of owning it as a kid, and sometimes just playing the rom and reading a digital PDF of the manual just doesn’t hit that nostalgic note well enough. Everyone has their reasons… but this Darksoft stuff is really cool (and so is MiSTer).

[@ScarletSprites]

I love my MiSTer too. I also enjoy MAME. There’s dozens of ways to play these games today. This just happens to be the upper echelon method.

[@dbnpoldermans4120]

How do the cps 1.5 games sound then compared to original 1.5 hardware?

[@ScarletSprites]

Indiscernible to my 44yr old ears. I’m also listening on TV speakers though. You’d probably need to compare in an audio program but at that point, does it even matter?

[@shaqirseferi3463]

"I don't have two friends" ☠

[@riggel8804]

Want to play some Street Fighter 2 CE on Fightcade?

[@ScarletSprites]

Truth? I’ve never played a single game of anything on Fightcade. I’ve never even set it up.

[@riggel8804]

@@ScarletSprites It's pretty cool. I have been playing on there for a couple years now. You can get 1cc runs of popular beat em ups or, of course, play fighting games. There is a good number of guys playing sf2ce. I played a couple games last night. All the guys playing sf2 are die hard stone cold killers at this point. It's easy to set up. I could walk you through it.

[@atariforever2002]

Ok. I'm all for accuracy but the difference from a PC emulation set up (you can get done for free or nearly) and this can no way justify the cost of this thing. Top that off with needing the correct sound board, soldering and other setup woes... Come on man. Small % of people would buy this? There's the understatement of the year. 😂 People dropping nearly 1k on this have got way more $$ then sense. This sounds more like a "bragging rights" board then anything practical. Nutz

[@ScarletSprites]

A small percentage of those people are in the comments here. I like having his other kits wired up inside my cabinets. I think that’s a pretty fair use case as well. If you’re going to painstakingly restore an arcade machine to former glory you don’t want to cheat yourself at the end of that process. I’m a firm believer that those types of projects should be running original hardware in the end, if you want to do it right. Opinions vary.

[@nickdaniels5892]

"No emulation of any kind" - Camera passes FPGA :D

[@ScarletSprites]

It’s noted in the description and is really only for the sound on 1.5 games.

[@nickmadsen2572]

Can you hook me up with that? I’ll provide 2 hugs and a fist bump. 👊🏻 Great video as always, bud!

[@ScarletSprites]

Haha, it’s unfortunately boxed up and being shipped back tomorrow. 🥲

[@nickmadsen2572]

@@ScarletSprites time for me to sell a kidney.

[@laumpolumpio]

Spending $$$$ just to play CPs1 games on """"""hoooriginool""""" hardware?? thanks, but no thanks, first of all it is not the actual "original" hardware, its a cheap pcb running roms from flash memory, then you can build a groovymame PC or a Pi2jamma and get the same results, it is just not worth it, this is only my opinion of course...which does not have much validity since I stopped using my arcade boards a couple of years ago, while there is people who play on their original PCBs exclusively and don't even think to touch emulation.

[@ninetendopesaitama2107]

Emulation is ok but recreation of hw is better talking about the MiSTer. ☮️