The MAME 2003-Plus ROMset is the best thing to happen to low-powered arcade emulation since the Pi 2. It understands that most of us don't care about Double Dragon having the exact raster effect of the original monitor; we care that the jump button registers on frame one and the ROM loads instantly.
Purists argue that 0.78 is "inaccurate." They are right—for some sound chips. However, 2003-Plus corrects the major inaccuracies in the CPS-1, CPS-2, and Neo-Geo drivers. The sound in Final Fight no longer crackles. The sprite flicker in Metal Slug is drastically reduced. It isn't perfect (see below), but it is 98% there for 90% of the games people actually play. mame 2003-plus romset
One of the most annoying things about modern MAME is the "nag screens." You know them: "This game has not been verified as working," or the endless "Press OK to continue" for the disclaimers. Most pre-built modern MAME sets require you to compile your own "no-nag" patch. The 2003-Plus core, combined with this specific ROMset, bypasses virtually all of that nonsense. You boot Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time , and you are at the attract mode in 4 seconds. No warnings, no input delays. It respects your time. The MAME 2003-Plus ROMset is the best thing
After spending two months building a dedicated bartop arcade cabinet around this set, here is my honest, long-form breakdown. 1. The "Low-Power Hero" If you are running this on a Raspberry Pi 3, 4, or an Anbernic handheld, this is the set you want. The original MAME 2003 (0.78) runs beautifully, but it lacks driver support for games like Mortal Kombat 2/3 , Killer Instinct , and Street Fighter Alpha 3 . The latest MAME (0.250+) will choke on those same games on a Pi. MAME 2003-Plus bridges that gap. It backports those specific drivers. I am getting a rock-solid 60fps on NBA Jam: Tournament Edition and X-Men: Children of the Atom on a Pi 3B+. That is borderline magic. However, 2003-Plus corrects the major inaccuracies in the