[MUA1] Mod Installation Guide for PC - MO2 Method

BaconWizard17 · January 05, 2023, 04:00PM

MUA1 MOD INSTALLATION GUIDE FOR PC - MO2 METHOD
CHAPTER 1: WELCOME

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
Welcome to the MUA1 Mod Installation Guide! This tutorial covers everything you need to know to mod your copy of the 2006 version of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. This tutorial discusses how to add mods to the PC version. Specifically, this tutorial covers the Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) method for installing mods. There are two methods for installing mods on PC: The MO2 method and the direct method. The MO2 method is beneficial for the following reasons:

Mods are all stored separately from the main game files, so you won't lose any important files.
You can easily see which mods are currently installed.
Mods can be removed with a single click, which helps with testing mods or getting rid of files that are causing problems.
You can control which files overwrite each other.
You can update a mod without having to reinstall your game files or other mods.
It's easier for others to help you solve issues in your game.

Although there are more steps when using MO2, it has great benefits in the long run. You will need a 64-bit PC to run MO2, and you also need Windows 10 or 11. If you don't have a 64-bit PC or the correct version of Windows, or you would prefer to use the direct method to install mods, you can check out the MUA1 Mod Installation Guide for PC - Direct Method.

YouTube video for this chapter (Coming soon!)

How to Use This Tutorial
This tutorial is broken up into several chapters:

Chapter 1, which is this chapter, is the introduction and connects everything together. It's where you start.
Chapter 2 teaches you how to install the game.
Chapter 3 shows how to install and configure MO2, which is the program that you'll use to install mods.
Chapters 4-11 show you how to install different kinds of mods. The only required mod is the official characters pack, which is discussed in Chapter 4.
Chapter 12 shows you how to play the game.
Chapter 13 contains additional tutorials and information that may help you mod your game.
Chapters 14-16 will help with solving issues you may have.

This tutorial is long, but it contains almost everything that you need to mod your game. You only need to follow the steps that apply to the types of mods that you want to install. The steps are not difficult, but take your time reading through the information, and only change a few things at a time. If you're struggling, try working through the tutorial with a friend or family member. After all, two heads are better than one!
Most community members had never modded any games before, but have been able to install all the mods that they want to use using the tutorials and information from our community. If you run into any issues on your modding journey, we're always happy to help. Read through chapters 14 and 15 first to check for common issues. If nothing in the tutorial helps you, you can visit Chapter 16 to see how to properly ask for help in the #help❗ channel of our Discord server.
If you're more of a visual learner, this tutorial will gradually be filled in with video tutorials on our YouTube Channel. You can already find some older videos there that may contain helpful information. The Library of Links is your one-stop shop for all additional links that you may need.

Marvel Mods Discord Server

Library of Links

Marvel Mods YouTube Channel

Helpful Tips
Before you get started, there are a few more things you need to know that will make modding (and using this tutorial) much easier.
First, enable file extensions and hidden folders in File Explorer. To do this on Windows 10, go into any window of File Explorer and click "View" at the top. Check the boxes for "File name extensions" and "Hidden items". On Windows 11, go into any window of File Explorer and click "View," go to "Show", and click "File name extensions."

Next, Windows Defender or other antivirus programs may say that the programs or mods here are unsafe or contain some sort of virus. All the mods and programs have been tested to be safe by our community. If you have any concerns about a download, you can ask in our Discord server. You can set these programs and your game files to be on your antivirus program's exception list to prevent any issues. Each antivirus software has a different process for this, but you can easily find out how to do this online.
In this tutorial, I've put some information inside of sections that can be expanded. This makes it easier to look through the information and only expand what you need to see. Whenever you see one of these sections, it will say "Expand to see Steps". Click on the bar to expand it, and you'll see the additional information.

Lastly, if you see an image that's too small, you can click on it to make it bigger. When you're done with the image, you can click on it again to make it smaller. This will only apply to static images; gifs will be shown in their original size.

Where to Go Next
To get started modding the game, go to Chapter 2 of this tutorial. If you have a particular topic you want to know more about, you can visit the chapter that discusses it. Each chapter is linked below in the Table of Contents. Each chapter also has links that will tell you where to go next. Just click the link and you'll go to the chapter that you need!

Table of Contents

Credits/Thanks
Man, how can I possibly thank everyone who's helped with this tutorial. There are so many people that have had a hand in different aspects of this tutorial, from giving advice and instructions to creating new useful tools. This list is non-exhaustive, and I would be happy to add you if you're missing. But a huge thanks to ak2yny, BLaw, Ceamonks890, Enchlore, Enigma, jayglass, Kako Clanworth, Lags, LarsAlexandersson, Maegawa, MelloMods, MrKablamm0fish, Nicaras, Norrin Radd, Outsider, Rampage, Teancum, THX, Tony Stark, UltraMegaMagnus, and all the other hardworking members of our community. Thank you for all that you do! If you feel you've contributed to this tutorial and I've forgotten to include your name, please let me know.

BaconWizard17 · January 06, 2023, 04:44PM

MUA1 MOD INSTALLATION GUIDE FOR PC - MO2 METHOD
CHAPTER 2: GETTING AND INSTALLING THE GAME

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
This chapter shows how to install the 2006 PC version of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Most of the MUA1 mods on the forums are created for this version of the game. The PC release of the game has been archived, meaning that a free, legal download of the game is now available.

YouTube video for this chapter (Coming soon!)
Our older YouTube video (Follow from 0:00 to 2:30)

2006 PC vs Steam PC
Although MUA1 did get a re-release ("remaster") on Steam in 2016, we don't recommended modding that version of the game. The original 2006 PC version can have all of the features of the Steam version and more if you install certain mods. The 2006 version also has full support for mods compared to the Steam version, and it has better controller support. Because of all this, you should not use the Steam re-release for modding, and you should only use the 2006 PC version.

Downloading the Game
If you don't already own the game, you can find a free, legal, archived copy of the game at this link. Even if you do have a physical copy of the game, it's best to download the archived copy so that you can follow along and have the exact same files. Here's how to properly download it:

Expand to see steps

Go to the download link provided above.
On the right side of the screen, choose to download the "ISO IMAGE".
A download for RAVEN-MUA.iso will begin. Once the file has downloaded, proceed below to learn how to install the game.

Installing the Game
Now that you have the game downloaded, you can begin to install it. Here's how:

Expand to see steps

Right click on RAVEN-MUA.iso and choose "Mount". Some PCs may not have this option, in which case you'll need to double click on the ISO. If neither option works, use an external program like WinCDEmu.
If it doesn't automatically open, go to the drive where the ISO has been mounted in File Explorer. It will be listed on the left side under "This PC". Click to open it.
Double-click Setup.exe to begin the installation.
Follow the instructions on the installer. Don't change any of the settings. Select a typical installation. The default install path will be C:\Program Files (x86)\Activision\Marvel - Ultimate Alliance. Don't change it. You will be moving it later.
If you haven't installed it before, be sure to also install DirectX9 when prompted.
Once you see the launcher, you'll know that the game has installed. You can now press "Quit", since it won't start when you press "Play".
Go back to RAVEN-MUA.iso and into the Crack folder. Copy Game.exe from this folder into your game files and replace the original. This will allow you to play without the disc, and it improves compatibility.
The next thing you'll want to do is move your game to a folder that won't cause any access issues. My recommendation is C:\Games\Activision. To do this:
- If it doesn't already exist, create the C:\Games\Activision folder.
- Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Activision.
- Select the entire Marvel - Ultimate Alliance folder and move it to C:\Games\Activision.
It is no longer recommended to move your game files to your Documents or Desktop, because this can cause problems with OneDrive. Do not leave the game in C:\Program Files (x86)\Activision, because this will cause issues with administrator access.

Before continuing through this tutorial, I recommend making a full backup of your game files. To do this, simply copy your Marvel – Ultimate Alliance game folder and paste it in another place. I recommend compressing it into a .zip file or .rar file and putting it on a flash drive for safekeeping. You can find a tutorial on how to do that here.

Cleaning Up the Game Files
After backing up your files, you have the option to clean up the game files. This is completely optional and will not impact game performance. However, it removes a lot of useless files and visual clutter. Here's how to do it if you choose to:

Expand to see steps

Download the File Cleanup Script from the latest release of the Marvel Mods Batch Scripts.
Extract the .zip file, and you'll see MarvelModsFileCleanup.bat.
Move MarvelModsFileCleanup.bat into your Marvel - Ultimate Alliance folder.
Double click the batch file to run it. Type 1 to select Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. The script will perform the cleanup, and then you can press any key when it says that it's complete.
When you're done, delete the script.

Setting the Resolution
The resolution of the base game is often too small for modern monitors to properly display the game, which means that the game won't start or will give you an error. To get around this, you should set the resolution before starting the game for the first time. Here's how:

Expand to see steps

Download the Resolution Setter for MUA1 from the latest release of the Marvel Mods Batch Scripts.
Extract the file that you downloaded. You'll get a file called resolutionSetterMUA1.bat.
Double click the batch file to run it. You'll first be asked if you want to create a backup profile first. Type Y for yes.
You'll be asked for a name for the backup profile. Name it something like "registryDisplay" and press Enter to accept the name.
You'll get a popup asking if you want to allow the script to edit the registry. Allow it to do so.
You'll be asked which profile you want to restore. Type the number next to the profile that you saved in the previous step. (Note: if your game files are stored in the default save folder, C:\Users\(your username)\Documents\Activision\Marvel Ultimate Alliance, you'll see all of the game folders listed. Type 0 to see more options and then copy or type the name of the backup profile you created.)
You'll now have the option to change the resolution. Type S to cycle through the available options. When you get to the correct resolution for your monitor, type A.
You'll get a popup asking if you want to allow the script to edit the registry. Allow it to do so.
You'll get another popup asking if you're sure if you want to continue. Press Yes.
One final popup will confirm that the changes have been made.

Testing the Game
Now that you have the game installed, it's a good idea to test it before you start modding. You can also set up the proper resolution for your monitor.

Expand to see steps

First, run the game and make sure that it starts. If it doesn't start at all, that means that you didn't install the cracked exe correctly, you didn't move the game files to a non-admin folder, or you didn't properly set the resolution. If you've already tried to run the game and it didn't start, you will have to reinstall the game before you can apply the fixes.
If the game starts but you get an error that says "Unable to initialise graphics display. Resolution and FSAA have been reverted to default", then the starting resolution is too low for your computer. Goo back to the section above called "Setting the Resolution."
If the game runs successfully without using the resolution setter, it will start at 800x600 resolution. Most monitors are higher resolution these days, so now is a good time to change this. Even if you used the resolution setter, you can still customize this and other graphics settings at this point. To get to the settings, go to the "Options" on the main menu screen. You can navigate with the arrow keys and select with Enter on your keyboard.
In the options screen, scroll down to the video options and press Enter. You will now be hovering over the "Resolution" option. You can press Enter to cycle through these options. The highest resolution is 1920x1080, but you can go beyond 1920x1080 with this method. You can change any other graphics settings that you want now. Unfortunately, the game does not support Windowed mode. When you're satisfied, scroll down to "Accept" and press Enter on your keyboard. You'll then be given 10 seconds to decide if you like the settings. If you do, scroll down to "Yes" and press Enter.
The game will now be at the resolution that you set.

Game Limits
Before you start modding your game, you can get familiar with the game's limits. This isn't required, but it will help avoid issues when modding. This game is old, so it can have issues if you exceed the limits set by the developers. Not all limits have been documented yet, but the ones that we are aware of can be found in the MUA1 Limit Documentation topic.

Where to Go Next
Now that you've installed the game, you can install Mod Organizer 2 (MO2). You'll need this in order to begin installing mods. These instructions are in Chapter 3 of this tutorial.

BaconWizard17 · January 07, 2023, 12:58PM

MUA1 MOD INSTALLATION GUIDE FOR PC - MO2 METHOD
CHAPTER 3: SETTING UP MO2

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) is a program for installing, organizing, and managing mods. It's incredibly useful. It allows you to install mods to your game without overwriting any files. This means that you can easily install and uninstall mods and restore default content. It also makes it much easier to remove files that are causing problems in your game. With MO2, you don't have to reinstall the game any time you mess something up. It allows you to always know what mods you have installed, and you can easily reinstall mods that are updated. Note that MO2 only works on 64-bit PCs, and you must have Windows 10 or 11.

YouTube video for this chapter (Coming soon!)

Adding MUA1 to an Existing Installation of MO2
If you already have MO2 for another game (such as XML2), you can easily add MUA1 as a new game without having to install a new instance. Here's how to do it:

Expand to see steps

First, it's important that you have a global instance of Mod Organizer 2 set up, not a portable instance. Portable instances only support one game. If you set up MO2 for XML2 using the XML2 PC Mod Installation Guide - MO2 Method, you already have a global instance. You may have one from another game as well.
The first thing that you need to do is download the handler plugins for MUA1. You can download them here. The file is called MUA1.MO2.Plugins.zip. Do not use MUA1.Steam.MO2.Plugins.zip, since that is for the Steam version only.
- The current version of the plugin-in require MO2 version 2.5.2 or later. If you have an older version, it's recommended that you update to the latest version. Otherwise, the plug-ins won't be compatible. Come speak to us on the Discord server if there's something preventing you from updating to the newest version.
After downloading the plugins, you'll need to extract them. Right click and choose the option to do so.
Once you've extracted the plugins, go into the extracted folder. You should see a basic_games folder, MUAPatch.zip, and MUATools.py. Select them all and put them in your MO2 files in MO2\plugins. This folder is in the install location for MO2. By default, this is C:\Modding, but you may have installed it elsewhere. If you don't install this plugin, MO2 will not be able to recognize MUA1, and you won't be able to use MO2. Make sure you add this plugin when MO2 is not open.
The next step is to launch MO2. Go up to the top left of the screen and click on the Instance Manager (the very top left button). This will bring up the "Instance manager" window. Once you're there, click the button at the top left that says "Create new instance". That will bring up the "Creating new Instance" window. To continue, go to the part of this section called "Configuring MO2."

Installing MO2
If you haven't previously installed MO2, or if you previous installation was not a global installation, you'll need to install MO2 before you use it. Here's how:

Expand to see steps

You can download MO2 from this link on NexusMods, where you can also find more information about the program and its creators. Go to the Files tab and choose "Manual Download." You need to have an account with NexusMods to be able to download files. You must download version 2.4 or later, which should be the default option. If you don't want to create a NexusMods account, you can also download it directly from the program's GitHub link.
Next, double-click the installer to start it. If Windows Defender tells you not to run the program, simply press "More info" and then "Run anyway." It has been tested to be safe as long as you are downloading it directly from the creators.
The installer will now come up. First, accept the licensing agreement. Then, choose where the main files for MO2 should be installed (the default location, C:\Modding\MO2, is recommended). Choose the settings for a recommended install. You can choose to create a start menu folder and desktop shortcut if you wish. I recommend creating a shortcut. At the end, you'll be asked to confirm your choices, and then the program will install.
When you've finished the installation, don't launch MO2 just yet. You can now press "Finish" on the installer.
The next thing that you need to do is download the handler plugins for MUA1. You can download them here. The file is called MUA1 MO2 Plugins.zip. Do not use MUA1 (Steam) MO2 Plugins.zip, since that is for the Steam version only.
- The current version of the plugin-in require MO2 version 2.5.2 or later. If you have an older version, it's recommended that you update to the latest version. Otherwise, the plug-ins won't be compatible. Come speak to us on the Discord server if there's something preventing you from updating to the newest version.
After downloading the plugins, you'll need to extract them. Right click and choose the option to do so.
Once you've extracted the plugins, go into the extracted folder. You should see a basic_games folder, MUAPatch.zip, and MUATools.py. Select them all and put them in your MO2 files in MO2\plugins. This folder is in the install location for MO2. By default, this is C:\Modding, but you may have installed it elsewhere. If you don't install this plugin, MO2 will not be able to recognize MUA1, and you won't be able to use MO2. Make sure you add this plugin when MO2 is not open.
Now that you've done all this, launch MO2, and then proceed to the part of this section called "Configuring MO2."

Configuring MO2
Now that MO2 is installed and ready to recognize MUA1, it's time to configure a new instance for it. You must do this before you can install mods. Here's how:

Expand to see steps

Whether you just installed MO2 for the first time, or if you're just adding a new instance, you'll get the dialog for creating a new instance. You should choose the option to create a global instance. Portable instances store their files all in one place, but they only allow one single game. Global instances allow you to manage multiple instances and games from a single installation. So, choose the option for a global instance.
Next, browse for your Marvel: Ultimate Alliance game files. Mine are in C:\Users\(my user)\Documents\Activision\Marvel - Ultimate Alliance\, but yours may be in a different location (you moved them earlier in Chapter 2 of this tutorial). Navigate to this folder and select it.
If you installed the handler plugin correctly, you'll be able to proceed. If you get an error saying that the game is not recognized, close MO2, go back to the earlier steps, and make sure you correctly installed the plugin file.
Once you've located your game files, you can choose a name for the instance. The default name will be "Marvel - Ultimate Alliance."
Next, you'll be able to choose where the specific data for your game is stored. The most important thing that will be stored here are the mods that you install for your game. Make sure it's a folder you can easily find, or one that you know the location of. The default location is C:\Users\(your user)\AppData\Local\ModOrganizer\Marvel - Ultimate Alliance. I personally prefer to use a folder that I have set up on my desktop. The choice is up to you.
Next, you may see a screen that asks if you want to connect to your NexusMods account. Feel free to do so, but it's not required, and it won't impact your experience with Marvel Mods. Lastly, you'll see all your settings one last time, and you can either go back and change them or continue along. If you proceed, MO2 will set everything up, and you'll be ready to install mods!

The MO2 Interface
Before you begin installing mods, you should get familiar with the user interface of MO2.

Expand to see steps

When you start MO2 for the first time in your instance, you'll get a small tutorial made by the developers of MO2. I would recommend going through it to get a basic understanding of the program, but not all of it is relevant to Marvel Mods content.
This is the user interface of MO2. There are 4 areas you'll want to be aware of. I'll walk through each of these individually:

The toolbar icons
The mod list
The file list
The run section

The toolbar icons have some of the important actions you'll be using often. I've circled the ones that are important for Marvel Mods content. From left to right:

The "Switch Instance" icon allows you to switch between any global instances that you have installed with MO2. Through this dialog, you can switch to other games that MO2 manages and add new games as well.
The "Install Mod from Archive" icon allows you to install mods to your game. This is how you'll install the majority of the mods you download from Marvel Mods, but don't start using it yet.
The "Refresh" icon allows you to refresh MO2. Pressing this will refresh the mod list and files list. This is useful if you make changes to any of the files of your mods outside of MO2.
The "Tools" icon contains tools that are useful for modding the game. These tools will be covered later.
The "Settings" icon has all the important settings for MO2, including visual settings like theme and icons. You can also find important information here, including file paths.
- The icons can be a bit confusing, since the icon of tools is for the settings function, and tools function has a different icon. This tutorial will always point out which icon to use so that it's clear.

The mod list shows you all of the mods you currently have installed, as well as important information about them. Right now, you don't have anything there, but mods will appear here when you begin installing them. It will show you information such whether the mods is selected, the name of the mod, its priority, and if there are conflicts with other mods (which is normal).

The file list shows all the files that are currently in use. This includes the base game files, plus the files of any active mods. Any files that exist in multiple mods or in a mod and the base game files will show up in red, meaning that there is a conflict. Conflicts are normal and will occur when you're installing mods. This list will also show you what mod the files belong to, which is useful for debugging.

The run section is how you actually launch the game whenever you want to play it. There are a few other options here, such as the ability to change which exe you're running and browse a virtual folder that shows only the active files.

Customizing MO2's Theme
One other thing that I prefer to do with MO2 before I start modding is change the theme. Feel free to do this too if you'd like, but it's not required. The theme that I pick will be used for the rest of the tutorial, so my MO2 may look a bit different from yours.

Expand to see steps

Click to the settings icon in MO2.
Go to the "Theme" tab.
Click the drop down for "style". Several options will be presented. I prefer "1809 Dark Mode". Press OK once you've selected a theme.
MO2 will now have the new theme.

Priorities in MO2
Before you get started installing mods, it's important to understand priorities in MO2. The order that you install mods in in MO2 doesn't matter, but the priorities of the mods do matter. Whenever you start installing mods, you'll notice a column appear in the left panel that shows the priority. You'll want to sort the list by this column. If a mod is higher up on the list, it will have a lower priority, so its files can get overwritten in a conflict. If a mod is lower on the list, it will have a higher priority, which means that its files will be more likely to be used if files conflict. Conflicts are normal in MO2 because many mods will have their own version of certain files. So in review:

Smaller priority number = higher on the list = lower priority = files can get overwritten in a conflict = treated like it was installed earlier.
Larger priority number = lower on the list = higher priority = files can overwrite in a conflict = treated like it was installed later.

The "order" essentially corresponds to the priorities. Throughout this tutorial, I will specify what the priorities of different mods should be. I will also provide a screenshot at the very end of this chapter that shows what priorities I give to different mods in my game.

What to do Next
Once you've successfully installed and configured MO2, you can begin learning how to use it to install mods! Different kinds of mods are discussed in chapters 4 through 11 of this tutorial. The only required mod is the Official Characters Pack (OCP), which is covered in Chapter 4 of this tutorial. All other mods are optional. Proceed below to Chapter 4 to continue with the tutorial.

BaconWizard17 · January 14, 2023, 03:26PM

MUA1 MOD INSTALLATION GUIDE FOR PC - MO2 METHOD
CHAPTER 4: INSTALLING BASE MODS (THE OCP, ROSTER HACKS, AND EXG)

By BaconWizard17

Introduction
Now that you have MO2 installed, you can begin installing mods! This chapter covers the first mods that you'll install: the Base Mods. This includes the Official Characters Pack (OCP), which is the only required mod. The other mods discussed here are the Roster Hacks, the Expanded Game (EXG), and Package Mods. For each mod, I will clarify what its priority should be in MO2.

YouTube video for this chapter (Coming soon!)

Creating a Separator
Before you get started installing mods, it's a good idea to create a separator in MO2. Like the name suggests, they separate your mods into groups. This helps you keep track of your mods more easily. Here's how to do it:

Expand to see steps

At the top middle of MO2, click on the "Open list options..." button. It has the same icon as the settings icon. A dropdown menu will appear. Choose the "Create Separator" option.
You can also create separators by right clicking in an empty spot in the mod list and choosing "Create Separator." However, if your mod list is full, there won't be any empty spaces for you to right click, and this won't work.
After clicking "Create Separator," (with either method), a dialog box will appear. You can enter the name of the separator here. For your first separator, call it "Base Mods," then press "OK."
After creating the separator, you can right click on it and choose "Select Color." Here, you can change the color of the separator. You can pick any color here that you want. The next separator that you create will have the same color as the last one you created. It's up to you if you want them to be all the same or all different.

As you go along through this tutorial, you'll create additional separators for different kinds of mods.

Installing the OCP
The first mod that you need to install is the latest version of the Official Characters Pack (OCP). This mod includes every console-exclusive character from MUA1, all the characters from XML1 and XML2, and a variety of bug fixes and improvements to the base game. The OCP is a required mod for MUA1, so you must install it.
The OCP's download page also includes some additional content. The compatibility pack for boosters includes some fixes for older boosters that make them work better with the current OCP. The Optional Files Folder contains a wide range of additional optional content, like new simulators, 5th and 6th skins, further map changes, and more. All of this content can be installed later on using the steps in Chapter 11 of this tutorial.
The OCP should always have the lowest priority number in MO2. Here's how to install it:

Expand to see steps

First, download the OCP.
Once you've done that, press the "Install a New Mod from Archive" button at the top left of MO2. Navigate to where you have the OCP download saved. Make sure it is still saved as a .zip file. Click "Open" once you've selected it.
A box will appear that just says "OCP". Here, click on "Manual." This will bring up the file list for the mod, and a message that says "The content of <marvel - ultimate alliance> looks valid." If you see a file list and a warning that the folder structure could not be checked, download the latest version of the MUA1 MO2 plugin from Chapter 3 of this tutorial. It adds folder structure recognition.
At this point, you can deselect the 1 - Changelog, Readme and Credits and 1 - More controller support folders. These files can be installed later using the instructions in Chapter 11 of this tutorial, although the Ultimate Controller Support mod (covered in Chapter 10) is the better option for controller support.
You can also change the name of the mod to include the version, so that you can know what version of the mod you have. Then press OK to install the mod.
Now that the mod is installed, select the check box next to it to enable it.
Now, start the game through MO2 and make sure that it runs.
Start a new game and check the character select screen. You should see 27 characters in the character selection screen: the 23 base game characters (the unlockable characters may be locked), Moon Knight, Hawkeye, Hulk, and Captain Marvel. If you want to be able to use more than 27 characters, the next step in this tutorial chapter discusses the Roster Hacks, which can expand your roster size.
If you're not satisfied with the base roster of the OCP, you can edit the herostat to change any of the available characters. Editing the herostat will only tell the game which characters are on your roster, but it will not install the files of that character. Until you install other characters (which is covered in Chapter 5 of this tutorial), you should only pick OCP characters in your herostat. Editing the herostat is covered in Chapter 6 of this tutorial. If you want to install other characters, it's best to wait to edit the herostat until the end.

Installing the Roster Hacks
Next, you can install one of the roster hacks. The 36 Roster Hack (36RH) allows you to have up to 36 characters on your roster, while the 50 Roster Hack (50RH) allows you to have up to 50 characters on your roster. The roster hacks do not come with any characters. They only change how many characters are allowed on the roster and make some other minor changes, like some map changes. If you don't want any additional changes and just want a bigger roster, you can use the Vital Roster Hack (VRH). The starting roster size for the VRH is 50.
You can download the all three Roster Hacks here.
With MO2, you can choose to install all roster hacks, but only one can be used at a time. Both the 50RH and the VRH come with a batch file that allows you to change between the 50-character team stage and the 36-character team stage, but you should not use this with MO2 because you can risk running into issues. If you want both roster sizes, install both Roster Hacks. These mods are not required. If you're installing two or all 3 roster hacks, the priority numbers should all be bigger than the OCP and smaller than anything else, but only the highest priority roster hack that is selected will be used. Here's how to install these mods:

Expand to see steps

Before you install a roster hack, you will need to patch the files. To do this, click on the Tools icon at the top of MO2 (the icon is the puzzle pieces, not the tools). Choose the option for "MUA Patch Roster Hack." Once complete, you'll see a message that says "Game files patched successfully." Doing this automatically installs the roster hack plugins into your game. THE ROSTER HACKS WILL NOT WORK WITH MO2 IF YOU DO NOT INSTALL THESE FILES. YOU MUST PATCH YOUR GAME FILES FOR THE ROSTER HACKS TO WORK WITH MO2.
- If you don't have the "Patch Roster Hack" option, you don't have the latest version of the MO2 plugin. See Chapter 3 for details on installing the plugin.
Next, download the Roster Hack that you would like to use. As mentioned previously, you can install one or all Roster Hacks, but only one can be used at a time.
For the remaining steps, I'll be showing the installation process with the 50 Roster Hack. The process is the same for each Roster Hack, so you can use these steps for any of them.
Once you've downloaded the mod, press the "Install a New Mod from Archive" button at the top left of MO2. Navigate to where you have the Roster Hack download saved. Make sure it is still saved as a .7z file. Click "Open" once you've selected it.
A box will appear that just says the name of the file. Here, click on "Manual." This will bring up the file list for the mod, and a message that says "The content of <marvel - ultimate alliance> looks valid." If you see a file list and a warning that the folder structure could not be checked, download the latest version of the MUA1 MO2 plugin from Chapter 3 of this tutorial. It adds folder structure recognition.
Here, you must deselect the plugins folder and dinput8.dll. THE ROSTER HACKS WILL NOT WORK WITH MO2 IF YOU DO NOT DESELECT THESE FILES. YOU MUST DESELECT THEM FOR THE ROSTER HACKS TO WORK WITH MO2.
There are also several optional files and folders that you should deselect from each mod to reduce clutter. For all mods, deselect any .txt, .jpg, or .png files. For the 50 Roster Hack and 36 Roster Hack, you can deselect the (OPTIONAL) GE Stage for 36R folder. For the 50 Roster Hack and Vital Roster Hack, you can also deselect the 50R & 36R Switch folders.
You can also change the name of the mod to include the current version so that you can know what version of the mod you have. Then press OK to install the mod.
Now that the mod is installed, select the check box next to it to enable it.
Now, start the game through MO2 and make sure that it runs.
Start a new game and check the character select screen. All Roster Hacks will include a new team stage. The 36 Roster Hack's roster will have all 23 base characters plus the 13 DLC and console-exclusive characters. The 50 Roster Hack and Vital Roster Hack's roster will have all of those characters, plus 14 additional XML1/XML2 characters.
If you're not satisfied with the base roster of the Roster Hack that you've selected, you can edit the herostat to change any of the available characters. Editing the herostat will only tell the game which characters are on your roster, but it will not install the files of that character. Until you install other characters (which is covered in Chapter 5 of this tutorial), you should only pick OCP characters in your herostat. Editing the herostat is covered in Chapter 6 of this tutorial. If you want to install other characters, it's best to wait to edit the herostat until the end.

Installing the EXG
The next mod that you can install is the latest version of the Expanded Game (EXG). This mod adds new levels and an expanded story to the game. This mod is not required. The priority number should be bigger than the OCP and Roster Hack(s), but smaller than other mods. Here's how to install it:

Expand to see steps

First, download the EXG.
Once you've done that, press the "Install a New Mod from Archive" button at the top left of MO2. Navigate to where you have the EXG download saved. Make sure it is still saved as a .7z file. Click "Open" once you've selected it.
A box will appear that just says the name of the file. Here, click on "Manual." This will bring up the file list for the mod, and a message that says "The content of <marvel - ultimate alliance> looks valid." If you see a file list and a warning that the folder structure could not be checked, download the latest version of the MUA1 MO2 plugin from Chapter 3 of this tutorial. It adds folder structure recognition.
When you see the file list, there are some files that you can deselect to help keep your files clean. Deselect the xtras folder and any txt files.
You can also change the name of the mod to include the version number so that you are aware of what version you have. Then press OK to install the mod.
You can now enable the mod in MO2.
At this point, you can test the mod if you'd like. From the beginning, you may not be able to notice that the mod is installed. If you have one of the roster hacks, you'll be able to see some new extraction points in the extraction menu. If you don't have a roster hack, you'll be able to see the first new level after the Bullseye boss battle.

Installing Package Mods
Package mods are mods that provide a separate exe to allow you to play a separate themed roster from the main game. Currently, the only available package mod for MUA1 is the MK on MUA Content, which gives you a separate roster of Mortal Kombat characters. These types of mods are optional. Their priority number should be bigger than the OCP, Roster Hacks, or EXG, but smaller than character mods and other mods. The MK on MUA content requires one of the Roster Hacks to be installed, and you must also install all of the required characters individually. Here's how to install it:

Expand to see steps

First, download the mod.
Once you've done that, press the "Install a New Mod from Archive" button at the top left of MO2. Navigate to where you have the mod download saved. Make sure it is still saved as a .7z file. Click "Open" once you've selected it.
A box will appear that just says the name of the file. Here, click on "Manual." This will bring up the file list for the mod, and a message that says "The content of <marvel - ultimate alliance> looks valid." If you see a file list and a warning that the folder structure could not be checked, download the latest version of the MUA1 MO2 plugin from Chapter 3 of this tutorial. It adds folder structure recognition.
At this point, you will need to deselect the new exe that comes with the mod.
You can also deselect the (OHS Files) folder and any jpg, txt, or png files to reduce clutter.
Then press OK to install the mod.
Next, go to the downloaded file of the mod and extract it.
Locate the new exe in the files and drag it into your game files.
Go back to MO2 and click the drop down arrow to the left of the "Run" button. Click "<Edit...>".
The "Modify Executables" window will appear. Make sure that the main exe ("Marvel: Ultimate Alliance") is selected. Click the "+" button at the top left, and then choose "Add from file...". A file explorer window will appear where you can select the new exe file.
Give the new executable a descriptive name in the "Title".
Click the "..." next to "Start in", navigate to your game files (which should be the default option), and click "Select folder".
You can click the arrows at the top to arrange the exes in your preferred order. Then press OK to close out of the dialog.
Before proceeding, make sure that you install anything else that's required by the package mod. Note: the MK on MUA content does not include the files of any character mods. If you start the game without these characters installed, the game will not work. The release post and (Read It).txt file included in the mod will tell you which characters to download and install. The next chapter of this tutorial tells you how to properly install character mods. However, you just need to install the files, because the herostat for the package mod is already set up.
You can now enable the mod in MO2.
You can now change the exe that you want to use by using the drop down menu at the top right. Pressing "Run" will start the chosen exe.

A Quick Review of Priorities and Conflicts
Something about MO2 that can take time to understand is the priorities and the conflicts. The first and most important thing is that conflicts are normal. A conflict simply means that two mods have the same file. Mods very frequently contain the same file, and that's why the priorities in MO2 are important. A more detailed description of priorities is provided at the end of Chapter 3 of this tutorial. The base mods that you've installed in this chapter should always have the lowest priority numbers and be at the top of the list. Because most of the base mods are optional, you may have different mods installed and different priorities from other people. However, base mods should always be in this order in MO2 from top to bottom:

The OCP
One, two, or all three Roster Hacks (the highest priority Roster Hack that has been enabled will be used)
The EXG
Package mods (such as the MK on MUA content)

Here's a look at the proper order if all of these mods are installed:

Where to Go Next
The next type of mod that you can install is character mods and boosters. Character mods are individual new characters that you can add to your game, and boosters are mods that modify existing characters and mods. Proceed to Chapter 5 of this tutorial to learn how to install these mods. If you have another topic that you want to learn about, you can move on to that chapter instead.

BaconWizard17 · January 24, 2023, 04:06PM

MUA1 MOD INSTALLATION GUIDE FOR PC - MO2 METHOD
CHAPTER 5: INSTALLING CHARACTER MODS AND BOOSTERS

By BaconWizard17