Sh4 freezes in all compatibility settings.

[CapnScurvy]

I'd try using the app "Large Address Aware". It makes the game use more memory than what its maximum set amount was when it left the publisher in 2007, which was no more than 2 gigs of memory. You say you have 12 gigs of ram memory, so put it to use. This old game won't use more than 2 gigs unless you force it to.

You'll get a boost of 1 gig of ram maximum if your OS is 32 bit. You'll get 2 gigs extra if your system is 64 bit (giving the game access to twice what it has now). It may sound insignificant, but having access to just one extra gigabyte of ram is a big help.

If you use LAA, under the "General" tab of the "Properties" menu of the games true .exe file, make sure the "Attributes" section DOES NOT have a checkmark in the "Read-Only" box. The game usually has this "Attribute" set by default to "Read-only". Un checking it allows LAA to work its magic.