# Metaforce: a Metroid Prime engine reimplementation rebuilt on the decompilation

> Started in 2015 as a reverse-engineered reimplementation of the Metroid Prime engine, Metaforce has been rewritten on top of the PrimeDecomp matching decompilation. Its native app compiles that game code as non-matching C++ for desktop and mobile through the Aurora GameCube compatibility layer and loads a user-selected disc image. The README says builds are unavailable while the rewrite stabilizes.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-10-18
- Added to the catalog: 2026-10-18
- Original resource: <https://github.com/AxioDL/metaforce>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/AxioDL/metaforce/blob/de8fc69bd7f345d6cf5f0c8fc2798295e22522d3/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/metaforce-metroid-prime-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/metaforce-metroid-prime-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/metaforce-metroid-prime-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** The repository ships no game files; its orig/ version folders hold only placeholders. At startup the app takes or asks for a Metroid Prime disc image (ISO, GCM, CISO, GCZ, RVZ, WIA or TGC). CMake compiles the native target with TARGET_PC, NONMATCHING and VERSION=1, and configure.py names version 1 as the default GM8E01_00 (NTSC-U v1.088) build; the README lists no supported disc revisions.
- **Prerequisites:** Building needs CMake 3.25+, Python 3 and a recursive clone with the aurora, borealis and musyx submodules; Windows uses Visual Studio 2019 with the Clang and clang-cl components, macOS needs Xcode 11.5+, and Linux needs the listed Ubuntu, Arch or Fedora packages. README platforms are Windows 10+ (D3D12, Vulkan or D3D11), macOS 10.15+ (Metal), Linux (Vulkan), Android (Vulkan or OpenGL ES) and iOS (Metal); Android also needs SDK Platform 37, the NDK and JDK 17+.
- **Scope:** README dates development to June 2015 by Cirrus and Antidote and says the project was recently rewritten on the PrimeDecomp matching decompilation; builds are unavailable while it stabilizes, although CI builds Windows, Linux, Apple and Android packages. The only GitHub release is a 2015 prerelease, so none corresponds to the rewrite. This is separate from Odrannnn/MetroidPrimePort, another native port built from PrimeDecomp.
- **Testing evidence:** configure.py still records per-object matching status across ten disc versions for the separate GameCube build, but CI ignores those files and builds only native packages. The reviewed sources publish no fidelity or gameplay checks for the native app.
- **License:** Metaforce contributors’ code is MIT, and a separate LICENSE.decomp carries CC0 1.0; the reviewed files do not say which directories each covers. Disc content keeps its own rights.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/AxioDL/metaforce/blob/de8fc69bd7f345d6cf5f0c8fc2798295e22522d3/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/AxioDL/metaforce/blob/de8fc69bd7f345d6cf5f0c8fc2798295e22522d3/CMakeLists.txt>
3. <https://github.com/AxioDL/metaforce/blob/de8fc69bd7f345d6cf5f0c8fc2798295e22522d3/configure.py>
4. <https://github.com/AxioDL/metaforce/blob/de8fc69bd7f345d6cf5f0c8fc2798295e22522d3/src/Metaforce/Runtime.cpp>
5. <https://github.com/AxioDL/metaforce/blob/de8fc69bd7f345d6cf5f0c8fc2798295e22522d3/.github/workflows/build.yml>
6. <https://github.com/AxioDL/metaforce/blob/de8fc69bd7f345d6cf5f0c8fc2798295e22522d3/.gitmodules>
7. <https://github.com/AxioDL/metaforce/blob/de8fc69bd7f345d6cf5f0c8fc2798295e22522d3/platforms/android/README.md>
8. <https://github.com/AxioDL/metaforce/blob/de8fc69bd7f345d6cf5f0c8fc2798295e22522d3/LICENSE>
9. <https://github.com/AxioDL/metaforce/blob/de8fc69bd7f345d6cf5f0c8fc2798295e22522d3/LICENSE.decomp>
10. <https://github.com/encounter/aurora/blob/40cf48fce6ce85366608596bae018c6188f2b2e7/README.md>

## More in Games

- [Metroid Prime Port: an AI-assisted native port of the PrimeDecomp decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/metroid-prime-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [MikuPan: a native Fatal Frame PC port built on the Himuro decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/mikupan-fatal-frame-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [PaperBoat: a native Paper Mario port built on the decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/paperboat-paper-mario-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Pokémon Platinum PC Port: a native port built on the pret decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/pokemon-platinum-pc-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Salamander UEFI: a disassembly-based UEFI port of the NES game](https://awesomerea.org/resources/salamander-uefi-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Ship of Harkinian: a native Ocarina of Time port built on the decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/ship-of-harkinian-oot-port-case/index.md) · Case study

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.