# Project Arwing: Star Fox recompiled from a matching disassembly

> Disassembles Star Fox’s 65816 and SuperFX code from runtime coverage and recursive descent, reassembles it into the original ROM, then translates it statically to C on a from-scratch SNES runtime for Windows, macOS and Linux. Code never reached in recorded sessions, and RAM code that no longer matches the ROM, falls back to an interpreter; the README reports identical per-frame hashes for both paths. The generated C is a mechanical translation rather than hand-decompiled source, and results remain project-reported.

- 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/carlosrmz009/arwing>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/carlosrmz009/arwing/blob/d8fe7aaf67e0f4ba77c9814852d2ffaccd7d63c7/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/project-arwing-star-fox-recomp-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/project-arwing-star-fox-recomp-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/project-arwing-star-fox-recomp-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Supply your own Star Fox (USA) (Rev 2) ROM matching the SHA-1 in README; other revisions and regions are untested. Graphics, models and music are extracted from it at build time. The source build expects a headerless image, while the installer strips a 512-byte copier header. No game data is included.
- **Prerequisites:** Releases target Windows x64, macOS 11+ (not notarized) and Linux x86_64/ARM64 AppImages. Source builds need Python (3.10+ on Windows) with Visual Studio 2022 Build Tools, Xcode command-line tools and SDL2, or gcc, SDL2, FreeType and DejaVu fonts; tools/build.py chains extraction, assembly, recompilation and compilation.
- **Testing evidence:** README reports a byte-identical ROM rebuild, 34,472 65816 and 14,577 SuperFX instructions, and 99.4% CPU / 100% SuperFX dispatches running recompiled over 20k gameplay frames. It lists the intro, title, training, Corneria and other levels reached by random play as playable. Labels are auto-generated, unreached code remains data run by the interpreter, and audio was checked only indirectly, not against hardware.
- **Testing evidence:** tools/build.py compares the reassembled ROM’s SHA-1 but only warns on a mismatch. The documented contributor check diffs --hashlog output from recompiled and --interp runs. CI assembles and recompiles without a ROM, zero-filling data.
- **License:** MIT covers tools/, src/, installer/, res/ and the build scripts; LICENSE excludes asm/, a disassembly of Nintendo's Star Fox code, and anything extracted from a ROM. This is an unofficial fan project unaffiliated with Nintendo.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/carlosrmz009/arwing/blob/d8fe7aaf67e0f4ba77c9814852d2ffaccd7d63c7/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/carlosrmz009/arwing/blob/d8fe7aaf67e0f4ba77c9814852d2ffaccd7d63c7/LICENSE>
3. <https://github.com/carlosrmz009/arwing/blob/d8fe7aaf67e0f4ba77c9814852d2ffaccd7d63c7/tools/build.py>
4. <https://github.com/carlosrmz009/arwing/blob/d8fe7aaf67e0f4ba77c9814852d2ffaccd7d63c7/tools/recomp.py>
5. <https://github.com/carlosrmz009/arwing/blob/d8fe7aaf67e0f4ba77c9814852d2ffaccd7d63c7/.github/workflows/build.yml>

## More in Games

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- [Sin & Punishment: a work-in-progress N64 static recompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sin-punishment-recompiled-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Skate 3 Recomp: a native Xbox 360 recompilation through ReXGlue](https://awesomerea.org/resources/skate3-recomp-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.