F-Zero: GP Legend Recomp v0.1.0-preview

F-Zero: GP Legend Recomp — Release Notes (v0.1.0-preview)

Status: Experimental Technical Preview (Windows x64)
Release Tag Target: v0.1.0-preview (DRAFT — Local Audit Stage, Not Yet Tagged or Published)
Supported Game: F-Zero: GP Legend (USA, Game Code: BFZE, CRC-32: 0x781AAB58, SHA-1: 977588d9d27b7115e0bb309fb019ae81b9f413ff)
Supported BIOS: Official Game Boy Advance Retail BIOS (16,384 bytes, SHA-1: 300c20df6731a33952ded8c436f7f186d25d3492)

---

1. Overview

This release provides the first standalone, player-facing Windows x64 preview build of F-Zero: GP Legend Recomp, a native static recompilation project built upon the GBARecomp framework and the recomp-ui launcher interface.

The project translates original ARM7TDMI machine code directly into native x86-64 machine instructions, delivering authentic 60 fps racing, low-latency Direct3D 11/SDL2 presentation, and full cartridge SRAM persistence while introducing a modern graphical launcher.

---

2. Key Features in v0.1.0-preview

• recomp-ui Graphical Player Launcher:
  • Interactive Dear ImGui desktop interface for selecting game ROM and GBA BIOS dumps.
  • Automatic cryptographic SHA-1 and exact file size validation before launch.
  • Full keyboard customization and SDL2 game controller mapping (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro, and standard XInput/DirectInput gamepads).
  • Integer window scaling (1x through 6x) and borderless fullscreen toggle (F11 / Alt+Enter).
  • Master audio volume control.
  • Configuration persistence (rom.cfg, bios.cfg, config.ini).
  • Support for --launcher flag to reopen configuration after checking "Skip Launcher".
• Zero Local Compiler Dependency:
  • Uncovered guest paths utilize GBARecomp's built-in reference Stage-1 interpreter fallback.
  • Eliminates the previous requirement for a local MinGW/GCC compiler on player machines (GBARECOMP_SELFHEAL_RECOMPILE_DEFAULT=OFF).
  • Standalone distribution requires no developer tools (no CMake, Ninja, GCC, Python, or MinGW).
• Cartridge SRAM Persistence:
  • Authentic 32 KiB SRAM save protocol verified across multiple sessions and restarts (saves/fzero_gp_legend_usa.sav).
• Display & Raster Accuracy:
  • Incorporates dedicated PPU HBlank scanline sampling and Affine BG line catch-up patches (patches/gbarecomp-fzero-compat.patch) to prevent vertical row tearing during high-speed Mode-7 track rendering.
• 64 MiB MinGW Stack Configuration:
  • Native binary links with -Wl,--stack,67108864 to prevent call stack overflow during deep guest dispatch recursion.
• Developer CLI Preservation:
  • Command-line arguments (--rom, --bios, --frames, --dev) remain fully operational for profiling, headless testing, and developer diagnostics.

---

3. Verified Playable Scope

The following gameplay paths have been tested and verified:

• BIOS Boot: Official GBA intro sequence and sound chime.
• Title & Attract Sequences: Title screen, mode selection menus, class select, and machine selection.
• Grand Prix Racing: Race introduction, countdown, 60 fps track traversal, acceleration, steering, boosting, collision response, and HUD telemetry.
• Time Attack Interface: Race Play entry, machine select, and track loading.
• Audio Playback: BGM and sound effects play at authentic speed without audio stretching, crackling, or severe buffer underruns.
• Save Persistence: 32 KiB SRAM round-trip save creation and reload.
• GUI Configuration: Launcher settings load, persist, and successfully drive native gameplay launch.
• Standalone ZIP Execution: The portable distribution runs independently in clean Windows sandboxes without developer tools installed.

---

4. Scope Open for Community Testing (Known Limitations)

This is an experimental technical preview. Compatibility across the entire game has not been exhaustively proven:

• Full Campaign Progression: Not all cups (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) and difficulty levels (Novice, Standard, Expert, Master) have been completed from start to finish.
• Story Mode & Zero Test: Story mode narrative branches and license test challenges remain open for community verification.
• Championship Mode: Championship course progression and records require additional verification.
• Link Cable Multiplayer: Serial communications and link-cable multiplayer modes are not verified or currently supported.
• Coverage Honesty: The compiled corpus contains 9,973 statically recompiled functions. While covering >99.8% of instructions during tested Grand Prix racing, residual unmapped entry points (e.g. data table dispatches and rare jump targets) execute via interpreter bridge. This release is NOT claimed to be FULLY_STATIC.

---

5. Required Files

This distribution contains NO copyrighted game ROMs or BIOS files. Players must supply:

1. Game ROM: F-Zero: GP Legend (USA, Code BFZE, 16,777,216 bytes, SHA-1: 977588d9d27b7115e0bb309fb019ae81b9f413ff).
2. GBA BIOS: Official retail GBA BIOS (16,384 bytes, SHA-1: 300c20df6731a33952ded8c436f7f186d25d3492).

---

6. Package Verification (v0.1.0-preview)

• Archive File: FZeroGPLegendRecomp-windows-x64-v0.1.0-preview.zip
• File Size: 11,279,191 bytes (approx. 10.76 MiB)
• SHA-256 Checksum: fca2b81a850811eae66fcb4e3a7a76b09d3e80e14f85279e29bc48d67f318d6b
• Contents:
  • FZeroGPLegendRecomp.exe (SHA-256: 4559154fb5e855d647957435c64e21a886bd3e3cd691b90d2a946f51eb1ec2bd)
  • SDL2.dll, libgcc_s_seh-1.dll, libstdc++-6.dll, libwinpthread-1.dll
  • game.toml (sanitized runtime configuration)
  • assets/ (launcher UI fonts and controller glyphs)
  • licenses/ (open-source licenses, font attributions, and MPL-2.0 source files)
  • LICENSE (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 for integration code)
  • THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md
  • README.md, README.zh-CN.md
  • manifest.json

---

7. Legal Disclaimer & Copyright Notices

• Original Integration Code: Licensed under PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0 (Copyright (c) 2026 Zaxaerith). Note: The original integration code is strictly PolyForm Noncommercial and is NOT licensed under MIT.
• Third-Party Libraries: GBARecomp (PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0), recomp-ui (MIT), Dear ImGui (MIT), SDL2 (zlib), toml++ (MIT), tinyfiledialogs (zlib), stb (MIT/Public Domain), OFL/CC fonts, GCC Runtime Exception. See THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.md for complete text.
• Commercial Game Rights: F-Zero is a trademark and copyright of Nintendo and Suzak. This project does not distribute game ROMs, BIOS dumps, audio streams, or graphic assets. Recompiled C++ source code is a mechanical instruction translation; neither its compilation nor its distribution implies authorization or endorsement by Nintendo.