Sunset Riders Recomp

<p align="center"> <a href="https://github.com/diogozarpelo/sunset-riders-recomp/releases/download/v0.1.0-alpha/sunsetriders-0.1.0-alpha-windows-x64.zip"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Download-Windows_x64-0078D4?style=for-the-badge" alt="Download Sunset Riders Recomp for Windows x64"> </a> </p> <p align="center"> <strong>v0.1.0-alpha</strong> ? Experimental build with known issues.<br> Requires your own <strong>Sunset Riders (USA)</strong> SNES ROM. No ROM is included.<br> <a href="https://github.com/diogozarpelo/sunset-riders-recomp/releases">Release notes and checksums</a> </p> <p align="center"> An experimental PC port of Sunset Riders for the Super Nintendo, built with SNESRecomp and a shared desktop launcher. </p> <p align="center"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/C-C11-A8B9CC?logo=c&logoColor=black" alt="C11"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/SDL-3-1466B8" alt="SDL3"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/CMake-Build-064F8C?logo=cmake&logoColor=white" alt="CMake"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Windows-x64-0078D4" alt="Windows x64"> <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Status-Alpha-EA580C" alt="Alpha"> </p>

About the project

Sunset Riders Recomp brings the SNES version of Sunset Riders to a desktop application with a configurable launcher, video and audio output, and controller support.

The project uses SNESRecomp for ROM analysis, local code generation, and the SNES runtime. A game-specific host coordinates guest execution, frame timing, interrupts, and rendering. The launcher is provided by recomp-ui.

The current implementation relies on the framework's low-level interpreter bridge for game execution. Recompilation infrastructure is integrated, but this alpha is not a complete conversion of all game routines to native C.

This is an unofficial project. The original game's ROM and assets are not included. Each user must supply their own compatible ROM obtained lawfully.

Main features

• Desktop launcher with ROM selection and verification.
• Display, audio, and controller configuration through the shared launcher.
• Optional launcher bypass on subsequent starts.
• Game-specific execution and frame scheduling.
• Working video and audio in the tested Windows build.
• Controller support, manually verified with a wireless Xbox Series X controller.
• ROM identity checks using SHA-256 and CRC32.
• Local generation of ROM-derived files, excluded from version control and release packages.
• Pinned framework dependencies and a reproducible MSVC compatibility patch.

Status

v0.1.0-alpha: intended for testing and continued development.

The game has been tested through the full campaign on Windows x64. Normal life loss and Game Over behavior were also verified.

Known visual problems remain, and one reported issue may affect gameplay. Full campaign completion does not imply exhaustive validation of every character, multiplayer mode, configuration, or platform.

The Windows setup pack has been tested after extraction into a separate folder, including tool setup, ROM selection, code generation, local rebuilding, and gameplay. Validation on a Windows machine without development tools installed remains pending.

Supported ROM

The tested and supported image is Sunset Riders (USA) for the SNES. Other regions and revisions have not been validated.

Property	Expected value
Game	Sunset Riders
Platform	Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Region	USA / North America
Filename hint	Sunset Riders (USA).sfc
Size without copier header	1,048,576 bytes
Mapping	LoROM
CRC32	52ada404
SHA-256	e9c406d4f773697b9b671e7ddf2207c9d0ab242d7f23e502cdd453fbb264d392

The hashes identify the supported image; a matching filename alone does not establish compatibility. These values refer to the ROM without a copier header. Use a headerless image when following the instructions below.

The authoritative identity is stored in rom_identity.txt and shared by the build, generation script, and packaging script.

No ROM is provided, and this repository does not link to ROM downloads.

Download and play

Use the Windows x64 download button at the top of this page. Download the release ZIP rather than GitHub's Source code archive.

1. Extract the entire ZIP into a folder where you have write permission.
2. Open SunsetRidersSNESRecomp.exe from the extracted folder.
3. Complete the portable build-tool setup if the launcher requests it. Internet access is required for downloads during initial setup.
4. Select your own compatible Sunset Riders (USA) ROM.
5. Choose Generate & rebuild and wait for local generation and compilation to finish. A console window may appear during this step.
6. When the rebuilt launcher opens, select Play.

Keep the extracted source tree and runtime files together during setup. Afterwards, the playable executable is under the package's build/ directory; its precise subdirectory depends on the compiler selected by the launcher. Keep its accompanying runtime files alongside it.

The distributed ZIP is a setup pack. ROM-derived files are produced only on your machine and are not part of the download. Do not redistribute the ROM or the generated game code.

The setup guide requests approximately 2 GB of free disk space during the build. Initial setup takes longer than subsequent launches.

The ZIP includes the setup host's required Visual C++ runtime dependency and third-party license notices. SHA256SUMS.txt accompanies the release for download verification.

Installation and local build

Requirements

The following environment was used for the tested Windows build:

• Windows x64.
• Git for Windows, including Git Bash.
• Python 3 available as python in PowerShell.
• Rust and Cargo for the framework's recompiler tooling.
• CMake 3.20 or newer, available as cmake in PowerShell.
• Visual Studio 2022 Build Tools with Desktop development with C++, the MSVC toolset, and a Windows SDK.
• Internet access for initial dependency downloads.
• Your own compatible Sunset Riders (USA) ROM.

SDL3 is fetched and built by CMake if a suitable installed package is not available. Other operating systems have not been validated for this alpha.

Clone the project

Use PowerShell:

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/diogozarpelo/sunset-riders-recomp.git
if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw 'Clone failed.' }
Set-Location sunset-riders-recomp

For an existing checkout, initialize the dependencies:

git submodule update --init --recursive
if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw 'Submodule initialization failed.' }

Use the committed dependency revisions. Updating to arbitrary upstream versions may change runtime behavior or break compatibility with the local patch.

Generate local game files

Keep your ROM outside the repository. Replace the example path below with your own file:

$rom = (Resolve-Path 'C:\ROMs\Sunset Riders (USA).sfc').Path.Replace('\', '/')
$env:PYTHON = (Get-Command python -ErrorAction Stop).Source.Replace('\', '/')
& 'C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe' ./tools/regen.sh --rom $rom
if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw 'ROM verification or code generation failed.' }

The script verifies the ROM and produces src/gen/ and recomp/funcs.h locally. These files are derived from the ROM and must not be committed or distributed with this project.

Configure and compile

cmake -S . -B build -G 'Visual Studio 17 2022' -A x64
if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw 'CMake configuration failed.' }
cmake --build build --config Release --parallel 4
if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw 'Build failed.' }

CMake applies the project's PPU alignment patch when compiling with MSVC. If it is already installed, configuration leaves it in place. An incompatible framework checkout produces an explicit error.

The executable is generated at:

build/Release/SunsetRidersSNESRecomp.exe

Open the launcher

From the repository root, use the ROM path defined above:

& .\build\Release\SunsetRidersSNESRecomp.exe --launcher $rom

Choose the ROM if requested, configure your display, audio, and controller preferences, then select Play. Connect your controller before launching for the most predictable device detection.

To start directly with the same ROM:

& .\build\Release\SunsetRidersSNESRecomp.exe $rom

Keep the staged runtime files and directories alongside the executable. Moving only the .exe is not the supported distribution method.

Release packaging

The repository includes scripts/package_release.sh for producing a ROM-free setup pack.

The intended package contains a setup host, project sources, and recompiler tooling. It excludes the ROM, generated game code, and recomp/funcs.h. The launcher is designed to generate and rebuild locally from the player's selected ROM.

A setup host is distinct from the playable executable produced by the local build above. The packaging script requires a build configured with -DSNESRECOMP_SETUP_HOST=ON and no generated game translation units.

The extracted Windows setup pack has been manually validated through ROM selection, generation, rebuilding, and gameplay. The source-build instructions above remain available for contributors. Validation on another Windows machine without development tools is still pending.

Known issues

The following issues were reported during campaign testing:

Area	Observed issue	Impact
Introduction	Minor graphical glitches affecting characters during the intro.	Visual
Dark Horse stage	Fire effects display incorrectly.	Visual; further investigation needed
Saloon sequence	The dancers' animation displays incorrectly after defeating the brothers.	Visual
Train stage	Poles appear misplaced near the middle of the screen and seem to lack the expected collision behavior.	Potential gameplay impact; collision behavior needs confirmation
Final stage	Fire effects show a problem similar to the Dark Horse stage.	Visual; further investigation needed

The causes have not yet been isolated. Similar symptoms do not establish that the fire effects share the same underlying defect.

For a useful bug report, include the stage, character, reproduction steps, build version, operating system, and relevant runtime logs. Screenshots or a short recording are helpful. Do not attach ROM files or generated game code.

Technologies

Component	Technology / responsibility
Game host	C11, execution scheduling and frame integration
SNES runtime and tooling	SNESRecomp
Desktop video, audio, and input	SDL3
Launcher	recomp-ui / Dear ImGui
Build	CMake, Visual Studio 2022 / MSVC
ROM verification and generation	Python tooling and the framework's recompiler
Development scripts	Bash and PowerShell
Version control	Git, GitHub, pinned submodules

Project structure

Path	Purpose
src/	Game host, desktop entry point, and framework integration
src/gen/	Locally generated code; ignored by Git
recomp/	Analysis configuration and symbol definitions
cmake/	Project build helpers
patches/	Compatibility fixes for pinned dependencies
tools/regen.sh	ROM verification and local generation
scripts/package_release.sh	ROM-free setup-pack staging
snesrecomp/	Pinned framework submodule
recomp-ui/	Pinned launcher submodule
rom_identity.txt	Supported ROM identity
framework_pins.txt	Framework revision reference
VERSION	Build version

Testing and quality

Manual validation on Windows x64 includes:

• Boot and introduction playback.
• Video and audio output.
• Launcher settings and controller configuration.
• Character selection and gameplay.
• Full campaign completion.
• Normal life loss and Game Over behavior.
• Wireless Xbox Series X controller detection and use.

The MSVC build also succeeds with the compatibility patch integrated into CMake. The extracted setup pack was also tested through local generation, rebuilding, and normal gameplay with video, audio, controller input, and normal life loss. Testing on a separate machine without development tools, broader controller coverage, multiplayer, and exhaustive character testing remain pending.

Roadmap

• Investigate train-stage pole placement and collision behavior.
• Correct fire rendering in the Dark Horse and final stages.
• Correct intro and saloon animation glitches.
• Validate the setup pack on another Windows machine without development tools installed.
• Expand character, controller, and multiplayer testing.
• Add real launcher and gameplay screenshots.
• Improve runtime integration and progressively expand recompiled coverage.

Author

Diogo Antonio Zarpelão

Sunset Riders port integration, game-host changes, Windows build configuration, gameplay testing, and project documentation.

GitHub: @diogozarpelo

Credits and license

• SNESRecomp: framework, runtime, and recompiler tooling.
• recomp-ui: shared launcher, developed by Matthew Stanley and contributors.
• SDL and Dear ImGui: desktop and user-interface dependencies, under their respective licenses.

The project retains the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0 supplied with the scaffold. See LICENSE for the full terms and original notices. The pinned launcher is distributed under the MIT License; dependency license and copyright notices must be preserved.

The project's license does not grant rights to the original game's ROM, artwork, music, or other copyrighted game content. No such content is included in this repository or its intended setup packages.