Knuckles' Chaotix Recompilation

About

A static recompilation of the Sega 32X game Knuckles' Chaotix into native C++. It is not an emulator: the 68000 and both SH-2 CPUs' game code is translated ahead of time and compiled for the host, with a hardware compatibility layer and an SDL3 frontend. The game boots to the title screen, menus and stage select work, and levels are playable with sound.

How it differs from the original

It adds true widescreen in levels, drawing real tiles, objects and sprites in the extra area, while the centre 320 pixels stay bit-identical to the unmodified game. It also adds a Time Attack page for starting any level, local achievements, and rebindable controls.

Getting started

No game data is included; you supply your own ROM of Knuckles' Chaotix (Japan, USA), and no 32X BIOS is needed. Build with CMake, a C++17 compiler and SDL3 plus SDL_ttf, passing the ROM path. On first launch a setup page asks for your ROM, which is verified by SHA-1 and copied into the app's own folder.

Known issues & limitations

• Linux and macOS have build configurations but have not yet been run by the author; iOS has not yet been built.

What you need to run it

Features

• The levels are playable with sound.
• Levels support true widescreen rendering, with options from 1.24:1 to 2:1; scenes outside levels remain 4:3.
• Touch controls can be set to appear automatically, always, or never.
• Windows is built and played; Android builds and runs.

How to install

1. On first launch, choose a ROM from the listed locations, drag it onto the window, press O to browse, or use the on-screen buttons. The program verifies and copies it for later launches.
2. You can pass a verified ROM on the command line to replace the installed copy.

Controls

• F1/F5 control the debug overlay; F2 changes aspect ratio; F3/F4 change filter and scaling; F6 toggles true widescreen.
• F7 opens achievements; F11 or Alt+Enter switches to borderless fullscreen; hold Tab to fast-forward; F12 takes a screenshot.

Licensing & legal

• The repository says it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sega, and that the legal position of shipping the recompiled binary is not settled law.
• The project's own code is under the MIT licence, which does not grant rights to the game itself.

Additional notes

Platform state

Windows is built and played, Android builds and runs on an emulator, Linux/macOS are not yet run by the author, and iOS is not yet built.

FAQ

What is Knuckles' Chaotix Recompilation?

Knuckles' Chaotix Recompilation is an open-source recompilation of Knuckles' Chaotix. The original game's compiled code translated into a native program for a new platform, usually a PC port. The original game ran on Other.

Do I need the original game files to run Knuckles' Chaotix Recompilation?

Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy.

How is Knuckles' Chaotix Recompilation licensed?

project: MIT (original code in this repository); project: SIL Open Font License (bundled Inter font); project: Zlib (SDL3 and SDL_ttf). The repository itself is the authoritative source.