A recent update posted by homebrew developer Tobi has shown something that once seemed far out of reach. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess now runs on Nintendo 3DS hardware. Not through emulation, but with the game’s own decompiled source code adapted to the handheld. Early footage reveals a project still finding its footing, yet already far enough along that players can move Link through recognizable areas and explore.
Tobi has a history of using older hardware to create visually stunning ports. Previous work included a Super Mario 64 port for the Game Boy Advance that introduced a multiplayer element to the original game, which most people thought was a waste of time, but it displayed Tobi’s willingness to tackle conversions that most people would consider as too tough. He’s now concentrating on the 3DS, but the GameCube and Wii versions are considerably closer in terms of what to expect.
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Tobi has had good timing, as a decompiler has recently revealed the source code for Twilight Princess. This resulted in a native PC version. With that resolved, Tobi was able to test whether the game would operate on the 3DS. The 3DS boasts 128MB of fast RAM and a faster processor than the DS line. When you factor it in, the 3DS is right in the ballpark of what Twilight Princess is asking for, so there’s a barrier that’s been removed.
The port is still in its early stages, as seen by a recent development video titled “For Real this Time!” that shows real game code running on a 3DS. There are several parts that work and allow you to get Link moving around and do some basic exploration. But, yes, there are many rough edges. It stalls, crashes, or occasionally becomes a complete mess. The types of issues that arise when you first try to run a game on new hardware, particularly one as intricate as this. At this stage, the 3DS is essentially a stopgap, serving as proof that the port is functional.
Tobi has stated that the job ahead will involve getting his hands dirty with optimizing the port and squashing the bugs. Controls will need to be mapped from the Wii remote and nunchuck to the 3DS’s circle pad and buttons. Graphics calls will need to be filtered and rerouted to the 3DS’s rendering, and audio will also require some effort. The RAM issue is always a problem; with the extra RAM the 3DS has, things will be a little easier, but it will still be a war. All of this is typical of what happens when someone works on a homebrew port. The fact that anything runs at all is still a source of pride.
One item that piqued our interest was the discussion of the 3DS’s stereoscopic 3D display. Some fans of the game will be overjoyed if Tobi manages to get the 3D working. The official game for the original Wii supported 3D, however it simply stopped running under severe pressure. But there’s no reason why it can’t be done here, and the end result would be a game that provides a more in-depth view of Hyrule than the original GameCube and Wii editions.
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