Armored Core (PSX Recompilation)

A native PC port of all three Armored Core games for playstation 1. Generated via static recompilation with enhanced rendering, widescreen support, customizable controls, and in-game settings.

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Building the Project

Prerequisites

Linux (Arch Linux / Manjaro)

sudo pacman -S base-devel cmake ninja sdl3 freetype2 harfbuzz libpng zlib openssl vulkan-headers shaderc

Linux (Ubuntu / Debian 24.04+)

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install build-essential cmake ninja-build libsdl3-dev libfreetype-dev libharfbuzz-dev libpng-dev zlib1g-dev libssl-dev libvulkan-dev glslc

Compiling

The engine runtime and launcher UI are fully vendored in-tree. Configure and build with CMake and Ninja:

# Configure release build with Vulkan support
cmake -S . -B build-release -G Ninja -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DPSX_ENABLE_VULKAN=ON

# Compile all game executables
cmake --build build-release --target psx-armored-core psx-project-phantasma psx-master-of-arena psx-launcher -j$(nproc)

The executables are build-release/AC1, build-release/ArmoredCoreProjectPhantasma and build-release/ArmoredCoreMasterOfArena. Run ./launch.sh from the project root for the graphical launcher (game, disc and shared settings), or launch any executable directly.

Armored Core uses the USA SCUS-94182 disc.

Armored Core: Master of Arena uses the USA SLUS-01030 (Disc 1) and SLUS-01081 (Disc 2) profile; pick the disc in its launcher's Disc Selection.

Project Phantasma uses the USA SLUS-00670 profile. Keep your legally dumped disc in the configured local disc path or select it in that title's launcher; disc images are not included in the repository.

Creating an End-User Release Package

Build and package the game as a standalone ZIP with:

scripts/build_release.sh

The ZIP is written to dist/ and contains the game executable and required runtime files, not CMake/Ninja metadata or compiler object files. To choose a build directory, artifact tag, or recompiler build directory:

scripts/build_release.sh build-release linux-x64 psxrecomp/recompiler/build

To build a Linux x86_64 AppImage instead, run:

scripts/build_appimage.sh

The AppImage is written to dist/armored-core-recomp-<version>-linux-x64.AppImage. It downloads the pinned AppImage packaging tools on first use and caches them under ${XDG_CACHE_HOME:-~/.cache}/recomp-appimage-tools. User settings, disc selection, memory cards, and saves live under ${XDG_DATA_HOME:-~/.local/share}/armored-core-recomp; existing writable data is carried forward when the packaged runtime changes. The bundled OpenBIOS image and license are included; a retail PS1 BIOS dump is not included and must be supplied by the user if selected.

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In-Game Settings Overlay

During gameplay, press the Xbox (Guide) button on a controller or the Escape key on a keyboard to open the in-game settings overlay. The game pauses while the overlay is open.

• Navigation:
  • D-Pad / Left Stick or Arrow Keys: Navigate rows and adjust values.
  • A Button or Enter / Space: Activate folders, toggle options, or confirm actions.
  • B Button or Escape: Go back or close the overlay.
  • Guide Button: Toggle overlay open/close.

Overlay Options

Display

• View mode: Toggle between 16:9 Widescreen (native-wide 1:1 camera extension) and 4:3 Standard.
• Fullscreen: Switch between Windowed, Borderless desktop fullscreen, and Exclusive fullscreen.
• Window scale: Adjust window client resolution in integer steps (1x to 8x native height) in windowed mode.
• VSync: Choose between Off (lowest input latency), On (tear-free), and Adaptive.
• Scanlines: Enable CRT scanline post-processing filter.
• Scanline strength: Adjust CRT scanline intensity from 0% to 100%.
• Frame interpolation: Smooth motion frame blending.

Graphics

• Resolution scale: Internal rendering resolution from 1x native up to 8x.
• Antialiasing: Smooth present filtering across the frame.
• Texture filtering: Choose between Nearest (authentic pixelated) and Linear (smoothed).
• FMV filtering: Select scaling algorithm for full-motion video playback (Nearest, Bilinear, Sharp, Bicubic).
• Screen filter: Post-processing CRT display simulation presets (Raw, CRT, Composite, Trinitron).
• Geometry precision: PGXP sub-pixel vertex precision to eliminate 3D polygon jitter.
• Perspective texturing: PGXP perspective-correct texture mapping to prevent polygon warping.
• Skip FMVs: Automatically bypass pre-rendered video cutscenes on load.

Audio

• Audio: Toggle master sound output on or off.
• Volume: Adjust in-game mixer volume (0% to 100%).
• SPU high quality: Enable floating-point audio mixing shadow.

Input

• Dual analog mode: Toggle modern twin-stick movement for digital PS1 controls:
  • Left Stick: Forward/Back (D-Pad Up/Down) and Strafe (L1/R1).
  • Right Stick: Aim Up/Down (L2/R2) and Turn (D-Pad Left/Right).
• Duplicate face on shoulders: (Available when Dual analog mode is active) Duplicates physical face buttons to shoulder buttons for modern twin-stick combat:
  • L1: Triangle (Switch weapon)
  • R1: Cross (Boost)
  • L2: Circle (Energy blade)
  • R2: Square (Fire primary weapon)

System

• Resume game: Unpause and return to gameplay.
• State slot: Select save-state slot (1–12).
• Save state: Save immediate game snapshot to selected slot.
• Load state: Load snapshot from selected slot.
• Fast boot: Skip the PlayStation BIOS sequence and jump directly into the game.
• HLE BIOS: Toggle high-level BIOS kernel service interception.
• Rewind feature: Toggle memory rewind snapshot capture.
• Restart game: Save active settings and restart with the current disc and launch options.
• Return to launcher: Save active settings and reopen the graphical launcher.
• Quit game: Close the application.

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Launcher Configuration

When starting the application without skipping the launcher, the GUI offers additional configuration tabs:

• Display Panel: Select the graphics renderer, aspect ratio, internal resolution, VSync, scanlines, frame interpolation, Skip FMVs, geometry precision, and other presentation settings.
• Controller Configuration:
  • Rebind individual keyboard keys and controller buttons.
  • Set per-controller stick deadzone percentage.
  • Toggle Dual analog mode and Duplicate face buttons on shoulders with an on-screen reference legend.
• Audio & System: Mute or adjust audio, select host frequency, choose the savestate slot, manage memory cards, and switch disc images.
• System settings: Choose Fast boot to skip the BIOS startup sequence and HLE BIOS to enable high-level BIOS services; these match the in-game controls and persist in settings.toml.

Settings are saved automatically to game.toml defaults and your user profile in settings.toml.