Created by Luma's Workshop and without any AI, the AstroCore project has successfully decompiled Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy, with a native PC port of the iconic platformer "coming soon." Super Mario Galaxy originally debuted in 2007 as the big Super Mario game for the Nintendo Wii. Although motion controls defined Nintendo's Wii era, Super Mario Galaxy is still widely considered a traditional 3D platformer because it doesn't rely on Wii Remote functions for Mario's movement.
With Super Mario Galaxy decompiled, the game's code has been reverse-engineered so it can be recompiled to run on a wide range of platforms, starting with PC. Without emulating Wii hardware, this native PC port of Super Mario Galaxy can support higher resolutions, frame rates, custom controls, bigger draw distances, and even mods like texture packs. The AstroCore shows that the game runs on PC at a smooth 60 FPS.
The Luma's Workshop team notes that once the PC port of Super Mario Galaxy is complete, it will shift its efforts to the game's sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2. As with all recompilation projects, since the new code doesn't infringe on copyright, players will still need to have their own copy or backup of the game for various art assets.
In other "PC ports of classic Nintendo games" news, Pilotwings 64: Recompiled is available now for Windows and Linux. This is a native port of the Nintendo 64 launch title that introduced many console gamers to realistic 3D flight simulation in a game where you hang-glide and fly around in jet packs and gyrocopters.
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This version supports widescreen, various graphics settings, and higher frame rates than the original release. It requires a US version of Pilotwings 64 to run, joining the growing lineup of N64 games with native PC ports like Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Perfect Dark, Donkey Kong 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and more.
