r/3dshacks • u/Tinaut1986 • 10d ago
Homebrew release Metroid: Zero Mission source port for 3DS with stereoscopic 3D support
Hey everyone!
A few days ago I finished putting together a 3DS port of Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA), featuring stereoscopic 3D support.
For obvious copyright reasons, no copyrighted game assets are included. You'll need to provide your original GBA ROM and place it inside the directory generated by the .cia when launched.
I've tested and confirmed it working on a New 3DS, but I don't have an Old 3DS on hand to check how it performs there. To speed up the development process I relied on AI tools, but any feedback regarding performance, bug reports, or code improvements is more than welcome.
You can check out the repository here: https://github.com/tinaut1986/mzm
I also shared a brief thread on Twitter/X breaking down the background and details of the port: https://x.com/Tinaut1986/status/2098753758368854477
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u/Tinaut1986 2d ago
Quick heads-up for everyone, since I don't think I mentioned it anywhere yet: there is actually built-in support for RetroAchievements that you can enable in the settings!
Also, if anyone happens to test it on an Old 3DS with the 3D effect turned on, please let me know how it performs! I've tested it quite a bit on a 2DS (where performance is solid now), but I don't have an Old 3DS on hand to check how well the hardware handles stereoscopic 3D rendering. Any feedback there would be super helpful!
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u/Gael_173 2d ago
I think it's an incredible port—one of the best I've seen so far—and best of all, it runs on any model of the console. Do you plan on making a similar port for *Super Metroid* so we can have the complete trilogy while taking advantage of both screens?
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u/Tinaut1986 2d ago
Thank you so much for the kind words! Making sure it ran well across all models took some work, so I'm really glad to hear that.
A Super Metroid port has definitely crossed my mind! Honestly, I haven't actually beaten the game yet, so working on it would be the perfect excuse to finally do a full playthrough.
That said, if I do end up tackling it, it's going to be a slow, bit-by-bit project whenever I find some spare pockets of time—I just had a newborn and already have a 2.5-year-old running around, so free time isn't exactly something I have in abundance right now 😅 But it's definitely an idea I like!
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u/Tinaut1986 16h ago
Well, unexpected update on this!
It turns out there was already an existing repository with some groundwork done for a 3DS port. I ended up digging into it and got sucked in, though it needed quite a bit of work to get into proper shape.
So far, I've managed to:
- Drastically improve performance: It used to struggle to hit ~50 FPS even on a New 3DS; now it runs at nearly a locked 60 FPS even on an Old 2DS.
- Add widescreen mode (no black borders).
- Implement the bottom screen with a live map, status screen, and in-game options.
- Add save states and fix several underlying bugs from the original base.
What's still pending is more bug fixing/polish across all the new stuff, and most importantly, stereoscopic 3D support (which isn't implemented yet).
I haven't had the time to do a full playthrough from start to finish yet, but I've put together a first functional/stable build for anyone who wants to take it for a spin: https://github.com/tinaut1986/sm-3ds/releases/tag/v0.1.3
If you give it a try and run into any glitches or issues, reporting them would be a massive help so we can squash bugs and move things along faster. Hope you like where it's heading!
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u/TheBluFoxxx 2d ago
Amazing work! Easy to install and running great so far
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u/Tinaut1986 2d ago
Thanks a lot, really glad to hear it was easy to set up and running smoothly! Enjoy it!
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u/Awkward-Magician-522 2d ago
WOO, Metroid Zero Mission is the best, thanks for your porting work man!
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u/Tinaut1986 3d ago
Hey everyone!
A little while ago I shared my 3DS port of Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA) with stereoscopic 3D. Here's an update on what's new since v0.6.0:
- Old 3DS / 2DS support. It wasn't really playable on older models before (enemies could even turn invisible). The renderer has been reworked and it now runs at or very close to 60 FPS on a 2DS, including the new WIDE mode. It only dips a little in the busiest boss fights.
- WIDE mode. Instead of black borders, the game shows more of the world around you and uses the whole top screen.
- Save states. Save anywhere, with slots that show the date, play time and your items. Save states now carry over between updates.
- Built-in updater. The app checks for new versions at startup and can install them itself. It always asks first, and you can choose between stable releases only or betas as well.
- Better stereoscopic 3D. Improvements in cutscenes, doors, platforms and other spots, plus a fix for sprites that briefly flickered in the right eye.
- Tidier SD card. Everything the port writes now stays inside its own folder.
As before, no copyrighted assets are included. You'll need your own original GBA ROM, placed inside the folder the .cia creates on first launch. If you're coming from v0.6.0, you'll need to install this version manually once; after that, updates arrive through the app.
Download: https://github.com/tinaut1986/mzm/releases/tag/v0.6.8
Repository: https://github.com/tinaut1986/mzm