# Caesar II Reconstruction: byte-matched DOS source and Windows function comparisons

> Caesar II Reconstruction recovers C and assembly for the 1995 game and rebuilds its DOS PS.EXE with Watcom C. Its toolkit compares code and initialized data with the original, while a separate MSVC 4.0 workflow compares Windows functions against CAESAR2.EXE. The author reports a byte-exact DOS rebuild outside generated debug information.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/second-impressions/caesar2-reconstruction>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/second-impressions/caesar2-reconstruction/blob/f54946722859e22ad7b372dc5a1949fb45f05cf5/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/caesar-ii-reconstruction-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/caesar-ii-reconstruction-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/caesar-ii-reconstruction-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Requires Nix with flakes and Podman for the Watcom container.
- **Prerequisites:** Requires a local original PS.EXE matching the pinned hash; the runnable game also needs assets from a CD.
- **Limits:** A fresh clone currently needs a sibling reccmp checkout because the fork is not yet published.
- **License:** Licensed AGPL-3.0-or-later for project-owned code.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/second-impressions/caesar2-reconstruction/blob/f54946722859e22ad7b372dc5a1949fb45f05cf5/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/second-impressions/caesar2-reconstruction/blob/f54946722859e22ad7b372dc5a1949fb45f05cf5/TODO.md>

## More in Games

- [Carrier Command Reverse Engineering: seven executable reconstructions](https://awesomerea.org/resources/carrier-command-re-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Castle Excellent: shared-source NES reconstruction with Castlequest](https://awesomerea.org/resources/castle-excellent-castlequest-reconstruction-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Castlevania 64: matching decompilation of the Nintendo 64 game](https://awesomerea.org/resources/cv64-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Castlevania 64: matching USA v1.0 overlays](https://awesomerea.org/resources/cv64-overlays-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow — matching decompilation of the GBA game](https://awesomerea.org/resources/cvaos-decomp/index.md) · Case study
- [Castlevania: Symphony of the Night: matching decompilation across PlayStation, PSP and Saturn builds](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sotn-matching-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.