# Golden Sun: a matching GBA decompilation with overlay comparisons

> Golden Sun reconstructs source for the USA GBA game from an earlier disassembly and checks a rebuilt ROM against the original. Its patched GCC 2.96 build also compares all 96 code overlays, while C source, assembly fragments, linker scripts, and symbol maps track the ongoing recovery.

- 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/Coaltergeist/goldensun-decomp>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/Coaltergeist/goldensun-decomp/blob/d8f140af2524babf5d4a2bd2123b7df156d8ac84/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/golden-sun-gba-decomp-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/golden-sun-gba-decomp-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/golden-sun-gba-decomp-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Ubuntu x86-64 Linux or WSL2, GNU Make, Bash, Python 3, ARM binutils, and the camelot-gcc compilers.
- **Prerequisites:** A legally obtained USA Golden Sun ROM with SHA1 5c4695205413df7db52b9a184815a07783999971.
- **Limits:** Matching decompilation remains in progress.
- **Attribution:** Preserve component credits and file-level notices; there is no project-wide licence file.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/Coaltergeist/goldensun-decomp/blob/d8f140af2524babf5d4a2bd2123b7df156d8ac84/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/Coaltergeist/goldensun-decomp/blob/d8f140af2524babf5d4a2bd2123b7df156d8ac84/INSTALL.md>
3. <https://github.com/Coaltergeist/goldensun-decomp/blob/d8f140af2524babf5d4a2bd2123b7df156d8ac84/ATTRIBUTION.md>

## More in Games

- [GoldenEye 007: matching Nintendo 64 decompilation for three releases](https://awesomerea.org/resources/goldeneye-007-matching-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Gran Turismo 2: reconstructing PS1 executables and overlays](https://awesomerea.org/resources/gt2-reversing-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec: matching PS2 executable decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/gt3-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Gran Turismo 4: an agent-assisted PS2 engine matching decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/gran-turismo-4-matching-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Greenwood: a matching Robin Hood decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/greenwood-robin-hood-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [GT Advance 3: matching GBA ROM reconstruction](https://awesomerea.org/resources/gt-advance-3-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.