# Paperboy: an in-progress matching Nintendo 64 decompilation

> Paperboy reconstructs C and C++ for the Nintendo 64 game, replacing assembly inclusions function by function. Its build uses a user-supplied ROM and the original SN compiler, compares functions with asm-differ and checks the NTSC output against a SHA-1 checksum.

- 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/marijnvdwerf/paperboy-n64>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/marijnvdwerf/paperboy-n64/blob/439f9883fc4c11ffde3de37876bd69a958307220/DECOMPILING.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/paperboy-n64-decomp-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/paperboy-n64-decomp-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/paperboy-n64-decomp-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- Supply the original ROM as baserom.z64.
- wibo, a mips-linux-gnu cross toolchain and uv are required.
- The decompilation is a work in progress; unmatched functions remain as assembly inclusions.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/marijnvdwerf/paperboy-n64/blob/439f9883fc4c11ffde3de37876bd69a958307220/DECOMPILING.md>
2. <https://github.com/marijnvdwerf/paperboy-n64/blob/439f9883fc4c11ffde3de37876bd69a958307220/README.md>

## More in Games

- [Parasite Eve II: matching PlayStation decompilation of the USA release](https://awesomerea.org/resources/parasite-eve-2-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [parasite-eve-decomp-port: matching decompilation and native Linux port of Parasite Eve](https://awesomerea.org/resources/parasite-eve-decomp-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Pea Shootin' Pete: matching reconstruction of PETE.EXE](https://awesomerea.org/resources/pea-shootin-pete-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Pebble Beach Golf Links: a byte-matched Mega Drive reconstruction](https://awesomerea.org/resources/pebble-beach-golf-links-mega-drive-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Pepsiman: a matching PlayStation decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/pepsiman-matching-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Perfect Dark: matching Nintendo 64 decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/perfect-dark-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.