# Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles: a byte-identical source reconstruction fork

> A source reconstruction fork rebuilds three regional Sonic the Hedgehog 3 ROMs, Sonic & Knuckles and the Sonic 3 & Knuckles lock-on composition byte for byte from user-provided images. Beyond the inherited disassembly, it organizes 68000 and Z80 source by subsystem and adds ROM identity checks, MAME runtime comparisons and bounded content round trips and edits.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-08
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/RetrolariumLab/sonic3k_src>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/RetrolariumLab/sonic3k_src/blob/c5bd309debb5a230c664583df14240a76fc2608c/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/sonic3k-source-reconstruction-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/sonic3k-source-reconstruction-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/sonic3k-source-reconstruction-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Initialization requires legally obtained reference images for all five supported profiles.
- **Prerequisites:** The supported host is Windows x64 with Python 3.11+, Git, GNU Make and pinned Retrolarium Kit and Core dependencies; runtime comparisons use a pinned MAME build.
- **Scope:** Expanded ROMs, variable allocation, engine merging and a general edited-ROM composer are outside the stated scope.
- **License:** No licence file in the repository.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/RetrolariumLab/sonic3k_src/blob/c5bd309debb5a230c664583df14240a76fc2608c/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/RetrolariumLab/sonic3k_src/blob/c5bd309debb5a230c664583df14240a76fc2608c/docs/architecture_decisions.md>

## More in Games

- [Sonic Advance 1 & 2: a matching GBA decompilation with widescreen ports](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sonic-advance-1-2-decomp-port-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Sonic Advance 3: an AI-assisted match of one enemy module](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sa3-marun-ai-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Sonic Adventure decomp: rebuilding the Dreamcast executable from a local disc](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sonic-adventure-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Sonic Adventure DX: an early matching decompilation of the 2014 Steam release](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sonic-adventure-dx-steam-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Sonic Adventure DX: matching reconstruction of the 2014 Steam executable](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sadx-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Sonic Battle: a matching GBA decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sonic-battle-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.