# Stretch Panic: matching decompilation of three PlayStation 2 releases

> Stretch Panic reconstructs three PlayStation 2 releases from shared C/C++ source and compares each rebuilt executable’s loaded image byte for byte with the original. Its build splits a user-provided executable with splat, compiles matched functions with a pinned CodeWarrior toolchain, and assembles remaining functions; the author reports 589 of 1,351 game functions matched.

- 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/Harskov/stretch-panic-usa>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/Harskov/stretch-panic-usa/blob/ee59f384cc8db98cdf37de99b492a975bbdb2209/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/stretch-panic-decomp-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/stretch-panic-decomp-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/stretch-panic-decomp-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Linux x86-64 or WSL2, Python 3.9 or newer, git, and a personal copy of a listed release are required.
- **Prerequisites:** The build uses splat, ninja and the pinned mwcps2-2.3.3-000906 compiler.
- **Limits:** The author reports 589 of 1,351 game functions matched; later milestones remain unfinished.
- **License:** CC0-1.0.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/Harskov/stretch-panic-usa/blob/ee59f384cc8db98cdf37de99b492a975bbdb2209/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/Harskov/stretch-panic-usa/blob/ee59f384cc8db98cdf37de99b492a975bbdb2209/ROADMAP.md>

## More in Games

- [Summoner 2: matching PlayStation 2 decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/summoner-2-ps2-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Summoner: A Goddess Reborn: an in-progress GameCube decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/summoner-goddess-reborn-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Super Mario 64 DS: matching decompilation with relocation checks](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sm64ds-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Super Mario 64: ROM reconstruction with explicit comparison gates](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sm64-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Super Mario Advance 2: exact-match GBA disassembly](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sma2-disasm-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Super Mario Advance 4: an exact-match Armips disassembly](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sma4-disasm-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.