# The Legend of Zelda: matching NES disassembly

> This repository is a disassembly of The Legend of Zelda. A tool written for the project turns a Mesen .MLB file and the ROM into a listing, and the sources assemble with ca65. The build compares its output with the original ROM.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-07
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/aldonunez/zelda1-disassembly>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/aldonunez/zelda1-disassembly/blob/50a1c869a8d8e2eb8b5b60acea325f44b4341762/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/zelda1-nes-disassembly-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/zelda1-nes-disassembly-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/zelda1-nes-disassembly-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- Place ca65 and ld65 in an ext folder next to src, then run build.ps1. Output goes to a bin folder.
- Verification expects Original.nes in ext, the (U) (PRG0) [!] ROM. Passing --NoVerify skips the comparison.
- The README names no license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/aldonunez/zelda1-disassembly/blob/50a1c869a8d8e2eb8b5b60acea325f44b4341762/README.md>

## More in Games

- [The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D: a USA code.bin decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/oot3d-before-public-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [The Minish Cap: a GBA decompilation targeting five ROMs](https://awesomerea.org/resources/zelda-tmc-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [The New Tetris: a matching Nintendo 64 decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/the-new-tetris-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [The Oregon Trail: matching Win32 executable and DLL reconstruction](https://awesomerea.org/resources/oregon-trail-win32-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [The Sims: Bustin' Out: a matching GameCube decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/bustin-out-gamecube-decomp-case/index.md) · Case study
- [The Sims: Bustin' Out: an AI-driven partial GBA matching decompilation](https://awesomerea.org/resources/sims-bustin-out-gba-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.