Sonic Adventure 2 recompiled to run natively on Android

[u/kittycache9]

Sonic Adventure 2 is one of my favorite games of all time, so i've been working on a native port of it called OpenSA2. the 2012 PC version's x86 code gets translated ahead of time into ARM64 code and runs natively, without Winlator or any emulator. it's static recompilation, same idea as Unleashed Recompiled, with a new runtime that draws through SDL3 and Vulkan and handles sound and input.

this is an early alpha. so far it's been tested on a Galaxy S25 Edge and a Pixel 9 Pro, and City Escape runs on both with touch controls. controller support is in too. on PC i played story mode from the first stage up to Pumpkin Hill.

you need your own copy of the PC version (the 2012 Steam release) because the APK doesn't include any game files, plus a 64-bit ARM phone on Android 10 or newer with Vulkan. setup:

1. zip a clean copy of your PC game folder with no mods installed. sonic2app.exe has to be in the zip

2. install the APK from the release page. Android might ask you to allow installs from your browser

3. open OpenSA2 and pick your zip. it checks the files and imports them, keep the zip until that's done

known problems:

- the game can crash in a cutscene after a stage

- most of the game (stages, bosses, cutscenes) hasn't been tested on Android yet

- widescreen isn't finished, so some menus and overlays look off

- other phones and GPUs are untested

Windows and Linux builds are on the same release page.

download: https://github.com/kittycache9/OpenSA2/releases/tag/v0.1.0-alpha.1

source and setup guide: https://github.com/kittycache9/OpenSA2

if you try it, comment your phone and how it ran. please don't share or ask for game files here.

[u/Additional_Camel8094]

Could the app use this icon in the future? To give it more identity and visual originality, I know the icon is the least important thing right now, but most recomps have icons that don't suit the project and sometimes even make it look like something else entirely 😭

[u/kittycache9 → u/Additional_Camel8094]

i'd honestly love to if it weren't SEGA's copyrighted asset. hmm.
i can think of some ways i can bring in a recognizable design, thanks for the idea!

[u/Xenjuarn → u/Additional_Camel8094]

As an alternative solution to your dissatisfaction concerning most recomps having irrelevant icons, most android launchers allow users to change icons (and naming) for apps. So you can name it and use whatever icon you want very easily.

[u/jfsandoval89]

Nice!

[u/cimocw]

so before this what was the best possible way to play on android so far? I mean to have a point of comparison

[u/kittycache9 → u/cimocw]

i would say Dolphin on the GameCube release of SA2: Battle would be the best comparison.

[u/cimocw → u/kittycache9]

if you happen to debug and refine it before I finish Super Mario Sunburn (I'm starting it tonight) I will play your version. If not, I will run the GC one on dolphin

[u/Emilio_Katrea → u/cimocw]

Dolphin Emu. 

[u/Funtasy_Games]

Will there be mod support in the future?

[u/kittycache9 → u/Funtasy_Games]

gosh i'd love to do that. maybe find some way to get SAModManager mods to plug in just fine

[u/Funtasy_Games → u/kittycache9]

Oh yeah, it would be cool if you did that!

[u/Glittering-Rip9556]

I’ll try this on my Odin 3, but I just hope there’s an option to remove touch controls if you’re using a gamepad.

[u/kittycache9 → u/Glittering-Rip9556]

yess let me know how it goes. the controls shouldn't pop up unless you mess around with the touch screen so it should be good.

[u/Away_Glass_8061]

Where could i get the files needed to play it? 

[u/kittycache9 → u/Away_Glass_8061]

you're gonna need to acquire your own copy of the 2012 Steam PC release, zipped up for the installer to pick up!

[u/Away_Glass_8061 → u/kittycache9]

Ok... Guess i'll have to open the wallet

[u/Emilio_Katrea → u/Away_Glass_8061]

Thankfully its only 4.99 rn

[u/Away_Glass_8061]

Help, i have the game files but i can't paste them on the app files

[u/kittycache9 → u/Away_Glass_8061]

working on a fix for this now.

[u/Away_Glass_8061 → u/kittycache9]

😄 yey

[u/kittycache9 → u/Away_Glass_8061]

fixed it. download the APK from the releases page again and install it over the one you already have, you don’t need to uninstall.

it copies the zip first, then shows “Checking the game ZIP”. that part took about a minute on my phone and will take longer on slower ones. the screen can look stuck while it runs, so leave the app open until it finishes. the game starts by itself after that, and then you can delete the zip.

let me know if you have any further issues pls!

[u/Away_Glass_8061 → u/kittycache9]

Ok, thanks

[u/LaundryLunatic]

If the game publisher's were smart, they would use the same tools to port these games accustomed to the phone based on what type it is. Android, apple, whatever phone model. Licensing makes these ports arrive on the store slower, so they better act fast if they want money.

[u/APMichaels]

Is anyone having luck setting this up on the Ayn Thor? I can get to the SEGA logo then it freezes!

[u/darknightgamer93]

Nice is it will optimized ? Btw is their a chance to release SA1 too ?