Snes9x 2002 for RetroArch: Source-Based Core Guide

Snes9x 2002 is a libretro core for RetroArch that ports SNES9x 1.39 and was previously called PocketSNES. It is heavily optimized for ARM and provides more favorable performance thresholds at the cost of accuracy. This guide is based on the official libretro core documentation and has not been hands-on tested.

When the documentation says to use this core

The documented prerequisite is specific: use this core only if you have underpowered hardware and the mainline Snes9x core and the bsnes/higan/bsnes-mercury cores are not fast enough. The documentation warns against using it otherwise, since it trades accuracy for performance.

The core belongs to a group of Snes9x cores that are snapshots from the year their code is based on, such as Snes9x 2002. This positions it as a historical snapshot rather than a current-accuracy build.

Supported file extensions

• .smc
• .fig
• .sfc
• .gd3
• .gd7
• .dx2
• .bsx
• .swc

Associated libretro databases

• Nintendo - Super Nintendo Entertainment System
• Nintendo - Super Nintendo Entertainment System Hacks
• Nintendo - Sufami Turbo

Supported and unsupported features

• Supported: Restart, Screenshots, Saves, States, Rewind, Netplay, Core Options, Memory Monitoring (achievements), RetroArch Cheats, Native Cheats, Controls, Softpatching, Crop Overscan.

• Unsupported: Remapping, Multi-Mouse, Rumble, Sensors, Camera, Location, Subsystem, Disk Control, Username, Language, LEDs.

The core's internal core name is 'Snes9x 2002'.

Core option

The documented core option is Reduce Slowdown (Hack, Unsafe, Restart) [snes9x2002_overclock_cycles], with values disabled, compatible and max. The default is disabled. The option is labeled as a hack and unsafe, and it requires a restart.

Save and state files

• Cartridge battery save: 'content-name'.srm
• State: 'content-name'.state#

Reported geometry and timing

• FPS: 59.9227434043 for NTSC games, 50.3197396536 for PAL games
• Sample rate: 32040 Hz
• Base width: 256
• Base height: 224
• Max width: 512
• Max height: 512
• Aspect ratio: 4/3

Controller profiles

For User 1 - 2 device types, the documented profiles are RetroPad (joypad) and RetroPad w/Analog (joypad, described as the same as RetroPad). The documentation gives no reason to switch to the analog profile.

Putting it together

The documentation does not contain a step-by-step tutorial, so the sequence below is a source-derived summary of the documented facts, not a tested procedure.

• Confirm the prerequisite: your hardware is underpowered and the mainline Snes9x core and the bsnes/higan/bsnes-mercury cores are not fast enough.
• Load a supported content file (.smc, .fig, .sfc, .gd3, .gd7, .dx2, .bsx or .swc) in RetroArch with the Snes9x 2002 core selected.
• Leave Reduce Slowdown (Hack, Unsafe, Restart) at its default disabled value unless you decide to change it; it requires a restart.
• Expect battery saves as 'content-name'.srm and states as 'content-name'.state#.
• Do not expect Remapping, Multi-Mouse, Rumble, Sensors, Camera, Location, Subsystem, Disk Control, Username, Language or LEDs to be available.