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# SDLPAL - RetroBIOS

Type | libretro
Classification | official_port
Source | https://github.com/sdlpal/sdlpal
Version | v2.0.1
Profiled | 2026-03-25
Cores | sdlpal
Systems | sdlpal

Technical notes

Game engine reimplementing the classic Chinese RPG PAL (Sword and Fairy) by SoftStar Inc. No BIOS or firmware required. All files are proprietary game data from the original 1995 DOS or 1998 Win95 release.

Place game files in <system_dir>/sdlpal/ or point a .cfg at the game directory. The game is available on Steam (app 1546570). Auto-detects DOS vs Win95 game data.

The libretro port disables MP3, OGG, OPUS, native MIDI, and CD audio backends (pal_config.h). Only RIX (mus.mkf) and software MIDI synthesis via Timidity/TinySoundFont (midi.mkf + user-provided soundfont) are available for music.

28 files | 15 required, 13 optional | 0 in repo, 28 missing Categories: 28 game data

`abc.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/abc.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:734, global.c:55, battle.c:879`
- Animation and battle character data archive.

`ball.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/ball.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:734, global.c:177`
- Magic effect graphics archive.

`data.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/data.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:734, global.c:178`
- Core game data archive (scripts, events, game logic).

`f.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/f.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:734, global.c:179`
- Face/portrait graphics archive.

`fbp.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/fbp.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:735, global.c:175`
- Full-screen background picture archive (cutscenes, title).

`fire.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/fire.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:735, global.c:180`
- Fire/spell effect graphics archive.

`gop.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/gop.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:735, res.c:234`
- Game object palette/graphics archive.

`map.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/map.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:735, global.c:55, res.c:233`
- Map tile and layout data archive.

`mgo.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/mgo.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:736, global.c:176`
- Map graphic object (sprite overlay) archive.

`pat.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/pat.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:736, palette.c:53`
- Palette data archive.

`rgm.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/rgm.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:736, global.c:181`
- RGM graphics archive.

`rng.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/rng.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:736, rngplay.c:402`
- RNG animation/cutscene sequence archive.

`sss.mkf` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/sss.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:737, global.c:182`
- SSS data archive (message offsets in chunk 3).

`m.msg` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/m.msg`
- Source: `util.c:740, text.c:718`
- Message text data (dialog, story). Opened via UTIL_OpenRequiredFile in default mode.

`word.dat` -required, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/word.dat`
- Source: `util.c:741, text.c:719, global.c:197`
- Word data (menu items, status labels, item/spell names).

`desc.dat` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/desc.dat`
- Source: `global.c:204, ui.c:864`
- Object description strings. DOS version only (skipped for Win95). Returns NULL if absent.

`wor16.asc` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/wor16.asc`
- Source: `font.c:114`
- Chinese character code mapping for embedded font. Silently skipped if absent.

`wor16.fon` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/wor16.fon`
- Source: `font.c:172`
- Chinese character bitmap font data. Used with wor16.asc for DOS font rendering.

`voc.mkf` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/voc.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:743, sound.c:969`
- VOC format sound effects archive (DOS version). Preferred for DOS game data.

`sounds.mkf` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/sounds.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:743, sound.c:964`
- WAV format sound effects archive (Win95 version). Preferred for Win95 game data.

`mus.mkf` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/mus.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:744, audio.c:305`
- RIX/OPL music archive. Default music source, played through OPL emulation.

`midi.mkf` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/midi.mkf`
- Source: `util.c:744, midi.c:78, midi_tsf.c:68, midi_timidity.c:130`
- MIDI music archive. Used when Music=MIDI is configured in sdlpal.cfg.

`1.avi` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/1.avi`
- Source: `main.c:197`
- Trademark screen video (Win95 only). Falls back to RNG animation if absent.

`2.avi` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/2.avi`
- Source: `main.c:237`
- Splash screen video (Win95 only). Falls back to sprite animation if absent.

`3.avi` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/3.avi`
- Source: `uigame.c:162`
- In-game event video (Win95 only).

`4.avi` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/4.avi`
- Source: `ending.c:418`
- Ending sequence video part 1 (Win95 only).

`5.avi` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/5.avi`
- Source: `ending.c:420`
- Ending sequence video part 2 (Win95 only).

`6.avi` -optional, game_data, missing from repo

- Path: `sdlpal/6.avi`
- Source: `ending.c:485`
- Ending sequence video part 3 (Win95 only).

Generated on 2026-03-25T14:56:43Z