Smash Remix
What it is: Smash Remix is an expansive, non-commercial community romhack for the 1999 Nintendo 64 game Super Smash Bros., expanding the roster, adding tournament stages, and improving quality of life.
Can it be played: The modification runs on original Nintendo 64 hardware equipped with an 8MB Expansion Pak and flashcart, as well as on modern PC, Mac, and mobile emulators.
How to start: Acquire a clean dump of your legally owned North American (US) Smash 64 ROM, download the official BPS patch from smashremix.net, apply it using a ROM patcher, and launch.
What Is Smash Remix
Developed by an international collective of reverse engineers, animators, and competitive players, Smash Remix is the premier expansion for the original 1999 Nintendo 64 fighting game Super Smash Bros. Rather than running as a standalone PC simulation engine, Smash Remix is an authentic Nintendo 64 romhack designed to operate strictly within the microcode and memory boundaries of real N64 hardware.
The mod takes the foundational mechanics of Smash 64—its weighty hitstun, instant L-canceling, and distinctive sound effects—and expands the experience by incorporating iconic characters from Nintendo history and guest franchises. Fighters such as Bowser, Wario, Lucas, Young Link, and Sonic have been modeled from scratch in authentic late-90s low-polygon aesthetic, equipped with custom animations and voice acting that blend seamlessly with the original 12 fighters.
Unlike modern platform fighter conversions built in Unity or Unreal Engine, every byte of Smash Remix executes through authentic MIPS R4300i assembly instructions. This enables the patched game to run on real hardware via flash cartridges like the EverDrive-64, displaying on vintage CRT monitors with zero emulation lag.
Core Differences: Remix vs Vanilla SSB64
While preserving the competitive balance and gravity multipliers of vanilla Super Smash Bros. 64, Smash Remix introduces substantial enhancements:
| Feature Area | Vanilla SSB64 (1999) | Smash Remix |
|---|---|---|
| Playable Roster | 12 original characters | Expanded roster with custom models & movesets (see full roster list) |
| Stage Selection | 9 standard battle arenas | Dozens of tournament-legal & casual stages (see stages directory) |
| Single-Player Modes | 1P Classic, Break the Targets, Board the Platforms | Remix 1P modes, custom bonus stages, Multi-Man battles, and Boss Rush |
| Audio & Music | Cartridge MIDI soundbanks | Direct streaming audio engine playing high-fidelity community compositions |
| Tournament QoL | Standard stock/time rules | D-pad stock tilting, hazard toggles, custom stage striking, and Widescreen 16:9 mode |
ROM & Hardware Requirements
To play Smash Remix, you must obtain a clean base ROM and ensure your playback platform satisfies memory constraints. The development team distributes the project strictly as a lightweight BPS patch file.
Required Base ROM
Smash Remix mathematically requires a North American (NTSC-U v1.0) Super Smash Bros. Nintendo 64 ROM. The file must be formatted in Big-Endian (.z64 extension) with an exact file size of 12MB (12,582,912 bytes). Patching Japanese (NTSC-J) or European (PAL) dumps will fail checksum validation.
Verified Clean ROM Checksums: MD5 f7c52568a31aadf26e14dc2b6416b2ed | SHA-1 e2929e10fccc0aa84e5776227e798abc07cedabf.
Memory Expansion Pak (8MB)
Standard N64 cartridges had access to 4MB of onboard RDRAM. Smash Remix expands game data to 64MB and demands 8MB of total RDRAM memory. On real hardware, a physical Expansion Pak is mandatory. In emulators (Project64, Ares, RetroArch), the memory size setting must be manually configured to 8MB.
Gameplay Features & Tournament Options
Competitive Super Smash Bros. 64 tournaments worldwide have widely adopted Smash Remix as a featured side event and premiere competitive format. This adoption is driven by extensive tournament-oriented menu additions:
- Stage Hazard Toggles: Disable wind hazards on Whispy Woods, barrel hazards on Kongo Jungle, and Arwing lasers on Sector Z.
- Widescreen Display Mode: Real 16:9 anamorphic rendering for modern displays without stretching character aspect ratios.
- Custom Control Mapping: Built-in controller remapping allowing players to assign grab, jump, and special moves to alternative buttons on the original N64 pad.
- Expanded Single Player: New 1P paths tailored to newly introduced fighters, complete with custom Target Test and Board the Platform layouts.
How to Get Started Playing
Getting started with Smash Remix takes less than five minutes once you have your base ROM file:
- Read the Installation Manual: Follow our detailed Step-by-Step Install Guide for patching instructions and emulator configurations.
- Familiarize with the Roster: Check the Characters Roster List to discover movesets, frame data highlights, and character origins.
- Select Stages: Explore the Stages Directory for tournament legal arenas and dynamic hazards.
- Review the FAQ: Consult our Smash 64 and Remix FAQ if you have setup or netplay questions.
Explore Related Guides & Modding Resources
Follow our step-by-step patch tutorial with screenshot placeholders and memory setup guides.
Explore the complete list of added fighters, origin games, movesets, and unlock criteria.
Review every new competitive and casual stage added to the Smash Remix combat engine.
Find direct answers to common questions regarding Expansion Paks, controllers, and netplay.