PrimeHack
THIS WIKI IS NO LONGER MAINTAINED. VISIT https://emudeck.github.io/ FOR THE NEW EMUDECK WIKI.
PrimeHack is a fork of Dolphin (Gamecube and Wii Emulator), intended to modernize the Metroid Prime Trilogy.
Website: https://forums.dolphin-emu.org/Thread-fork-primehack-fps-controls-and-more-for-metroid-prime
Github: https://github.com/shiiion/metroid-prime-source-mod/releases/
PrimeHack Wiki: https://github.com/shiiion/dolphin/wiki
PrimeHack FAQ: https://github.com/shiiion/dolphin/wiki/Frequently-Asked-Questions
Updating this Emulator:
- Use
Discover(Shopping Bag icon) to update PrimeHack
PrimeHack is a fairly straight-forward emulator to set up. Place your Metroid Prime Trilogy ROM in Emulation/roms/primehack. No additional setup is required. Read the Configuration section to learn more about PrimeHack and its folder locations. Note: Controller configurations are not set up for the Metroid Prime games on the Gamecube.
To launch your ROMs in game mode, use Steam ROM Manager and use one of the following parsers to play the Metroid Prime Trilogy:
EmulationStation-DEPrimeHackEmulators
- Type of Emulator: Flatpak
- Config Location:
/home/deck/.var/app/io.github.shiiion.primehack - ROM location:
Emulation/roms/primehacks - Saves:
- Symlink:
Emulation/saves/primehack/Wii - Target:
/home/deck/.var/app/io.github.shiiion.primehack/data/dolphin-emu/Wii
- Symlink:
- Save States:
- Symlink:
Emulation/saves/primehack/Savestates - Target:
/home/deck/.var/app/io.github.shiiion.primehack/data/dolphin-emu/StateSaves/
- Symlink:
- PrimeHack does not need any additional BIOS files to run.
Note: ~/.var is an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click Show Hidden Files to see these folders.
- Only
Metroid Prime Trilogy(Wii)'s controls are configured. The Gamecube versions do not have controls configured at this time.
- Steam ROM Manager
- EmulationStation-DE
How to Update PrimeHack
- Update through
Discover(Shopping bag icon) - Through the
Update your Emulators & Toolssection on theManage Emulatorspage in theEmuDeckapplication
How to Launch PrimeHack in Desktop Mode
- Launch
Dolphin Emulator(Metroid Prime Icon) from the Applications Launcher (Steam Deck icon in the bottom left of the taskbar)- Icon:
- Icon:
- Launch the script from
Emulation/tools/launchers,primehack.sh - Launch the emulator from
Steamafter adding it via theEmulatorsparser inSteam ROM Manager
- .ciso
- .dol
- .elf
- .gcm
- .gcz
- .iso
- .nkit
- .iso
- .rvz
- .wad
- .wia
- .wbfs
| Controls | PrimeHack |
|---|---|
| Jump, Spring Ball | A |
| Grapple, Boost Ball | B |
| Morph | Y |
| Missile, Super Bomb | X |
| Lock On, Grapple | L2 |
| Shoot, Interact | R2 |
| Cycle Beams | DPad Up/Down |
| Cycle Visors | DPad Left/Right |
IMPORTANT:
- EmuDeck includes a texture pack that matches Metroid Prime's button prompts to the buttons in the above chart.
- The Steam Input profile for PrimeHack is:
Gamepad with Joystick Trackpad. Community Layouts conflict with EmuDeck's pre-configured controls. - Only
Metroid Prime Trilogy(Wii)'s controls are configured. The Gamecube versions do not have controls configured at this time.
Important Note: PrimeHack does not have a way of opening the menu if you are launching the game directly. It is recommended that you change any settings in the PrimeHack UI itself before launching a game.
| Hotkey | PrimeHack |
|---|---|
| Menu | N/A |
| Exit |
Select + Start
|
| Pause/Unpause |
Select + A
|
| Fast Forward (Hold) |
Select + R2
|
| Save State |
Select + R1
|
| Load State |
Select + L1
|
| Next Save Slot |
Start + R1
|
| Previous Save Slot |
Start + L1
|
| Toggle Aspect Ratio |
Start + DPAD Right
|
| Increase IR |
Start + DPAD Up
|
| Decrease IR |
Start + DPAD Down
|
| Graphics Toggle |
Start + L3
|
Steam Deck Button Layout: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/Hotkeys#steam-deck-button-layout
Visit https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/EmuDeck-Application-101#power-tools to learn how to optimize performance using Power Tools.
To optimize storage, you can use the EmuDeck Compression Tool in the Tools & Stuff menu within EmuDeck.
The EmuDeck Compression Tool will compress your Metroid Prime Trilogy ROM from ISO to RVZ.
After running the EmuDeck Compression Tool, re-run Steam ROM Manager to update your ROM shortcuts to the newly compressed ROM.
Visual Reference: 
Here's how to install custom textures for PrimeHack:
- Open the PrimeHack emulator, click
Graphicsin the top right (orOptions>Graphic Settings), clickAdvanced, make sureLoad Custom TexturesandPrefetch Custom Texturesare checked. -
- Open
/home/deck/.var/app/io.github.shiiion.primehack/data/dolphin-emu/Load/Textures-
~/.varis an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, clickShow Hidden Filesto see these folders. - If the
LoadandTexturesfolder do not exist, create them. - Visual Reference:
-
- In the
Texturesfolder from Step 2, create a folder namedR3M. - Put your texture files directly into this folder.
- Your texture pack should now be installed.
- If the game crashes with custom textures, it is likely too demanding for the Steam Deck. You can turn off
Prefetch Custom Texturesas a workaround, but performance will still take a hit.
- If the game crashes with custom textures, it is likely too demanding for the Steam Deck. You can turn off
You need to move your Metroid Prime Trilogy ROM to Emulation/roms/wii and choose an alternative emulator for the ROM in EmulationStation-DE.
For further instructions, refer to: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/EmulationStation-DE#how-to-select-a-different-emulator-on-a-per-game-basis.