HalfNES vs Nesalizer
HalfNES
github.comNesalizer
github.comSide by side
| Figure | HalfNES | Nesalizer |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · NES Emulators | 8.0 (#6) | 7.1 (#17) |
| Audio | The listed features include an accurate sound core and an NSF player. | During rewind, audio is added in reverse from the end of the audio buffer. |
| Controls | Controls are remappable through the Preferences dialog. | Controls are hardcoded and include keyboard mappings for the D-pad, A, B, Start, Select, rewind, save/load state, and reset. |
| License | The repository identifies its license as GPL-3.0. | The project is licensed under GPLv2. |
| Performance | The README says a 2 GHz Athlon 64 or better is required to run all games at full speed, and the NTSC filter requires much more processing power. | The author reports about 6× emulation speed on a single core of an older Core i7 2600K. |
| Purpose | HalfNES is an accurate NES/Famicom emulator. | Nesalizer is a work-in-progress NES emulator with real-time rewind that correctly reverses sound. |
Plans
In their own words
HalfNES
HalfNES is a free NES and Famicom emulator for Linux, macOS, Windows, and other Java-compatible platforms. It supports the mapper numbers listed in its README, and says nearly all US releases will start, though some can show corrupted graphics or freeze. Its audio features include a sound core and an NSF player; display options include full screen and an NTSC filter. Controls can be remapped in Preferences, and joysticks work through DirectInput and xInput. HalfNES supports battery saves, but not savestates. GitHub releases provide a Windows executable and a JAR for other platforms, and both require Java 8 or newer. Linux users need to set execute permission on the JAR. Gamepads must be connected before a game loads to be detected, and their buttons cannot be configured. PAL games are supported but may have more issues; users need to select PAL in Preferences. The README gives a 2 GHz Athlon 64 or better as the requirement for full-speed play across all games, and notes that the NTSC filter needs substantially more processing power.