mstan · mstan · Sep 29, 2026 · Sep 29, 2026
diff --git a/docs/zero-port.md b/docs/zero-port.md
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ exchange, `.33` separate HP, `.32` weapon expansion, `.34` later co-op, all unde
 | X1 specials | All eight native normal/charged attacks, Zero muzzle offsets and selected effect adjustments | Activation, energy, upgrade gate and both directions checked; remaining visual/state combinations need playtesting |
 | Hurt/fades | Replacement tied to submitted OAM, including hidden blink frames and pause fades | Renderer checks cover the reported X flashes and menu transitions |
 | HUD | Original X3 Z badge with its frame/palette | ROM-to-render comparison matched all 218 nontransparent badge pixels |
+| READY | Original X1 stage-entry lettering and animation, red for Zero and blue for X | Native respawn captures checked for both identities; X matches original pixels |
 | Pause/title | Original Zero body in pause and title cursor; title confirmation still shoots | Upgraded/unupgraded menus and native title shot checked |
 | Life heads | **Original X 1-up artwork**, both menu and pickups | Owner explicitly rejected the custom Zero head; do not restore any custom version |
 | Select exchange | Grounded idle X/Zero exchange using original blue/red teleport art; game tasks freeze | Both directions, held/midair Select, frozen live projectile and deterministic replay checked |
@@ -32,6 +33,19 @@ both games. It did not: the implementation uses bounded source investigation,
 asset tables and integration hooks. This does not establish perfect X3 fidelity
 or a complete campaign playthrough.
 
+## READY appearance
+
+Post-0.0.1 READY follow-up: X1 `$80:9A3E` creates actor `$1CE8`, class `$0A`;
+`$81:F091` selects animation group `$19`, at the original screen center.
+Its sequence at `$AF:AF76` forms letters with two-frame poses 0..11 and then
+flashes poses 12/13. The compositor changes only the blue color ramp of that
+actor during arrival state `$D3=2` when Zero is active. Original neutral
+highlights, geometry, visibility, timing and other users of its palette stay
+intact. This requires no extra assets, ROM patch, simulation hook or save field.
+Private `MMX_ZERO_READY_ONLY=1` runtime checks reach READY through actual death
+and respawn, validate red lettering for Zero and unchanged lettering for X,
+and optionally save `.zero-ready.cap` / `.x-ready.cap` for visual review.
+
 ## Public distribution and asset provenance
 
 The [source-ROM release contract](mod-source-roms.md) is mandatory for **all**

diff --git a/src/mmx_renderer.c b/src/mmx_renderer.c
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ static uint16_t background(const Ppu *p, const Raster *r, unsigned layer, int x,
 static void sprite(const Ppu *p, const Raster *r, int x, int sy, unsigned attr, int size,
                     int y, MmxRenderView view, uint16_t *out, bool margins_only,
                     const MmxSpriteAsset *asset, unsigned raw_tile, int *object_color,
-                    bool full_coordinates, unsigned zero_icon) {
+                    bool full_coordinates, unsigned zero_icon, bool red_ready) {
   int row = full_coordinates ? y - sy : (y - sy) & 255;
   if (row < 0 || row >= size) return;
   if (attr & 0x8000) row = size - 1 - row;
@@ -627,6 +627,14 @@ static void sprite(const Ppu *p, const Raster *r, int x, int sy, unsigned attr,
       out[dest] = (uint16_t)(z | pixel);
       object_color[dest] = hud_color >= 0 ? hud_color :
           asset && !asset->live_colors ? asset->colors[pixel] : -1;
+      if (red_ready) {
+        unsigned color=object_color[dest]>=0 ? (unsigned)object_color[dest] : r->palette[(z|pixel)&255];
+        unsigned red=color&31,green=(color>>5)&31,blue=(color>>10)&31;
+        /* Keep the original highlights/neutral outline. Convert only the
+         * blue ramp to red, using its existing dark-to-light shading. */
+        if (blue>red && blue>green)
+          object_color[dest]=(int)(blue | ((red<green ? red : green)<<5) | (red<<10));
+      }
       if (x + c < 0 || x + c >= 256) ++stats.margin_sprite_pixels;
     }
   }
@@ -787,7 +795,7 @@ bool MmxRendererDraw(uint32_t *out, MmxRenderView view, bool hud) {
     for (int i = (int)waiting_count - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
       Piece s = waiting[i];
       const MmxSpriteAsset *asset = s.animation == 0x53 ? waiting_zero : NULL;
-      sprite(&p, r, s.x, s.y, s.attr, s.size, y, view, objects, true, asset, s.tile, object_colors, true, false);
+      sprite(&p, r, s.x, s.y, s.attr, s.size, y, view, objects, true, asset, s.tile, object_colors, true, false, false);
     }
     bool replaced[128] = {false};
     bool zero_drawn[2] = {false,false};
@@ -799,6 +807,10 @@ bool MmxRendererDraw(uint32_t *out, MmxRenderView view, bool hud) {
        * their entire footprint, including x=255 which native D76A clips.
        * Only the explicit expanded list can add pieces beyond that budget. */
       bool center = g_mmx_render_asset_repairs;
+      /* $80:9A3E spawns READY in $1CE8; $81:F091 selects group $19.
+       * Restrict the recolor to this actor during the arrival phase. */
+      bool red_ready=stage && MmxZeroEnabled() && !frame_zero.active_x &&
+          frame.ram[0xd3]==2 && s.object==0x1ce8 && s.animation==0x19;
       bool menu_body = s.object == 0x1988 && (s.animation == 0 || s.animation == 0x18);
       bool zero_body = zero && (s.object == 0xba8 || menu_body);
       bool swap_actor = swapping && (s.object == 0xba8 || s.object == 0xc38 ||
@@ -807,7 +819,7 @@ bool MmxRendererDraw(uint32_t *out, MmxRenderView view, bool hud) {
       bool zero_armor = zero && (s.object == 0xc38 || s.object == 0xc58 || s.object == 0xc78 ||
           (zero_menu && (s.object == 0x1928 || s.object == 0x1948 || s.object == 0x1968)));
       bool oam_match = false;
-      if (g_mmx_render_asset_repairs || zero_body || zero_armor || zero_charge || swap_actor) for (int slot = 16; slot < 128; ++slot) {
+      if (g_mmx_render_asset_repairs || zero_body || zero_armor || zero_charge || swap_actor || red_ready) for (int slot = 16; slot < 128; ++slot) {
         unsigned pos = r->oam[slot * 2], hi = r->high_oam[slot / 4] >> (slot % 4 * 2);
         int ox = (pos & 255) | ((hi & 1) << 8); if (ox >= 256) ox -= 512;
         if (ox == s.x && (pos >> 8) == ((unsigned)s.y & 255) && r->oam[slot * 2 + 1] == s.attr) {
@@ -864,7 +876,7 @@ bool MmxRendererDraw(uint32_t *out, MmxRenderView view, bool hud) {
         s.x += (s.x + s.size / 2 - cx) / 4;
         s.y += (s.y + s.size / 2 - cy) / 4 - 6;
       }
-      sprite(&p, r, s.x, s.y, attr, s.size, y, view, objects, !center, asset, s.tile, object_colors, true, false);
+      sprite(&p, r, s.x, s.y, attr, s.size, y, view, objects, !center, asset, s.tile, object_colors, true, false, red_ready);
     }
     int bar_first = -1, bar_count = 0;
     if (hud) for (int slot = 16; slot <= 48; ++slot) {
@@ -890,7 +902,7 @@ bool MmxRendererDraw(uint32_t *out, MmxRenderView view, bool hud) {
           x == 8 && sy == 80 && attr == 0x3486 && size == 16;
       bool anchored = stage && hud && sy < 96 && (slot < 16 || (bar_count >= 4 && slot >= bar_first && slot < bar_first + bar_count));
       if (anchored) { if (x < 25) x -= view.extra; else if (x >= 216) x += view.extra; }
-      sprite(&p, r, x, sy, attr, size, y, view, objects, false, NULL, 0, object_colors, false, zero_icon);
+      sprite(&p, r, x, sy, attr, size, y, view, objects, false, NULL, 0, object_colors, false, zero_icon, false);
     }
     if (swapping) {
       unsigned pose = MmxZeroSwapPose(&frame_zero);
@@ -913,7 +925,7 @@ bool MmxRendererDraw(uint32_t *out, MmxRenderView view, bool hud) {
         const uint8_t *layout = a ? sprite_arrangement(0,pose) : NULL;
         if (layout) for (int i = layout[0] - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
           Piece s = make_piece(layout + i * 4,x,sy,flip,0x22,0,0,0xba8);
-          sprite(&p,r,s.x,s.y,s.attr,s.size,y,view,objects,false,a,s.tile,object_colors,true,false);
+          sprite(&p,r,s.x,s.y,s.attr,s.size,y,view,objects,false,a,s.tile,object_colors,true,false,false);
         }
       }
     }

diff --git a/tests/mmx_adaptive_state_test.c b/tests/mmx_adaptive_state_test.c
@@ -280,6 +280,38 @@ static void zero_health_pickup(unsigned small) {
   zero_replay(55);
   check(!g_ram[0x1628],"native health pickup finishes collection");
 }
+static void zero_ready_checks(const char *fixture) {
+  for(unsigned character=0;character<2;++character) {
+    check(RtlLoadSnapshot(fixture),"restore READY fixture");
+    zero_replay(10);
+    if(character) zero_health_swap();
+    g_ram[0xbcf]=128; g_ram[0xbaa]=0x0c; g_ram[0xbab]=0;
+    bool seen=false;
+    for(unsigned i=0;i<1000;++i) {
+      frame(0);
+      if(g_ram[0xd3]==2 && g_ram[0x1ce9] && g_ram[0x1cfe]==0x19 && !g_ram[0x1cf4]) {
+        zero_replay(28); /* Group $19 pose 12: fully formed lettering. */
+        zero_capture(getenv("MMX_ZERO_TEST_CAPTURE"),character?".x-ready.cap":".zero-ready.cap");
+        uint32_t pixels[256*224];
+        check(MmxRendererDraw(pixels,(MmxRenderView){256,0,4.0/3.0},true),"READY frame renders");
+        const uint32_t *stock=MmxRendererStockFrame();
+        unsigned changed=0,red_pixels=0;
+        for(unsigned y=96;y<128;++y) for(unsigned x=80;x<176;++x) {
+          unsigned index=y*256+x,color=pixels[index];
+          if(color!=stock[index]) {
+            ++changed;
+            if(((color>>16)&255)>(color&255)+40 && ((color>>16)&255)>((color>>8)&255)+40) ++red_pixels;
+          }
+        }
+        check(character ? !changed : changed>20 && changed==red_pixels,
+            "Zero READY changes only blue lettering to red; X READY matches original");
+        seen=true; break;
+      }
+    }
+    check(seen,"native respawn reaches the original READY banner");
+  }
+  puts("MMX READY CHECKS PASSED");
+}
 static void zero_health_checks(const char *fixture, uint8 *start, uint8 *expected, uint8 *actual, size_t cap) {
   check(RtlLoadSnapshot(fixture),"restore for separate HP");
   zero_replay(10);
@@ -343,6 +375,7 @@ static void zero_state_checks(const char *assets, const char *fixture, uint8 *st
   g_config.widescreen = false;
   int w,h; MmxPrepareFrame(1280,720,&w,&h);
   check(w == 256 && g_mmx_custom_renderer, "Zero activates native-width compositor");
+  if(getenv("MMX_ZERO_READY_ONLY")) { zero_ready_checks(fixture); return; }
   zero_swap_checks(fixture,start,expected,actual,cap);
   if(getenv("MMX_ZERO_SWAP_ONLY")) { puts("MMX SELECT SWAP CHECKS PASSED"); return; }
   zero_health_checks(fixture,start,expected,actual,cap);