diff --git a/resources/shader/graph.frag.glsl b/resources/shader/graph.frag.glsl
index 5e22fa05..dad1ec9c 100644
--- a/resources/shader/graph.frag.glsl
+++ b/resources/shader/graph.frag.glsl
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ float get_sample(float x) {
 
 void main(void) {
 	vec4 c = vec4(1.0);
-	vec2 coord = vec2(texCoord.x, 1.0 - texCoord.y); // TODO: move to vertex shader
+	vec2 coord = flip_native_to_bottomleft(texCoord); // TODO: move to vertex shader
 	float s = get_sample(coord.x);
-	
+
 	c.a = float(coord.y <= s);
 	c.a *= (0.2 + 0.8 * s);
 	c.a = 0.05 + 0.95 * c.a;
diff --git a/resources/shader/lib/defs.glslh b/resources/shader/lib/defs.glslh
index c5402393..daf63f1a 100644
--- a/resources/shader/lib/defs.glslh
+++ b/resources/shader/lib/defs.glslh
@@ -29,4 +29,8 @@
     #define ATTRIBUTE(l) LOC(l) in
 #endif
 
+#if !defined(NATIVE_ORIGIN_TOPLEFT) && !defined(NATIVE_ORIGIN_BOTTOMLEFT)
+    #define NATIVE_ORIGIN_BOTTOMLEFT
+#endif
+
 #endif
diff --git a/resources/shader/lib/util.glslh b/resources/shader/lib/util.glslh
index c0ba3983..c8f86316 100644
--- a/resources/shader/lib/util.glslh
+++ b/resources/shader/lib/util.glslh
@@ -77,4 +77,56 @@ vec3 hsv2rgb(vec3 c) {
     return c.z * mix(K.xxx, clamp(p - K.xxx, 0.0, 1.0), c.y);
 }
 
+float flip_topleft_to_native(float x) {
+#ifdef NATIVE_ORIGIN_BOTTOMLEFT
+    return 1 - x;
+#else
+    return x;
+#endif
+}
+
+vec2 flip_topleft_to_native(vec2 v) {
+    v.y = flip_topleft_to_native(v.y);
+    return v;
+}
+
+float flip_bottomleft_to_native(float x) {
+#ifdef NATIVE_ORIGIN_TOPLEFT
+    return 1 - x;
+#else
+    return x;
+#endif
+}
+
+vec2 flip_bottomleft_to_native(vec2 v) {
+    v.y = flip_bottomleft_to_native(v.y);
+    return v;
+}
+
+float flip_native_to_topleft(float x) {
+#ifdef NATIVE_ORIGIN_TOPLEFT
+    return x;
+#else
+    return 1 - x;
+#endif
+}
+
+vec2 flip_native_to_topleft(vec2 v) {
+    v.y = flip_native_to_topleft(v.y);
+    return v;
+}
+
+float flip_native_to_bottomleft(float x) {
+#ifdef NATIVE_ORIGIN_BOTTOMLEFT
+    return x;
+#else
+    return 1 - x;
+#endif
+}
+
+vec2 flip_native_to_bottomleft(vec2 v) {
+    v.y = flip_native_to_bottomleft(v.y);
+    return v;
+}
+
 #endif
diff --git a/resources/shader/maristar_bombbg.frag.glsl b/resources/shader/maristar_bombbg.frag.glsl
index 6411f890..d8ad8a11 100644
--- a/resources/shader/maristar_bombbg.frag.glsl
+++ b/resources/shader/maristar_bombbg.frag.glsl
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@ void main(void) {
 	// This thing is supposed to produce a swirly texture centered
 	// around plrpos. To do it we have to map to polar coordinates
 
-	vec2 x = texCoordRaw-plrpos;
+	vec2 x = flip_native_to_topleft(texCoordRaw) - plrpos;
 	float r = length(x) - 2 * t * (1 + decay *t);
 	float phi = atan(x.y, x.x) / pi * 4;
 
 	// give the angle some juicy r dependent offset to twist the swirl.
 	phi += (1 + r) * t * 5 * decay;
 	
-	vec4 texel = texture(tex, vec2(phi,r));
+	vec4 texel = texture(tex, vec2(phi, flip_topleft_to_native(r)));
 	
 	float fade =  0.7 * min(1,t) * (1 - t * decay) * 4;
 	fragColor = texel * r_color * fade;
diff --git a/resources/shader/masterspark.frag.glsl b/resources/shader/masterspark.frag.glsl
index 582086c6..ee6fa8c7 100644
--- a/resources/shader/masterspark.frag.glsl
+++ b/resources/shader/masterspark.frag.glsl
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ float smootherstep(float x, float width) {
 }
 
 void main(void) {
-	vec2 r = vec2(texCoord.x - 0.5, 1.0 - texCoord.y);
+	vec2 r = vec2(texCoord.x - 0.5, flip_native_to_bottomleft(texCoord.y));
 
 	// globally distort the coordinate system a little bit for a more interesting/dynamic shape
 	r.x -= 0.005 * sin(r.y * 13.32 - t * 0.53);
diff --git a/resources/shader/reimu_bomb_bg.frag.glsl b/resources/shader/reimu_bomb_bg.frag.glsl
index 59f8f9a6..d4ecce5b 100644
--- a/resources/shader/reimu_bomb_bg.frag.glsl
+++ b/resources/shader/reimu_bomb_bg.frag.glsl
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ void main(void) {
 	vec2 uv = texCoord;
 	float ld, dd;
 
-	float yy = yinyang_spin(uv, aspect * zoom, -time, ld, dd);
+	float yy = yinyang_spin(flip_native_to_topleft(uv), aspect * zoom, -time, ld, dd);
 
 	vec2 uv_r = uv;
 	vec2 uv_g = uv;
@@ -115,10 +115,10 @@ void main(void) {
 	vec2 runes_uv = (uv - 0.5) * rot(pi * 0.5) + 0.5;
 	float line = floor(runes_uv.y * rune_lines);
 	runes_uv.x += 0.931223 * line + time * 0.1 * cos(pi * line);
-	runes_uv.y *= -rune_lines;
+	runes_uv.y *= rune_lines;
 	runes_uv = runes_transform_uv(runes_uv);
 
-	float rune_factor = texture(runes, runes_uv).r;
+	float rune_factor = texture(runes, flip_bottomleft_to_native(runes_uv)).r;
 	fragColor.rgb = pow(fragColor.rgb, vec3(1 + (1 - 2 * rune_factor) * 0.1));
 	// fragColor = mix(fragColor, 0.9 * fragColor + vec4(0.1), rune_factor * r_color);
 	fragColor += r_color * rune_factor * 0.1;
diff --git a/resources/shader/spellcard_walloftext.frag.glsl b/resources/shader/spellcard_walloftext.frag.glsl
index 83f86f8c..294eace8 100644
--- a/resources/shader/spellcard_walloftext.frag.glsl
+++ b/resources/shader/spellcard_walloftext.frag.glsl
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
 void main(void) {
 	float n = 10; // rough number of rings of text
 
-	vec2 pos = (vec2(texCoordRaw) - origin * vec2(ratio, 1.0)) * n;
+	vec2 pos = (vec2(flip_native_to_topleft(texCoordRaw)) - origin * vec2(ratio, 1.0)) * n;
 	pos.x /= ratio;
 
 	// Slightly distorted mapping to polar coordinates. I wrote this
 	// shortly after hearing a general relativity lecture...
-	
-	pos = vec2(atan(pos.x,pos.y), length(pos) + n * t * 0.1);
+
+	pos = vec2(atan(pos.x, pos.y), length(pos) + n * t * 0.1);
 
 	// The idea is (apart from the aspect factors) to map the
 	// (phi, angle) coordinates to something that loops several
@@ -22,14 +22,15 @@ void main(void) {
 	// Simplified example:
 	// f(x) = x for 0 < x < 2
 	// mod(f(x),1) then goes from 0 to 1 and from 0 to 1 again.
-	// 
+	//
 	// If you use it as a texcoord you get two copies of the texture.
 	//
 	// The complicated example I don’t understand either:
-	
+
 	pos.x *= h/w;
 	pos.x += t * 0.5 * float(2 * int(mod(pos.y, 2)) - 1);
 	pos = mod(pos, vec2(1 + 0.01 / w, 1));
+	pos = flip_topleft_to_native(pos);
 	pos *= vec2(w,h);
 
 	vec4 texel = texture(tex, pos);
diff --git a/resources/shader/sprite_circleclipped_indicator.frag.glsl b/resources/shader/sprite_circleclipped_indicator.frag.glsl
index eb4a27b7..a3a31223 100644
--- a/resources/shader/sprite_circleclipped_indicator.frag.glsl
+++ b/resources/shader/sprite_circleclipped_indicator.frag.glsl
@@ -7,9 +7,8 @@ UNIFORM(1) vec4 back_color;
 
 void main(void) {
 	float fill = customParams.r;
-	vec2 tc = texCoord;
-	vec4 texel = texture(tex, tc);
-	tc = texCoordRaw - vec2(0.5);
-	texel *= mix(back_color, color, float(atan(tc.x,-tc.y) < pi*(2.0*fill-1.0)));
+	vec4 texel = texture(tex, texCoord);
+	vec2 tc = flip_native_to_bottomleft(texCoordRaw) - vec2(0.5);
+	texel *= mix(back_color, color, float(atan(tc.x, tc.y) < pi*(2.0*fill-1.0)));
 	fragColor = texel;
 }
diff --git a/resources/shader/text_hud.frag.glsl b/resources/shader/text_hud.frag.glsl
index 98412504..7a2313da 100644
--- a/resources/shader/text_hud.frag.glsl
+++ b/resources/shader/text_hud.frag.glsl
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 #version 330 core
 
 #include "lib/render_context.glslh"
+#include "lib/util.glslh"
 #include "interface/sprite.glslh"
 
 void main(void) {
 	vec4 texel = texture(tex, texCoord);
-	float gradient = mix(1.0, 0.8, texCoordOverlay.y);
+	float gradient = 0.8 + 0.2 * flip_native_to_bottomleft(texCoordOverlay.y);
 	fragColor = color * texel.r * gradient;
 	fragColor.rgb *= gradient;
 }
diff --git a/resources/shader/text_stagetext.frag.glsl b/resources/shader/text_stagetext.frag.glsl
index f1821c70..93a7f0e2 100644
--- a/resources/shader/text_stagetext.frag.glsl
+++ b/resources/shader/text_stagetext.frag.glsl
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ float tc_mask(vec2 tc) {
 
 void main(void) {
     float t = customParams.r;
-    vec2 tc = texCoord;
+    vec2 tc = flip_native_to_topleft(texCoord);
     vec2 tc_overlay = texCoordOverlay;
 
     tc *= dimensions;
@@ -19,12 +19,12 @@ void main(void) {
     tc /= dimensions;
 
     float a = tc_mask(tc);
-    vec4 textfrag = color * texture(tex, uv_to_region(texRegion, tc)).r * a;
+    vec4 textfrag = color * texture(tex, uv_to_region(texRegion, flip_topleft_to_native(tc))).r * a;
 
     tc -= vec2(1) / dimensions;
     a = tc_mask(tc);
 
-    vec4 shadowfrag = vec4(vec3(0), color.a) * texture(tex, uv_to_region(texRegion, tc)).r * a;
+    vec4 shadowfrag = vec4(vec3(0), color.a) * texture(tex, uv_to_region(texRegion, flip_topleft_to_native(tc))).r * a;
 
     fragColor = textfrag;
     fragColor = mix(shadowfrag, textfrag, sqrt(textfrag.a));
diff --git a/src/renderer/api.h b/src/renderer/api.h
index 9cee39b5..26143d24 100644
--- a/src/renderer/api.h
+++ b/src/renderer/api.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ typedef enum RendererFeature {
 	RFEAT_DRAW_INSTANCED_BASE_INSTANCE,
 	RFEAT_DEPTH_TEXTURE,
 	RFEAT_FRAMEBUFFER_MULTIPLE_OUTPUTS,
+	RFEAT_TEXTURE_BOTTOMLEFT_ORIGIN,
 
 	NUM_RFEATS,
 } RendererFeature;
diff --git a/src/renderer/common/models.c b/src/renderer/common/models.c
index c777dbd4..64871ef6 100644
--- a/src/renderer/common/models.c
+++ b/src/renderer/common/models.c
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ void _r_models_init(void) {
 	}, fmt, 0);
 
 	GenericModelVertex quad[4] = {
-		{ { -0.5, -0.5,  0.0 }, { 0, 0, 1 }, { 0, 0 } },
-		{ { -0.5,  0.5,  0.0 }, { 0, 0, 1 }, { 0, 1 } },
-		{ {  0.5,  0.5,  0.0 }, { 0, 0, 1 }, { 1, 1 } },
-		{ {  0.5, -0.5,  0.0 }, { 0, 0, 1 }, { 1, 0 } },
+		{ { -0.5, -0.5,  0.0 }, { 0, 0, 1 }, { 0, 1 } },
+		{ { -0.5,  0.5,  0.0 }, { 0, 0, 1 }, { 0, 0 } },
+		{ {  0.5,  0.5,  0.0 }, { 0, 0, 1 }, { 1, 0 } },
+		{ {  0.5, -0.5,  0.0 }, { 0, 0, 1 }, { 1, 1 } },
 	};
 
 	r_vertex_buffer_create(&_r_models.vbuf, 8192 * sizeof(GenericModelVertex), NULL);
@@ -72,11 +72,6 @@ void r_draw_quad_instanced(uint instances) {
 void r_draw_model_ptr(Model *model) {
 	VertexArray *varr_saved = r_vertex_array_current();
 	r_vertex_array(&_r_models.varr);
-	r_mat_mode(MM_TEXTURE);
-	r_mat_push();
-	r_mat_scale(1, -1, 1); // XXX: flipped texture workaround. can we get rid of this somehow?
 	r_draw(PRIM_TRIANGLES, 0, model->icount, model->indices, 0, 0);
-	r_mat_pop();
-	r_mat_mode(MM_MODELVIEW);
 	r_vertex_array(varr_saved);
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/gl33/core.c b/src/renderer/gl33/core.c
index 01a08c51..87b1d398 100644
--- a/src/renderer/gl33/core.c
+++ b/src/renderer/gl33/core.c
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ static void gl33_init_context(SDL_Window *window) {
 	if(glext.draw_buffers) {
 		R.features |= r_feature_bit(RFEAT_FRAMEBUFFER_MULTIPLE_OUTPUTS);
 	}
+
+	R.features |= r_feature_bit(RFEAT_TEXTURE_BOTTOMLEFT_ORIGIN);
 }
 
 static void gl33_apply_capability(RendererCapability cap, bool value) {
diff --git a/src/resource/font.c b/src/resource/font.c
index e1e47d7e..6215d19e 100644
--- a/src/resource/font.c
+++ b/src/resource/font.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "font.h"
 #include "util.h"
 #include "util/rectpack.h"
+#include "util/graphics.h"
 #include "config.h"
 #include "video.h"
 #include "events.h"
@@ -375,15 +376,30 @@ static bool add_glyph_to_spritesheet(Font *font, Glyph *glyph, FT_Bitmap bitmap,
 	sprite_pos.bottom_right += ofs;
 	sprite_pos.top_left += ofs;
 
-	r_texture_fill_region(
-		&ss->tex,
-		0,
-		rect_x(sprite_pos),
-		rect_y(sprite_pos),
-		bitmap.width,
-		bitmap.rows,
-		bitmap.buffer
-	);
+	if(r_supports(RFEAT_TEXTURE_BOTTOMLEFT_ORIGIN)) {
+		char buffer[bitmap.width * bitmap.rows];
+		flip_bitmap_copy(buffer, (char*)bitmap.buffer, bitmap.rows, bitmap.width);
+		r_texture_fill_region(
+			&ss->tex,
+			0,
+			rect_x(sprite_pos),
+			rect_y(sprite_pos),
+			bitmap.width,
+			bitmap.rows,
+			buffer
+		);
+	} else {
+		r_texture_fill_region(
+			&ss->tex,
+			0,
+			rect_x(sprite_pos),
+			rect_y(sprite_pos),
+			bitmap.width,
+			bitmap.rows,
+			bitmap.buffer
+		);
+	}
+
 
 	glyph->sprite.tex = &ss->tex;
 	glyph->sprite.w = glyph->metrics.width; // bitmap.width / font->scale;
@@ -862,6 +878,15 @@ static double _text_draw(Font *font, const char *text, const TextParams *params)
 	r_mat_scale(1/bbox_w, 1/bbox_h, 1.0);
 	r_mat_translate(-bbox.x.min - (x - x_orig), -bbox.y.min + font->metrics.descent, 0);
 
+	// FIXME: is there a better way?
+	float texmat_offset_sign;
+
+	if(r_supports(RFEAT_TEXTURE_BOTTOMLEFT_ORIGIN)) {
+		texmat_offset_sign = -1;
+	} else {
+		texmat_offset_sign = 1;
+	}
+
 	bool keming = FT_HAS_KERNING(font->face);
 	uint prev_glyph_idx = 0;
 	const char *tptr = text;
@@ -899,7 +924,7 @@ static double _text_draw(Font *font, const char *text, const TextParams *params)
 			sp.scale.both = font->metrics.scale;
 
 			r_mat_push();
-			r_mat_translate(sp.pos.x - x_orig, sp.pos.y, 0);
+			r_mat_translate(sp.pos.x - x_orig, sp.pos.y * texmat_offset_sign, 0);
 			r_mat_scale(w_saved, h_saved, 1.0);
 			r_mat_translate(-0.5, -0.5, 0);
 
@@ -981,7 +1006,7 @@ void text_render(const char *text, Font *font, Sprite *out_sprite, BBox *out_bbo
 
 	r_blend(BLEND_PREMUL_ALPHA);
 	r_enable(RCAP_CULL_FACE);
-	r_cull(CULL_FRONT);
+	r_cull(CULL_BACK);
 	r_disable(RCAP_DEPTH_TEST);
 
 	r_mat_mode(MM_MODELVIEW);
@@ -991,8 +1016,7 @@ void text_render(const char *text, Font *font, Sprite *out_sprite, BBox *out_bbo
 	r_mat_mode(MM_PROJECTION);
 	r_mat_push();
 	r_mat_identity();
-	// XXX: y-flipped because that's how our textures are...
-	r_mat_ortho(0, tex->w, 0, tex->h, -100, 100);
+	r_mat_ortho(0, tex->w, tex->h, 0, -100, 100);
 
 	r_mat_mode(MM_TEXTURE);
 	r_mat_push();
diff --git a/src/resource/sprite.c b/src/resource/sprite.c
index ae9c7115..e2992943 100644
--- a/src/resource/sprite.c
+++ b/src/resource/sprite.c
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ void* load_sprite_end(void *opaque, const char *path, uint flags) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// FIXME: is there a better way?
+	if(r_supports(RFEAT_TEXTURE_BOTTOMLEFT_ORIGIN)) {
+		spr->tex_area.y = tex_h_flt - spr->tex_area.y - spr->tex_area.h;
+	}
+
 	free(basename);
 	return spr;
 }
diff --git a/src/resource/texture.c b/src/resource/texture.c
index ffd1d42e..729e98b7 100644
--- a/src/resource/texture.c
+++ b/src/resource/texture.c
@@ -292,6 +292,12 @@ static void* load_texture_begin(const char *path, uint flags) {
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	if(r_supports(RFEAT_TEXTURE_BOTTOMLEFT_ORIGIN)) {
+		SDL_LockSurface(converted_surf);
+		flip_bitmap(converted_surf->pixels, converted_surf->h, converted_surf->w * 4);
+		SDL_UnlockSurface(converted_surf);
+	}
+
 	if(ld.params.mipmaps == 0) {
 		ld.params.mipmaps = TEX_MIPMAPS_MAX;
 	}
@@ -334,7 +340,6 @@ static void texture_post_load(Texture *tex) {
 	r_mat_mode(MM_MODELVIEW);
 	r_mat_scale(tex->w, tex->h, 1);
 	r_mat_translate(0.5, 0.5, 0);
-	r_mat_scale(1, -1, 1);
 	r_framebuffer_create(&fb);
 	r_framebuffer_attach(&fb, &fbo_tex, 0, FRAMEBUFFER_ATTACH_COLOR0);
 	r_framebuffer_viewport(&fb, 0, 0, tex->w, tex->h);
diff --git a/src/stagedraw.c b/src/stagedraw.c
index ca27b3f6..87478f80 100644
--- a/src/stagedraw.c
+++ b/src/stagedraw.c
@@ -410,7 +410,11 @@ static void draw_wall_of_text(float f, const char *txt) {
 	Sprite spr;
 	BBox bbox;
 
-	text_render(txt, get_font("standard"), &spr, &bbox);
+	char buf[strlen(txt) + 4];
+	memcpy(buf, txt, sizeof(buf) - 4);
+	memcpy(buf + sizeof(buf) - 4, " ~ ", 4);
+
+	text_render(buf, get_font("standard"), &spr, &bbox);
 
 	// FIXME: The shader currently assumes that the sprite takes up the entire texture.
 	// If it could handle any arbitrary sprite, then text_render wouldn't have to resize // the texture per every new string of text.
@@ -427,7 +431,7 @@ static void draw_wall_of_text(float f, const char *txt) {
 	r_uniform_float("w", spr.tex_area.w/spr.tex->w);
 	r_uniform_float("h", spr.tex_area.h/spr.tex->h);
 	r_uniform_float("ratio", h/w);
-	r_uniform_vec2("origin", creal(global.boss->pos)/h, cimag(global.boss->pos)/w);
+	r_uniform_vec2("origin", creal(global.boss->pos)/h, cimag(global.boss->pos)/w); // what the fuck?
 	r_uniform_float("t", f);
 	r_texture_ptr(0, spr.tex);
 	r_draw_quad();
diff --git a/src/util/graphics.c b/src/util/graphics.c
index d4b58b01..9a204330 100644
--- a/src/util/graphics.c
+++ b/src/util/graphics.c
@@ -102,13 +102,12 @@ void draw_stars(int x, int y, int numstars, int numfrags, int maxstars, int maxf
 
 void draw_framebuffer_attachment(Framebuffer *fb, double width, double height, FramebufferAttachment attachment) {
 	CullFaceMode cull_saved = r_cull_current();
-	r_cull(CULL_FRONT);
+	r_cull(CULL_BACK);
 
 	r_mat_push();
 	r_texture_ptr(0, r_framebuffer_get_attachment(fb, attachment));
 	r_mat_scale(width, height, 1);
 	r_mat_translate(0.5, 0.5, 0);
-	r_mat_scale(1, -1, 1);
 	r_draw_quad();
 	r_mat_pop();
 
@@ -163,3 +162,19 @@ void init_blur_shader(ShaderProgram *prog, size_t kernel_size, float sigma) {
 	gaussian_kernel_1d(kernel_size, sigma, kernel);
 	r_uniform_ptr(r_shader_uniform(prog, "blur_kernel[0]"), kernel_size, kernel);
 }
+
+void flip_bitmap(char *data, size_t rows, size_t row_length) {
+	char swap_buffer[row_length];
+
+	for(size_t row = 0; row < rows / 2; ++row) {
+		memcpy(swap_buffer, data + row * row_length, row_length);
+		memcpy(data + row * row_length, data + (rows - row - 1) * row_length, row_length);
+		memcpy(data + (rows - row - 1) * row_length, swap_buffer, row_length);
+	}
+}
+
+void flip_bitmap_copy(char *dst, const char *src, size_t rows, size_t row_length) {
+	for(size_t row = 0, irow = rows - 1; row < rows; ++row, --irow) {
+		memcpy(dst + irow * row_length, src + row * row_length, row_length);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/util/graphics.h b/src/util/graphics.h
index afe361d9..0df29a49 100644
--- a/src/util/graphics.h
+++ b/src/util/graphics.h
@@ -23,3 +23,6 @@ void fbutil_destroy_attachments(Framebuffer *fb);
 void fbutil_resize_attachment(Framebuffer *fb, FramebufferAttachment attachment, uint width, uint height);
 
 void init_blur_shader(ShaderProgram *prog, size_t kernel_size, float sigma);
+
+void flip_bitmap(char *data, size_t rows, size_t row_length);
+void flip_bitmap_copy(char *dst, const char *src, size_t rows, size_t row_length);