NES/Famicom Appreciation Thread

Neither had i as they were never released in Europe. Lately i've been digging for gems in the NES/Famicom library and this one seems to be a nice Contra clone.

Have you played Batman: Return of the Joker (not to be confused with Batman Returns)? Talk about a Contra clone. And a pretty good one too.
 
is Holy Diver actually worth playing? I've tooled around with it for a moment here or there but it didn't seem worth trying to even pass the 1st stage with. If there's something to it then I will gladly give it a bit of time however.

I liked Holy Diver a good amount but it is super tough. If you didn't like the first stage you'd probably be turned off by how ridiculous it gets further in.
 
Have you played Batman: Return of the Joker (not to be confused with Batman Returns)? Talk about a Contra clone. And a pretty good one too.
Yep, hard as hell too! The music and graphics are fantastic. I think Sunsoft is one of my fav NES developers.
 
Return of the Joker uses the same mapper chip as Mr. Gimmick btw, the FME-7. I think it's the only game released stateside that uses a mapper chip not made by Nintendo (i.e. the MMC chips) since Nintendo didn't allow custom mapper chips in the west because Nintendo manufactured the PCBs for all games themselves, which makes it even weirder how Sunsoft was allowed to use one. Other developers like Konami for example had to reprogram their games to use Nintendo's mapper chips.

Just some random trivia. :)

Edit: Looking at the PCB it seems that it was actually manufactured by Sunsoft themselves since it has their logo on it. Weird that Sunsoft of all developers were allowed to do that and none of the bigger devs. I guess it's only one game though. The Mr. Gimmick PCB though was manufactured by Nintendo and still uses the FME-7. Odd... Edit²: Oh Nintendo made the Batman PCB for PAL as well it seems.

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How is King's Knight anyway? I always thought the cover art was cool.

Feel like this got lost in the shuffle? lol

The game is an odd Square-developed auto-scrolling top-down shooter. There's an emphasis on clearing out the levels to get items or uncover underground dungeons. It's a really, really odd game but I grew up with it so I love it a ton.
 
I was never interested in reproduction carts, but I dig this artsy Mother/Earthbound one.

1441212_orig.jpg

$ 150 when it comes back in stock.

http://www.rosecoloredgaming.com/reproduction-games.html

Talk about a showpiece.
 
Feel like this got lost in the shuffle? lol

The game is an odd Square-developed auto-scrolling top-down shooter. There's an emphasis on clearing out the levels to get items or uncover underground dungeons. It's a really, really odd game but I grew up with it so I love it a ton.

Cool, gonna have to look into it.

EDIT: Bleh, i'd rather buy an official Mother 1 famicom cartridge, then get the english translation patched into that.
 
It's hard for me to evaluate these games objectively. Just hearing the chip tunes from certain games make me feel like a kid again.

That being said a lot of NES games haven't aged well and some are borderline unplayable.

I think one of the most criminally overlooked NES games (then and now) is Conquest of the Crystal Palace by Asmik.

I sank so many hours into that game. The music is spectacular(That Koshiro).

That game blew my young mind. Felt like there was some anime it was based on that we never knew about or something. Had a very rich feeling world and design.
 
Return of the Joker uses the same mapper chip as Mr. Gimmick btw, the FME-7. I think it's the only game released stateside that uses a mapper chip not made by Nintendo (i.e. the MMC chips) since Nintendo didn't allow custom mapper chips in the west because Nintendo manufactured the PCBs for all games themselves, which makes it even weirder how Sunsoft was allowed to use one. Other developers like Konami for example had to reprogram their games to use Nintendo's mapper chips.

Just some random trivia. :)

Edit: Looking at the PCB it seems that it was actually manufactured by Sunsoft themselves since it has their logo on it. Weird that Sunsoft of all developers were allowed to do that and none of the bigger devs. I guess it's only one game though. The Mr. Gimmick PCB though was manufactured by Nintendo and still uses the FME-7. Odd... Edit²: Oh Nintendo made the Batman PCB for PAL as well it seems.

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Pretty cool trivia too :)

Also, i think some Japanese Gremlins 2 carts shipped with the Sunsoft 5B chip and can be converted into a Gimmick! cart with all sound channels intact.
 
just heard back from the universal PPU guy, offered whatever help we could bring:

Thanks for the offer, but I'm just fine for the moment.

More progress coming soon!

so...that's something! might hold off my RGB mod to see what comes of it, at least for a bit to recoup anyway
 
just heard back from the universal PPU guy, offered whatever help we could bring:



so...that's something! might hold off my RGB mod to see what comes of it, at least for a bit to recoup anyway

I'm stoked to see if he accomplishes all of his goals. The number of PlayChoice-10 PPUs out there is rather limited. With that limitation gone, perhaps RGB/VGA/Component modded NES consoles will merely be slightly expensive as opposed to "No, honey, this is not grounds for divorce. I am not insane! I am... NOT!! Why so serious???"

The block at http://universalppu.com/ has been quite tantalizing.
 
So anyone want to chime in on Power Blazer vs Power Blade? Its crazy how both games have the same base, but are totally different. Not just SoR 3 vs BK 3 different, but different stages, main character, enemies, etc. Only the soundtrack is the same...but i'm not sure which one wins out fun factor wise.

Also when did Swordmaster get so expensive? I remember looking at it a couple months back, saying it was something interesting to get later...now its like 50+ dollars.
 
So anyone want to chime in on Power Blazer vs Power Blade? Its crazy how both games have the same base, but are totally different. Not just SoR 3 vs BK 3 different, but different stages, main character, enemies, etc. Only the soundtrack is the same...but i'm not sure which one wins out fun factor wise.

Also when did Swordmaster get so expensive? I remember looking at it a couple months back, saying it was something interesting to get later...now its like 50+ dollars.

Honestly I found Power Blade to be a better experience overall. The character seems easier to control, and the boomerang isn't nearly as restrictive. The power suit makes it too easy sometimes. Also I found a glitch where certain bosses can be destroyed in seconds if you have grenades. Just mash on the select button as fast as you can and it'll explode immediately.

As for Sword Master, really? I didn't think it'd jump up in price THAT much. It really is an interesting game, somewhat slow paced but really well done in terms of graphics and sound. I like the fact it plays like a more playable version of the arcade game Gladiator.
 
In Power Blade, when you enter a boss room, the boss' energy bar starts at zero before it fills. This is why you can immediately destroy them by using a grenade. I guess they should have added one more line of code to make the boss invulnerable until it fills the health bar.

Power Blade is already a cakewalk, so you shouldn't need to cheat. You could sit down and play through the whole game in a few hours. I drew maps as I played, so I could figure out the optimal route. This was helpful when playing it later on hard difficulty, where you only have 1/3 of the time limit to finish a stage.
 
I picked up a complete in box Final Fantasy on Tuesday for only $20. I was almost in shock walking out of the store.... score! Maps, manual, sleeve, foam stopper, everything. Talked them down to $20 and couldn't believe they went for it. Had about 100 other games in box also.... I will be back.
 
I had a pretty stellar find today when browsing the exhibition hall at AX. Just before I left one of the tables I saw a copy of Otocky that looked to be CIB.

sjeUswM.jpg


I'd never seen a copy of the game for sale when I'd looked online, let alone in person, so it took me a little while to realize what it was. It was $70 which was more than I'd hoped to spend on anything there so I told him I'd think it over. I decided later I'd take it. I asked him to open it up so I could see the contents and he was totally on board. Though when he went to open up the box to do so we both discovered that it had never been opened.

MY9aZdj.jpg


The seals on both ends of the box are in tact. I had thought about haggling a bit but I didn't want to risk it at all. Pretty exciting. Though now I have no idea what to do. I'd feel terrible opening it and I'd feel sleazy if I sold it. Seeing as I don't have an FDS, I have some time to think about it I suppose.

Apologies for the crap pictures, my feet hurt too bad to walk across the hotel room to get my camera.
 
It's hard for me to evaluate these games objectively. Just hearing the chip tunes from certain games make me feel like a kid again.

That being said a lot of NES games haven't aged well and some are borderline unplayable.

I think one of the most criminally overlooked NES games (then and now) is Conquest of the Crystal Palace by Asmik.

I sank so many hours into that game. The music is spectacular(That Koshiro).

That game blew my young mind. Felt like there was some anime it was based on that we never knew about or something. Had a very rich feeling world and design.

Yuzo koshiro?

Wow! I still love and sometimes play that game.

Also: dat sales lady
 
Has anyone else gotten bit by the complete in box bug?

I find myself willingly paying an extra 35-50% to get a game in box.

I started getting back into a buying mood and my last three pickups (Tecmo Super Bowl, Marble Madness, and Golgo 13) were complete in box. Now, whatever I look for, I look for a CIB version. I know it costs more but I'd rather have it that way than loose.
 
Back in 2003, when I still had my childhood collection of ~10 games CIB, I acquired all new games CIB as well. After selling off that collection, then getting back into NES years later, I had no urge to have the boxes. There are far too many variants (seal of quality the main one), and it would drive me crazy trying to get a box, manual, and cart that all match. It's difficult enough to just find a matching manual and cart, which is what I do now.
 
I never realized how cool Return of the Joker was.

Return of the Joker is something else. I really am amazed every time I see that game in motion and hear the music. It's one step away from being a SNES quality game. What's funny though is the Genesis version is a terrible step down from the NES version in every way. It's like what not to do with a conversion to another system <Hello Ninja Gaiden Trilogy!>
 
Just got these in the mail:

StarTropics complete in box and Crystalis for $12 each



MetalStorm. Had to have a copy after watching the Gamecenter CX episode. Just under $50. Most I have spent on a used NES game...

 
Wow. I have Bubble Bobble Part 2. Had no clue it was worth anywhere near that much.

Speaking of this game...

My brother recently went to a local retro video game store at the mall and saw a copy of BB2 in loose but mint condition under their glass counter for $220. He had wanted to add it to he new NES collection (He is 23 and just starting out with it). After talking to the clerk there and snagging a couple of cheap games such as Pinball and Mach Rider for $4 each, he left.

Down the road is a new casino so he went in, signed up, and used $20 in credits they gave him as a new member bonus - he ended up winning $265 on the slots with that money.

He then went back next door to the store at the mall where he was greeted by the clerk with a chuckle and "Haha, back for that Bubble Bobble cart?"...placed the wad of bills on the counter and walked out with the cart. He said that the clerk was literally O_o WTF.

It is the highlight of his collection to say the least. :)
 
Speaking of this game...

My brother recently went to a local retro video game store at the mall and saw a copy of BB2 in loose but mint condition under their glass counter for $220. He had wanted to add it to he new NES collection (He is 23 and just starting out with it). After talking to the clerk there and snagging a couple of cheap games such as Pinball and Mach Rider for $4 each, he left.

Down the road is a new casino so he went in, signed up, and used $20 in credits they gave him as a new member bonus - he ended up winning $265 on the slots with that money.

He then went back next door to the store at the mall where he was greeted by the clerk with a chuckle and "Haha, back for that Bubble Bobble cart?"...placed the wad of bills on the counter and walked out with the cart. He said that the clerk was literally O_o WTF.

It is the highlight of his collection to say the least. :)

lol that sounds like something right out of the beginning of any old school rpg. Awesome that it happened so easily for him too.
 
Speaking of this game...

My brother recently went to a local retro video game store at the mall and saw a copy of BB2 in loose but mint condition under their glass counter for $220. He had wanted to add it to he new NES collection (He is 23 and just starting out with it). After talking to the clerk there and snagging a couple of cheap games such as Pinball and Mach Rider for $4 each, he left.

Down the road is a new casino so he went in, signed up, and used $20 in credits they gave him as a new member bonus - he ended up winning $265 on the slots with that money.

He then went back next door to the store at the mall where he was greeted by the clerk with a chuckle and "Haha, back for that Bubble Bobble cart?"...placed the wad of bills on the counter and walked out with the cart. He said that the clerk was literally O_o WTF.

It is the highlight of his collection to say the least. :)

And a cool story to go with it too!
 
man your brother had one of those amazing days, that's fantastic

local CL offer:

boy & his blob - $7
Gyromite - 7 (without knowing if the adapter's within, likely pass)
Karnov - 7
kung fu heroes - 7
life force - 10
rygar - 10
solomon's key - 7

these aren't good deals, are they? grabbed bionic commando at a con today for $5, rolling thunder (tengen) for $10...river city ransom and a few others still stay outside of my grasp
 
Speaking of this game...

My brother recently went to a local retro video game store at the mall and saw a copy of BB2 in loose but mint condition under their glass counter for $220. He had wanted to add it to he new NES collection (He is 23 and just starting out with it). After talking to the clerk there and snagging a couple of cheap games such as Pinball and Mach Rider for $4 each, he left.

Down the road is a new casino so he went in, signed up, and used $20 in credits they gave him as a new member bonus - he ended up winning $265 on the slots with that money.

He then went back next door to the store at the mall where he was greeted by the clerk with a chuckle and "Haha, back for that Bubble Bobble cart?"...placed the wad of bills on the counter and walked out with the cart. He said that the clerk was literally O_o WTF.

It is the highlight of his collection to say the least. :)
Lol great story.
 
I said to him "I cannot believe you spent $220 on a NES cart" and he said "Well, technically, it was free money - wasn't out of my pocket!."

LOL

man your brother had one of those amazing days, that's fantastic

local CL offer:

boy & his blob - $7
Gyromite - 7 (without knowing if the adapter's within, likely pass)
Karnov - 7
kung fu heroes - 7
life force - 10
rygar - 10
solomon's key - 7

these aren't good deals, are they? grabbed bionic commando at a con today for $5, rolling thunder (tengen) for $10...river city ransom and a few others still stay outside of my grasp

I wouldn't say so, no. Although I would love to find Bionic Commando for $5.
 
How do you beat the quarterback cyborg boss on the Snowfield level in Contra 1? Believe it or not, i never played 1, started the franchise with Super C. Also those trucks are a test in button tapping.
 
How do you beat the quarterback cyborg boss on the Snowfield level in Contra 1? Believe it or not, i never played 1, started the franchise with Super C. Also those trucks are a test in button tapping.

I tend to just stay as far left on the screen as possible and wail on the fire button...jump when necessary. heh
 
yeah if you're not using the 30 man code i dunno...he'd be tough without fighting a war of attrition

Yeah I made it to the Snowfield, lost a few lives to the trucks, but then lost all credits to Energy Zone. I know I can beat it without using the code. I hope so anyway.
 
man its a helluva thing to beat it without the code, good luck man!

local CL offer:

boy & his blob - $7
Gyromite - 7 (without knowing if the adapter's within, likely pass)
Karnov - 7
kung fu heroes - 7
life force - 10
rygar - 10
solomon's key - 7

I wouldn't say so, no. Although I would love to find Bionic Commando for $5.

he's offering $45 for the lot now, which feels a bit more fair...debating!
 
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