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NES advices - a new NES owner needs help, GAF!

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Psymon_Stark

Member
This birthday my GF went on a NES-frenzy and bought me a system with 2 controller, zapper, mario+duck hunt and a game from Capcom called Gun Smoke that I didn't even know it existed.

I now need some advices:

- the system is european, italian. I can safely assume that the console will load all the european games without any problem or there's some sort of lock for particular regions?

- is there a way to play US and japanese games (with some sort of loader or adapter)?

- great multiplayer games to play with my girlfriend? :D

- what is the best source to buy retrogames in europe? ebay?

thanks in advance for the answers! ;)
 
RE: Great Multiplayer Games;

I'd recommend Mario 3 (take turns multiplayer with a bonus battle mode for simultaneous multiplayer) or River City Ransom (simultaneous multiplayer). Both are absolute classics.
 
The NES is awesome, congrats.

I don't think it's region locked, but European (PAL) units run at 50 Hz while NTSC units run at 60Hz. IIRC, this means American games will feel like they're kind of in slo-mo and be really easy. EDIT: Apparently I'm wrong and this is more complicated than I thought. Anyway...

The best multiplayer game on the system is River City Ransom.

I also really enjoy the Chip n' Dale games for multiplayer (platformer, run around, pick each other up, throw things at each other). Bubble Bobble is also a fun one.

It's a shame you made this thread during E3, you might not get a lot of notice or replies due to the deluge of other information. Perhaps bump it after things settle down.
 
Psymon_Stark said:
This birthday my GF went on a NES-frenzy and bought me a system with 2 controller, zapper, mario+duck hunt and a game from Capcom called Gun Smoke that I didn't even know it existed.

I now need some advices:

- the system is european, italian. I can safely assume that the console will load all the european games without any problem or there's some sort of lock for particular regions?

- is there a way to play US and japanese games (with some sort of loader or adapter)?

- great multiplayer games to play with my girlfriend? :D

- what is the best source to buy retrogames in europe? ebay?

thanks in advance for the answers! ;)
Click to expand...

There are actually 2 European NES models - UK and Italy are PAL-A; the rest of Europe is PAL-B. PAL-A and PAL-B are *not* compatible!

To be able to play games from other regions on your NES, there are several options:
* Game Genie
* Game adapters requiring you to plug in 2 carts, one of your region
* Lifting a pin on the region lockout chip: http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/nintendo/nes-lockout.htm
* Various adapters to play Famicom games with
* others

Multiplayer games I liked: Mendel Palace, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers; Double Dragon

As for buying retro games - I primarily use eBay and some local (Netherlands) online stores; dunno any Italian stores; there's a UK online store http://www.retrogames.co.uk/ but I'm sure there are tons more.

Also, make sure if buying a German or French cart that the game itself isn't in German or French (unless you speak any of those of course). Might be a pain with RPGs!
 
It's already been mentioned so I'm merely reiterating, but Double Dragon I and II (especially II) are brilliant games with great co-op.
 
Psymon_Stark said:
This birthday my GF went on a NES-frenzy and bought me a system with 2 controller, zapper, mario+duck hunt and a game from Capcom called Gun Smoke that I didn't even know it existed.
Click to expand...

You, my friend, are in for a treat. Gun Smoke is one of the best NES games.

People are already mentioning the great Co-op games (Battletoads, Super Dodge Ball, Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers), but if you want a great single-player experience I recommend another Capcom game: Little Nemo the Dream Master.
 
Is it the top loading NES, or the old fashioned front-loader? I might be incorrect on this, but according to one of the Angry Video Game Nerd's videos (The Bible Games episode), the Top Loading NES is region free and can play any NES cartridge.
 
Psymon_Stark said:
This birthday my GF went on a NES-frenzy and bought me a system with 2 controller, zapper, mario+duck hunt and a game from Capcom called Gun Smoke that I didn't even know it existed.
Click to expand...

O_O I guess you're pretty young then? One of the greatest NES classics ever! I had the first stage music as my ring tone for 7 years.
 
Ledsen said:
O_O I guess you're pretty young then? One of the greatest NES classics ever! I had the first stage music as my ring tone for 7 years.
Click to expand...

yeah, I must admit that I belong to the GameBoy/SNES generation...When I was a child the NES was at the end of his lifecycle and the SNES was already out..I never onwed a NES when I was a child and only one of my friend had it ._. that's why I'm so excited to finally have one :D
I guess I was lucky that the game was included in the package then :D I'll check it out as soon as I get home (and find a place in my bedroom to place and plug the console)
 
Tempy said:
There are actually 2 European NES models - UK and Italy are PAL-A; the rest of Europe is PAL-B. PAL-A and PAL-B are *not* compatible!

To be able to play games from other regions on your NES, there are several options:
* Game Genie
* Game adapters requiring you to plug in 2 carts, one of your region
* Lifting a pin on the region lockout chip: http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/nintendo/nes-lockout.htm
* Various adapters to play Famicom games with
* others

Multiplayer games I liked: Mendel Palace, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers; Double Dragon

As for buying retro games - I primarily use eBay and some local (Netherlands) online stores; dunno any Italian stores; there's a UK online store http://www.retrogames.co.uk/ but I'm sure there are tons more.

Also, make sure if buying a German or French cart that the game itself isn't in German or French (unless you speak any of those of course). Might be a pain with RPGs!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the precious info! I'm not sure I want to touch the console, so I guess I should go and fetch the adapters (for US and JAP also)

Rygar 8 Bit said:
You can mod your NES pretty easy. Just got to remove the region lock chip. Other wise you can never play Ninja Gaiden 2 or 3. They never got a EU release. As for what site to use I'd go with
http://www.estarland.com/
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll browse the store later ;)
 
Sorry I know the thread is slightly old, but I just wanted to add that you don't have to solder anything to make the NES region free if you don't want to.

You can also just carefully cut pin 4 on the lockout chip and gently bend it a little so there's no connection. Here's a guide explaining how to do it http://nesdev.parodius.com/nlockout.txt

Don't pay attention to the soldering parts, you only have to read until step 11 in section "Performing the Modification", which explains how to cut the pin. Then just go backwards through the steps to assemble it.

And here's a video showing which pin you should cut to make it easier for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWYC93JtHbA

I definitely recommend doing this, especially with a European NES. That way you don't have to care about PAL-A and PAL-B. It may seem complicated but the NES is actually extremely simple to disassemble and put back together again so I wouldn't worry about that. Just make sure you don't accidentally damage the chip in any other way than cutting pin 4.

As for Famicom games, you'd still need a converter for that. But they're often pretty cheap. I have a converter by "NTDEC" and it works with every game I've tried so far though I don't have a lot of Famicom games, and none of them use any special mapper or anything.

And multiplayer games:
  • I can also recommend the Adventures of Lolo series. They're not multiplayer games, but puzzle games which are fun even for the people watching.
  • River City Ransom ("Street Gangs" in Europe). Really awesome beat-em up with some RPG elements. One of the best multiplayer games on the NES in my opinion, though it is perhaps a little short.

Some simple but fun multiplayer games are Mario Bros. (not SMB), Dr. Mario, Devil World and Ice Climber. These are all games that aren't very fun by yourself, but infinitely more fun with someone else.

Other good games are Rush 'n Attack, Contra, the Mega Man games, Guardian Legend, Gradius and Life Force, Hammerin' Harry, Duck Tales, Journey to Silius, The Goonies II, Kid Icarus, Ufouria: The Saga, Blaster Master, Mr. Gimmick, The Castlevania games, The Battle of Olympus, Punch Out!!, Turtles 2, Little Nemo, Little Samson... well that should be enough for now :P
 
elfinke said:
It's already been mentioned so I'm merely reiterating, but Double Dragon I and II (especially II) are brilliant games with great co-op.
Click to expand...
They're amazing games for sure, but the NES version of Double Dragon I has no co-op in the main game.
 
Rygar 8 Bit said:
You can mod your NES pretty easy. Just got to remove the region lock chip. Other wise you can never play Ninja Gaiden 2 or 3. They never got a EU release. As for what site to use I'd go with
http://www.estarland.com/
Click to expand...
Ninja Gaiden 2 does excist in PAL version, it is called Shadow Warriors 2 :) Ninja Gaiden 3 however never got released in EU, unfortuantely :\
 
Battletoads is a great multiplayer game.

Bubble Bobble is great

The other suggestions I have are of American sports games, so I'm not sure you'd be into them.

by the way, DON'T GET BATTLETOADS FOR MULTIPLAYER. IT IS HELL
 
Stumpokapow said:
RE: Great Multiplayer Games;

I'd recommend Mario 3 (take turns multiplayer with a bonus battle mode for simultaneous multiplayer) or River City Ransom (simultaneous multiplayer). Both are absolute classics.
Click to expand...
Mario 3 isn't a bad choice for multi player if you figure that you can also play Mario Bros, which I never knew was an original game until years later.
 
Almost any NES is great multiplayer co-op, Mario, Mega Man, Castlevania, Ninja Gaiden. Simply pass the control between stages/deaths. I've even played a four player game of Zelda.
 
meppi said:
I'd certainly recommend Pin.Bot.
Still my favourite videogame pinball game after all these years.
Click to expand...

I bought that on a whim last year and it was surprisingly good. Certainly better than Nintendo's "Pinball".
 
scrn_chipNDaleRescueRangers.jpg


Jesus christ so much fun was had playing this game! First co-op I remember playing. Music was great too, even though it was only the intro that was from the real show. Hmm now that I think about it, the multiplayer reminds me about NSMBWii :p
 
Destiny of an Emperor! also, Mega Man 2. And Swords and Serpents! OH and motherfuckin Startropics 1 and 2.

hell of a system you've hitched yourself to, go nuts.
 
Chip 'n Dale is a good game, but it's way too easy and short.

Speaking of Capcom's Disney-licensed NES games, Darkwing Duck is another good one. It plays a bit like Mega Man. It's not the best game ever though, it could use some polish.

@PetriP-TNT: Nice! Did you get the urge to play some game from your childhood? :>
 
synt4x said:
Sorry I know the thread is slightly old, but I just wanted to add that you don't have to solder anything to make the NES region free if you don't want to.

You can also just carefully cut pin 4 on the lockout chip and gently bend it a little so there's no connection. Here's a guide explaining how to do it http://nesdev.parodius.com/nlockout.txt

Don't pay attention to the soldering parts, you only have to read until step 11 in section "Performing the Modification", which explains how to cut the pin. Then just go backwards through the steps to assemble it.

And here's a video showing which pin you should cut to make it easier for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWYC93JtHbA

I definitely recommend doing this, especially with a European NES. That way you don't have to care about PAL-A and PAL-B. It may seem complicated but the NES is actually extremely simple to disassemble and put back together again so I wouldn't worry about that. Just make sure you don't accidentally damage the chip in any other way than cutting pin 4.

As for Famicom games, you'd still need a converter for that. But they're often pretty cheap. I have a converter by "NTDEC" and it works with every game I've tried so far though I don't have a lot of Famicom games, and none of them use any special mapper or anything.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the infos ;) so if I go for that mod and I buy an adapter like the one you mentioned, I should be able to play nes games from every region, right?
I'll search the adapter as soon as I have some free time :) I want to play the first Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, but I didn't know that they were not released in europe :(
 
I've decided to get these games for now: Chip 'n Dale, Bubble Bobble, Duck Tales, World Cup, Probotector/Contra, River City Ransom :) Thank you everyone for the advices.
Now I guess I should monitor ebay and search for some good offers, since I've seen that every of these games are not avalaible on retrogames.co.uk :(

PetriP-TNT said:
I don't want to steal your thunder, but after like what, 16 years I now own a NES again!
Click to expand...
ahah, don't worry ;) I'm glad for you :D
 
synt4x said:
@PetriP-TNT: Nice! Did you get the urge to play some game from your childhood? :>
Click to expand...

Well, not really actually! I have played NES games in various formats & have been an avid NES fan all these years and always had a yearning for a the real console, especially after my friend found (!) like 50 games, 2 zappers and 2 controllers about a year ago. My original NES died in a tragic accident relating 2 garbage bags, one containing the console, other having garbage (guess which one ended in the dumpster :() and never bought a replacement for some reason. I had been looking for one for years in various flee markets but I guess they are kinda rare around here (at least for decent price). I know I could have gotten one online for cheap but never did.

But my dad happened to find one somewhere (where do people keep finding these things?!?) and asked if I wanted it, I obviously said hell yes so now I can play all the games on real hardware once again!


@Psymon_Stark: Great choices. I actually got around playing River City Ransom last year for the first time and it blew my mind. Maybe the best beat 'em up on the platform and it's surprisingly deep too. Oh and Duck Tales is one of my favorite games ever.
 
Psymon_Stark said:
I've decided to get these games for now: Chip 'n Dale, Bubble Bobble, Duck Tales, World Cup, Probotector/Contra, River City Ransom :)
Click to expand...
*Brofist*

PetriP-TNT said:
(where do people keep finding these things?!?)
Click to expand...
You'd be surprised. I've heard you can even find some in garbage bags! :P
(Sorry, that was mean. I'm sorry for your loss.)
 
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