AV Famicom questions...

[Domino]

Well I'm an idiot for not knowing but it is true. I remember having a later model Sharp Twin Famicom with turbo buttons. Thought the system is cool but I hate the hardwired controllers and to be honest I never used its floppy drive.

Years later I got a NES itch again but I don't want to deal with the regular NES to be honest. I don't mind the US NES 2 but I didn't like the fact that it was RF only. I heard the AV Famicom actually supports Composite (like the Twin Famicom systems) and it is smaller of course.

Just a few dumb questions I guess:

US controllers can work on this thing?
I can use a NES to Famicom converter just fine on it?
If I really want to deal with floppies can the FDS will work on the AV Famicom?

I remember years back I wanted everything to be CIB and stuff, not going to do that route with the Famicom. Loose carts + system all the way with a cheap CRT.

I'm curious how people's experience with the AV Famicom.

Edit: If this needs to be in hardware section you can move it. Totally forgot about it to be honest...

[BrianC]

Standard US controllers work on the AV Famicom, but US accessories won't work with some games. It does have the accessory port for JP accessories, though. JP controllers are needed for 3-4 player games, as well as games like Arkanoid and Arkanoid II (only game I have that has a controller for the accessory port is Arkanoid 2, but the JP Vaus controller works great with it. US Vaus is a no go, but I heard it's possible to make an adapter to have it plug into the accessory port. Couldn't find instructions on this, however). I heard NES to Famicom cartridge adapters work, but some are poorly made and won't fit correctly. I saw videos of the FDS working and the system is wired for the extra sound in games like Akumajo Densetsu and JP Rolling Thunder.

One thing about the AV Famicom is that functions that require the controller 2 microphone like the pols voice in the JP Zelda 1 won't be available. Not many games require the microphone and it's optional in most games that use it.

Early games with edit modes like Excitebike and Wrecking Crew don't have a battery, even in their FC counterparts. They are exactly the same as the US versions and require a special tape recorder to save. I'm guessing that saving is possible with the US versions on a JP console, but the accessory is fairly obscure and a bit on the pricy side.

[Ghegs]

I love my AV Famicom, great system.

I heard NES to Famicom cartridge adapters work, but some are poorly made and won't fit correctly.

I can confirm there are working ones, I have a no-name adapter and it works great with my AV Fami.

I remember years back I wanted everything to be CIB and stuff, not going to do that route with the Famicom. Loose carts + system all the way with a cheap CRT.

Good choice. I started out differently and have CIB versions of all my Famicom games, and now at ~100 games it's a difficult thought to switch to loose carts. Gets very expensive at times, luckily there aren't many games left I want to acquire.

[Domino]

I love my AV Famicom, great system. Good choice. I started out differently and have CIB versions of all my Famicom games, and now at ~100 games it's a difficult thought to switch to loose carts. Gets very expensive at times, luckily there aren't many games left I want to acquire.

Thanks! Going for the loose cart route should make it less pricy. I'm curious Ghegs, did you ever get a FDS for your AV Fami?

[BrianC]

I'm going mostly loose myself, especially for more expensive games. However, I do plan to get some of the cheaper games like Mario Open Golf CIB. Some of the early games especially can be found for dirt cheap, loose.

[Domino]

I'm going mostly loose myself, especially for more expensive games. However, I do plan to get some of the cheaper games like Mario Open Golf CIB.

For me no Mario games, I actually like the third party titles more than First Party, lol.

I'm also curious on average the AV Fami are going for in the market?

[BrianC]

I'm going mostly loose myself, especially for more expensive games. However, I do plan to get some of the cheaper games like Mario Open Golf CIB.

For me no Mario games, I actually like the third party titles more than First Party, lol.

It's not a standard Mario game and it's a game with huge differences from its NES counterpart, NES Open. It's missing the betting and tournament modes, but instead has two more courses and harder holes. Some of the JP exclusive holes are over 700 yards long. NES Open is one of the better golf games on the system, and it has nothing to do with it having Mario. I only tried a bit of its JP counterpart, but I heard it's even better with more challenging courses (though betting in a game with Mario is one of the best things in the US version). Personally I feel you are missing out if you go only third party. The original Famicom Wars is good stuff and simple to play once the menus are memorized.

[Domino]

It's not a standard Mario game and it's a game with huge differences from its NES counterpart, NES Open. It's missing the betting and tournament modes, but instead has two more courses and harder holes. Some of the JP exclusive holes are over 700 yards long. NES Open is one of the better golf games on the system, and it has nothing to do with it having Mario. I only tried a bit of its JP counterpart, but I heard it's even better with more challenging courses (though betting in a game with Mario is one of the best things in the US version). Personally I feel you are missing out if you go only third party. The original Famicom Wars is good stuff and simple to play once the menus are memorized.

I don't like sport games actually (and golf is high on my hate list). Sorry to bust your buble.

[BrianC]

I don't like sport games actually (and golf is high on my hate list). Sorry to bust your buble.

Well you could have said that straight out, but I mentioned it because it was something I was planning to get. I wasn't thrilled to get "lol Mario" in reply. Don't get me wrong, I found many of the better games on the systems to be third party as well, but I feel a reply that basically says "lol Mario" is selling first party games short.

[Domino]

I don't like sport games actually (and golf is high on my hate list). Sorry to bust your buble.

Well you could have said that straight out, but I mentioned it because it was something I was planning to get. I wasn't thrilled to get "lol Mario" in reply. Don't get me wrong, I found many of the better games on the systems to be third party as well, but I feel a reply that basically says "lol Mario" is selling first party games short.

For me I'm more of I got so burn out with the Nintendo First Party Titles that I just want to avoid almost all of them. More or less I had enough of them, lol.

[BrianC]

For me, there isn't too many Nintendo first party titles I'm interested in because the better ones are either on disc, or released in the US in some form. Not to mention US exclusives like Startropics. But one of the first party titles, Joy Mech Fight, is also one of the few fighting games on the system. Then again, Technos' awesome Hot Blooded Fighting Legend (title translates to something along those lines) is a very nice fighting game with RCR style moves.

Also, no offense, but I'm a bit surprised that someone with the name "Domino", which was the name for Sami in the JP Advance Wars, isn't interested in the FC counterpart of that game.

[Ghegs]

I'm curious Ghegs, did you ever get a FDS for your AV Fami?

I did not. There's very few games for it that I'd be interested in, and most of them I have acquired in US cart versions and just use the adapter with them. This way I won't have to deal with unreliable hardware, loading times, and buying a game off eBay and discovering it's been overwritten with a totally different and probably much crappier game.

I kind of agree about the first-party thing. I have a handful of Nintendo's own games for the system (including Mario Open Golf, incidentally) but it has so many great third-party titles that I like more. I've heard it said that Nintendo's first-party games carry their systems, but it's the opposite for me with the Famicom.

[BIL]

I love my AV Famicom, great system. Good choice. I started out differently and have CIB versions of all my Famicom games, and now at ~100 games it's a difficult thought to switch to loose carts. Gets very expensive at times, luckily there aren't many games left I want to acquire.

Nice! I'm at 45 CIB with a couple more to go (bar the odd impulse pickup). Just glad it's nearly over. I love this machine at a sentimental level but it's also genuinely a killer action platform. JoshF put it well, in terms of 2D action it remains first-rate.

The majority of my stuff is third party as well. Capcom, Konami, Tecmo, Sunsoft, Natsume and Irem figure the most heavily, with a bit of Namco, SNK, Technos and Taito as well. A handful of Nintendo's early arcadey efforts (Excitebike, Balloon Fight and their port of Spartan X) are beloved too but I've not found much else of theirs compelling enough to own. I do have the FC reissue of Zelda 1, which itself is quite an arcadey little ARPG in comparison to the later series.

[BrianC]

I never got a FDS either (I also have a AV Famicom), since I heard it's not too reliable and that it's easy to destroy data on the discs. Then again, I also have an Atari 800 with a disk drives and all of the disks for it work. It's hard to say no to legit MULE and Super Boulderdash discs for 25 cents each, though.

Most of my stuff is actually third party, with the only exceptions being Devil World and Famicom Wars. A good amount of stuff is Konami with games like Goonies, Kid Dracula, Goemon 1, Gradius II, Twinbee 3, Akumajo Densetsu, Getsu Fuuma Den, and Yumi Penguin Monogartai. I also have some Namco carts like Dig Dug, Valkyrie no Bouken, Battle City, Mappy, Family Pinball (actually designed by Kid), Rolling Thunder, Final Lap (good game, but the TG-16/PCE counterpart, Final Lap Twin, clobbers it), Famista '90, and Family Tennis. Not much Capcom since a good chuck is identical to the US, but I do have Top Secret. Other games I have are Eggerland Revival of the Labyrinth, Arkanoid II, the JP Kickle Cubicle, Fudo Moyou Den, Fantasy Zone, that Tokaido Bomb game, Crazy Climber, and "Hot Blooded Fighting Legend".

It has been awhile since the FC was ordered, but I remember it being around 100 with shipping. I also ordered mine without controllers since I have plently of NES pads.

[Domino]

SO far I like where this thread is going. Possiblity give me tips on good games to pick up in the future. I still don't know what is the average rate for the AV Fami anyway, I don't think it is worth $200 to be honest.

[BIL]

Not like I could ever choose, but Metal Storm is my objective pick for best action game on the system. Plays like Shinobi's precision sidescrolling combined with R-Type's powerup balance and meticulous puzzlebox memoriser stage design, with a beautiful high-detailed mech aesthetic on top. The first loop's an engaging challenge, the second is easily hard enough to be an arcade game and will satisfy even the hardest of the hardcore. "TRY A GAME FOR EXPERTS" indeed.

There are a ton of great FC sidescrollers that I'd never be without but that one's very near the top.

[Domino]

Not like I could ever choose, but Metal Storm is my objective pick for best action game on the system. Plays like Shinobi's precision sidescrolling combined with R-Type's powerup balance and meticulous puzzlebox memoriser stage design, with a beautiful high-detailed mech aesthetic on top. The second loop is easily hard enough to be an arcade game and will satisfy even the hardest of the hardcore.

There are a ton of great FC sidescrollers that I'd never be without but that one's very near the top.

I remember paying $25 for a loose cart of Metal Storm and I really enjoyed it. God, got an itch for Shatterhand and Zanac.

[BrianC]

Doh. I fell really silly. I forgot to list a couple shmups/shmpish games. Over Horizon, Quarth, and Final Mission. I also have the JP counterpart of Rad Racer, Highway Star.

What type of games are you looking for?

[Domino]

Doh. I fell really silly. I forgot to list a couple shmups. Over Horizon and Final Mission. I also have the JP counterpart of Rad Racer, Highway Star.

What type of games are you looking for?

Shmups and action games mostly. When I had the Twin Fami I had Metal Storm, Zanac, Guardian Legends, Shatterhand, etc. I just can't deal with floppies so I'm keeping it carts, lol.

[BIL]

Shatterhand's definitely another first-rater. The JP equivalent Tokkyu Shirei Solbrain is very slightly inferior (the one stage and two boss battles that differ between versions are more interesting on NES), but it's 95% identical and the same brilliant game.

There actually aren't many pure FC exclusive action games I can think of in my favourites, though some are arguably superior to their NES versions. Top Secret is more intense than Bionic Commando and well worth seeking out, and although I prefer the NES version's intensity, Castlevania III is commonly regarded as inferior to the balance and VRC6 soundtrack of Akumajou Densetsu.

edit: Then there's stuff like Final Mission that got absolutely slandered by localisation.

[BrianC]

Gun Nac is definitely good stuff. I think it's mostly the same as the US, though some cutscenes were blocked in the US version. Oddly enough, despite the text being removed, the cutscenes can still be seen in the US version via an in game code. Zanac also has a JP counterpart, but unfortunately, it's disk only. Thankfully, Gun Nac JP is on cart.

Final Mission is kind of like Shatterhand mixed with a shmup, though it has elements inspired by Forgotten Worlds and Contra, as well.

[Domino]

Gun Nac is definitely good stuff. I think it's mostly the same as the US, though some cutscenes were blocked in the US version. Oddly enough, despite the text being removed, the cutscenes can still be seen in the US version via an in game code. Zanac also has a JP counterpart, but unfortunately, it's disk only. Thankfully, Gun Nac JP is on cart.

Final Mission is kind of like Shatterhand mixed with a shmup, though it has elements inspired by Forgotten Worlds and Contra, as well.

But Final Mission has a better US version IMO: S.C.A.T.

[BIL]

Oh yeah, Splatterhouse Wanpaku Graffiti is a great FC exclusive - more detailed impression here. Holy Diver's another, though it requires some qualification. (towering, herculean challenge good - aggravating flaws on top of that bad)

Zanac also has a JP counterpart, but unfortunately, it's disk only.

One of many reasons Zanac X Zanac (PS1) pwns Includes FDS and NES versions plus an exclusive arranged mode.

[Domino]

Has anyone did the AV modded regular Famicom route? I just hate the hardwiredness but depending on price I might bite.

[Skykid]

I'll put in a shout for Gun Dec as an exclusive. Neat n' fast action game with sharp mechanics and plenty of grit. Even got Bruce Willis on the cover in Yippie Kay Ay pose.

[BIL]

Excellent game, and mandatory playing for anyone remotely fond of Ninja Gaiden, but it did get a NES release as Vice Project Doom (with the awesome hardboiled Bruce/Deckard FC boxart jacked in for some forgettable Crockett & Tubbs trash, OFC! Ohoho, "Vice," now I see what they did there).

There's surprisingly very little the NES missed out on WRT to its hardcore sidescrolling action. Even got the tougher (I'd say definitive) versions of Castlevania III and Ninja Gaiden III. Holy Diver would be a Taromaru-calibre exception to this, but I just can't recommend it unreservedly with that facepalm-worthy input glitch.

One fairly prominent FC exclusive I don't recommend is Spartan X2. Expensive and totally subpar to the focused intensity of the original. Decently solid engine and some neat additions to the moveset and environments, but the slack difficulty and pace lets it down. Also, the last stage's underwater fight scene is embarrassingly awful, see to believe. Tamtex performed infinitely better with Metal Storm.

[Domino]

I'll put in a shout for Gun Dec as an exclusive. Neat n' fast action game with sharp mechanics and plenty of grit. Even got Bruce Willis on the cover in Yippie Kay Ay pose.

Only if it was you on the cover.

[BrianC]

One fairly prominent FC exclusive I don't recommend is Spartan X2. Expensive and totally subpar to the focused intensity of the original. Decently solid engine and some neat additions to the moveset and environments, but the slack difficulty and pace lets it down. Also, the last stage's underwater fight scene is embarrasingly awful, see to believe. Tamtex performed infinitely better with Metal Storm.

Of all the FC exclusives to sell as a NES repro cart this year, Too Many Games had to choose THAT one.

[Domino]

And now I'm looking for one. Thank you for the advice, Gun Dec looks fun.

[Domino]

GOT IT! So far I'm shocked on the size of the carts for the bugger. Now in the future I want to pick up a FDS and deal with the pooper that are floppies.

So today I had a choice of Contra for $40 or Gun-Dec for $22 shipped. The choice was easy, I already got Super Contra so....