I'm glad you like it! The Super 8 is one of the best Famiclones out there. If you want to make yours even better, install a capacitor to reduce NES/Famicom jailbars and add a small bit of solder to the broken traces to restore full SNES compatibility.
It didn't die, I just moved it into another room. That tv is extremely vintage and has failing capacitors. I want to use it only lightly so it lasts for a few more years to come. If I lived in Europe, I'd love for you to take a look at it - it needs a FULL capacitor set replacement as I don't think it's ever been serviced in 27 years. This tv is a flatscreen Electrohome 27" from the early 2000s and is much better for general use. I still love my ColorPilot, but I don't want to wear it out.
Yes, that's a common problem in a vintage telly, i often do cap replacements. However it doesn't really harm the actual TV if one dies out. your picture will just dissapear or distort. so don't worry about wearing it out. if a cap dies then it dies just replace them and it will work back :).
No adapter needed - the Super 8 itself has all four slots. I'm using a Super Famicom, but a boxy US SNES will also work. You just need to brace the back of it with something to keep it level thanks to the raised cartridge bay of the US SNES.
I just got around to trying out the Everdrive N8 (NES version) on the Super 8 and it works perfectly, no modifications required. Was surprised after you said it would probably need a 2A03 wired in because the FPGA required exact 6502 instructions, but it works just like on an NES. Played maybe 20 games or so, and the only ROM I had any problem with was the FDS version of Zelda, which gave an error at the FDS start screen. Also, tried out the Akumajou Densetsu ROM and no expanded audio, but that's to be expected from the NES slot. I'm sure it works just fine on the Famicom EDN8. Gotta love this little device, it's still the most accurate Famiclone I've ever owned.
Jason Sikes When I did ever say you'd need to wire in a 2A03? Yes the N8 works with the Super 8 as it does most Famiclones, but that doesn't change the fact that flashcarts and NOACs are not a good mix. You'll run into problems with compatibility and performance with some mappers due to NOAC inaccuracies, FPGA limitations, or both. It will allow you to get away with playing most games, but this isn't the end-all solution. For sheer accuracy, you're still better off with a pure emulation solution like buying an Ouya. Even though I own an N8 myself, I don't see the appeal of using a flashcart on a NOAC. I mean, people who buy flashcarts do so because they want the most authentic experience possible, using the original hardware, the controller, having physical carts. But then you just go and throw that all away when you use a flashcart. It's only one step removed from using a really nice emulator like NES.emu on Ouya, but it's a lot more limited due to both NOAC and FPGA inaccuracies, not to mention the pure HD visuals emulators offer and all the other bells and whistles from visual filters, built in gamegenie and debug support, save/load states and so on. I'm not saying emulators are superior to flashcarts in all regards, just that I don't see why someone would choose the FPGA + NOAC route. Unless you don't have an HDTV.
Satoshi Matrix 2 years ago in the comments. "As for the upcoming Everdrive, unfortunately it will almost certainty not work with the Super 8. Like the Powerpak, it is designed around an FPGA. FPGAs require exact 6502 instruction sets that are only simulated in a NOAC. You'd need to wire in an additional real 2A03 for that." But yeah I agree that it's not an end-all solution. I was just testing to see if it works because I hadn't used my Super 8 since last year before I bought the EDN8, which I only otherwise have ever used on my toaster and top loader.
I was going on pre-release info that lacked finalized specs, let alone designs.The N8 turned out to be a more accurate FPGA than used in the Powerpak. Therefore, less accurate clones aren't as picky with it as they are the Powerpak.
Yup. Also, The common Famiclone tone difference evident in Mario 1 and 3 among others is caused by the duty cycles- the pitch of the two pulse wave channels - being mistakenly reversed. Early chip-for-chip reverse engineered Famiclones contained this error, and later NOACs were no exception. Quality assurance of bootlegs being nearly nonexistent coupled with the problem is very minor, Famiclones produced even today are just as likely to suffer reversed duty cycles as ones made twenty years ago.
The thing that's appealing about the Super 8 to me (besides the best compatibility) is playing NES games on a SNES. Sure, it's only really using it for power/input, but it reminds me of all those 1988 Japanese magazine articles about the Super Famicom prototype and the "Famicom Adapter" that was basically an early AV Famicom. They had identical controller ports and the button layout was ABCD as opposed to BYAX, which explains why the NES and SNES controllers are so compatible with each other.
If I remember correctly, there are Game genie codes that disable the copy protection stuff in Rare games. In fact, you have to use them to make the games work with a game genie at all.
This is a better Famiclone. The RetroPort deliberately remaps the action buttons to the SNES B and A buttons rather than Y and B. This produces a better image, better sound, and MUCH better compatibility. Definitely go with the Super 8 over the RetroPort. The only reason I reviewed the RetroPort at all was because I was sent it as a free review unit from one of my partners.
Awesome. I only wish someone would make a stand-alone Famiclone this good, since I have issues with every officially released NES (though in the case of the AV Famicom, my only issues are with the price point and the fact that you have to use an adapter for US games, and they'll look silly).
Thanks for the tip. I've watched that video, but can't seem to find a Korean adapter on eBay at the moment. Do you happen to remember the seller's name?
I'm a HUGE fan of original hardware, but there are several advantages of the Super 8 over the NES-001. This will play nearly everything, you can use the SNES controller, it plays Famicom games as well, supports expansion audio, the FDS, and it also plays both SNES and Super Famicom games. There's something wrong with Ben's Super 8 no question, but that doesn't mean he's better off with an NES-001. The Super 8 is easily the best Famiclone when you find one that works, which is almost all of them.
It's physically large, but it fits nicely on top of the Super Famicom and unlike the 32X, doesn't require an external power supply. Considering that this adds well over 1000 additional titles to the SNES/Super Famicom library, I agree with you - the 32X really is as useful as a pebble compared to the Super 8.
I hooked it up with my Model 1 SNES to check and oddly, it worked fine. So I tried it a couple times. It seems to work fine on the title screen completely now, and 50/50 for the first stage when I try now on my Samsung LCD HDTV. When I played on my old Mono Sharp 13" and Panasonic 20" ones, it always was off. Strange indeed. I'll upload a video. Also, my DKCII has a different message than yours has! It is possible to play it on the Super-8 using the reset-and-swap cart trick!
Picked one of these up on eBay a few weeks ago. I gotta say, it's got pretty impressive compatibility. Played every NES cart I tried. The sound is also really good, very close, if not identical, to a real NES/Famicom. Kinda sucks that the NES PowerPak doesn't work. Here's hoping that maybe the upcoming NES and Famicom Everdrives will work.
Famiclones are not equal, so there's no one answer to that. Most Famiclones have missing or incorrectly-wired signals on the cartridge slot. Since the Powerpak uses all 72 pins to be compatible with the majority of mappers, it will fail to booti f the signals are missing. In the case of accurate clones like the RetroDuo and the Super 8 though, I'm not sure what's going on. My theory is that most NOACs themselves aren't capable of reading the specially converted 6502 assembly instruction set.
Hello, you made the annotations in your video, but I didn't see there is a link like the Generation NEX and there is no square and arrow at the bottom, so you have to fix them in editing annotations
I own dozens of Famiclones. The Super 8 has the best NOAC of any, hence why it runs virtually the entire NES/FC library. A handful of games such as Battletoads don't work, but you won't find a better clone anywhere. As for the upcoming Everdrive, unfortunately it will almost certainty not work with the Super 8. Like the Powerpak, it is designed around an FPGA. FPGAs require exact 6502 instruction sets that are only simulated in a NOAC. You'd need to wire in an additional real 2A03 for that.
I'll post a text based tutorial on my blog, but I didn't take very good pictures when mine was still stock, so I have no real way of showing people what they're suppose to be doing. If you have a HD camera, would you be interested in taking some high resolution photos of your Super 8? I'll give you credit in my tutorial.
I actually used to own a boxed copy of NGT, but I sold it since it goes for so much money these days. I could emulate it though. NGT is kinda neat, but it really doesn't belong on the SuFami. Every time I play it, I can't help but wonder if it was developed for the Genesis or even the Master System and then just ported to the SNES rather lazily. Tecmo did a minimal job with it. It's just the NES games with a 9-bit pallet (Master System) and non of the NES's advanced MMC3 scrolling/lighting.
I just recieved my super 8 in the mail (sixty bucks, ouch!) and I'm having a big problem with the video output. it looks like a VCR, when the tracking wheel is in the wrong spot, so everything is moving upwards, switching from color to black and white, and lots of distorted ripples in the picture. otherwise the thing runs perfectly, but these massive video issues are making it uplayable. you seem to be the expert on famiclones; do you have any ideas? Great videos btw. love the info.
Expect to pay about $45 for one. They're on ebay from time to time. As mentioned, I had to make two minor enhancements but it's nothing someone with basic soldering skills can't handle.
I have a question that isn't very relevent. I have a Super Famicom CIB and a loose Super Famicom JR. I have been using the JR to play everyday, but I worry about it due to it's value. Original Super Famicoms are cheap and I also don't wanna mess up the CIB original. In your opinion Satoshi, would you keep using the JR for everyday or the boxed SF?
I recommend using the original SFC. I'm not sure why you even own a Jr as that was a cost reduced, feature removed variant. I'm not sure what you mean by worrying about "messing up" your SFC. About the only things that could "wear out" on a Super Famicom is the power supply and the internal power fuse. The Super Famicom uses a standard 9v DC power supply with a negative center polarity, so any Asian third party power supply will work. As for the fuse, if that does manage to go, they cost less than a dollar to replace and all you need to do is desolder the old one, and solder in the new one.
You know, I don't recall my Battletoads freezing with this on the second stage. Next time I hook everything up, I'll give it another go and see. Only title I own that I've ever noticed anything "off" on is River City Ransom. The title screen through the first city stage's colors are all inverted or off. Once I pass to the second part of the city and return, however, the colors revert to normal again. Yours worked alright with that, though?
No, but it's pretty self explanatory. There's a marked empty spot for it on the motherboard. All you need to do is drop one in and solder it in place with the correct polarity. Only need average soldering skills to do this.
Totally. 1up's Retronauts Podcast posted a comparison of the NES Castlevania 3 and Japanese Akumajou Densetsu, MMC5 vs VRC6. You can find it on youtube if you search Retronauts: Castlevania III Vs. Akumajou Densetsu. Totally worth listening to. Akumajou Densetsu isn't the only example of the Japanese version sounding vastly superior, it's just the most famous.
Ah ok, that makes sense on the flash carts. A bummer, but no biggie. I rarely pick up Famiclones. Only have the Super 8, the Retro Duo, the Senario 100 in 1, and a couple of Super Joy III's with different ROM sets. Get them mainly as novelties.
I picked up a Tri Star adapter that says NTSC version on the bottom. It works with all of my US and Japanese games on my Super Nintendo and Super Famicom Consoles.
Yeah, there are some parallels, but 1. the TriStar doesn't require it's own power supply 2. the NES/Famicom hardware is inferior, which is the opposite of the 32X 3. The TriStar is actually worth owning.
You must've bought the Asian version of the TriStar then. It's called the Super 8 for North America and TriStar in Europe and Asia. As mentioned, most games play perfectly with it, but the NOAC isn't absolutely perfect and there's a break in the SNES pinout (but it can be fixed).
I realize you are playing on an SFC, but how flush does this sit on an NA SNES? Does it work/fit? I'm extremely interested after becoming tired of the constant maintenance of my front-loader NES, which seems to have a new problem every week. And it's the third one I've had! I've done all kinds of part replacing, soldering, etc...
Is there any reason why the Power Pak doesn't work on clone systems? Just curious and you know more on the subject than I do, which is impressive and one of the reasons why I like your videos allot.
I've just tried mine, and I've confirmed that Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt works just fine on my Super 8. but SMB/DH was produced in the greatest quantity of any NES game and ran through at least several board revisions. Perhaps you have a later gloptop variant that doesn't get on with the NOAC. Open it up and take a look - I suspect that is the case. As for getting FX/SGB to work, there are broken traces on the board. Reconnect them with solder and you're good to go.
Battletoads is the only game I've found not to work. As typical, it freezes during the second level. Other than that, every NES and Famicom game I've tested works perfectly on the Super 8. Rad Racer II, Gauntlet II, Gun-Nac, Zanac, Journey to Silius, Mike Tyson's PunchOut, Ninja Gaiden III, Blaster Master, Robocop 3, Rivery City Ransom, IronSword, Mach Rider, Batman, DuckTales, Zombie Nation, even MAXI 15 all work. If there's some titles you'd like to know about specifically, just ask.
Yeah, RCR plays perfectly fine without any such glitches on my Super 8. Maybe it has to do with the addition of the 470μF cap I added. Not likely, but who knows.
Very informative. I have a small place, and this saves me 3 places on my shelf. I had a very dirty copy of Mario/Duck hunt. With minimum cleaning, it made a nice connection. I will be cleaning the game with more care. The NES pinstripe is okay, it's like a top loader. I could live with it, but I have a friend who can do it quickly. I will ask him do the Pin reconnect too. Thank you for that info. I saw the FAQ you also probably read. Your values prove to work. I Rock the carts out, to reduce force. I found that the (Super) Famicom games are much cheaper. I have a friend in Japan, who hooks me up. I also like the look of them. However, they don't stack. Overall, it is certainly worth the $50 I paid. Some real thought went into this clone. I see them on an average of $80 on eBay, but I would save a search. eBay will mail you when new ones are listed.
Tell me about it. Replacing the belt in the system is a major pain. That's why I'm going to buy a Krikzz Everdrive N8 which can play FDS roms when I get the chance. Thanks for the help.
I'm considering buying this for my Super Famicom, but do you know if Earthbound (US version) will have problems? The Rareware incompatibility makes me a bit apprehensive, considering Earthbound has several more anti-piracy checks throughout the game. I'd hate to get to the end only to have my save file deleted, haha.
I have a Super 8, and it's one of the best investments i've made. but i have a problem. i recently got "Gadius 2" for the famicom, and i tried to play it on the super 8, and it wont run properly. the bottom bar that shows power ups and score covers 3/4 of the screen, rendering the game unplayable. do you have any opinions on this predicament?
Lagrange Point does indeed work with the Super 8, but the Powerpak does not. If you are asking if a certain rom works with the Powerpk on the real hardware, you need to send me it. PM me.
No; it outputs composite (in early models, RF) only. The reason for no RGB is because the Famicom/NES does not have the capability of RGB itself. Only Nintendo arcade cabinets and the Famicom Titler have RGB. The Super 8 is the king of clones, but like all clones it's based on the original Famicom hardware, and therefore lacks the ability to produce RGB. The Super 8 feeds composite video from the SNES itself to produce SNES video as well as output NES/FC. It's a limitation of the Famicom.
My tri star had probs with nes games snes games too tight..my tristar would not play ironswird 2 for some styrange reason...nice revirw as usual dude....how did u get mario rpg to work? Mine didnt work at all ... I think ill go try again and get back with u...keep up the good work...
Mine plays IronSword just fine, not that I'd want to play that game. As I explained in the video, Mario RPG, Super FX and many other games require the unconnected latch trace to be bridged. Otherwise you'll get a black screen.
does mega man 2 and metroid work? also, is this cheaper than buying a real nes? or good enough to buy instead of a real one? i'm thinking of buying a famiclone if it would be cheaper (only have an snes, no nes). if not, are there any ones that would be better?
I've got one already, only paid $30 for it. but the Tri-Star is region-free and also very collectible. at any rate I got a full refund on the Tri-Star and they let me keep it so hopefully I can fix it someday watch?v=bfYPPuzBS5M
Why? The RetroGen needs it's own AV source and given that the Super 8 only acts as a passthrough for Super NES games, it proves absolutely nothing that the Super 8 can "play" the RetroGen. The two are completely independent of each other.
So, after couple of mods this device is pretty much the best famiclone device out there, no? Except for the lack of Powerpack support which is really not a big surprise.
Sheer comfort. The dpad of the NES-101 'dogbone' controller is largely considered far superior in terms of feel and the staggered B and A buttons was specifically designed to mimic the Super Famicom/SNES staggered design. It's a valid opinion to prefer the NES-004. Not everyone has to agree. Just go with whatever you like best.
*sigh* did you actually watch the video before asking those questions? Megaman 2 and Metroid play perfectly. No, it probably won't be cheaper than buying an NES-001 if you can find one at all. Prices float around $50, but that's only an average. This is the best Famiclone on the market. I would suggest going with this or buying an AV Famicom for around $80 on average.
There are a number of Famicom games that are superior to their North American counterparts or were never released here at all. Check out my blog for the most detailed top 100 NES/Famicom games guide on the internet. A link is on my channel main page.
I'm glad you like it! The Super 8 is one of the best Famiclones out there.
If you want to make yours even better, install a capacitor to reduce NES/Famicom jailbars and add a small bit of solder to the broken traces to restore full SNES compatibility.
These are my new relaxation videos to watch
It didn't die, I just moved it into another room. That tv is extremely vintage and has failing capacitors. I want to use it only lightly so it lasts for a few more years to come. If I lived in Europe, I'd love for you to take a look at it - it needs a FULL capacitor set replacement as I don't think it's ever been serviced in 27 years. This tv is a flatscreen Electrohome 27" from the early 2000s and is much better for general use. I still love my ColorPilot, but I don't want to wear it out.
Yes, that's a common problem in a vintage telly, i often do cap replacements. However it doesn't really harm the actual TV if one dies out. your picture will just dissapear or distort. so don't worry about wearing it out. if a cap dies then it dies just replace them and it will work back :).
No adapter needed - the Super 8 itself has all four slots. I'm using a Super Famicom, but a boxy US SNES will also work. You just need to brace the back of it with something to keep it level thanks to the raised cartridge bay of the US SNES.
Wow, Castlevania 3 works!! I need one of these...
I just got around to trying out the Everdrive N8 (NES version) on the Super 8 and it works perfectly, no modifications required. Was surprised after you said it would probably need a 2A03 wired in because the FPGA required exact 6502 instructions, but it works just like on an NES. Played maybe 20 games or so, and the only ROM I had any problem with was the FDS version of Zelda, which gave an error at the FDS start screen. Also, tried out the Akumajou Densetsu ROM and no expanded audio, but that's to be expected from the NES slot. I'm sure it works just fine on the Famicom EDN8. Gotta love this little device, it's still the most accurate Famiclone I've ever owned.
Jason Sikes When I did ever say you'd need to wire in a 2A03? Yes the N8 works with the Super 8 as it does most Famiclones, but that doesn't change the fact that flashcarts and NOACs are not a good mix. You'll run into problems with compatibility and performance with some mappers due to NOAC inaccuracies, FPGA limitations, or both. It will allow you to get away with playing most games, but this isn't the end-all solution. For sheer accuracy, you're still better off with a pure emulation solution like buying an Ouya.
Even though I own an N8 myself, I don't see the appeal of using a flashcart on a NOAC. I mean, people who buy flashcarts do so because they want the most authentic experience possible, using the original hardware, the controller, having physical carts. But then you just go and throw that all away when you use a flashcart. It's only one step removed from using a really nice emulator like NES.emu on Ouya, but it's a lot more limited due to both NOAC and FPGA inaccuracies, not to mention the pure HD visuals emulators offer and all the other bells and whistles from visual filters, built in gamegenie and debug support, save/load states and so on.
I'm not saying emulators are superior to flashcarts in all regards, just that I don't see why someone would choose the FPGA + NOAC route. Unless you don't have an HDTV.
Satoshi Matrix 2 years ago in the comments. "As for the upcoming Everdrive, unfortunately it will almost certainty not work with the Super 8. Like the Powerpak, it is designed around an FPGA. FPGAs require exact 6502 instruction sets that are only simulated in a NOAC. You'd need to wire in an additional real 2A03 for that." But yeah I agree that it's not an end-all solution. I was just testing to see if it works because I hadn't used my Super 8 since last year before I bought the EDN8, which I only otherwise have ever used on my toaster and top loader.
I was going on pre-release info that lacked finalized specs, let alone designs.The N8 turned out to be a more accurate FPGA than used in the Powerpak. Therefore, less accurate clones aren't as picky with it as they are the Powerpak.
Yup. Also, The common Famiclone tone difference evident in Mario 1 and 3 among others is caused by the duty cycles- the pitch of the two pulse wave channels - being mistakenly reversed. Early chip-for-chip reverse engineered Famiclones contained this error, and later NOACs were no exception. Quality assurance of bootlegs being nearly nonexistent coupled with the problem is very minor, Famiclones produced even today are just as likely to suffer reversed duty cycles as ones made twenty years ago.
The thing that's appealing about the Super 8 to me (besides the best compatibility) is playing NES games on a SNES. Sure, it's only really using it for power/input, but it reminds me of all those 1988 Japanese magazine articles about the Super Famicom prototype and the "Famicom Adapter" that was basically an early AV Famicom. They had identical controller ports and the button layout was ABCD as opposed to BYAX, which explains why the NES and SNES controllers are so compatible with each other.
If I remember correctly, there are Game genie codes that disable the copy protection stuff in Rare games. In fact, you have to use them to make the games work with a game genie at all.
Good god, with the super 8 ,the adaptor for imports, and super gameboy this thing is huge
Sure, I'll do so now.
Did you try other values? I used what I had on hand, not necessarily what is the ideal size for the TriStar.
Damn! Castlevania 3 on Famicom sounds amazing!!
This is a better Famiclone. The RetroPort deliberately remaps the action buttons to the SNES B and A buttons rather than Y and B. This produces a better image, better sound, and MUCH better compatibility. Definitely go with the Super 8 over the RetroPort. The only reason I reviewed the RetroPort at all was because I was sent it as a free review unit from one of my partners.
Awesome. I only wish someone would make a stand-alone Famiclone this good, since I have issues with every officially released NES (though in the case of the AV Famicom, my only issues are with the price point and the fact that you have to use an adapter for US games, and they'll look silly).
Hello, I saw your video on the Super 8 has missing annotation links. Can you please fix them?
Thanks for the tip. I've watched that video, but can't seem to find a Korean adapter on eBay at the moment. Do you happen to remember the seller's name?
I'm a HUGE fan of original hardware, but there are several advantages of the Super 8 over the NES-001. This will play nearly everything, you can use the SNES controller, it plays Famicom games as well, supports expansion audio, the FDS, and it also plays both SNES and Super Famicom games. There's something wrong with Ben's Super 8 no question, but that doesn't mean he's better off with an NES-001. The Super 8 is easily the best Famiclone when you find one that works, which is almost all of them.
It sounds like the Retro-Bit NES Nintendo Entertainment System. Not bad at all. Thanks for sharing.
haha, I didn't really notice that until you brought it up. good eye.
I have multiple copies and they all work just fine on my Super 8. I don't know what to tell you. Maybe buy another copy?
It's physically large, but it fits nicely on top of the Super Famicom and unlike the 32X, doesn't require an external power supply. Considering that this adds well over 1000 additional titles to the SNES/Super Famicom library, I agree with you - the 32X really is as useful as a pebble compared to the Super 8.
video links to what? Sorry I don't remember what you're referring to.
I hooked it up with my Model 1 SNES to check and oddly, it worked fine. So I tried it a couple times. It seems to work fine on the title screen completely now, and 50/50 for the first stage when I try now on my Samsung LCD HDTV. When I played on my old Mono Sharp 13" and Panasonic 20" ones, it always was off. Strange indeed. I'll upload a video.
Also, my DKCII has a different message than yours has! It is possible to play it on the Super-8 using the reset-and-swap cart trick!
Picked one of these up on eBay a few weeks ago. I gotta say, it's got pretty impressive compatibility. Played every NES cart I tried. The sound is also really good, very close, if not identical, to a real NES/Famicom. Kinda sucks that the NES PowerPak doesn't work. Here's hoping that maybe the upcoming NES and Famicom Everdrives will work.
Famiclones are not equal, so there's no one answer to that. Most Famiclones have missing or incorrectly-wired signals on the cartridge slot. Since the Powerpak uses all 72 pins to be compatible with the majority of mappers, it will fail to booti f the signals are missing. In the case of accurate clones like the RetroDuo and the Super 8 though, I'm not sure what's going on. My theory is that most NOACs themselves aren't capable of reading the specially converted 6502 assembly instruction set.
Hello, you made the annotations in your video, but I didn't see there is a link like the Generation NEX and there is no square and arrow at the bottom, so you have to fix them in editing annotations
I own dozens of Famiclones. The Super 8 has the best NOAC of any, hence why it runs virtually the entire NES/FC library. A handful of games such as Battletoads don't work, but you won't find a better clone anywhere. As for the upcoming Everdrive, unfortunately it will almost certainty not work with the Super 8. Like the Powerpak, it is designed around an FPGA. FPGAs require exact 6502 instruction sets that are only simulated in a NOAC. You'd need to wire in an additional real 2A03 for that.
I'll post a text based tutorial on my blog, but I didn't take very good pictures when mine was still stock, so I have no real way of showing people what they're suppose to be doing. If you have a HD camera, would you be interested in taking some high resolution photos of your Super 8? I'll give you credit in my tutorial.
I actually used to own a boxed copy of NGT, but I sold it since it goes for so much money these days. I could emulate it though. NGT is kinda neat, but it really doesn't belong on the SuFami. Every time I play it, I can't help but wonder if it was developed for the Genesis or even the Master System and then just ported to the SNES rather lazily. Tecmo did a minimal job with it. It's just the NES games with a 9-bit pallet (Master System) and non of the NES's advanced MMC3 scrolling/lighting.
Ooh, that's a hard one. They each have their advantages. The Super 8 is probably the better of the two, but the RetroDuo is a very nice clone.
I never realized this before, but Super Famicom controllers looks just like the European SNES controllers, with the colorful buttons.
I just recieved my super 8 in the mail (sixty bucks, ouch!) and I'm having a big problem with the video output. it looks like a VCR, when the tracking wheel is in the wrong spot, so everything is moving upwards, switching from color to black and white, and lots of distorted ripples in the picture. otherwise the thing runs perfectly, but these massive video issues are making it uplayable. you seem to be the expert on famiclones; do you have any ideas?
Great videos btw. love the info.
Expect to pay about $45 for one. They're on ebay from time to time. As mentioned, I had to make two minor enhancements but it's nothing someone with basic soldering skills can't handle.
I have a question that isn't very relevent. I have a Super Famicom CIB and a loose Super Famicom JR. I have been using the JR to play everyday, but I worry about it due to it's value. Original Super Famicoms are cheap and I also don't wanna mess up the CIB original. In your opinion Satoshi, would you keep using the JR for everyday or the boxed SF?
I recommend using the original SFC. I'm not sure why you even own a Jr as that was a cost reduced, feature removed variant. I'm not sure what you mean by worrying about "messing up" your SFC. About the only things that could "wear out" on a Super Famicom is the power supply and the internal power fuse. The Super Famicom uses a standard 9v DC power supply with a negative center polarity, so any Asian third party power supply will work. As for the fuse, if that does manage to go, they cost less than a dollar to replace and all you need to do is desolder the old one, and solder in the new one.
Satoshi Matrix Thanks man. I just like the look of the Jr. They are worth more. Good advice. I appreciate it.
You know, I don't recall my Battletoads freezing with this on the second stage. Next time I hook everything up, I'll give it another go and see.
Only title I own that I've ever noticed anything "off" on is River City Ransom. The title screen through the first city stage's colors are all inverted or off. Once I pass to the second part of the city and return, however, the colors revert to normal again. Yours worked alright with that, though?
I still don't know what you're referring to. Links to WHAT?
I don't own one, but the Aladdin doesn't run any special hardware, so I'd guess that it does work with the Super 8 without issue.
Love your reviews, man. Just subbed
Thanks. Be sure to check back daily for new videos!
No, but it's pretty self explanatory. There's a marked empty spot for it on the motherboard. All you need to do is drop one in and solder it in place with the correct polarity. Only need average soldering skills to do this.
Totally. 1up's Retronauts Podcast posted a comparison of the NES Castlevania 3 and Japanese Akumajou Densetsu, MMC5 vs VRC6. You can find it on youtube if you search Retronauts: Castlevania III Vs. Akumajou Densetsu. Totally worth listening to. Akumajou Densetsu isn't the only example of the Japanese version sounding vastly superior, it's just the most famous.
Ah ok, that makes sense on the flash carts. A bummer, but no biggie. I rarely pick up Famiclones. Only have the Super 8, the Retro Duo, the Senario 100 in 1, and a couple of Super Joy III's with different ROM sets. Get them mainly as novelties.
I picked up a Tri Star adapter that says NTSC version on the bottom. It works with all of my US and Japanese games on my Super Nintendo and Super Famicom Consoles.
Yeah, there are some parallels, but
1. the TriStar doesn't require it's own power supply
2. the NES/Famicom hardware is inferior, which is the opposite of the 32X
3. The TriStar is actually worth owning.
You must've bought the Asian version of the TriStar then. It's called the Super 8 for North America and TriStar in Europe and Asia.
As mentioned, most games play perfectly with it, but the NOAC isn't absolutely perfect and there's a break in the SNES pinout (but it can be fixed).
That is correct. The TriStar/Super 8 fairs even better than the RetroDuo.
I realize you are playing on an SFC, but how flush does this sit on an NA SNES? Does it work/fit? I'm extremely interested after becoming tired of the constant maintenance of my front-loader NES, which seems to have a new problem every week. And it's the third one I've had! I've done all kinds of part replacing, soldering, etc...
Yeah. The ONLY game that I haven't got to work on the Super 8 is Battletoads - freezes on level 2 as per usual on anything but the original hardware.
Is there any reason why the Power Pak doesn't work on clone systems?
Just curious and you know more on the subject than I do, which is impressive and one of the reasons why I like your videos allot.
I've just tried mine, and I've confirmed that Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt works just fine on my Super 8. but SMB/DH was produced in the greatest quantity of any NES game and ran through at least several board revisions. Perhaps you have a later gloptop variant that doesn't get on with the NOAC. Open it up and take a look - I suspect that is the case.
As for getting FX/SGB to work, there are broken traces on the board. Reconnect them with solder and you're good to go.
Battletoads is the only game I've found not to work. As typical, it freezes during the second level. Other than that, every NES and Famicom game I've tested works perfectly on the Super 8. Rad Racer II, Gauntlet II, Gun-Nac, Zanac, Journey to Silius, Mike Tyson's PunchOut, Ninja Gaiden III, Blaster Master, Robocop 3, Rivery City Ransom, IronSword, Mach Rider, Batman, DuckTales, Zombie Nation, even MAXI 15 all work. If there's some titles you'd like to know about specifically, just ask.
Yeah, RCR plays perfectly fine without any such glitches on my Super 8. Maybe it has to do with the addition of the 470μF cap I added. Not likely, but who knows.
Very informative. I have a small place, and this saves me 3 places on my shelf.
I had a very dirty copy of Mario/Duck hunt. With minimum cleaning, it made a nice connection. I will be cleaning the game with more care.
The NES pinstripe is okay, it's like a top loader. I could live with it, but I have a friend who can do it quickly. I will ask him do the Pin reconnect too. Thank you for that info. I saw the FAQ you also probably read. Your values prove to work.
I Rock the carts out, to reduce force.
I found that the (Super) Famicom games are much cheaper. I have a friend in Japan, who hooks me up. I also like the look of them. However, they don't stack.
Overall, it is certainly worth the $50 I paid. Some real thought went into this clone.
I see them on an average of $80 on eBay, but I would save a search. eBay will mail you when new ones are listed.
Tell me about it. Replacing the belt in the system is a major pain. That's why I'm going to buy a Krikzz Everdrive N8 which can play FDS roms when I get the chance. Thanks for the help.
I'm considering buying this for my Super Famicom, but do you know if Earthbound (US version) will have problems? The Rareware incompatibility makes me a bit apprehensive, considering Earthbound has several more anti-piracy checks throughout the game. I'd hate to get to the end only to have my save file deleted, haha.
I have a Super 8, and it's one of the best investments i've made. but i have a problem.
i recently got "Gadius 2" for the famicom, and i tried to play it on the super 8, and it wont run properly. the bottom bar that shows power ups and score covers 3/4 of the screen, rendering the game unplayable. do you have any opinions on this predicament?
Yay for late Metroid release cart! :D BTW, how many of the late release cart were released before the SNES took over?
Lagrange Point does indeed work with the Super 8, but the Powerpak does not. If you are asking if a certain rom works with the Powerpk on the real hardware, you need to send me it. PM me.
The annotations, I said.
No; it outputs composite (in early models, RF) only. The reason for no RGB is because the Famicom/NES does not have the capability of RGB itself. Only Nintendo arcade cabinets and the Famicom Titler have RGB.
The Super 8 is the king of clones, but like all clones it's based on the original Famicom hardware, and therefore lacks the ability to produce RGB.
The Super 8 feeds composite video from the SNES itself to produce SNES video as well as output NES/FC. It's a limitation of the Famicom.
You forgot the links in the annotations! Please fix them now!
My favorite Contra is Operation C for GameBoy. What's better than the spread gun? HOMING spread gun!
My tri star had probs with nes games snes games too tight..my tristar would not play ironswird 2 for some styrange reason...nice revirw as usual dude....how did u get mario rpg to work? Mine didnt work at all ... I think ill go try again and get back with u...keep up the good work...
Oh man, just checked it out, I'm so jealous! >.< Now I want a famicom, lol.
Great video! Nowhere else is there this much detail. One question....Battletoads? :o
It wouldn't help - I bought from a private seller, not a store. He wouldn't have any more for sale.
Ah, as expected. Just asked because of how much this thing surprises, i.e. castlevania 3 and dragon warrior. Thanks for all them replies!
Mine plays IronSword just fine, not that I'd want to play that game. As I explained in the video, Mario RPG, Super FX and many other games require the unconnected latch trace to be bridged. Otherwise you'll get a black screen.
31:33 LOL at that massive stack of hardware. You should stick the Game Boy Camera in at the top and make it compete.
does mega man 2 and metroid work? also, is this cheaper than buying a real nes? or good enough to buy instead of a real one? i'm thinking of buying a famiclone if it would be cheaper (only have an snes, no nes). if not, are there any ones that would be better?
what do you like better, retro duo or super 8
We can use rgb cable with this device?
@SatoshiMatrix1 I just tryed it again same results ... They work in my retro duo....did u have probs with iron sword wizard and warrpws 2 nes?
Whoops... just checked and I realized I had given Battletoads back to the person who let me borrow it for MegaMan 5. Sorry.
keep them coming
love the new tv
Satoshi, what's your favourite game of all time?
k, but i dont have a snes of sfc so then would you recommend the retro duo
Battletoads freezes on level 2, as per every clone in existence.
I said, put the video links in the annotations.
you have a lot of games, where do you keep them all.
Actually, the FDS works with the majority of Famiclones including the Super 8. FDS works flawlessly with this clone.
I've got one already, only paid $30 for it. but the Tri-Star is region-free and also very collectible. at any rate I got a full refund on the Tri-Star and they let me keep it so hopefully I can fix it someday
watch?v=bfYPPuzBS5M
one question, does sonic and knuckles fit in it
what games did you find that it DIDN'T work with?
Why? The RetroGen needs it's own AV source and given that the Super 8 only acts as a passthrough for Super NES games, it proves absolutely nothing that the Super 8 can "play" the RetroGen. The two are completely independent of each other.
Could you compare this with the RetroPort Adapter?
Is the Super 8 compatible with the FDS?
lol, apparently mine won't even start up if there is a NES game in it.
So, after couple of mods this device is pretty much the best famiclone device out there, no? Except for the lack of Powerpack support which is really not a big surprise.
I was wondering, does this thing output rgb?
Annoyingly, the NES dogbone controller has the messed up button angle. I can't understand why most consider it superior to the original.
Sheer comfort. The dpad of the NES-101 'dogbone' controller is largely considered far superior in terms of feel and the staggered B and A buttons was specifically designed to mimic the Super Famicom/SNES staggered design.
It's a valid opinion to prefer the NES-004. Not everyone has to agree. Just go with whatever you like best.
*sigh* did you actually watch the video before asking those questions? Megaman 2 and Metroid play perfectly. No, it probably won't be cheaper than buying an NES-001 if you can find one at all. Prices float around $50, but that's only an average. This is the best Famiclone on the market. I would suggest going with this or buying an AV Famicom for around $80 on average.
What kind of TV did you use in this video?
Just wondering, but where did you buy this Famiclone?
There are a number of Famicom games that are superior to their North American counterparts or were never released here at all. Check out my blog for the most detailed top 100 NES/Famicom games guide on the internet. A link is on my channel main page.
The NES Powerpak does that as well. There's no need for an actual FDS.
reminds me of a 32X, only much more functional...haha
Yeah, but it's redundant. If you're going to use the RetroGen, you should disconnect the Super 8.