How Is Your SNES Gaming Going?

[ElkinFencer10]

I know the Retron 5 can have issues with games that aren't actual retail carts. You really wanna make sure before taking the plunge.

In what way? I've got a couple of homebrew games on non-donor carts that I haven't had an issue with, but I've only used the two of them, and I don't know how that technology differs (if at all) from Nintendo's cassettes.

[alienjesus]

Does anyone happen to know if the Super Famicom Memory Cassettes will work properly on a Retron 5? I don't see why they wouldn't, but I wasn't sure if anyone had actually tried. I've decided that I'll probably forego the pricey retail copy of Thracia 776 in lieu of a cheaper memory cassette copy if it will work on my Retron 5 with the translation patch.

I've asked this a few times and not really gotten an answer either. I don't think many people have purchased any of the SF Memory carts to try.

[Tanooki]

I know the Retron 5 can have issues with games that aren't actual retail carts. You really wanna make sure before taking the plunge.

In what way? I've got a couple of homebrew games on non-donor carts that I haven't had an issue with, but I've only used the two of them, and I don't know how that technology differs (if at all) from Nintendo's cassettes.

The R5 as I said before uses a CRC checklist to fire up a game. If it can not find one, it has a few things it will default back to in an attempt before failing. With the SNES if it's not there it will try for LoROM or HiROM and hope for the best and it works. The NES stuff is more flaky because of so many of those stupid mappers, so if it can't see a CRC check on that it rolls through mapper 0-4 and picks the best. What happens there is it usually will work but the game if it has saving that won't though the usual go to menu/hot save does. Other than that it can't work with multicarts because without the entire code known and coded into it, it will just dump the menu then fail if that far. And since a flash kit is not legit and has whatever is tossed on it under its menu, it is too stupid to realize that and can't fire up roms off an everdrive(etc.)

That's the problem. I'm not even sure if it's too dumb to run a GB/GBC/GBA multicart since those aren't the same as the NES/SNES stuff that won't work, but I know it won't do a flash kit on those either.

A good example of it being stupid either ways with a CRC -- Earthbound. I had an INL board make of that one using the right parts, mapper, raw true non-hacked image off the old cart that was swiped from Nintendo. It worked, it detected, it claimed to save, but it never would save my games so when I had it I had to pull my top loader back out. Yet I have other things like the retrozone Kid Dracula, no save on that, but it detects right and works right.

[strangenova]

So is it just me or is secret of mana buggy? I beat a boss last night and one of my characters auto revived and ran to me and got stuck in the running animation and that's it, my game just sat there no music, just the sounds of a sprite running.

[AaronC]

Working my way through Legend of the Mystical Ninja. I'm using the Retron 5 and really enjoying it. Up until Region VII, the game was pretty easy then it started kicking my butt a little bit. I'm on the boss of Region VIII currently. I've saved in a tough place so I may actually start the level over at this point if I can't get by the boss in my current save state. I really like the art style and the soundtrack is great as well. I really like the cut scenes after every Region. The game has a really good sense of humor. The bosses are pretty awesome as well. The only thing I don't like is the grinding for more money and the timed levels. I also haven't bought any special moves yet because 1) It's super expensive and 2) you can only use them on the stage you bought them on. I haven't really needed them to be honest, but I do feel like I'm missing a big part of the game. Gives me a reason to replay it I guess, but overall I've really enjoyed it.

My wife just won a 55" Samsung 4K television and the game looks great on the Retron 5. Big sprites and the colors just pop off the screen. Really impressed with the up-conversion of the system. Not saying it doesn't look better on an old set it was developed for, but it is pretty impressive to say the least. It has really helped me play and enjoy my SNES collection, the most of which I've never played (had a Genesis when I was a kid). I haven't had too many issues with it so I'm pretty happy with the purchase. I've only had one issue with it not reading Legend, but after that it read it every time.

I'm thinking of going in on Earthbound next.

[Tanooki]

So is it just me or is secret of mana buggy? I beat a boss last night and one of my characters auto revived and ran to me and got stuck in the running animation and that's it, my game just sat there no music, just the sounds of a sprite running.

Yes it's buggy, not heavily, but there are some random progression stoppers and other oddities. I've had that very thing happen once before to me probably 10-15 years ago when playing it. I can also remember the menu wheel tripping out somehow before too.

[Sarge]

Secret of Mana is notoriously buggy. It's actually surprising it even holds together, as hacked down as it was. I keep looking for the duct tape and baling wire.

[ExedExes]

Working my way through Legend of the Mystical Ninja. I'm using the Retron 5 and really enjoying it. Up until Region VII, the game was pretty easy then it started kicking my butt a little bit. I'm on the boss of Region VIII currently. I've saved in a tough place so I may actually start the level over at this point if I can't get by the boss in my current save state. I really like the art style and the soundtrack is great as well. I really like the cut scenes after every Region. The game has a really good sense of humor. The bosses are pretty awesome as well. The only thing I don't like is the grinding for more money and the timed levels. I also haven't bought any special moves yet because 1) It's super expensive and 2) you can only use them on the stage you bought them on. I haven't really needed them to be honest, but I do feel like I'm missing a big part of the game. Gives me a reason to replay it I guess, but overall I've really enjoyed it.

Special moves are a waste of money and even the health you lose to get them. Plus they can only be used on the side-scrolling stages. The only one I found somewhat useful is the flying ability because you can find some neat out of the way stuff @ the stage with the old man and his ninja assistants. The attack powers aren't all that special; save the money instead for throwing coins and getting the better armor/helmets later on (especially in Zone 9!)

[AaronC]

Working my way through Legend of the Mystical Ninja. I'm using the Retron 5 and really enjoying it. Up until Region VII, the game was pretty easy then it started kicking my butt a little bit. I'm on the boss of Region VIII currently. I've saved in a tough place so I may actually start the level over at this point if I can't get by the boss in my current save state. I really like the art style and the soundtrack is great as well. I really like the cut scenes after every Region. The game has a really good sense of humor. The bosses are pretty awesome as well. The only thing I don't like is the grinding for more money and the timed levels. I also haven't bought any special moves yet because 1) It's super expensive and 2) you can only use them on the stage you bought them on. I haven't really needed them to be honest, but I do feel like I'm missing a big part of the game. Gives me a reason to replay it I guess, but overall I've really enjoyed it.

Special moves are a waste of money and even the health you lose to get them. Plus they can only be used on the side-scrolling stages. The only one I found somewhat useful is the flying ability because you can find some neat out of the way stuff @ the stage with the old man and his ninja assistants. The attack powers aren't all that special; save the money instead for throwing coins and getting the better armor/helmets later on (especially in Zone 9!)

It just takes a ton of time to gather enough money to buy them that, like you, I just buy armor or extra guys. I did buy the tiger because, well, it looked cool on the label artwork haha! Hopefully I'll finish it soon. It's a beautiful game with solid game play. If anyone hasn't played it, I highly recommend it.

[Snatch1414]

I know the Retron 5 can have issues with games that aren't actual retail carts. You really wanna make sure before taking the plunge.

In what way? I've got a couple of homebrew games on non-donor carts that I haven't had an issue with, but I've only used the two of them, and I don't know how that technology differs (if at all) from Nintendo's cassettes.

The R5 as I said before uses a CRC checklist to fire up a game. If it can not find one, it has a few things it will default back to in an attempt before failing. With the SNES if it's not there it will try for LoROM or HiROM and hope for the best and it works. The NES stuff is more flaky because of so many of those stupid mappers, so if it can't see a CRC check on that it rolls through mapper 0-4 and picks the best. What happens there is it usually will work but the game if it has saving that won't though the usual go to menu/hot save does. Other than that it can't work with multicarts because without the entire code known and coded into it, it will just dump the menu then fail if that far. And since a flash kit is not legit and has whatever is tossed on it under its menu, it is too stupid to realize that and can't fire up roms off an everdrive(etc.)

That's the problem. I'm not even sure if it's too dumb to run a GB/GBC/GBA multicart since those aren't the same as the NES/SNES stuff that won't work, but I know it won't do a flash kit on those either.

A good example of it being stupid either ways with a CRC -- Earthbound. I had an INL board make of that one using the right parts, mapper, raw true non-hacked image off the old cart that was swiped from Nintendo. It worked, it detected, it claimed to save, but it never would save my games so when I had it I had to pull my top loader back out. Yet I have other things like the retrozone Kid Dracula, no save on that, but it detects right and works right.

Yeah all I know is the Retron 5 won't play the yellow Famicom multicarts I have that I freakin love. It's really disappointing. I've tried them with and without a Famicom adapter too just in case and no dice. I wonder why.