NES 8-bit label games

[The Apprentice]

Notice that the yellow peice of Mega Man's helmet is off center... but the point the helmet comes to under the visor is not.

Also, Rad Racer is freaking amazing.

[LoneCynic]

That's what my copy of Metroid for the NES looks like. Be aware that there are multiple versions of some of the more popular titles that got re-released over the years that the NES was popular.

-Metroid was re-released near the end of the NES run with a Yellow Label variant that had the now classic picture of Samus crouched on one knee ala Metroid II on Gameboy.

-Zelda and Zelda II were re-released as standard grey cart variants as opposed to the original gold copies.

This may just be my childhood memories gone haywire, but I am thinking there may have been multiple versions of Super Mario Brothers (1). Aside from there being Super Mario Brothers, Super Mario Brothers/Duck Hunt, and Super Mario Brothers/Duck Hunt/World Class Track Meet, I am also thinking that there may have been some label variants on some of these carts. I remember my Mario/Duck Hunt and my Uncle's Mario/Duck having some variantion between them. Could be bad memory on my part, but maybe someone has more info on this?

-There was Donkey Kong, and Donkey Kong Junior stand alone carts, then there was the "Donkey Kong Classics" orange label combo cart that I had which has both games on one cart.

There may be others that I am forgetting, anyone else remember others that I am forgetting? I guess my advise for collecting is make sure you know which variant of a game you are getting before you buy off ebay, etc.

Just as an interesting side note for SNES collectors, there is an Orange/Green Label Super Mario All Stars cart that was a console pack in exclusive. I got it from a pawn shop, but it is superior to the standard Super Mario All Stars cart. It has the following on it selectable from the main menu:

-Super Mario Brothers
-Super Mario Brothers: The Lost Levels
-Super Mario Brothers 2
-Super Mario Brothers 3
-Super Mario World

What makes this cart interesting is that Yoshi appears with the rest of the characters on the main title screen, and Luigi has a taller sprite in Super Mario World like the rest of the games on the collection, not to mention some different animations and such. A nice conversation peice, and an awesome variant to boot. Check it out if you can get your hands on it.

[molotovwars]

I also remember hearing that earlier NES games (first prints) had a different type of screw or a different number of screws in the cartridge, and that the earlier ones (with less I believe) were usually worth a little more.

Here is some info from eBay reviews and guides:

..ok so you may have noticed that some old NES games have notches on the top, and some are flat...take a look at the back of the flat top games, they've got 5 screws, as opposed to the others which have 3....when Nintendo started making games and sold the first wave of licenses to 3rd party companies, the gray carts themselves had 5 screws and a flat top...after 9 months or so, they found a more efficient (I assume cheaper) way to make the games, and easier to get into with the notches on the top. So....the original 5 screw carts are much rarer, some of them significantly so...I've probably had 100 copies of The Legend of Zelda in my life (no joke) and I only have ever had ONE 5 screw version, same with Metroid and Castlevania...I'm STILL looking for a 5 screw spelunker, I'm sure it's out there...there's a couple other VERY rare ones like the Arkanoid I have...there are rumors of some carts in 5 screw form that I've NEVER EVEN SEEN...have fun collecting, I sure am!

also:

1ST- Nintendo original series games the carts will have on the back label no copyright symbol & Nintendo will be on the far right hand side of the label.

2ND- All screws in cart will have a little circle & you will need a small flat head screw driver to get out any of the screws. If you need a Phillips head screw driver the back has been replace also there will be 5 braces inside the cart for the screws. Where there is only 3 now that is another why to tell original to hold the cart chip in place

3RD- not only did Nintendo make but also games in that time frame there are Taito , Data East, Bandai, & others but have to be before 1988.Those do have a copyright symbol though swith Nintendo in the middle

Both of those are poorly written so maybe I can find something better.

Here is an auction for a copy of Mega Man with the 5 screws that sold for $127.00...cart only.

http://www.chasethechuckwagon.com/item. ... 0000114845