I almost beat FF2j as well I only got to experience a small bit of Pandemonium, but then some major problem with the controller port 1 on my Fami*clone* happened. The controls started reversing, I unplugged the controller put it back in, and then the game froze. Then I turned on and off the game properly, and it f*cking erased all my hard work!
I need a real authentic Nintendo Famicom system badly. Not no cheap Hong Kong clone. I lost my ghetto NES/FC converter that I got out of my Stack Up cartridge somewhere in my room.
EDIT: on a tangent, Messiah is reconsidering the errors made on their Generation NEX system. The next wave of NEX's could be enjoyed by hardcore FC gamers in the future