Best Nintenclone?

[vestcoat]

I replaced the 72 pin connector in my original NES.  It was cheap, very easy and now plays every game I own with absolutely no problems.
However...it was hard to make my system feel the same way after screwing everything back together.  If I put the screws back in too tight, then the games kept popping up because they didn't 'lock' when I pushed them down.  If the screws were too loose, the lock didn't lineup and I couldn't push the game down.  After some time disassembling and reassembling my system I got everything to work but it now requires considerable effort to insert or remove cartridges because the deck is tighter somehow.  But it is still much, much easier than cleaning games, blowing in the system, and trying everyother trick in the book to prevent blinking.

[Michael Helgeson]

To fix that problem you have to take the 72 pin connector and insert a cart ahead of time before installing it and bend it back and forth a tad to to flex the pins out a little more. They are a harder steel and hold your carts like theres no tomarrow otherwise.

[Black Tiger]

I replaced the 72 pin connector in my original NES.  It was cheap, very easy and now plays every game I own with absolutely no problems.
However...it was hard to make my system feel the same way after screwing everything back together.  If I put the screws back in too tight, then the games kept popping up because they didn't 'lock' when I pushed them down.  If the screws were too loose, the lock didn't lineup and I couldn't push the game down.  After some time disassembling and reassembling my system I got everything to work but it now requires considerable effort to insert or remove cartridges because the deck is tighter somehow.  But it is still much, much easier than cleaning games, blowing in the system, and trying everyother trick in the book to prevent blinking.

The same thing happened to me with an NES I took apart to test a Famicom cart I was selling using a strapless converter. The springing mechanism was never the same, no matter how I adjusted it. Of course, I'm no electronic repair technician or anything either and may well have left a few screws out,  

[grahf]

If you tighten the shielding down to much, i think it screws with the catch/release mechanism. At least i think thats what does it. Ive installed a few of those 72pin connectors in my day

[nat]

I got my NEX today. It arrived this afternoon. The thing was bought as a gift, and today is my birthday. Perfect timing.

So far, I've only had a chance to try out the original SMB. It plays perfectly. Video reproduction is perfect and faithful, right down to the sprite flicker. Colors are 100% accurate as far as I can see. Anyone who says otherwise needs to adjust the tint and color levels on their TV. Audio reproduction is almost as good. Music is dead-on. The sound effects are 98.9% true to the original sound. There are a FEW that somehow sound more tinny. But you have to REALLY want to hear the difference to hear it. For all intents and purposes, I'd say the audio overall is excellent.

Physically, the unit feels solid and well built. The first thing that hits you is how small it is. I've read bad things about the pack-in controllers. As a matter of fact, I like them better than the real NES controllers. I was expecting the worst, really. The NEX controllers are smaller and fit your hand better. The button position for SELECT and START is a little goofy, but so what? How often do you use those buttons? And are they really all that hard to find when you need them? I've got to get me some of those wireless controllers. This system has wireless support built-in! The AC "brick" adapter is the size of an ice cube. Why can't all systems have power adapters this size? The system comes with a very high-quality instruction booklet in the size and shape of a NES cartridge. High production value with 45 glossy pages and all. Color illustrations! Better than we got in our US Turbo game manuals. It also comes with a composite audio/video cable and an NES "game rarity" guide. Overall, the feel I get is very good about the production value of the package as a whole.

The system cost $60. I would have been more than happy spending that much on this unit. You get the ability to play both Famicom and NES titles as well as built-in wireless support and composite video-out and lose the hassle of having to play games (no pun intended) with the console.

IMO, any nay-sayers of the NEX are annoying Nintendo fanboys that badmouth anything not branded "Nintendo." Well, the truth is this is a great modern-day solution for your NES gaming needs. Short of find a "real" Nintendo top-loader, this is the next best thing. And in many ways, this IS the best thing. Can you play Famicom games on the top-loading NES without a converter? How about use wireless controllers without a receiver? Composite video-out? So I'll lose the ability to play "Castlevania III". Since I don't own the game, it's no big deal. If I ever DO own it, well, my toaster NES is still plugged in waiting for some of that love. In the meantime I'll be playing my NEX.

[Michael Helgeson]

Well,you should prob play every title you have for 30 mins at least to check for issues.

[nat]

That's what I'm doing right now

[rolins]

To fix that problem you have to take the 72 pin connector and insert a cart ahead of time before installing it and bend it back and forth a tad to to flex the pins out a little more. They are a harder steel and hold your carts like theres no tomarrow otherwise.

Agree to that. I also recommend not to use Game Genies. Those thing seem to have thicker board and breaks the pins even further apart, sometimes making games unable to make a solid connection. Although that was for the old 72pin connectors, it may not matter with these newer ones w/ the steel since they're stronger than the old 72pins.

[nat]

I played through most of my game collection extensively last night. I tried to give each game at least half an hour. I will finish with the rest of them today.

Just about everything I played works beautifully. The only issue I have is with the sound in "Kirby's Adventure". I'm not sure if this is one of the games that used a special sound chip or what. Effects are fine but the music is off. This is absolutely the one and only issue I came across in my trials.

The more games I played something else I noticed is that the colors seem much more vibrant than what the original NES produced. I don't know if this is simply a result of the composite video vs. the old RF or what. But things look MUCH better.

And let me tell you, being able to just plug in a cart and press POWER to play on the first try is like heaven on Earth.

[Michael Helgeson]

Yea color and sharpness in general are much better on composite then RF signal. The original Nes had composite jacks,but I didn't use them probably till the late 90ies.

[nat]

In 20 years I don't think I've ever used anything but RF with the NES until now. I guess I've been living in the dark ages!

[nat]

So I've basically covered my entire collection. To be fair, my entire NES collection is a meager 22 games. And I don't currently own any Famicom titles to test out that functionality.

Other than the aforementioned Kirby issues, the console plays all my NES titles flawlessly. And they look better, too. I have a very good feeling about this console and while I don't have any experience with earlier "Nintenclones", I'd wager this is probably the best of the bunch. I just can't get over how good the production quality is on this. I really like the included controllers, but the cord is too short for my setup. It by no means approaches the shortness of the Turbo controller cords, but my couch is a good six or seven feet from the entertainment center. The original NES controllers, which you CAN use with the NEX, are just long enough to reach.

I'd recommend the NEX to anyone looking for a modern-day solution for their NES library. Unless they own Castlevania III and it happens to be the primary reason they want an NES.

[nat]

So for the first time in years I busted out Duck Hunt today and played it on the NEX. The Nintendo light gun works like normal with the system.

On the first go with 1 duck I got to round 19, scoring perfectly on nearly every round. I think I got one of my best scores ever. I'd forgotten how fun this game is. Fairly simple game, but classic fun nonetheless.

[Keranu]

Duck Hunt is amazing. It's one of those games that's just never going to get old.

[esteban]

So for the first time in years I busted out Duck Hunt today and played it on the NEX. The Nintendo light gun works like normal with the system.

On the first go with 1 duck I got to round 19, scoring perfectly on nearly every round. I think I got one of my best scores ever. I'd forgotten how fun this game is. Fairly simple game, but classic fun nonetheless.

I've been curious about NEX just to see what it was like, but I've put it off because I really don't need another NESclone.

But, to answer your original question, there is a really, really cheap way to play a lot of Famicom carts, though I don't know if they still sell it: I bought one of those pirate 63-million-games-in-one Famicom things (plug-and-play). It was $12, and has the cheapest controller (looks like N64) + light gun + extra controller. Of course, there weren't too many good ROMs built into the thing.

But the bottom of the main "N64" controller has a slot for Famicom carts! I've tested it with many titles and the stupid   thing emulates nicely, considering it is junk. But the controller sucks. Interestingly, the light gun works with carts!

NEX is a much better choice, of course.