nes/snes retro duo! pics, review, hacking info 7/27/10

[bacteria]

Your NES flashes not as a design feature but because you have an old NES toaster (as it is called), caused as the carts are inserted and then dropped, like an old VHS tape. You can fix this problem, see the Nintendo 8-Bit forum here and do a search.

As you see in the first post on this very topic, a lot of NES games are supported. The Retro Duo is only a Chinese pirate system, so can't be 100% in its working against official hardware. If you aren't into system modding and needing a small mobo to fit into a small enclosure, you are best getting a normal SNES and NES unit (in your case, fixing your NES).

[ovy]

Thank you very much.

So I will try to see how I can fix this problem since I have to NES that does that.

Thank you

[deeyay]

My retro duo has arrived now. I have already fallen in love with it! Such a cute compact thing. I have also tried my games on it and I will now list which of my games that worked or not so that you can add it to the compatibility list here. I mostly have PAL games.

The big dissapointment though is that I could not get Terranigma to work on it. Does anyone have a pro action replay mk 2.t or version 3 and is willing to part with it? I would pay good for it since I really want to be able to play Terranigma on my retro duo. Those converters doesn't seem to be easy to find unfortunately.

SNES (PAL) - games that work

Actraiser
Axelay
Darius Twin
Street fighter II
Super Castlevania IV
Super Mario World
Super Probotector - Alien Rebels
Super R-Type
Super Smash T.V.
Super Swiv
Super Tennis
Top Gear
Zelda III- A Link To The Past


SNES (PAL) - games that do not work

Illusion of Time (European version of Illusion of Gaia)
Starwing (works, but serious graphic glitch)
Super Metroid
Terranigma (doesn't work with "super game converter" either)


SNES (NTSC) - games that work

Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy III (USA version)
Illusion of Gaia

NES NTSC - games that work

Mega Man 2

[bacteria]

Good, another PAL user!

I saw an article recently that if you lift off pin 127 on the main chip on Super Mario RPG that it makes it work on PAL instead of NTSC. As this game seems tempremental on the Retro Duo, perhaps making the game PAL will make it work??

I am going to win Super Mario RPG soon on e-bay and give it a go. Recently bought Yoshi's Cookie, a good but underrated game, NTSC, so looking forward to playing that on the Duo too.

[deeyay]

Can anyone here tell me how one checks if a pro action replay 2 converter is the mk 2 or mk 2.t version? I have a seller of one but he needs to know how to check which version it is. Don't want to buy it if I don't know for sure which one it is!

[lovablechevy]

when you turn on the snes with it plugged in, it'll tell you on the title screen which version it is.

[lanf]

Hi,

Here is a list of games I tested with my brand new RetroDuo and posted on DP: http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthr ... 88&page=12

NES (US)

1943: Works (but sound issues)
Astyanax: Works
Batman: Works
Bayou Billy: Works
Bionic Commando: Works
Captain Skyhawk: Works
Castlevania 2: Works (but sound issues)
Commando: Works
Double Dragon: Works (but sound issues)
Double Dragon 3: Works (but sound issues)
Dr Mario: Works (with very slight sound unbalance)
Dragon Spirit: Works
Dragon Warrior: Works
Fast Break: Works
Gauntlet: Works
Gold Medal Challenge 92: Works
Golgo 13: Works
Kirby's Adventure: Works
Kung Fu: Works
Metroid: Works (but sound issues)
Mickey Mousecapade: Works
Ninja Gaiden: Works (but sound issues)
Ninja Gaiden 2: Works (but sound issues)
Pro Wrestling: Works
Rad Racer: Works
Rad Racer 2: Works
RC Pro-Am: Works
Shinobi (Tengen): Works
Spy Hunter: Works
Super C: Works (but sound issues)
Super Mario Bros 2: Works (but sound issues)
Super Mario Bros 3: Works (but sound issues)
Tag Team Wrestling: Works
Tecmo World Wrestling: Works
Tetris: Works
Tetris 2: Works
TMNT: Works (but sound issues)
TMNT 2 - Arcade Game: Works (but sound issues)
TMNT 3 - Manhattan Project : Works (but sound issues)
Track & Field 2: Works
Vice: Project Doom: Works
Willow: Works
Wizards & Warriors: Works (with minor sound issues)
Wizards & Warriors 2 - IronSword: Works (with minor sound issues)
World Class Track Meet: Works

SNES (US)

Super Tennis: Works
Super Street Fighter 2: Works
Capcom's Soccer Shoot Out: Works
Nigel Mansel: Works
Super Castlevania 4: Works
Street Fighter 2: Works
Axelay: Works
Pilot Wings: Works
F-Zero: Works
Drakkhen: Works
NBA Showdown: Works
Super Mario World: Works

Conclusion:

It appears that the NES side of the RetroDuo has a real problem with the reproduction of sound. Indeed, the bass are much louder than the trebble and some audio is not played at all (i.e. Ninja Gaiden, Castlevania 2 ...).
I hope that, somehow, there will be a fix of some kind...

[Shinryu]

hi all I just have a fc twin yesterday .
Thanks you very mutch for your compatibility list .
so i have tested this game yet:

Fc-Win (FCX2 model)

Pal Games :

Probotector 2 (Works good but some "lag" when the have a lot of monster in screen)
super mario all star ( doesn't works anything)

anyone have a tutorial with pictures for adding 50Hz in a fctwin ?

sry for my bad english i am french

[lovablechevy]

did you get an fc twin or a retro duo? this thread and compatibility list is for the retro duo. they are two different systems. sorry if there was confusion.

and lanf, thanks for the list. i'll update the list on the first page when i get some time.

[Shinryu]

did you get an fc twin or a retro duo? this thread and compatibility list is for the retro duo. they are two different systems. sorry if there was confusion.

and lanf, thanks for the list. i'll update the list on the first page when i get some time.

oups i have a Fc-Twin .
Do you have the same topic for review, hack and info for this Clone

[loopy_101]

Hey people.

I've just tested a few of my games on the Retro Duo and I'd like to give my compat lists from doing so:

Snes (PAL)

• Batman Forever - Works fine
  Super Mario Allstars + World - Doesn't work, shows the wrong region message
  Donkey Kong Country - Doesn't work, shows the wrong region message
  Flashback - Works fine
  Desert Strike - Works fine
  Blazing Skies - Works fine

Snes (NTSC/U)

• Rival Turf - Works Fine
  Batman Returns - Works Fine

Nes (PAL)

• Super Mario Brothers/Duck Hunt - Works fine, although Duck Hunt could do with a zapper and Mario runs a little too fast.
  Robocop - Works fine
  Blue Shadow - Works fine
  Bad Dudes Vs Dragon Ninja - Works fine

I'll update this post when I play more games

[themadhacker]

Oh, yeah. I think I will contribute to the compatability list.

snes with SGB (ntsc)

wheel of fortune: works perfect.

NES (ntsc)

Double Dribble: works perfectly

SNES (ntsc)

NHL 96 : works perfectly.

[nevermind1534]

NES (ntsc)

Double Dribble: works perfectly

dubble dibble

It actually sounds pretty good, considering that it's the NES.

[Leolio31]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a Retro Duo, and the SNES games run very well.
However, it seems that no NES game will run. The problem may be that when I put a NES game in it, the cartridge won't stop moving, it is never really blocked in the slot.

I use PAL games, so maybe this is the issue ?

Best regards,

Leolio

[lovablechevy]

thanks for everyone's updates for me to add to the list. i'll get to that as soon as i can.

Leolio31 - nes and snes pal games are very touch and go. also, make sure you're pushing the game all the way on. many have stated how tight the nes cartridge slot is, so maybe the games aren't going on all the way?

at any rate, help the compatibility list by giving me your findings. thanks!