Super Famicom - Bargain Retro Gaming from Japan!

Konnichi-wa!

I'm back, and this time I've been to the land of the rising sun for some retro gaming goodness!

In November, my family and I had a 12-night cruise from Yokohama to Singapore. After being away from Japan for 18 years, I was keen to see how it had changed.

I've been a big fan of watching gaijin (westerners) retro game hunting in Japan for years. After seeking much inspiration from J. Contra, Mad Panic Gaming, Retro Moments, Retro Rewire and Scruffy Looking RGB, I finally had the chance to go hunting for junk!

Firstly, let me define Japanese junk. It could mean that it actually is junk and doesn't work. Practically though, it means it's either been not tested by the seller or it may be cosmetically unappealing, such as having marker pen on it, stickers, scratches, fading or yellowing.

Junk is normally incredibly cheap. Yes, there is an element of gambling when you buy something that may not work and cannot return, but the cheap price justifies the purchase. If something is JPY110 (AUD1.20 or 60p), then it has to be worth buying, right?

One of my favourite Youtubers, Scruffy Looking RGB, excels in junk purchases. He will buy junk consoles, and normally fix them up and often improve them with mods. Watching him has taught me that junk is not junk as we know it, and that most junk will work with a bit of cleaning or a simple repair.

A lot of the Youtubers I watch frequent Akihabara, the famous electronic district in Tokyo. This is where I picked up my Super Famicom in cosmetically, a great condition. The store was called GEO Mobile, and it was a store I was aware of from Scruffy's videos.

To be honest, it wasn't my first choice of shop to buy a Super Famicom. I had gone to a small Hard Off store in between Yokohama and Yokosuka (which is a recycling shop) as they have a part of the store specifically selling junk. Unfortunately, they had no junk Super Famicoms. I could have secured a junk PlayStation for JPY500, but already having a Japanese PS2, I decided not to get that.

The Super Famicom I ended up getting was JPY1100 (AUD12 or GBP6). I was hoping to find one for JPY500, but I knew I was going on the cruise the following day, and this was probably my last opportunity to buy one. It's still incredibly cheap though, especially for the condition it was in, with only a bit of yellowing on the joystick port section.

I had the Super Famicom, but I needed controllers and games! Due to having to rush around, we left Akihabara, and after exploring Tokyo a bit more, I ended up at a store called Suruga-ya which is very close to Yokohama station. I had been there a couple of days before and purchased a load of junk PS2 games, so I knew they had plenty of junk Super Famicom games.

I went through the games and purchased pretty much every junk Super Famicom game they had, only leaving duplicate copies behind. I also purchased two very golden yellowed controllers for JPY110 each. All of the junk games were also JPY110 each.

Once I had returned home, I still had two things to do before I could even check that the console worked. Firstly, it needed power. Luckily for me, it uses the same power jack as a PAL Sega Mega Drive! The Super Famicom needs 10v and the Mega Drive power adaptor gives out 9v. It's close enough to make the thing work. I clunked the power switch, and the red light came on. That was a reassuring sign! But I still had a problem. I needed an AV cable to connect to the TV.

There is the option to connect via RF (using the aerial jack like back in the old days). However, this didn't work. Upon some research, this is because Japan uses different frequencies to other parts of the world for TV broadcasting. In fact, the frequencies the Super Famicom use are radio frequencies here!

That meant I needed to use an AV cable. If I was sensible, I probably could have picked one up in Suruga-ya for JPY110, but after a long day in Tokyo and the excitement of buying all of the junk games, it slipped my mind. I ended up ordering one from The Gamesmen here in Sydney for AUD10 (GBP5). Just in case you didn't know, the Super Nintendo, N64 and Gamecube all use the same AV cable. Having never owned any of those consoles, that didn't help me, but I at least I now know that if I end up getting one of them in the future!

I connected it all up and found the cleanest cartridge I could find, Final Fantasy VI. I put it in and turned on the console. IT WORKED! If I would have grabbed the AV cable in Japan, I could have had a working Super Famicom with one game and one controller, all for JPY1430 (AUD15 or GBP8). Unbelievable!

However, I didn't buy just one game. What junk games did I get? Mainly sports games, which are very common in junk bins, but there may be a few gems...

1) Final Fantasy VI

Known as Final Fantasy III in North America, it was never released in PAL regions. It is also the last game in the series released before the groundbreaking Final Fantasy VII on the PlayStation.

Why was it Final Fantasy III in North America? Only 2 other Final Fantasy games had been released in that market, so they didn't want to confuse people as to why it had skipped from 2 to 6. Interestingly enough, they did do this when they went straight to Final Fantasy VII as it was released worldwide as that title.

I obviously have zero chance of successfully playing this as all of the text is in Japanese. It was interesting to see that there were 2 saved files, each having mustered over 60 hours of playtime.

A cool game to own, even if I will never play it.

2) Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi wo Yobu Enji 

This is a game based on a famous manga called Crayon Shin-chan. The title translates to Kindergarteners Calling a Storm.

It's a side scrolling action game with mini games where you control the protagonist, Shinnosuke.

It was only released in Japan, and also had a release on the Sega Mega Drive.

It seemed a bit awkward to control, and it's not obvious as to what you need to do on this game without knowing Japanese.

Again, it's a cool game to own, especially as it's a Japan exclusive and quite obviously a uniquely Japanese game.

3) Derby Stallion II

Another Japanese exclusive, this is a game where you own a horse racing stable and need to grow it to become the best in the business. Think of it as Football Manager but for horse racing!

It's the sequel to Derby Stallion, released on the Famicom (NES).

Again, zero chance of playing this without knowing Japanese.

4) Exhaust Heat

One of a few Formula One games, this game was released worldwide.

Using the Super Famicom's Mode 7, it's a graphically impressive game. A little awkward to get used to controlling the car at the start, it gets easier once you get used to the tracks and can anticipate the corners.

The first game on this list I would actively sit down and play and try to complete a F-1 season.

Also, it has a great soundtrack, which tends to happen a lot with F-1 games!

5) F-1 Grand Prix

Another Formula One game, but this one is a Japan exclusive.

Originally released as an arcade game with no licensing before being ported to the Super Famicom with the official licensing.

It plays as a top-down racer. It makes it tricky to anticipate corners, much like Exhaust Heat, but you do get used to it after a bit of practice.

Definitely worth 110 yen!

6) Human Grand Prix II

Known as F1 Pole Position 2 in Europe, it is the sequel to Human Grand Prix which was also released on the Super Famicom.

The Human part comes from the game developers, Human. I can probably understand why they went for a rebrand when they released this game for the worldwide markets.

Again, a game with official F-1 licensing. Who wouldn't want to control the car as F1 great Damon Hill?!

However, the controls are truly awful. I was all over the track and found it hard to drive in a straight line on a straight.

It might be a bit more realistic to the real thing, possibly, but the main principle of a game should be fun. This wasn't I'm afraid.

Should have brought a warm can of coffee instead with this 110 yen!

7) J. League Excite Stage '94

The first of many football games, and one of two J. League licensed games.

Released worldwide as Soccer Shootout.

Naturally, I took control of the Yokohama F. Marinos seeing that's where I purchased the game. 

It's a pretty good-looking game and plays quite well. Definitely the best of the J. League games I picked up.

8) J. League Super Soccer

Released as Virtual Soccer in Europe.

Not a bad football game, with decent graphics. Excite Stage '94 was definitely the better game though if I had to pick which one was better.

9) Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 3

Literally "Live Powerful Pro Baseball 3", this is a baseball game using cute characters but has actual NPB teams (the Japanese Professional Baseball league).

I gave it a go with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. It's a beautiful looking game, but let's face it, baseball sucks, and with that, so does this game.

It is one of the most popular sports in Japan though, so it's understandable that I'd end up with a baseball game.

10) Jikkyou World Soccer: Perfect Eleven

From the makers of the above baseball game, Konami.

This is the Japanese version of International Superstar Soccer. The main difference is there are a few more Asian teams, most notably North Korea and surprisingly, Japan, who are not in the other releases worldwide.

Definitely one of the best football games I picked up.

11) Pachi-slot Monogatari: Universal Special

Literally "Pachi-slot Story". Pachi-slot is the Japanese version of a fruit machine in the UK or a poker machine in Australia.

This understandably is a Japan exclusive.

It has a few different machines you can play on and was easy enough to work out the Japanese menus.

I quite enjoyed it for a fix of the pokies without having to lose real money!

12) Pebble Beach no Hatou

Literally "Storm Wave of Pebble Beach".

This is a golf game based on the course at Pebble Beach Golf Links, California. 

This game was released worldwide as True Golf Classics: Pebble Beach Golf Links on both the Super Famicom and Sega Mega Drive.

In Japan, the series was known as New 3D Golf Simulation. There were also 2 other courses released in Japan in this series. Waialae Country Club in Hawaii and Devil's Course in Death Valley, California.

A very good-looking golf game, and pretty easy to pick up and play if you've played golf games before. I wasn't a fan of the putting mechanism though.

13) Pro Soccer

Known as World League Soccer in North America and not released in Europe.

This is a port of the Commodore Amiga game Kick Off 2.

By far the worst football game I picked up. The graphics look like they belong on an 8-bit console and the controls are just awful.

Unless you have nostalgia for the Kick Off series, I'd recommend any other football game on this list.

14) Shining Scorpion: Let's and Go!

This is a mini yonku (4 wheel drive) racing simulation game and a Japan exclusive.

Mini Yonku are battery powered toy cars that are upgradable and raced on a walled track.

Think of Scalextric but with a Japanese spin.

If you've ever played Yakuza 0 on PS4, you would have played a game very similar to this.

As it's a simulation, it's hard to know what's going on, which is a shame, as the game on Yakuza 0 was quite fun.

15) Simulation Pro Yakyuu

This is a Japan exclusive baseball game using real NPB teams.

This is actually a playable baseball game! Basically, you set batting or pitching instructions and watch what happens.

A unique take on traditional baseball games which are generally pretty tough to get to grips with.

16) Street Fighter II

I was definitely happy with this pick up!

It's normal Street Fighter II, but to mix things up, the bosses have their names mixed up with what we had in the west.

M. Bison is called Vega, Vega is called Balrog and Balrog is called M. Bison!

17) Street Fighter II Turbo

I also picked up the Turbo version!

Apart from the Turbo function to speed up the game, you can also play as the 4 bosses, M. Bison, Balrog, Sagat and Vega.

This is effectively the Special Champion Edition that was released on the Sega Mega Drive.

18) Super Donkey Kong

Known as Donkey Kong Country worldwide.

Another classic title and one of the most impressive and beloved games on the Super Famicom/SNES.

19) Super Formation Soccer

The first of 3 Super Formation Soccer games I picked up.

Known as Super Soccer worldwide.

A decent football game using international teams, but probably a better experience with the next game.

20) Super Formation Soccer II

The sequel to Super Formation Soccer, this is the same game as the first but with a few enhancements.

This was a Japan exclusive.

21) Super Formation Soccer '95: della Serie A

The same game as above, but exclusively Italian Serie A teams!

Surprisingly, this was also a Japan exclusive.

22) Super Puyo Puyo

This is a puzzle game, that was ported worldwide and known as Kirby's Ghost Trap in Europe.

A fun puzzle game, but infuriatingly tough against the computer. Despite the difficulty, I kept coming back for more!

Would be a lot more fun in 2-player mode.

23) Yu Yu Hakusho 2

This is a fighting game based on the manga of the same name.

This is a Japan exclusive and the sequel to the original game released on the Super Famicom.

You follow a story where you unlock characters you can play as after you defeat them.

So, what are my first impressions of the Super Famicom?

I never got to play on a Super Nintendo growing up and my friends and I all had Sega consoles, so this was the first time I actually had to play on one.

I'm pretty impressed with what I've seen based on what I have so far.

I still prefer the model 1 Sega Mega Drive look, but the Super Famicom is also a good-looking console, and better looking than the Mega Drive 2.

Graphically, it pains me to say as a Sega fan boy, it seems to be better than the Mega Drive. Some of the effects, especially the Mode 7 effects, are really impressive and feel very much like arcade games I remembered in the early 90's.

From a sound perspective, although it is used well on some games, I prefer the sound of the Mega Drive. It almost has a dull, bassier sound and I prefer the sharper tones the Mega Drive offers. My best comparison is playing the Street Fighter games. It's not bad on the Super Famicom, but the sound is so much richer on the Mega Drive version.

I also prefer the Mega Drive controller compared to the Super Famicom. Not so much the button layout, but the D-pad is a lot more comfortable on the Mega Drive.

But let's finish on a high. The larger Super Famicom cartridges look awesome and are SO satisfying to put in and pop out of the console. I also like the fading and yellowing of the grey plastic. It gives each cartridge character in my opinion.

I've also just received a Super Everdrive cartridge from AliExpress which appears to have all of the games on it. I can't wait to get stuck into trying the games, both the exclusive Super NES/Famicom games and to compare them to the Mega Drive versions.

Can I be converted to a SNES fan boy? I'm thinking I already am...