VS Super Mario Bros. Review from Retrozone (NES)

[satoshi_matrix]

Hey guys, for review #22 here's VS Super Mario Bros., recently released by Retrozone. Hope you guys enjoy!

http://satoshimatrix.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/vs-super-mario-bros-review-nes/

[botulismo]

Very awesome. I love your blog. Thanks for keeping us informed about all sorts of interesting new and old games, accessories, and clone systems. I appreciate how thorough you are with your articles. Another great article.

[satoshi_matrix]

thanks for your kind words. I try to be as thorough as I can because when I read reviews, that's what I'm always looking for and more often than not don't end up finding, especially when it comes to unusual gaming. I appreciate your support and would like to continue to grow and improve. Do you know of any other forums where there may be some who are interested in my work? I'd like more people to read my work.

Oh, and check out my review thread. Suggestions always welcome. http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=2117.0

[Jedi Master Baiter]

It could've used more pictures.

How about a close up of the cart label?  Retrozone's's is tilted/ upside down.

[NintendoKing]

So essentially with this cartridge, you have the arcade without the actual box because in fact the playchoice 10 is a NES.

Interesting, and making me sorta want to buy the cartridge.

[son_ov_hades]

This review has made me want to buy the cart, even though it's ugly as hell.

[satoshi_matrix]

It could've used more pictures.

How about a close up of the cart label?  Retrozone's's is tilted/ upside down.

No problem. I'll add it shortly and I'll post again when pics are up.

This review has made me want to buy the cart, even though it's ugly as hell.

Really? I think the cart looks rather awesome, especially compared to the other carts Retrozone offers.

[botulismo]

I don't think anything RetroZone has released is really ugly, though apparently I never got a clear sleeve with my PowerPak. That might be ugly. Clear/translucent cartridges that mimic the shape and feel of a regular NES cartridge look fine. They need a way of differentiating their product from an official cartridge. This both helps make their product identifiable and noticeably different from official cartridges. Some of the repros they sell, if they looked official, could (I'm sure) be sold falsely as the real thing. Plus, the style they use for their cartridges wouldn't seem out of place as far as the aesthetics of the 80's went.

The most important thing to me is that they release 100% new cartridges. Not only do they do that, but they also make new (MMC1) donor boards and cartridge cases available. I understand someone wanting a reproduction, but I get sad whenever one more cartridge is sent to cartridge heaven. One day we'll run out of boards of Deadly Towers or Wrestlemania carts, and then it'll be no choice but to cannibalize actually good games.

At least that means those two games will actually be worth something once that happens. Maybe that's the secret conspiracy. 

[satoshi_matrix]

LOL that's quite the theory.

Anyway, post has been updated with pics. Still need screenshots, if anyone can load up and an emulator and take saome screenshots for me, that would be great.I don't have the means other than pointing the camera at the TV.

[i heart yuna]

So essentially with this cartridge, you have the arcade without the actual box because in fact the playchoice 10 is a NES.

Interesting, and making me sorta want to buy the cartridge.

vs. super mario bros. was actually released for the Vs. arcade hardware, which is completely different from the PC10. The games are different, and some (such as balloon fight, tennis, and baseball) use both monitors (available in the dual system version of the cab) and all four sets of controls.

I did a a pretty detailed history of the hardware, it's actually pretty fascinating. check it out here: http://videogamesarerad.com/2010/09/15/nintendo-vs-arcade-hardware-red-tent-cocktail-cabinet/

Hey guys, for review #22 here's VS Super Mario Bros., recently released by Retrozone. Hope you guys enjoy!

http://satoshimatrix.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/vs-super-mario-bros-review-nes/

great review. i am a master at smb, but i have never made it past world 7 in vs. smb. maybe it's the arcade controls, but it's just so hard.

[NintendoKing]

vs. super mario bros. was actually released for the Vs. arcade hardware, which is completely different from the PC10. The games are different, and some (such as balloon fight, tennis, and baseball) use both monitors (available in the dual system version of the cab) and all four sets of controls.

Interesting, I always assumed the VS games were released on the PC10; nice history lesson custom CPU and PPU units... Interesting.

[nintendodork]

Nope.  PC10s were basically just RGB NES's in arcade cabinets.  They can't handle anymore than the NES can.  The VS. Systems are extremely unique, and I would really like to own one someday.  I've got the perfect spot for it and everything.

[i heart yuna]

vs. super mario bros. was actually released for the Vs. arcade hardware, which is completely different from the PC10. The games are different, and some (such as balloon fight, tennis, and baseball) use both monitors (available in the dual system version of the cab) and all four sets of controls.

Interesting, I always assumed the VS games were released on the PC10; nice history lesson custom CPU and PPU units... Interesting.

the cool thing about the CPU units is that they are RP2A03 CPU's and they are the same for all games. The RP2A03's that the Vs. PCBs use are the exact same chip as in the Nintendo Entertainment System. There is a guy on KLOV.com that buys busted up and non-working Nintendo's, desolders them from the board and sells them to Vs. collectors. You can also buy  RP2A03H chips from MikeArcade.com which are a newer revision. However the RP2A03H's won't work in some versions of the Vs. PCB...

[Jedi Master Baiter]

One day we'll run out of boards of Deadly Towers or Wrestlemania carts, and then it'll be no choice but to cannibalize actually good games.

At least that means those two games will actually be worth something once that happens.

Isn't that kinda the case with Stack Up now? Being worth $20. :p

Anyway, I think the Mario art is good, but the instructions for the dip switches I feel shouldhave been be placed on the backside.

As for screenshots, I have some GG hacked worlds :











Which brings me to my question: can you use a Game Genie with this?

[petik1]

I'm sure it works with the game genie, but the real question is if the codes for SMB also work for this.