Famicom disk system, time to change belt?

[fredJ]

I recently bought a famicom disk system. It works as it should, but the sound when the disk is spinning is barely loud enough to hear it. It also seems slow. 

Is it time to change the belt?

[Xious]

No! The system shouldn't be loud!

It sounds as if it is well lubricated and tuned. Some drives do run a little slower than others: That's not abnormal...

Mitsumi used at least four different spindle motors, and the optimum speed varies between them slightly, as well as by belt type (manufacturer) and drive tensioning.

Never change the belt unless it is broken, or if the drive is not reading disks!

[manuel]

Listen to Xious.
Don't fix what isn't broken.
As long as it reads disks, it's fine.

[fredJ]

Thanks expert.

[Xious]

No worries; it sounds as if you have a pretty solid system. For the record, these are the games that I suggest every FDS owner to try/own, based on play value, which I know is your priority. :

Akumajō Dracula
All Night Nippon: Super Mario Bros. (Prize card; repro available)
Arumana (Almana) no Kiseki
Big Challenge! Go! Go! Bowling
Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa
Bubble Bobble  
Clu Clu Land (Obscenely rare; repro available)
Dracula II: Noroi no Fūin
Eggerland
Eggerland: Sōzōhe no Tabidachi (Super-Rare; repro available)
Electrician
Falsion 3-D (works in 2-D or 3-D mode; for the FC 3-D System)
Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally (works in 2-D or 3-D mode; for the FC 3-D System)
Green Beret
Esper Dream (JRPG)
Gun.Smoke
Gyruss (Extra sound?)
Halley Wars
Ice Climber (Vs. Ice Climber; arcade port)
Kaettekita Mario Bros. (closer to arcade version)
Knight Move
Link no Bōken  
Metroid
Moero Twinbee: Cinnamon Hakase wo Sukue!
Monitor Puzzle, The: Kineco - Kinetic Connection
Monty no Doki Doki Daisassō: Monty on the Run
Moonball Magic (Super Rare; interesting pin game)
Nazo no Kabe: Block Kuzushi (Breakout/Arkanoid clone by Konami)
Nazo no Murasame Jō
Otocky (Really shows off the FDS sound!)
Putt Putt Golf (Rare; the only miniature golf game that I can name on the Famicom)
Puyo Puyo (Rare--magazine disk; a drop-puzzle game; repro available)
Replicart - Replicator (Somewhat Rare--packaging Rare; snake type game)
Section Z
Super Lode Runner
Super Lode Runner II
Super Mario Bros. 2  
Tobidase Daisakusen
Vs. Excitebike (arcade port)
Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic  
Yū Maze
Zelda no Densetsu  

These are games that are fun to play. Titles released in other formats have significant differences on the FDS, either in game play or with extra music or something. There are many other fun titles, and some interesting titles, but I.d call these the definitive games.  

Some are obvious, but I listed them to be complete... Enjoy your FDS!  

[Cheetahmen]

I'm not sure if the FDS version of Bubble Bobble is a must have. I have a pirate copy for the normal Famicom and the only difference (aside from the lack of copyright) is that the load times are gone.

[fredJ]

Yes but a famicom player who doesn't want pirate games should have it....

Is puyo puyo rare? I once sold a FDS copy för 7$. Still have the fold-out manual though, I forgot it.

Almana no Kiseki is fun too.

No-one mentioned Falsion? Fun, but so difficult....

And what is your opinion on Pro Golfer Saru? Since you mentioned Putt Putt Golf.

[Xious]

I'm not sure if the FDS version of Bubble Bobble is a must have. I have a pirate copy for the normal Famicom and the only difference (aside from the lack of copyright) is that the load times are gone.

I take it your pirate version also didn't permit game saving...

The FDS disk does: it permits three save files, which is handy if you ever want to compete with other players, as I often did. ..and occasionally do. I think the music may also be slightly improved, but it's been such a long time since I last played the cartridge version, that I can't be certain at present.

@FredJ: Send me a P.M. if you want to sell your 'Puyo Puyo' manual.  

I don't believe that 39 titles--over half of which are not hard to find--is excessive. The FDS has close to 300, maybe over 300 titles for it; the Famicom in other formats, far more still.

With the exception of 'Esper Dream' and 'Dracula II', anyone in any country could play these games, with no linguistic skill required.

Naturally, 'Dracula II' requires reading Hiragana if you do not have a strategy guide for 'Castlevania II'. It was one of my last choices for this list, but the music and the gameplay are worth owning it, even if you can never complete the game; it does permit saving, so it's far less of a headache than the NES counterpart. There is also an English-translated version of 'Esper Dream' floating around somewhere. 

[fredJ]

What is special about FDS Ice Climber ..?

[petik1]

I don't think that it's necessarily special or better than the FC/NES  version, but that it's just a good game for the FDS.

[Xious]

Actually, I need to verify if it is different. I did not include any title that has an identical cassette release; I seem to recall 'Ice Climber' for the FDS being based on the 'Vs. Ice Climber' arcade version. If that is un-true, I will strike it. Wikipedia and one of my former posts here both agree that it is a port of the 'Vs.' game, but I could use additional confirmation.

I also forgot a couple titles when I made that, so I'll probably need to revise that list anyhow.  

[P]

The FDS version of Ice Climber seems to indeed be identical with the arcade version.

Video of Vs Ice Climber: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjMhgu4tPQo

Video of Ice Climber FDS version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lig9ea5P7gc

[Xious]

Thanks for the video links: At least I can rely on my memories some of the time, even when I haven't played a game in ages! ('Tis good not to be wrong on all accounts...)

This is why it is on the above list: The levels are different, it has additional enemies, a stage select, and unusual additional obstacles (such as wind). Essentially, it is a completely different game to the original release, both superior and more difficult.

Keep in mind that it still has the same early-Nintendo jumping mechanics that you either love or hate, such as those in the original 'Mario Bros.. Remember, this is from 1984 (although the Arcade-->FDS port release wasn't until 1988), so it's before the SMB jumping system was conceived.

If only NCL gave the FDS releases of 'Donkey Kong' and 'Donkey Kong Jr.' this treatment; or the FDS release of 'Super Mario Bros', as all of them could easily have been given the arcade-levels. Honestly, I've given thought to porting 'Vs. Super Mario Bros.' to the FDS, if for no other reason than my personal amusement.

I'd also like to have FDS versions of 'Donkey Kong 3', 'Popeye' and 'Mario Bros.', just to round out the sets. I am supposed to get one of those three from a member here, once I finally get some blank FDS disks to him, but I keep forgetting to send them, as I prioritize my customer orders. If anybody else has these titles (not requiring a GD; I prefer converted ports from China that will run on a Twin system without any attachments---they're all NROM, so straight conversions do exist), let me know and we can work out a trade sometime.  

P.S. I should mention that it is only available as a Disk Writer release; no boxed/retail version was ever made.