Classic Game Room - NINTENDO FAMICOM review

[@ToruKun1]

"This is EASILY the most unattractive console ever created" BLASPHEMY! I like the original Famicom design more than the NES, it's really cute.

[@Harshpenny]

Totally agree. I love the maroon and cream color combo. It would be cool if they did a famicom classic

[@Bloxed]

I think the Top Loader looks best with this console second with third being the Toaster.

[@saraarvizu]

Staircase Lobby they did make a famicon classic

[@nintega_64]

@@saraarvizu They should've made a FDS (Famicom Disk System) accessory like the Tower of Power Mini for the Sega Genesis Mini

[@Wookie023]

Yeah. That's why I want one so bad. Also cheap games

[@grungegopher]

I always thought the Famicom looked really cool. Much better than the NES, which was rather dull.

[@TheCRTman]

I agree.

[@sup209]

But the NES had removeable controllers with longer chords!

[@TheCRTman]

XPO175 True, but it is worth it for more awesome games!

[@TheSecretPower]

TheCRTman think if one of your famicom controllers broke! you have no way of replaseing it!

[@TheCRTman]

Sivert Myhra Maybe you can rewire another one up to it. P.S., I think the NES and Famicom are both awesome. ;)

[@conahscreations]

Can't believe this video came out 8 years ago. Just hear to say I think the design of the famicon is badass

[@rolandbaron5813]

Sure is.

[@MyNameIsRetepAndIAmEvil]

Not as badass as the nintendo entertainment system!!!!

[@isaacg2008]

@@MyNameIsRetepAndIAmEvilNES is bulky and the famicom is smaller

[@maurobarreca]

I came here to say the same thing. The design is awesome: compact and stylish. The NES, on the other side, is an empty block of plastic, made to look like a VHS.

[@Rand-vj5ek]

Now 10 years ago 😢

[@awesomeferret]

I'm surprised that you think it's so ugly. Personally, I think it's ten times more attractive than the huge grey brick the NES was.

[@Kit_Bear]

Check out the PAL version, Europe got a better one.

[@Kit_Bear]

***** Yes, sorry that I forgot to clarify, thanks for pointing that out.

[@Choom2077]

I remember getting this for Christmas when I was a kid. I had asked for a Nintendo and my step father (who is Japanese), purchased this version instead the U.S. version, from a shop in Japanese Village, (Little Tokyo) back in the 80s. While I was excited to have a Nintendo console, I was also kinda bummed out that I was never able to add more than 2 games to my library, because they were so expensive. Literally 90 plus dollars for a game, due to being imports. I only had the yellow cart Mario game, that came with the console and some game based on a Japanese comedian, that came in a purple shell. I was never able to play any Mega Man games, Zelda, Metroid, etc. Just watched my friends played theirs, lol. Today, I would love to own this console again. Brings back so much memories. Since Mario was my only go to game (i didn't care much for the other one) I spent a great deal of hours on it and sort of became an expert at it. Not sure how good I'd be today, after so many years.

[@yani4349]

CaptSNES My mom had the same dilemma, she had the Japanese version and couldn’t play with it much. It was ultimately sold to a family friend not long after

[@Choom2077]

@@yani4349 yeah, not to mention the short controller wires too. I had to have my console sitting in the middle of the living room floor, for good safe distance between myself and the television. :p

[@Choom2077]

@Mr. Deadly Blue my mom got rid of it. :/

[@raulmontes2888]

Don feel so bad when Nintendo came out the only thing I received was the Atari 2600, I had to pretend to my friends that I had nes to be cool until they showed up on my door (can you believe that) but I'm grateful thank God I'm still around at 43 yrs old tryn to catch up.on some games

[@pdempw11]

You may call it ugly but I think it looks cooler than an NES, don't hate on me, I like the colors more and it isn't just a box, I am not saying specs are better because I don't know them, I am merely speculating on looking at the console itself and it's controllers

[@badATchaos]

The humming is often caused by the built-in microphone on the Player 2 controller. If you open up the 2nd player control and sand down any corrosion on the contacts of the microphone volume slider the humming should either die down or go away all together.

[@nintega_64]

Why is there a microphone, I always wonder why, I thought that there were some kind of weird Famicom games that only uses a microphone to play...

[@thelegendtl]

@@nintega_64 Your already correct, Famicom Games use mic like in the famicom version of The legend of Zelda you can defeat an enemy by saying something loud in the mic and it kills them.

[@Altitudes11]

Mark your videos are so addictive, I like catching up with ya on the weekends

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

That is the MOST attractive video game console I think.

[@CWG500SUBSWBC]

Ikr

[@CWG500SUBSWBC]

Cuz its red

[@elijahdahuman]

Knuckles the Echidna will you chuckle for me

[@motivationalmusicarchive6629]

ikr i think hes on drugs cause this system is sexy

[@nintega_64]

@@motivationalmusicarchive6629 Wtf

[@wyatt.official4245]

i think the famicom looks cooler than the nes

[@trulygg]

The Famicom was way better than the NES~

[@thcrazyretrogamer]

Could not agree more and its not ugly,his hand me down system might be but a good condition one is far less ugly than a NES toaster.

[@trulygg]

***** Not just the look of it, the technical aspect is also superior. It's far easier to find a working Famicom these days... why? Because it's a top loader(like the 2nd version of the NES), top loaders are great.

[@thcrazyretrogamer]

agreed

[@someinterwebguy]

Just like the Japanese Master System, the Mark III. The FM Sound Unit add-on sounds amazing.

[@DarkZeroInside]

I don't agree, i mean, looks like a kitchen utensil for squeeze oranges.

[@classicgameroom]

I like Famicom! Hooray me!

[@kahwull014]

can i play it in vectrex?

[@AxeIRad]

if all your videos are classic game rooms, why is your name Lord Karnage? oh, and I like your voice

[@kahwull014]

Greenguy4301 i agree with you

[@GarryChenYT]

Greenguy4301 Because he is Lord Karnage

[@cutemimi25]

You should get the AV famicom, it has composite video.

[@ClasssicAri]

Least attractive ?? It's beautiful. Especially the color scheme.

[@shaolinlueb]

Least attractive? I think it's the most attractive because of the unique color.

[@WorldOfWarcraftSucks]

That one bit at 2:07 where Mark switches the Famicom on and off and it syncs with the music gives me life

[@HAZFRAME]

How can you say it is the most unattractive gaming system? The FAMICOM looks badass, still looks kinda futuristic today IMO...the US NES and the SNES were pretty ugly IMO (grey and purple? c'mon), heck even the PAL systems got colorful SNES buttons ours were all purple :L

[@LeoMidori]

I couldn't agree more. Besides, there are some UGLY systems out there (Phillips CDi anyone? The Virtual Boy? Game.com?)

[@MegumiFF7]

This is the Japanese version and It's US counterpart is the NES. But of course this is the better one, we asians grew up with this :P

[@justanotheryoutubechannel]

My god, that massive Zenith TV is a monster, I don’t think I’ve ever seen something so huge.

[@twitchboi9550]

awesome design better than toaster nes, but still cool

[@coolguy6233]

Trentyne The Apple And Windows Kid I'd probably get this or the AV Famicom for Japanese games and then also get the NES Top Loader for American games.

[@twitchboi9550]

That's a good idea.

[@CarbyGuuGuu]

Twitch The Wolf The NES had a major design flaw: the top loader. When you kept pushing the cartridge down, the pin contacts would bend and have trouble reading. That is why the LED often blinks.

[@everydayonesurah3714]

you know that the famicom looks more like a toaster.

[@Nazband]

The hum is due to the power adapter, i had the same problem on my nes, i was using the recomanded voltage which is 9V here in Europe, and i switched it with a 12V adapter. No humming noises and my nes is working perfectly.

[@mex420x4]

I agree. I bought the only power adapter I could find for my trip to Australia here in the States. It also has European and UK outlets. Plus the option for Adapter or Converter for 230VAC down to 120VAC (toggle) option. It buzzed everytime I used it so thanks to new technology and my mate having the same phone. He just gave me his extra charger. But I only really needed the actually wall cube like piece because the USB is almost if not universal from my knowledge/experience. The buzzing was fine and my phone's actually charged way faster lol didn't damage the phones either. They still charge the same here in the States.

[@Mobik_]

This is like the best era of KZbin

[@NickIntoTech]

Shiiiiittt This had to To Be GOLD! Like The NES In 1985 ESPECIALLY On the Game crash in 1983!!!! Thank you Nintendo!!! For saving the gaming industry

[@sanzoTravels]

NOPE I think the NES looks worse. This OG defibrillator-style version is barebones and Classic nintento. The NES's toaster style is unnecessarily bulky and invokes the drab dullness of a generic VHS player... or a toaster....TOASTER!

[@PhirePhlame]

The "VHS player" thing was actually the point. Remember, the NES came when the US was fresh off the great video game crash, and NoA knew the public was a little bit reluctant to take the plunge on a new video game console at that time, so they took a hybrid approach of "this is an entertainment device" and "this is a toy" in the NES marketing, right down to its design and terminology (this isn't a console, it's a "control deck").

[@jonoghue]

to anyone having the humming problem, it is most likely the 2nd controller's microphone. if you open the 2nd controller and clean the contacts for the volume slider, all humming should go away. and if worst comes to worst, you can open it up and unplug the 2nd controller. mine had the same problem.

[@AbandonedMaine]

Oh crap, I played this in the Philippines back in the mid 80's. Couple of peso's, and you could play for hours.

[@archlinuxrussian]

Besides the hard-wired controllers, I actually LOVE the Famicom design! I loved how it was sleeker, smaller, etc. :)

[@tubularLeah]

the slide to eject mechanism is really good since you can notice that the Famicom games in the videos don't have their sticker labels worn out from pulling on them...

[@chadkimmel8957]

I have the newer version of the redesigned Famicom. It has the A/V output like the one on the SNES, and the detachable dog bone controllers, it works great with any tv. You just have to watch because some still have the RF output.

[@sonicdoesfrontflips]

+Chad Kimmel Isn't it just the redesigned NES that keeps the RF? Both consoles look nearly identical except the redesigned NES has a rounded top to prevent disk system use.

[@MrTristan1235]

I actually like the Famicom design over the NES.

[@iamimiPod]

If you open up the famicom, you can adjust the pots so it will tune in to your tv better. Mine works great on my newer CRT TV. I also discovered a mega-drive 1 power pack powers up the FDS quite well. Hope that helps.

[@SMS-iz9ud]

Lord karnage will always be the coolest KZbinr alive.

[@Call_MeJD]

I love cartridge based systems. I used to blow into my cartridges when I was younger but now I use *windex* and a *qtip*. Very good video

[@nel9318]

Yeah, I was so used to blowing into the cartridge as a kid. That was our first instinct to do, but the next time if I ever get the time to collect these retro consoles, I'm going to use q-tips for sure.

[@TBustah]

Despite all of its flaws, that's one thing our version had over the original: AV cable support. Really, if you want to play Famicom carts, there are better options than the original hardware. Get something that you can hook up using AV cables. A cartridge converter for your NES or a clone system is probably the easiest way to go, but if you insist on the real McCoy, get an AV Famicom (the Japanese version of the NES 2) or a Sharp Twin Famicom.

[@Eternalfdubzero]

In Chile (1987), due to Namco-Bandai's "Galaga" Success, famiclones had huge sales. But "Super Mario Bros" was unknown success yet in these years until 1992, when "Super Mario Bros Super Show" ran in chilean local TV.

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Eternal Fandub Zero Brazil saw a ton of unofficial Famicom/NES consoles and carts simply because Nintendo never did business down there at all. Many of these either used 60 or 72 pin connectors and it confused plenty.

[@Daremo123]

Check out the AV Famicom if you want to avoid the awful hum and get a little better picture quality. As far as disc system power supplies, they are kind of rare but your disc system should work with a bunch of D batteries just fine.

[@TerporFIN]

Or Twin Famicom and i was a bit crazy, so i decided to get them both :)

[@TerporFIN]

***** It's not the same and most of the emulators are just crap except puNes and it's actually the most accurate NES emulators out there, but i had weird problems with it.

[@TerporFIN]

***** tasvideos.org/EmulatorResources/NESAccuracyTests.html

[@TerporFIN]

***** And also i just prefer playing the game on the original console and if i can't, then most likely i would have to play it on emulator.

[@CloneGranny]

I love the controller cozies. Keeps everything nice and organized.

[@Progearspec]

If you didn't know mark,the famicom can be modded for composite out and even rbg.On the famicom disk system,it can take (C batteries) to power it or a ac adapter.

[@willfomes406]

I love Classic Game Room. It's one of those things in life that is so perfect.

[@Technolocaust]

I always wanted to know WHY the NES cars had to be soooo big? if you take one apart you will see it could have been as small as the FAMICOM one.. must be due to the way they had to load on the NES ( and that's a story all it's own )

[@strykah92]

Most likely something to do with the image of the American industry during the gaming crash, I'm just speculating but perhaps they made the NES cartridges huge on purpose so that they didn't resemble traditional video game cartridges?

[@MCDreng]

@@strykah92 it was so you could slide the games in the front of the NES so it would match the "futuristic VHS player" look Nintendo went for, which was indeed a product of the state of the video game industry.

[@adandelgado4069]

What an iconic console. Personally, I think the famicom looks great. Much better than the NES

[@GamingPalooza]

I own a Japenese Saturn and PS2.. and I used to own a Japanese Mega Drive and Super Famicom. Famicom looks quite interesting... I might consider it.

[@giemueluy]

Brought me way back into my childhood, playing countless hours of super mario, excitebike, and others I can't remember! I burst out laughing at the blow-into-the-cartridge fix, and the multiple switching on-off to get the games going! Great vid!

[@4468]

That familiar whine from a CRT, I miss it...well not really but it is nostalgic. You could always tell if someone was watching tv or playing video games in another room just from that whine, half way up the stairs you'd hear it.

[@bobskie321]

The hum might disappear if you change the TV channel to elsewhere then back to Channel 95 while the Famicom is running. Do not switch off the Famicom when you do this for the TV's automatic fine tuning to work. If it doesn't work, another reason for the hum is the controller 2 with microphone. The contact of volume control can get dirty causing the sound to hum. Try slide the volume back & forth if the hum disappears. You can also clean the contact but you have to open the controller. I think the reason why it didn't work on other TV because the TV is set to "Antenna mode". Set the TV to "Cable mode" and tune to Channel 95 or 96. It works with my Sony KV-AR212N60. In Sony's settings, it's Cable On or Off. I just set it to On and it works. You need a cable ready TV that can tune in to Channel 95 or 96 because not all cable ready TV can tune that channel. If you set the TV to Antenna mode it can only go up to Channel 69 while in Cable mode, some TV can go up to Channel 125 (NTSC).

[@joshuahodges308]

Here you go mark! Instructions on how to hook it up to a USA TV: 1. Set Famicom to CH 1. 2. Set Famicom to GAME. 3. Using a NES/SNES RF connector, hook it up to the coaxial port on your TV or VCR. 4. Set TV to CH 95. This game system works on most CRT TVs and all digital flat screen TV's including plasma, LED, and LCD TVs!

[@user-9sidfgsxgj]

Ah, Nintendo Famicom, my first console ever!

[@LordOfJoy]

I don't understand Mark's motivation so say that either. I think it looks really nice. The least attractive system in my eyes would be the Atari Jaguar CD, since it literally looks like a toilet.

[@someinterwebguy]

LordOfJoy A toilet that doesn't even work most of the time.

[@lstairvideos1330]

Curious to why you think the Design is so ugly, I personally love it

[@AVEX]

-I use a multi adapter because I don't have an official power supply and dropping the voltage down 1 slot got rid of the hum. -Connecting first to a VCR is an easy way to get to channel 95 . -I always used batteries in my disk system.

[@NeuroticVows]

Review of the Nintendo Famicom...on my birthday? This is a great day

[@CBZero]

Legendary Classic Console... And it still works!

[@RPD91]

My father bought me famicom back in 94. Brings back so many memories

[@mattplaysvidya]

Try turn down the mic on the second pad, the bussing could be the mic getting sent through the TV.

[@thcrazyretrogamer]

Yeah thats the humming

[@kinvo1982able]

I had this console as a kid back in Perú . My mother bought it as a mistake because I wanted a NES and she show up with this one. It was really kool, I couldn’t get as many games as I would with the NES . This could console may still be at my old house with the rest of my toys from the 80s and early 90s. Next time I go back I should look for it.

[@LordBadenRulez]

I had an all black Famicom and it looked amazing. There is nothing wrong with the design, the colors may be the problem.

[@elvenskill0]

I think there is something really wrong with the design and that´s the fact you can't change controllers because they are integrated into the system... WTF Nintendo!!!

[@LordBadenRulez]

Agreed, but at least you didn't need to buy the second controller separately ;)

[@PhirePhlame]

elvenskill0 This system was their transition from playing cards, so it could easily be chalked up to inexperience.

[@Tio_Remi]

Here in Argentina we had this one! Its kinda awesome I got to play SOLBRAIN and years later i realized it was the original version of SHATTERHAND

[@Almadiabolika]

wow it is incredible how good those games still works and had pretty descent graphics too

[@tekamoka]

What is the power adaptor specification ?

[@JoshLeitzel]

Psh, I love the famicom’s design. It always seemed to have a lot more character and presence to me than the redesigned NES. I love the color scheme and fun look of it, it really pops.

[@surayayusaku8291]

no way man! This is a friggin awesome clean lines design! I'm in love with this consoles design!

[@Ch0c0lateBunnyRabbit]

Cant you get a composite cable for the NES? I used to have one fore my SNES...

[@HypnoSwag]

Not a huge fan of the design. However I do prefer the top cartridge port, as opposed to the NES slide port. The yellowish/beige reminds me of nicotine coating or oxidation. I get such a bootleg feel from it. The Super Famicom was a magnificent improvement.

[@fantasticbee2977]

Rockman IXA The console was actually WHITE and red, not yellow. The white just changed over the years.. i forgot what the term was called

[@yum9400]

OH THE DAYS 😭

[@manadrivexl]

I have that same brand of CRT TV, the one with the Z. Kids today and their new-fangled plasma and LED screen TVs.

[@BenJabituya]

I love the Nintendo Famicom. Got one at the TooManyGames expo in 2012. I also got the games that never came out in the U.S. of A.. I remember vacationing in India playing the games on a pirate Famicom console.

[@socalpilot8263]

The hum is due to controller 2. If you turn the mic switch all the way down, the humming will stop. Keep up the good reviews!

[@djsonicgames]

I have one, In South America the famicom is the standard model for the generation of the 8-bit. Greetings from Argentina.

[@digimikeh]

I had that one coming with many games and clones.. Really cool

[@darkfoxfurre]

FYI, the humming usually comes from the mic on Controller 2. You have to take apart Player 2's controller and clean off the PCB and volume swiper with alcohol to make sure there's a good connection. Same issue happened on my Rev 1 Famicom.

[@electronman32k]

got an A/V famicom new back in 2006 as nintendo didnt actually stop making them till like 2003. there great as you can use RCA cords for the video and audio so no RF tuning required and they work with every famicom accessory including the disk system and 3D headset :)

[@craigwillis4582]

Except for the hardwired controllers, The Famicom is way better than the NES in terms of console design

[@OtterloopB]

Mark, you better have a PS4 review. I will be getting one... but when you take into account that the Dreamcast is still getting games and they look INCREDIBLE, I cannot help but think "Why do we need new consoles again...?" But maybe a solid console review from you will help me decide on Friday if I purchased a winner or a needless "upgrade."

[@Darklordsidius_5ith]

Hi Lord Karnage. When I got my original famicom, the hum was ear drum exploding loud. I remembered controller 2 had a mic and I thought maybe it was giving itself feedback, so I cleaned everything in controller 2 and BAM! no hum! Also, the famicom power supply works on the disk system. I used one for a year until I got an original disk system power brick. Thanks for the videos!

[@stevelsnow]

I'm sure someone must have commented about this hum, but if you open up the second controller, clean up the volume slider for the microphone and also clean up where the slider meets the board and you'll completely remove the humming sound.

[@Metal-Possum]

Did you guys never learn how to manually tune in old AV equipment there? I spent a great deal of my childhood scanning across the UHF and VHF bands looking for Sonic the hedgehog.

[@sethhorst6158]

I find it attractive. Also with a Famicom, you are able to play obscure NES bootlegs since NES bootlegs are commonly in the form of a famicom cartridge. Also blowing into the cartridge can slowly damage the hardware.

[@bigboyanimation3799]

how do your NINTENDO FAMICOM still working until now? i remember when i have this console the buttons of the joystick wont work anymore after maybe 1 or 2 years after having this console and after this the console wont turn on anymore

30 years later it still works! so sick

[@josephiiii]

5:49 No it doesn't always work! In fact that is the worst thing to do with a cartridge. You have to clean it with a cotton bud.

[@mushroomsamba82]

The hum is more than likely due to the player 2 controller mic. if you move the volume slider up and down real fast and sometimes that will clear it up, otherwise you can take apart the controller and clean the slider... and if that doesn't work you can simple cut the wires to the mic :)

[@ym160]

I had that same zenith TV when I was younger!

[@Vyseblues]

I've used my old SNES RF switch on my old famicom and it works like a charm. Also, you may want to use your tv's channel scanning feature to get the best signal.

[@JUSXTREME96]

i do the same for my Super Famicom on an HDTV from 2010 and go to channel 95 or 96. it works.

[@Sprited]

Where can I find some of this wonderful music you use on CGR?

[@theboys9657]

2021 had mine for about a year I got mine off Amazon and already av modded so need to route up a specific tv thank fxxx

[@theboys9657]

And mines legit if anyone is wandering not no clone knock off

[@Napalmburns]

The newer Famicom systems can use RCA cables so you can use a scart. Works great

[@Esirre]

maybe this is a dumb question but would it be possible to get a japanese tv so that the hum wouldn't be there or is it more of the case that the internal ant wants to find channels when it gets over here and there is no japanese chan 1?

[@Metalman200xdamnit]

A Japanese TV may not work here,due to voltage. I may be wrong though.

[@sega94486]

The humming is coming from the second controller mic you need to move the volume dial around to find the sweet spot to make the humming stop.

[@Miumiu0404]

Famicom was my first console. Also in Famicom, we had a lot of multi-carts. And I mean A LOT of multi-carts. Most of them are made in China but it was convenient to have them. I can play Twin Bee, B-Wings, Pooyan, Macross, etc from one cart.

[@nswitch5251]

I looked at the sega genesis M1 AC adapter but it says it has 120 volts rather then 100

[@nswich27]

Idk I got the same question, anyone else know?

[@RobotequeMusic]

You have to solder RCA jacks or 3.5mm multi-port on. Once you do that you can plug it into an HDTV. Some assembly required. It's old.

[@Napalmburns]

I have the grey one that does not have hard wired controllers. Still loving my nes consoles!

[@CONSOLETRUTH2]

Well, to those that do t like our NES design, thank Atari for that. Due to the crash of '83, retailers refused to carry video games and consoles and because the Famicom was clearly a gaming system, Nintendo do of America did the redesign so that the NES would look more like a VHS/HOME ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE which it does and thus retailers were more likely to stock it.

[@chrisbidwell895]

If you cannot locate another AC adapter for the Disk System, you can just use D batteries. The system doesn't require a constant stream of power, it only spins the disk to load the game into the cartridge.

[@SegaGenesisEvangelion]

"Don't shoot at me, I'm Vic Tokai!" lmao some vintage CGR

[@BenJabituya]

I HAVE A FAMICOM!! I got the Famicom in 2012 at a video game expo!

[@dangelini1137]

This is what i had back home in Argentina when i was a kid.

[@danielrivera5738]

It's a big part of my childhood memories it's indescriptible the memories and times we had and pop used to complain about power bill lol

[@NOTORIOUSJAP1]

Hey Mark, just wanted to let you know you shouldn't really put it straight into the US power socket, because japanese units use a input of 100V and i think US outputs 110V, so over time it might deteriorate and break the console over time. i dont know maybe you know this already.

[@BangBang-hk4rg]

I lived on a US military base in Japan as a kid in the late 80’s. I had the American NES but many of my friends had Japanese Famicom. I liked the Famicom for its top-loading ability but I think the NES had a better setup with the controllers being on the front of the console and being detachable.

[@nlicky]

I'm surprised there hasn't been a Famicom review on CGR yet. Cool stuff on demonstrating the console though along with some Japan exclusive games. Reviewing the Famicom Disk System sounds great as well as that was also a Japan exclusive.

[@theultimo]

Mark, your Genesis 1 power supply works with the FDS. Just plug that in, i'm sure you have a couple extra :P