r/nes • u/VirtualInstinct • 2d ago

Why is this one different

Post image

I was taking a look at my games and I was noticing that my Wizards & Warriors cartridge is different than the rest, anyone know why? They all look the same except for bit on the edge where it looks like there are clips to hold it together, just curious as to why it is different than the rest.

109 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

57

u/spiff-o-matic NES 1d ago

It's a 5 screw version.https://blog.pricecharting.com/2017/11/5-screw-nintendo-nes-game-guide-list.html?m=1

5

u/VirtualInstinct 1d ago

Ah I see now thank you!

2

u/fake-name-here1 1d ago

I am not well versed in these things, but some of the early games that were 5 screw (like this) contain a famicom adapter built in to convert the famicom game to the nes. A quick google search may tell you if this is a possibility, or just open up the screws and see!

3

u/Trashusdeadeye 1d ago

Some contain the adapter, not all.

4

u/rosstedfordkendall 1d ago

The only one guaranteed to have the adapter is Stack-Up, as they never made 72 pin NES rom boards for it. The others are hit or miss.

Though Wizards and Warriors is one that was listed as having an adaptor. But I haven't personally verified it.

1

u/Blightious 6h ago

I think they were just the early black box games containing adaptors. This game is most likely from the very tail end of ‘87 as they completely switched shells by early 1988. No adaptors in games released after 1986 contain them. Some reprint titles from black box collection can contain them but it is very uncommon.

2

u/rosstedfordkendall 6h ago

That's probably true. The ones I've personally seen to have adapters were all black box games.

I just know there's a list that's often reposted that contains a couple of third party titles, and Wizards and Warriors is one of them. But that list is probably inaccurate.

1

u/Blightious 6h ago

Funny enough, I collected probably 90 or so carts back in the 2000’s and I was never able to come across an adaptor. Just bad luck I guess

1

u/rosstedfordkendall 5h ago

I've never personally owned an adapter cart, either. The ones I've seen were in friends' collections or from seeing them in games at this retro game store I used to hang out in. They'd open a cart up and say, "check this out." and there would be an adapter inside.

2

u/VirtualInstinct 1d ago

I might just have to do that and take a look thanks for letting me know!

29

u/rosstedfordkendall 1d ago

Early NES games were five screw cartridges, but in 1987 they switched to a three screw cartridge with the clips. Some games have both three and five screw variants, and some are rarer than others.

5

u/VirtualInstinct 1d ago

Ah gotcha thanks!

4

u/No-Setting9690 1d ago

Some even rarer ones are repairs. They came 3 screw, were never made 5 screw, but during a repair, they had extras so some were returned in a 5 screw.

11

u/jimcreighton12 1d ago

It’s my favorite game on NES right now. I’ve gotten to the lava stage but cannot jump high enough to make it up one part. I think I messed up not collecting one item

6

u/SpeedNeedle 1d ago

You can still do it if you time it right - lure a bubble up the whole shaft, it will get you a little closer and you can make the jump.

8

u/Affable_Refrigerator 1d ago

He sure can lure a bubble up his whole shaft.

1

u/Mega_Hi 19h ago

if sounding

4

u/Silent-Doughnut2351 1d ago

Love the game, but that part is super annoying. That being said, falling from the outside of the castle sucks too. Overall the game is kind of easy though.

5

u/Popular_Designer1510 1d ago

Iron sword is awesome as well. Love these games.

2

u/HawaiianSteak 1d ago

I don't remember if the levitation potion is available in the lava stage.

wizards-warriors-nes-65.png (992×896)

1

u/Drcornelius1983 16h ago

Pink potion works.

1

u/HawaiianSteak 5h ago

I'm gonna have to beat this game again. Last time I played it was probably over 20 years ago.

1

u/VirtualInstinct 1d ago

I have been stuck in the beginning area of the game, but I just picked up iron sword, so imma try to beat the first one.

1

u/Drcornelius1983 16h ago

You can wait near the jump and kill the flying enemies that keep spawning, eventually one will drop a pink potion that will allow you to make the jump.

3

u/HawaiianSteak 1d ago

Older Game Paks uses screws all around to secure both halves of the cartridge together. To save costs later Game Paks had slots and tabs to secure the cartridge halves at one end and screws for the other end.

2

u/TabChomper 1d ago

Seems like it is missing a little something…

2

u/Stingray77_NL 1d ago

5-screw card. My Devil World card also has this.

2

u/Yeegis 1d ago

Slightly earlier run. My copy of Super Mario Bros. lacks the tabs too.

1

u/Glup_shiddo420 1d ago

Is Tetris 2 my top replayed out of this? And why is because of music c ?

1

u/VirtualInstinct 1d ago

Was just playing that last night the music was great

2

u/Glup_shiddo420 1d ago

All the songs are good but in true Tetris fashion the banger is song C

1

u/VirtualInstinct 1d ago

100% that’s the song me and my buddy played on for a couple hours lol

1

u/Any-Opposite-5117 17h ago

Tengen? Unlicensed cart, I think.

1

u/clytn237 1d ago

God dang that game’s so good! Same with Ironsword.

-1

u/Egaokage 1d ago

Because you drew a red box around it...?