N64 GameShark problems with import cartridges

[Manhattan Sports Club]

I have a v.2.2 gameshark I got exclusively as an import adapter. However, with some games I can't get it to boot anything at all. Chameleon Twist 2 and 64 Trump World work without any problems but some imports like Hoshi no Kirby, Baku Bomberman, and Banjo to Kazooie no Daibouken don't load anything. Does it have to do with the particular version or do some games prevent booting alltogether due to protection?

[Guust]

Could it have to do with the CIC lockout chip?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIC_%28Nintendo%29
Some more info (and possible circumventions) in this thread:
http://gbatemp.net/threads/n64-region-free.331582/

[theclaw]

Are you using the right "keycodes"?

[Manhattan Sports Club]

Are you using the right "keycodes"?

It doesn't even boot into the main program to do that.

[FoxNtd]

I don't have an answer for the Gameshark issue, but, like SFC, N64 has no region protection. All NTSC systems and games are compatible with one another. Just take out the tabs, though it takes a lot more effort than the tabs inside an SNES.

My N64 is from USA but I have no issue with any NTSC-J game as expected. You might save time taking care of the tabs and having the ability to play Japanese games indefinitely, rather than screwing around with a Gameshark which may not yield any result anyway.

If you don't remove the tabs you can still avoid the Gameshark by swapping cart shells temporarily (just the back panel.)

[APE992]

It doesn't even boot into the main program to do that.

Of course it won't if the game needs a key code. You're supposed to boot the GameShark with a game that doesn't need a keycode, enable the keycode you need for a given game, turn off the N64, swap carts, and play.