Famicom special sound chips (ZOMG HELP PLZ)

[MrSmiley381]

This is a direct excerpt from Kurt Kalata's Hardcore Gaming 101 Page on Shin Megami Tensei. Just giving credit.

"Megami Tensei 2 uses a specially designed memory mapper that generates higher quality sound. The result is some of the finest sounding compositions on the Famicom, which are stylistically close to music in the Super Famicom games. This spells problems for non-Japanese gamers though - the game comes on a double size cartridge that won't fit in a standard NES, and the music wouldn't work right anyway, due to differences in the Japanese sound hardware."

The question here is how to play games with these special cartridge chips. I guess a converter isn't going to work. What's the most cost-effective way to get to play Megami Tensei II (and Castlevania 3 Jap)? Only crazy Famicom guys are probably going to know about this, so if you don't know what I'm asking, don't fret. The only possible method I can think of is the FC Consoles people sell at flea markets and online.

[Dimitri]

Most of those clone Famicoms (famiclones) use a not-entirely-accurate NES-on-a-chip, so the additional sound chips don't work on them. You're going to need either a real Famicom (original or AV), or possibly a toploader with a converter...though to be safe, you should probably go with an authentic FC. eBay is your friend here...

Oddly enough, I read that article less than a week ago, having just found the site. >_>

[MrSmiley381]

Haha, well that might be a little costly. I'll consider nabbing a Famicom, or I may just get Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei LOL. Thanks for the info, though, because now I know. And knowing is half the battle.

G. I. JOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

(Don't try to understand anything I just typed.)

[maxlords]

Toploader with a convertor works fine for games with extra sound chips :D That's what I use! You guys are talking about the Z80 chips in stuff like Akumajou Dracula III and Esper Dream 2 and stuff right?

[MrSmiley381]

Heh, which is more, toploader or Famicom? I think I'll just get Kyuyaku Megami Tensei if I get really desperate.

[Ed Oscuro]

A/V Famicoms are very decently priced and can occassionally still be found new (last time I checked, some months ago); get one if you haven't shelled out the outrageous cash for a U.S. toploader. Basically, the A/V Famicom IS a toploader, and looks exactly the same; the only difference is that the video isn't broken :D

[Lord Contaminous]

I have a Famiclone (Sachen QBoy) and supports my copies of Madara, Lagrange Point, Megami Tensei II and Akumajo Densetsu.

I swear the Namco106 chip in Megami Tensei II makes it sound exactly like Dungeon Explorer for TG16.

[Ed Oscuro]

Re-read the first post...note that while NES-on-a-chip famiclones are less accurate than the FC and NES, the NES itself is different enough from the FC that games such as Akumajo Densetsu will not play with full sound on a NES when using a convertor.