Should You Buy the Cosmic Katamari Super Famicom Cartridge Conversion For the Super Nintendo Junior?
152In this video, we show you how to swap out your Super Nintendo Junior Cartridge Slot to be able to play PAL Super Nintendo and NTSC-J Japanese Super Famicom Games.
To install the tray, you'll need just 2 tools:
4.5MM Game Bit
Phillips Screwdriver
Skill Level Required - 2
For the longest time, I have been into collecting Japanese video games. I think it has to do with my passion for RC cars, specifically Tamiya. Though my years of racing in the Tamiya Championship Series, I was exposed to the culture quite a bit, and I absolutely love it.
Collecting Japanese video games, it's not much different, however, one of the benefits of Japanese video games is cost. See, there were so many more copies of Nintendo Games, for all systems, sold in Japan compared to the US that, thanks to supply and demand, the costs are a lot less. For action platformers that have little, if any, Japanese, you can save big money on popular titles.
What Nintendo used to region locking is pretty simple since it is 100% hardware-based. Depending on the region, the North American SNES uses a different cartridge shape than their overseas counterparts. There are also different indentations to denote the location. US games have the indents on one location on back of the cart, while the Japanese games are placed differently. Some have taken to simply cutting these tabs out of their system, but do you really want do mangle a piece of history?
I love my SNES Jr, especially since installing Voultar's RGB Mod Kit and being able to use HD Retrovision cables with it. The image quality is nothing short of amazing. However, to play Super Famicom Games, I still need to use my OG Super Famicom. Yes, it supports RGB and I can use my HD Retrovision cables with it, but I'd prefer to use one console to play all my Super NES/Famicom Games.
I was recently checking out the new items on the Castlemania Games website when I discovered the Cosmic Katamari Super Famicom to SNES Insert and Dust Cover. What appeared to be similar to the 3D printed insert I have installed in my N64, this is a 2 piece kit which includes an insert for the Super Famicom-shaped carts, plus a dust cover to protect the cartridge slot when not in use. I was excited upon placing my order, especially when it was under $20!
Installation requires you to open up your system, and to do so you'll need a 4.5mm game bit. There are 4 screws on the underside of the system to remove, and once those are out you can set the bottom of the system aside. On the top side of the case, 3 phillips head screws hold the cartridge slot into place. Unscrew these, and the tray will lift right out. Be careful, once the tray is removed the spring-loaded doors will want to pop loose. Make sure you do not lose these springs! Once the cart slot and doors are removed, you can reinstall the cover onto the system and flip it over.
Unlike the 3D printed N64 region free mod, this SNES/SFC kit doesn't mount permanently to the system. The cartridge "adapter"
just slides into the open cartridge slot, and it only accepts Super Famicom-shaped games. This was a bit of a bummer. Also, the dust cover doesn't fit into the cartridge sleeve, you have to remove the sleeve to use the dust cover. I would have thought that the dust cover would have simply slid into the cartridge adapter, but you have to swap them each out to use the other.
Why it RoX:
- Available in a ton of color options
- Allows use of Japanese cartridges in a US SNES Jr
- Inexpensive
- Easy to install
What could be improved?
- Cartridge fitment is far too tight
- No way to permanently install in the system
- Only allows SFC cartridges to be played, not both SNES & SFC
- The insert must be removed to use the dust cover
Should You Buy One?
Before I answer this, I will say I have reached out to Cosmic Katamari to provide some of my feedback and impressions. I will say I completely love the concept, just as I love being able to do this with my N64, it eliminates the need for multiple systems. I just don't feel this is the best execution at this time. If the design was closer to what the N64 region free mod insert was, I think this would be awesome. As it stands currently, I've already re-installed my standard cartridge slot and simply use the dust cover because I think it looks nice. This is an interesting first step, and I am interested to see what Cosmic Katamari does to perfect his design.