PAL Datel Action Replay to use Japanese games on PAL SNES ?

Hi there,

I tried, but I failed to find what I was looking for. Also its been decades since I used this thing.
And I dont have a SNES console here. (yet)

I just found my "DATEL Action Replay Pro" (PAL) and I wonder if Japanese Cartridges work with this thing on a PAL Console. (Not talking about special games like Mario RPG here, but maybe Syndicate )

I remember using it with the USA SNES Cartridges back in the days and those worked just fine.

But now I read so much about voltages, built in switches and "destroying" PAL SNES consoles with japanese games, that Im not sure if its a good idea to try to play Japanese Cartridges on my PAL console using htis Action Replay.

The Action Replay has 2 slots. One on top and one in the back...I remeber onyl using the one on the top.
What was the one on the back for ?

Will I need to buy one of those "SNES Universal Adaptors" or will this Action Replay Pro work just fine as well using japanese SNES cartridges ?

 

You put the Japanese game in the top slot and a PAL game in the back. It uses the lockout chip of the PAL game to match the lockout chip in the console allowing it to play the Japanese cartridge.
It will still only play in 50hz though.

 

Ergot_Cholera is correct, PAL game at the back and NTSC on top. You won't need an adapter as any SNES cartridge form factor will fit on top.

I used the Action Replay for a while to play NTSC games and it mostly worked great, with a few exceptions. I've since moved to a switchless mod though.

 

One thing to watch out for is that there are certain games that won't work with the converter - most notably games like Super Mario RPG that use the SA-1 chip. The vast majority work OK, though.

 

I find this adapter is really useful for testing games with protection without having to modify the console itself.

Yeah most special chips don't work however SuperFX might, on the top cartridge connector address bus b is connected, I'm gonna have to double check that.

 

Just confirmed that SuperFX works, tested Yoshi’s Island 2 (J).
The following don’t work:
DSP1
SPC7110
SA1
SDD1
Don’t have a CX4 to check
Mine is the MK3 version

 

About some of the other points mentioned (mostly fighting some FUD here):

> But now I read so much about voltages,
Related to the AR/other import adapters? Really? Where?
The only thing I could think of that's somewhat related is newer flash carts/repros using components that are meant for a different voltage but happen to work anyways. Doesn't seem to apply here.

> built in switches
I'd recommend doing one of those mods, actually. Playing at 60Hz and w/o black bars is definitely worth it.

> and "destroying" PAL SNES consoles with japanese games
Say what? The only differences between all regions are the physical shapes of the carts as well as different CICs. I don't see what could go wrong other than the game refusing to boot, unless you drive the cart in with a sledgehammer.

 

For some reason I didn't even register what op said about Japanese games, as rso said that's completely false

 

Thanks for the replys so far.

It was postings like this in 2015 (see Dizzy_Boys Post) that made me re-think.

http://www.nintendolife.com/forums/retro/question_about_using_ntsc-j_cartridges_on_a_pal_snes

Im not able to find all the "warnings" I have read about in the past...maybe it was just about putting the JAP game into the EUR SNES without any adapter ?

 

I believe the reason chips like the SA1 dont work with adapters or other import things is that Nintendo got smart and put the CIC copy protection hardware inside the add-on chip itself. So unless the SA1 talks to the correct CIC chip in the console, it wont work correctly and the game therefore wont boot.