What SNES Flashcart to buy?

Help me - all these flashcarts etc. freak me out. Which one is a really good one that plays (almost) everything? I also like to pay for quality so money isn't really a showstopper...

Cheers!

 

I would wait for the SD2SNES one:

http://sd2snes.de/blog/

 

They all play almost the same games. But there is a yet to be released cartridge called SD2SNES which will support some games other carts don't. It all is related to special chips which are only in a fraction of games. Here is a list of games that don't work on any Flash Cart or Copier.


* 2 Dan Morita Shougi (J).smc SETA D
* Augusta Masters 3 New World Golf (J).smc SA-1
* Bass Fishing No.1 (US).smc SA-1
* Dai Kaijyu Monogatari 2 (J) (No Good Dump Known).smc PLGS
* Derby Jockey 2 (J).smc SA-1
* Dirt Racer (E).smc FX-Argonaut
* Dirt Trax FX (E).smc FX-Argonaut
* Dirt Trax FX (US).smc FX-Argonaut
* Doom (J).smc FX-V2
* Doom (US).smc FX-V2
* Dragon Ball Z - Hyper Dimension (J).smc SA-1
* Exhaust Heat 2 (J).smc SETA
* F1 Roc 2 - Race of Champions (US).smc SETA D
* Idaten (J).smc SA-1
* Igo Daidou (J).smc SA-1
* Igo Taisyou (J).smc Unknown SA-1
* J-League '96 Dream Stadium (J).smc SA-1
* Jumpin' Derby (J).smc SA-1
* Kakinoki Shogi (J).smc SA-1
* Kato Hifumi9dan Shogi (J).smc SA-1
* Kirby 3 (J).smc SA-1
* Kirby Super Deluxe (J).smc SA-1
* Kirby's Dream Land 3 (US).smc SA-1
* Kishi no Hanamichi (J).smc SA-1
* Marvelous (J).smc SA-1
* Masoukishin - Super Robot Wars Gaiden - Lord of Elemental (J).smc SA-1
* Mega Man X 2 (E).smc C4
* Mega Man X 2 (US).smc C4
* Mega Man X 3 (US).smc C4
* Metal Combat (US).smc OBC1
* Mini4ku Shineng Scopion Let's & Go! (J).smc SA-1
* New Shogi Club (J).smc Unknown SA-1
* Nidan Morita Shogi 1 (J).smc Seta D
* Nidan Morita Shogi 2 (J).smc SETA R
* Pachisuro Palusupe (J).smc ?KSS?
* Parodius 3 - Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius (J).smc SA-1
* Pebble Beach New Tournament Edition (J).smc SA-1
* Rockman X 2 (J).smc C4
* Rockman X3 (J).smc C4
* Satellaview BS-X (O.S.rom).smc BS-X
* SD F1 Grand Prix (J).smc SA-1
* SD Gundam GNext (J).smc SA-1
* Star Ocean (J).smc S-DD1[ENIX]
* Star Fox Competition - Weekend Edition (US).smc FX-V1
* Star Fox 2 (Beta).smc FX-V1 (probably V2... but falls in V1 category)
* Star Fox (US).smc FX-V1 Or FX-V1Mario (depending on version)
* Star Fox (J).smc FX-V1 or FX-V1mario (depending on version)
* SNES Gameboy Emulator (J) (No Good Dump Known).smc GAMEBOY
* Shogi Mahjing (J).smc SA-1
* Shogi Saikyou (J).smc SA-1 (not verified)
* Shogi Saikyou 2 (J).smc SA-1
* Street Fighter 2 Alpha (US).smc S-DD1[CAPCOM]
* Street Fighter 2 Alpha (E) (No Good Dump Known).smc S-DD1[CAPCOM]
* Street Fighter Zero 2 (J).smc S-DD1[CAPCOM]
* Stunt Race FX (E).smc FX-V2
* Stunt Race FX (US).smc FX-V2
* Star Wing (E).smc FX-V1
* Star Wing (G).smc FX-V1
* Super Bomberman Panic Bomber World (J).smc
* Super Gameboy - Version 1.0 (J).smc GAMEBOY
* Super Mario RPG (US).smc SA-1
* Super Mario RPG (J).smc SA-1
* Super Shogi 3 (J).smc SA-1
* Vortex (E).smc FX-Argonaut
* Vortex (J).smc FX-Argonaut
* Vortex (US).smc FX-Argonaut
* Voxel (PD).smc FX-V2 **never a cart**
* War in Europe Expert WW II (J).smc SA-1
* Wild Trax (J).smc FX-V2
* Winter Gold FX (E).smc FX-V2
* Yoshi's Island (J).smc FX-V2
* Yoshi's Island (US).smc FX-V2
* Yoshi's Island (E).smc FX-V2

There are also games that use DSP chips. All but 3 of these are playable if you have a DSP1 chip in your cartridge. Here is that list.


* Ace Wo Nerae
* Armored Trooper Votoms
* Ballz 3D (1b)
* Battle Racers
* Bike Daisuki! Hashiriya Kon
* Dungeon Master (2)
* Final Stretch
* Korean League
* Lock On/Super Air Diver
* Michael Andretti's Indy Car Challenge
* Pilotwings (1... possibly also 1b)
* SD Gundam GX (3)
* Super 3D Baseball
* Super Air Diver 2
* Super Bases Loaded 2
* Super F1 Circus Gaiden
* Super Mario Kart(1/1b depending on version)
* Suzuka 8 Hours
* Syutoko Battle Racing 2
* Syutoko Battle Racing 94
* Top Gear 3000 (4)

SD2SNES I believe is going to support all the DSP1 games as well as DSP2, 3, and 4. DSP2, 3, and 4 are not supported by any other cartridge but DSP1 is supported by most copiers and flash carts. SD2SNES supports Capcom's Cx4 chip used in Mega Man X2 and X3. I hear there is another cartridge out there that support Cx4 now. The developer of SD2SNES has mentioned he may look into supporting Super FX and I think he mentioned one of those SETA chips.

So if you want the best compatibility right now, it would be the PowerPAK which can play 1 more game than the most others. That game is Star Ocean. If you wait though, SD2SNES should be the best compatibility.

 

yeah, unless you have some super urgent reason to purchase one, I'd wait for SD2SNES, ikari finished implementing the CX4 and is already talking about FX support

 

thanks! it's not urgent at all so i'll probably wait for that one!

 

Not to be pedantic, but I think your list misses out on Kirby Super Star (U), no? The Japanese version is there, of course. I'm also a little befuddled by:

"Bass Fishing No.1 (US).smc SA-1"

I thought this was a Japanese-only release on the SNES?

Otherwise, great list, with a few entries that are new to me. I have a Super EverDrive without DSP-1 and I'm very happy with it, but if SD2SNES adds support for the SA-1 chip, that'd be intriguing.

 

It's not my list. I should have made that clear. There may be a few errors but most of it is correct.