Thanks for the heads-up, I’ll avoid pre-modded consoles. The AV Famicom hardware looks fine, it’s the controller I find ugly, it’s rather symbolic of the cost-cutting that went into the system compared with the original’s beautiful controllers!
Forgot about the Twin! I really want those original Famicom controllers, guess there’s no way around this though.
There are a few good options to use an original Famicom controller on an AV Fami:
- 3rd party Famicom controller that terminates in the Famicom expander connector. Hudson made some good ones.
- Get an official Famicom controller, either harvested from a broken system or one “new” (former replacement part), and put an NES controller board in it.
- Get the Famicom Switch controller set and pair it to an 8BitDo retro receiver for NES.
I’ve been rolling with #3 lately and it’s pretty sweet. I actually like the dogbone controller, it’s super comfortable, but it’s hard to deny the gold&burgundy design of the original Fami controller is fantastic plus the buttons are in the right place.
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I have an 8bitdo NES DIY board installed in a Fami controller shell now.
I also have a NES to (non-AV) Fami controller adapter, so can use any NES port controller on an original Fami via the multi port. It’s a straight up pin adapter, could easily be made yourself too.
I actually used the same adapter to use Zappers (and the Laserscope) on the AV fami with no mods too, as it maps correctly as the Famicom Gun.
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If your goal really is to get the go Famicom look with the controllers that rest right into the system (and let’s face it, that is a really cool design that is unique and unrivaled until the Switch came about), then I still say go for an original unit and send it to someone to modify it for AV or even S-Video.
Heck, if your CRT takes it, you may even want to give RF a try - but bear in mind, it’s really rough to look at.
Thanks for the advice…I still can’t decide what I want, haha.
I think I’ve warmed to the AV Famicom - I’d probably go for an AV Famicom unit paired with the Switch Online Famicom controllers…if the latter weren’t so hard to get for a reasonable price.
I guess the Twin Famicom is probably the easiest route into this because it’ll be hard to ignore the Disk System. The red unit seems like a decent compromise between classy Famicom and austere AV Famicom?
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Dunno why people don’t like the AV Fami, it’s cool.
Yeah I love the original design too but AV is just easier to work with. Eventually I’ll get a NESRGB original with extension cables added and use 8-bitdo DIY kits etc.
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It’s just the controller for me, looks like such a huge step back from that 80s Nintendo aesthetic that the Famicom borrowed from Game & Watch et al.
I guess it’s how I felt about the 3DS XL coming from the 3DS, it looked fine but you could tell it was a very obvious exercise in cost cutting considering how much was nixed from the original package, even if the 3DS XL was a functional improvement (for many at least) from its predecessor.
This looks fun.
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I love the dogbone too, it’s just got this sweet 90s vibe.
But anyway, AV Famicom is the only console out of the box that can use almost any controller. Dogbones obviously, plus NES pads. It can also use any Famicom plug in pads, and you can put a NES controller board in a Famicom shell and use that too (that was my main for like 10 years).
Now I use and 8bitdo DIY in a Famicom pad shell.
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Micro Mages was amazing in the end. Brilliantly done. So will grab this!
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Does anyone know why AV Famicoms are relatively more pricey than the original units? Is it because there’s just less of them around?
It’s in the title: AV.
But yes there are a lot less of them too.
Just finished it. Got lost and had to look at a playthrough (all 8 minutes of it!) I suck at these sort of Metroidvanias.
Nice little game though. Chucked some money to the developer.
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I have to get this just for the name!! Thanks for linking it.
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Right. I mean same for the top loading NES. Those have always been like twice as expensive as the original toasters.
I like the look of the AV Famicom with the FDS. Here’s mine from a few years ago. Also dogbone controller is the most comfortable controller for long play sessions.
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Interesting gameplay and level design. I really dig the music too.
What game is this?
Deadly Towers