Nes games that barely work

[lcvolt]

Hi, i make this post because i have "batman return of The joker" for nes since my childhood and Some years ago when i dug through my stuff and got my nes back i got it back but it wouldnt work. Last week i got a new copy, but i already tested it and wont work either. Is there something special about this particular game that keeps it from working? Is something wrong with my nes? Did i just get two faulty copies? I just wanted to know if you have heard anything about it before. Thanks

[KalessinDB]

Never heard anything about that game in particular being special (or any game in particular for that matter).  Chances are the game, your NES, or both just need a good cleaning.  If you don't have the security bit to open the game, I suggest a qtip dipped in alcohol (preferably 90+%) to clean the pins there.  To clean the actual NES you'll need to open it up, but those are all just regular screws.  There's oodles of how-to's for cleaning games and systems out there.

[lcvolt]

I forgot to mention that. I always clean my games even before
Testing. All my games work on the first try. I did clean both of these games and just dont work. I open them and clean them with a rag and alcohol, not that qtip thing thattakes out like 10 % of
The problem

[Arseen]

My guess would be your NES's 72-pin adapter is getting dirty or loose.

[wiggy]

My guess would be your NES's 72-pin adapter is getting dirty or loose.

2nd

[e_brugal]

My guess would be your NES's 72-pin adapter is getting dirty or loose.

2nd

I agree on both. But this only happens with batman only or with other games too?

[Ozzy_98]

Here's how I fix NES's

1) Take the nes apart, and take the 72 pin connector out. 
2) Take a pot of water, and bring it to a boil. 
3) Using a thumbtack, bend all the little pins up some on the connector, you may see one side lower than the other.   
4) Plop the connector in the water, let it sit 5 mins. 
5) Pull it out.  Show your wife.  If she laughs, divorce her.
6) Out it away, and pull the nes connector out of the water.  Put a clean but cheap nes cart in the slow, wiggle it, just a little bit, and remove it.  Repeat 30ish times.
7) Boil 5 more mins
Have cart intersex once more, another 30 or so pumps
9) Dry off the connector and cart with a hair dryer. 
10) Double check the pins look pulled up good and are even.

11) Optional, and risky: Disable the NES10 chip.  This will make it impossible for the nes to ever blink.  If you ever see the game load but it blinks, the NES10 is the cause.  It also lets you play unlicensed games that did not disable the NES10 chip.

[Arseen]

Really? You say boiling water does not warp the adapter...

[Ozzy_98]

no, the plastic's very hard and seems to have a high melting temp.  I thought at first people were doing this to BEND the adapter, but no, it boils off the dirt.  That plastic doesn't give in the slightest in boiling water. So I've done it on 6 set of pins.

I would just say buy new 72 pin adapters, but most of them are crap now, not made to correct specs.  If you put the cart in, and hear\feel it scrape, it's not good.  You'll be scratching something off of something, most likely the contacts on the carts.

Edit: Oh and clean all your carts!  ALL of them, dirt on nes carts are like STDs.  When you insert your cart, you sleep with the dirt of the last 10 carts in your nes.  And you don't want Mario sleeping with Prince Myer of Deadly Towers.  I firmly believe you need to take the cart apart to clean it, with a bit driver, it's less than 5 seconds to take apart.  Then I clean the pins with a magic eraser that's been wetted with rubbing alcohol, and buff dry with a paper towel. With the board out, you can clean pretty hard, and see what gunk you missed with q-tips.   

[Arseen]

Well, live and learn something new everyday.

[lcvolt]

I constantly clean my games and the console. The 72 pin connector works just fine. I have 40 + games and all of them work almost onthe first try. Its only this particular game. No matter how i clean it it never works. I thought it was dead , buti bought another copy and i have the same problem: just a black screen. I disabled the lockout chip years ago

[lcvolt]

I just got it to boot but wont work. If i presd dtart as soon as i turn on the console it loads the title screen then freezed. I think my old copy used to show dome glitched, then nothing. Ishould not keep trying i guess. Maybe that game got damaged by trying so much i dont know. I better take it to someone else to. Check this out, or eait to retron 5 to finally release

[monjici]

You can also get an authentic NES cleaning kit and have your console and game pins cleaned in a few seconds Saved my main NES system.
For my 2nd NES system (the "experimental' one), I pulled the 72 pin connector out and used a toothbrush to scrub it with alcohol. Also rebended the pin a bit to have a firmer connection. Saved that system too.

I've heard that the worst thing you can do is to replace your 72 pins adapter with a "brand new" one. These cheap imitations start rusting once the coating is gone.

[Ozzy_98]

I've heard that the worst thing you can do is to replace your 72 pins adapter with a "brand new" one. These cheap imitations start rusting once the coating is gone.

I replaced my first one 10 years ago, and that was an ok set of pins.  But the ones you buy now many are not right.  The game should not play with the cart up for one thing. And should not make a grinding noise when you push down.

[palmer6strings]

I know one game in particular has always given me problems, and that's Double Dragon II. All my games usually work on the first or second try. I've had 3 copies of it and everyone one is extremely clean/practically new looking and it takes like 10 tries to get it to work.
 Just sayin.