Super Famicom PAL games w/ American SNES

[Smacktard]

I feel like @Fool's Requiem knows the answer to this one

I've gotten interested recently in a few PAL-only SNES games, like Popn Bee, Terranigma, and The Firemen. I know there's a region lock when it comes to pin/cart shape, but this can be bypassed with an adapter.

What's less clear though is that it seems some games may not run well (or at all?) due to a few issues, one of which is the different refresh rate. Is there a way to bypass this, or to know which games play fine and which do not?

 

[Fool's Requiem]

The first reply in this thread will have a better response than I can provide.

I want to play a PAL SNES game on my US SNES - help?

Can someone link me to a good FAQ/how to to mod my US SNES to play PAL European games? I know about the plastic tabs but I think the SNES also used a lockout chip. Thanks.

www.neogaf.com

I've never modded my SNES' to play any other region games. Japan games would be easy, as you just cut a couple tabs out from the case. PAL region games supposedly have an actual region locking chip and some kind of check for 50hz.

Assuming you get around the region lock, there's a chance the game may run at a different speed due to the hertz difference. I don't know if there's a database.

Based on why I can find, you'd just be better off buying a PAL SNES, an Everdrive (or Everdrive adjacent device), or buy repro copies off of eBay. Terranigma seems to be the most commonly mentioned game and you can indeed buy a repro cart that should work on an NA SNES.
Its likely not worth the time and effort making your SNES play the handful of PAL exclusive games.

Unrelated, I think its really stupid that when you search "hertz" it comes up with the rental car company. For you to get the unit of frequency you have to type "hz". Yes, its less to type in a search bar but when you're trying to verify that the word you're using for the measure of frequency is spelled correctly, it does no good to see a rental car company show up in all the search results instead...

 

[Smacktard]

I think an Everdrive and/or PAL SNES would be the best options, then. I guess the PAL SNES wouldn't have any issues running in the US?

 

[Fool's Requiem]

I think an Everdrive and/or PAL SNES would be the best options, then. I guess the PAL SNES wouldn't have any issues running in the US?

Maybe? I know NA and EU have different electricity standards, but I feel like as long as the power brick only provides the necessary amount to the console, it should be fine. You might need some kind of adapter as we use different wall outlets, too.

 

[Smacktard]

It seems like even NSTC TVs aren't even compatible with PAL SNES because of the difference in refresh rate. And then there's issues with voltage differences -- could need a step down converter.

The safest option seems to be just playing the PAL ROMs from an Everdrive.

 

[dimmerwit]

Typically NTSC on a PAL set is much easier than the reverse. Most late-ish CRT TVs sold in Europe supported 60Hz and NTSC colour over RGB SCART or (rarer) composite. Pretty much every Wii game was PAL 60.

I'm not even sure how you'd go about the reverse since the timing crystals aren't the same.

 

[dimmerwit]

Also you'd need a converter because European SNES are AC input.

Edit: Or maybe not? Seems DC input also works. I guess DC into AC is always easier.