Tristar 64 Version 1.4 FAQ By-PerfectB12345 ---------------- 0.1-Introduction ---------------- I am writing this FAQ for the Nintendo 64 owners interested in the Tristar. Before I begin, it should be noted that my Tristar is a Ver. 1.1. I have not experienced any of the poor picture quality (yet) noted in IGN64's review. I you boot up and see 1.0 or the like, don't say I didn't warn you. Anyhow, on with the show... --------------------- 0.2-Table of Contents --------------------- 0.1-Intro 0.2-Table of Contents 0.3-Version History 1.0-What is the Tristar? 1.1-What you need to set up (and play) your Tristar 1.2-X-ploder, Memory Editor, Keycodes 1.3-Translation of manual and box 2.0-NES/Famicom 2.1-Games that don't work 3.0-SNES/Super Famicom 3.1-Games that don't work 4.0-My review 5.0-Contributer help 6.0-Credit/Disclaimer/Copyright ------------------- 0.3-Version History ------------------- 1.0-Basic guide done. Manual Translations are still being worked on, still looking for games that don't work well. 1.1-Submitted to GameFAQs 1.2-Added the games that don't work official list. I'll work on the manual translations soon, and a controller mod. 1.3-Added contributor info 1.4-Added some more contributed information ------------------------ 1.0-What is the Tristar? ------------------------ The Tristar 64 is a device that allows you to play FC, SFC, NES, and SNES gam on your Nintendo 64. It allows for import N64 games to be played also, as it cartridge slot has no lockout tabs. It also includes an X-ploder (which look oddly like a Gameshark) and a memory editor. It also has keycode functions for games that must have one to function properly. -------------------------------------------------- 1.1-What you need to set up (and play) the Tristar -------------------------------------------------- You'll need a(n): Nintendo 64 (duh) Tristar 64 (duh #2) AC adapter N64 game (to boot the other games) SNES, SFC, NES, or FC game A FC to NES converter (to play NES games) Your N64 composite cable Okay, now to set it up. You need to place the cartridge shaped attachment on the bottom of the Tristar into the N64 cartridge slot. Now remove the composite cable from the back of your N64. Place this in the hole on the back of the Tristar (its easy to find). Now take the cord on the back of the Tristar and plug it into the hole you just removed the composite cable from o the N64. Take an AC adapter of any kind (Genises, NES, SNES, or Atari Jaguar) and insert the round end into the other hole on the back of the Tristar (once again, you couldn't miss it if you tried). Now plug the AC adapter into an outlet. You still need the N64 power cord in addition to this one. Alright, half the battle's over. Insert an N64 game (one not requiring a Deycode) into the front slot. Be sure to lift up the dust flap, lest ye want to break it off. Insert a SFC, SNES, FC, or a NES to FC converter with and NES game on it into the cartridge slots. The back is FC/NES and the middle slot is SFC/SNES. Now turn your 64 on. If the screen doesn't come up try a different 64 game, as that one may require a Keycode. Use an early game like Super Mario 64 or Starfox. You'll see a few options. Play N64 with XP off, Play SNES (16 bit), Play NES (8 bit), X-ploder, Memory Editor, and Enter Keycode. Select a play option and hope for the best. If it doesn't work, try cleaning the games. Some games flat out don't work, check the lists below. Now for the controls. NES controls are very simple and actually seem easier than an NES pad. The control pad moves, A = A, B = B. Start is Start, and Z is select. It may take a couple moments to get used to, but you'll get it soon. Cool. Super Nintendo controls are a bit harder. Control pad moves, or whatever its function in that game, Start is Start, and Z is Select. Now for the tricky part. The 64's B is Y, A is B, C-Left is X, and C-down is A. This works fine for games with configurable controls, but its difficult to get used to the smaller C buttons. ------------------------------ 1.2-X-ploder and Memory Editor ------------------------------ The X-ploder is pretty much a Gameshark. L and R turn the pages, A selects the game. On the game screen, you can choose your codes. It's very simple, you shouldn't have any problems. The Memory Editor is, I assume, like the Memory Editor on a Gameshark. On the GS, you can back up save files to a memory card and so on. I haven't used this feature, since on my GS I erased a few files. It's even mentioned in the instructions not to play around with this. If you know what you're doing, by all means go ahead. Otherwise, I wouldn't risk poking around. Keycodes are simple. If you are familiar with a Gameshark, it's the same concept. Place an old game, such as Mario 64, into the Tristar and select Keycodes. Pick the Keycode that corresponds to the game you have. Note that there are few Keycodes. Diddy Kong Racing and Zelda Keycodes cover many games. Instead of having to do this every time you want to play a game, simply hold down the "GS button" to the right of your N64 cartridge slot and turn the N64 on. ------------------------------- 1.3-Manual and box translations ------------------------------- Still working on it!! --------------- 2.0-NES/Famicom --------------- The slot on the back is the Famicom slot. You'll plug an adapter in to play NES games. You can select them from the start-up menu. There's not much more to it. ------------------------- 2.1-Games that don't work ------------------------- I've got the official list of NES games that don't work. Keep in mind it doesn't include any Famicom games. The most trouble I've experienced with a compatible game is booting up with blocky graphics or a red screen. Simply clean your game with alcohol and a Q-tip. You can do this by dipping the Q- tip in alcohol and, making sure it's not dripping, clean both sides of the contact. Let it sit a few moments, then dry it with a Q-tip. Sometimes, lines or other extreme graphical messes will start to appear. Cleaning games may not work, so you'll need a cartridge cleaning device that goes down into the slot. Do not pour alcohol directly into the slot. Do not attempt to remove dust from a converter with a toothpick. Firsthand experience. For an actual cleaning kit, the Nintendo site's SNES cleaner will work fine, but I prefer the High Frequency multiple system kit. I found it on eBay for $3.00. It includes an NES cleaner which is actually for an actual NES, an SNES cleaner (which you'll use, and it should be noted it also cleans N64, Genesis, etc.), a CD lens cleaner, a CD cleaner, a cleaning mixture (rubbing alcohol, and 2 cleaning wands. The NES cleaner is for actually clipping onto a game and inserting into an NES, so you won't be able to use it with the Famicom slot. Thankfully, the SNES cleaning tool works with the Famicom, NES, and N64 slot. The wands for the games aren't of exceptionally high quality, if the fabric on the top of yours starts to fall off or get all stringy and leave cottonish residue, use a Q-tip. Overall, most of the problems you're going to find deal with the age of the cartridge. Keep them clean and put them in a dust cover, if you have them. Problem Games- These are from the official list from the dead website that was created by the Future Laboratories company. Some games did not work, and some were unavailable. Some were partially compatible, although they did not specify which ones. Partially compatible means they run, but perhaps with graphical or sound flaws or they occasionally freeze. World Games-unavailable Win, Lose, or Draw Widget-unavailable Whomp Em Wacky Races Top Players Tennis Tecmo Bowl Star Tropics Snoopy Smash TV Ski or Die Shinobi Rolling Thunder Roller Games Rad Racer Pro Sport Hockey Pictionary Paper Boy-Runs but won't play Mighty Final Fight Magic Johnson's Fast Break Lempereur Last Star Fighter Infiltrator Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Heavy Shreddin' Gotcha!-Works, but needs Zapper Freedom Force-Works, but needs Zapper Flying Warriors Fight of the Intruder-unavailable Dragon Warrior 2-unavailable Double Dragon Captain Planet Capcom Yo Noid Burai Fighter Bubble Bobble 2-unavailable Bubble Bobble-unavailable Boy and his Blob Bo Jackson Basketball-unavailable Bigfoot Big Bird's Hide and Speak-unavailable Adventure Island 2-unavailable Duck Hunt and Hogan's Alley are not mentioned, but I assume that they, and all other Zapper games that you know of are incompatible. ---------------------- 3.0-SNES/Super Famicom ---------------------- The SNES/SFC slot is in the middle, no converter required. Again, choose Play SNES (16 bit) from the menu. ------------------------- 3.1-Games that don't work ------------------------- There is one game super confirmed not to work under any circumstances. Do not plunk down $$$$ on this game and expect it to play on the Tristar. It is Super Mario RPG: Legend of the 7 Stars. It's said to not work due to a chip for accelerated graphics and saving. So don't mess around with it. You shouldn't have too much trouble with SNES. Due to the fact that the carts are newer and used ones have much less wear and tear than an NES game. Well, except for Super Mario All Stars. I've had some trouble getting this game to start and it freezes occasionally. It has the same problems on my grandma's SNES, too, so I don't know if it's the game or the Tristar. But I've heard of other people having trouble getting it to work. If you want to mess around with it, go on. But it can get expensive to play around with it, so it's your call. Super Mario All Stars w/Super Mario World is said to have problems. I have received word from Andrew "MikeSanders" Harris about some more games containing the SA-1 chip, or the chip Super Mario RPG uses. All of his new additions are not guaranteed not to work, it is just assumed from the fact that they use the same chip. The SDD1 chip and the SPC7110 chip are also assumed incompatible. He has also told me that he would provide a complete list of the SNES games that use the Super FX chip (Star Fox, Super Mario World 2, Doom) or the DSP chip (Super Mario Kart, Pilotwings). Unfortunately, I do not have any of these games to test, and I don't want to scare you off from potentially buying one of these games (I've played most of them before, and they are pretty good games), but for the meantime shy away until someone can confirm this. Problem Games- Again, like above, this is the official list from Future Laboratories. These were the only games out of 350 something games tested at the time. The list was not completed due to the company's going out of business, I suppose. If you are wondering, 98% of the games they tested work. PGA Tour 96 PGA European Tour Super Mario All Stars + SM World Super Mario RPG: Legend of the 7 Stars Joe & Mac Full Throttle Street Fighter Alpha 2 Kirby's Super Star- Works partially Dragonball Z:Hyper Dimension Kirby's Dreamland 3 Pebble Beach No Hato 2 Tournament Edition Power Rangers:Zeo Battle Racers Street Fighter Alpha 2 Star Ocean (Super Famicom) Far East of Eden Zero (presumed) Since the Super Scope can not be attached to the N64, I assume that, while these games may work, you are incapable of playing them. This is true for games requiring the SNES mouse, too. ------------- 4.0-My Review ------------- The Tristar 64 is an awesome machine. For people whose next-gen system(s) and/or an N64 or PSX clutter their entertainment display, or for people who've never experienced the joy of these classic games, it's a must buy. You get 3 system support plus the ability to play imports. What could be better? It has its flaws, like anything else. Sometimes you may have trouble getting a game to start, or getting some games to work at all. While it's picture is not incredibly washed out as IGN64 stated, games with 1-color backgrounds appear to have some flickering. You get a slight drop in the picture quality of your N64, but nothing major. Be careful when playing games with keycodes, as they are prone to occasionally freeze. NES support is pretty good. Like I said, you have some trouble getting some games to start, but it's mostly due to the age of the cartridge and how good of a converter you own. The NES controls are top-notch. The N64 pad feels better in my hands than an NES controller. SNES support is spectacular. The only things you might have trouble with are games like Mario RPG due to the MODE 7 chip or something along those lines. It should also be noted that the Super Gameboy works on it, too. My only complaint is the controls. When you play with the SNES control pad, most important controls are assigned to the buttons on the right, which works well for that pad. However, when you switch to the 64 controller, the tiny C buttons can make things difficult. Overall, the Tristar is worth your money. It can replace a yellowed NES or SNES or just add to a collection deprived of these classics. -------------------- 5.0-Contributor Help -------------------- As you may have noticed, some of my information is incomplete. I am not yet sure of the compatibility of FC, SFC, or even American games. I'm still working on the manual translation, but I'm not good with Japanese. If you have a Tristar or get one soon, and find incompatibilities or the like please E-mail me at oob12345@yahoo.com. Your efforts will not go unrecognized. Your GAMEFAQS username or whatever you prefer will be added to Credits/Disclaimer/Copyright section and you will help the people who own or plan to own a Tristar not make a bad purchasing decision. The S-Video cable does not work- Lee Rodgers Game Incompatibilities-Andrew "MikeSanders" Harris -------------------------------- 6.0- Credit/Disclaimer/Copyright -------------------------------- Credits: Lee Rodgers Andrew "MikeSanders" Harris This guide is the property of PerfectB12345. However I do not care if you use it on your website as Tristar FAQS are hard to come by! Just make sure my name's on it and not your name, because you didn't write it! Don't print it out and sell it to little kids for $20 a pop; if there was a way to make money off of it I wouldn't offer it for free, now would I? And with my above e-mail I trust you to make a competent decision about what to send. Contributions, praise, and SMART questions are welcome! However do not send me stupid e-mails like "My sister is hot nude, now make money from home!!" or "wut N3S gms d0ont work duuu|_|ude I cant look at faq |2o><0rs boXXors L337ness". That is ignorant and wastes what time I have to be wasted. The Tristar 64 is a product of Future Laboratories and is not affiliated with Nintendo of America, Nintendo of Japan, Nintendo of Anything, or me. Thanks for reading and be sure to rate it!