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The Famicom Disk System was part of a line of add-on systems produced exclusively in Japan for its version of the Nintendo Entertainment System called the Famicom. Its claim to fame was that its games were released on a medium similar to floppy disks. The disks, having two sides, originally contained more space than what a Famicom cartridge was capable of holding. They were also much cheaper to produce, a characteristic meant to lure developers to the platform. The Famicom also features a microphone in the controller, which certain games used, including an updated version of the original Zelda. You could only destroy certain enemy by shouting into the mic. Although the Disk System was moderately successful, the majority of the Famicom's library still remained in its cartridge-based games. Nevertheless, several of Nintendo's series were started on the Famicom Disk System and later entries in the series were available on more mainstream Nintendo platforms.
The Famicom Disk System's games contained internal features impossible to replicate on cartridges. The most notable of these features was their rewriting capability. Aside from being applied to conventional things like saving progress, certain disks could also have their games entirely overwritten for a small fee so players could try something new.
Because Nintendo opted to not distribute the Famicom Disk System outside of Japan, all of its games which received international releases required technical modifications so that they could function on regular cartridges. Few of these games ultimately retained their originally saving features due to the costs of incorporating batteries into the cartridges. ( The Legend of Zelda is one exception, as it still employed battery-backed saving.) Instead, many games, such as Metroid, employed passwords to record players' progress.
The American version of Super Mario Bros. 2, however, is the most famous of these conversions. Because the original sequel in Japan was deemed to be too difficult for most players at the time, Nintendo chose to bring over what was originally a completely different game instead and retrofit it as a Mario game. The game which was chosen to do this was Doki Doki Panic, an Arabian-themed platformer which had been produced for a television station's special event. The protagonists in the game, a family, were replaced with Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad. Additional technical alterations were made in specific areas of the game, mostly pertaining to specific sprites' animations. Enemies which were part of Doki Doki Panic remained in the new version, with many of them, such as Birdo and Bob-omb, appearing in subsequent Mario games afterwards. This rendition was later released in Japan as Super Mario USA.
The Famicom Disk System was an add-on accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System's Japanese counterpart. With its games coming on a floppy disk-like medium, many of its releases saw conversions to cartridges both overseas and within Japan.
Overview
Disk-kun, the add-on's mascot character
The Disk
The Famicom Disk System's games contained internal features impossible to replicate on cartridges. The most notable of these features was their rewriting capability. Aside from being applied to conventional things like saving progress, certain disks could also have their games entirely overwritten for a small fee so players could try something new.
Overseas Conversions
Because Nintendo opted to not distribute the Famicom Disk System outside of Japan, all of its games which received international releases required technical modifications so that they could function on regular cartridges. Few of these games ultimately retained their originally saving features due to the costs of incorporating batteries into the cartridges. ( The Legend of Zelda is one exception, as it still employed battery-backed saving.) Instead, many games, such as Metroid, employed passwords to record players' progress.
The original protagonists of Doki Doki Panic
The American version of Super Mario Bros. 2, however, is the most famous of these conversions. Because the original sequel in Japan was deemed to be too difficult for most players at the time, Nintendo chose to bring over what was originally a completely different game instead and retrofit it as a Mario game. The game which was chosen to do this was Doki Doki Panic, an Arabian-themed platformer which had been produced for a television station's special event. The protagonists in the game, a family, were replaced with Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad. Additional technical alterations were made in specific areas of the game, mostly pertaining to specific sprites' animations. Enemies which were part of Doki Doki Panic remained in the new version, with many of them, such as Birdo and Bob-omb, appearing in subsequent Mario games afterwards. This rendition was later released in Japan as Super Mario USA.
Series Originating on the Famicom Disk System
Famicom Disk System games
Edit
| Platform Name: | Famicom Disk System |
| Release Date: | July 15, 1983 |
| Online Support: | False |
| Install Base: | 4,500,000 |
| Original Price: | $150 |
| Producing Company: | Nintendo |
| Total Games: | games |
Terrifying Articles I Authored
a list of 29 items by Pepsiman
a list of 29 items by Pepsiman
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Mario first in Donkey Kong |
9
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Luigi first in Mario Bros. |
4
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Toad first in Super Mario Bros. |
3
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Birdo first in Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic |
2
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Samus Aran first in Metroid |
2
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Bowser first in Super Mario Bros. |
2
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Mother Brain first in Metroid |
2
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Princess Peach first in Super Mario Bros. |
2
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Kraid first in Metroid |
2
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Ridley first in Metroid |
2
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Space first in Spacewar! |
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Desert first in |
3
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The Mushroom Kingdom first in Super Mario Bros. |
3
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Zebes first in |
2
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Castle first in |
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Tennis Court first in Tennis |
1
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Adventure Island first in Adventure Island |
1
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Jungle first in |
1
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Skara Brae first in |
1
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Britannia (ultima) first in |
1
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Virtual Console first in |
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2D first in Tennis for Two Simulator |
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Classic NES Series first in |
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Cheat Code first in Manic Miner |
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Game Over first in |
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Lives first in |
7
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Death first in |
7
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Jump first in Donkey Kong |
7
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Launch Titles first in |
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Bosses first in DND |
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Bomb first in B-17 Bomber |
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Missile first in |
5
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Starman first in Super Mario Bros. |
4
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Ball first in Pong |
3
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Heart first in The Legend of Zelda |
3
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Tire first in |
3
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Super Mushroom first in Super Mario Bros. |
3
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Gun first in |
3
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Motorcycle first in Motocross |
3
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Ladder first in |
3
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