Nintendo Console Region
From SDA Knowledge Base
Nintendo Consoles
todo: Add video links or website links showing detailed instructions.
NES
| Similar cart sizes? | No |
| Can a PAL console be modified to function or even match NTSC speeds? | No, playing NTSC games on PAL NES usually messes up the music pitch. |
| Method (Famicom playing NES games) | A 72 pin to 60 pin converter |
| Method (NES playing Famicom games) | A 60 pin to 72 pin converter |
| Safe to use NTSC import consoles with official EU/UK power supply in Europe/UK? | NES (USA): Works NES Toploader (USA): To be confirmed |
NES notes
todo: Comment about Famicom games with special audio chips and compatibility.
SNES
| Similar cart sizes? | Sort of, but you need to tweak the console to insert import carts. |
| Can a PAL console be modified to function or even match NTSC speeds? | Sort of (see SNES notes below) |
| Method (NTSC SNES playing Super Famicom games) | Open up the console and remove the two tabs that are used to prevent JP carts from fitting in. |
| Method (Super Famicom console playing SNES games) | Open up the console and hack away to widen the cartridge slot or buy a cartridge converter used to insert wider SNES carts into a thinner SFC slot, but make sure it is a model that supports all pins for games using special chips |
| Safe to use NTSC import consoles with official EU/UK power supply in Europe/UK? | SNES Model 1 (USA): Can NOT! but a Skytronic 660.443 is a good substitute for a power supply UK plug for NTSC US SNES Super Famicom Model 1 (JPN): Can NOT! (You can use a power supply from a Mega Drive 1 or Master System 1 (better to use) |
SNES notes
A switched modified PAL system can play 99% of the games with the notable exceptions to SA1 Chip games like Super Mario RPG and Kirby Super Star.
A switchless SNES can play SA1 chip games.
The main issue which is not easily noticeable is that a PAL Modded SNES running at 60hz runs a tad slower than official NTSC SNES models.
N64
| Similar cart sizes? | Yes, but you need to tweak the console to insert import carts. |
| Can a PAL console be modified to function or even match NTSC speeds? | No, when using a cartridge converter like N64 Passport Plus the output doesn't function as accurate as a NTSC counterpart. Get a NTSC system and NTSC copies of the game. |
| Safe to use NTSC import consoles with official EU/UK power supply in Europe/UK? | Any NTSC-U/NTSC-J model: Works |
N64 notes
The expansion pak is region free so a UK Expansion PAK works perfectly fine on a JP N64.
Gamecube
| Similar cart sizes? | No because they are now mini-CDs. All sizes are identical |
| Can a PAL console be modified to function or even match NTSC speeds? | While region locked, it can play imports by using a Freeloader disc to play imports. No circuit/soldering mods required. |
| Other Methods | A NTSC Gamecube can be modified to have a region switch to change from NTSC-U to NTSC-J and vice versa. |
| Safe to use NTSC import consoles with official EU/UK power supply in Europe/UK? | Any NTSC-U/NTSC-J model: Works |
GAMECUBE notes
PAL releases of games DOES NOT support 480p when using really pricey Component cables.
There is a homebrew feature called Swiss that enables Force 480p to the majority of PAL games with the notable exception found in re-releases/collection games like Zelda Collectors edition and the bonus original game found in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
The PAL console (not games) can use Composite, RGB Scart and Component as 480i video outputs, S-video fails to work.
The NTSC console (not games) can use Composite, S-video and Component as 480i video outputs, RGB Scart fails to work.
Wii
| Similar CD sizes? | Yes.... |
| Can a PAL console be modified to function or even match NTSC speeds? | Unlike the Gamecube, PAL Wii systems (and NTSC-U/J) needs to be softmodded to run import games. Click here |
| Other Methods | None, the homebrew method only requires a 2GB SD card and internet connection. |
| Safe to use NTSC import consoles with official EU/UK power supply in Europe/UK? | Any NTSC-U/NTSC-J model: Works but if you can softmod the system then there is no need to import another console. |
Wii notes
Avoid the red Wii Mini that was released in late 2012/early 2013. That model does not support Component, has no SD card slot for homebrew and no online connection.
Softmodded PAL Wii Systems: To play Sega Master System, Genesis and NTSC N64 games in 60hz, you need "Any Region Changer" and set "System Menu Region" to USA
Wii U
| Similar CD sizes? | Yes but the filesize for download copies varies, usually Europe is the highest as it usually contains 5 text languages. |
| Can a PAL console be modified to function or even match NTSC speeds? | As of 2015, there isn't an exploit that enables homebrew & disable region lock. Even if it was possible, Nintendo will release a new "improves stability" patch that will actually remove the cool exploits. Best to wait until both(?) the console and online support has died down sometime before 2021. |
| Other Methods | Buy another console, this time from a different region :( |
| Safe to use NTSC import consoles with official EU/UK power supply in Europe/UK? | Any NTSC-U/NTSC-J model: Works (Unconfirmed) |
Wii U notes
Did you know the Gamepad is region locked as well?! So not only you need to buy a foreign console, you also need to make sure it comes with a foreign Gamepad.
