Super Metroid background problem

[wolf9545]

While I am playing Super Metroid (on the actual SNES) if I pause the game to bring up the map after I unpause the game the background has changed.  It goes from the normal background to a whole bunch of glitchy images.  I have cleaned the SNES and the game cartridge but didn't help.  Any idea, is my cartridge going bad?

[nensondubois]

This is all I can think of.

1. Is your cart a legitimate copy, not a pirate?
2. Erase your save data. This might be RAM related.
3. Clean your SNES.  (Do any other games have problems?
4. Your SNES may be damaged
5. Your cartridge may be damaged.

[wolf9545]

Real cartridge, not pirate.  Had the game since I was a kid.

This even happens when I start a new game.

It doesn't seem to happen in any other games, everything seems to be fine from what I can tell.

Thinking it might be the game.

I did clean the game and the system.  Opened it up and clean the contacts.

[nensondubois]

Your cartridge is damaged.

[wolf9545]

What would cause that to happen.  The cartridge has been sitting around for a long time.  Just decided to start playing it again.

[ericj]

Did you check or replace the battery? Maybe if it's corroding it could cause graphical glitches. I dunno, just a thought.

[wolf9545]

Did not think of that.  I will look at it later.  Just trying out other games right now.  Is there any game that really tests out the full features of the SNES?  More like a "test" cartridge without owning one?

[nensondubois]

Did not think of that.  I will look at it later.  Just trying out other games right now.  Is there any game that really tests out the full features of the SNES?  More like a "test" cartridge without owning one?

Yes, It's called a Burn-in Test Cart, and I own one.

Maybe it's a bit-rot. Try opening your cart and seeing if your board is a pirate using EPROMS. Sometimes these things happen when you buy from seemingly safe places like Ebay.

Not likely, the battery only affects SRAM, not RAM. Unless the battery corrosion, if there is any would send some current to RAM changing things but that's a longshot.

[wolf9545]

Here is a picture of the board.

[ericj]

When you unpause and the glitch appears, does pausing and unpausing a few times clear it up? Or does it remain that way?

[nensondubois]

Everything looks normal on the PCB. Before I suggest spending money replacing the battery, there is still one other test. Try the game on a PAR. If there are RAM (7E-7F) addresses written to on the cheat screen, you either have a bad battery misfiring to RAM or your RAM is just damaged.

[wolf9545]

Sorry could you please re-explain what you mean?  I didn't really understand what you are talking about.

[nensondubois]

If you have a Pro Action Replay, see if there are codes written to the cheat screen without you entering them.

[wolf9545]

I have a game genie.  I just have to dig it out.

[nensondubois]

The Game Genie affects ROM.