Does anyone know what's wrong with this game?

[Nightstar699]

Okay, so yesterday as one of my birthday gifts, I got Bionic Commando for the NES. When I went to play it, all I got was a grey screen. And no, it's not my NES, I played a bunch of other games, and they all worked perfectly on the first try. But Bionic Commando, nope, nothing but a blank  solid grey screen.

Today, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to hook up my Yobo FC Console NES clone to see if I'd have any luck on that.  And sure enough, Bionic Commando works on the first try. So it doesn't work whatsoever on the real NES, but on the clone it works perfectly? Can anyone explain why this is to me? Thanks.

[L___E___T]

Is it a European version game or something?  I don't know enough about US NESs but sounds like a different region.
I'm assuming you tried blowing it/cleaning it etc?

[Nightstar699]

The only thing I see on the box is "REV-A" it appears to be a U.S. copy. Yup, I cleaned it out pretty thoroughly, but on the original NES it's just grey screen all day. On the Yobo, works good as new.

Plus I was looking on NA, and it seems the European versions had different label art.

[untinip]

Maybe there's so much dirt built up on the game's pins (even after cleaning them) that your official NES's pins doesn't make contact, but because of the Yobo FC Console's slightly different pin design it does (pure speculation on my part). Try "scrubbing" the pins with a glass fiber brush, then clean the pins again with q-tips dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
Post Merge: July 28, 2012, 11:52:22 am
Post a picture of the game's PCB!

[UglyJoe]

Maybe a lock-out chip issue?  I imagine the Yobo doesn't have the lockout chip in it, so it wouldn't matter if the cart isn't handling it properly.

[petik1]

I've only had one cart completely die out on me. My friend gave me a bunch of his old N64 carts, and his Majora's Mask was abused to hell. It absolutely refuses to start. I opened it up and everything looks fine. Perhaps you have a similar issue.

[GohanX]

Maybe a lock-out chip issue?  I imagine the Yobo doesn't have the lockout chip in it, so it wouldn't matter if the cart isn't handling it properly.

A NES will reset every few seconds if the lockout chip is triggered. It really does sound like a dirty cart, it may require some more extreme cleaning methods, like taking it apart and using a Magic Eraser with contact cleaner or brasso.

[Nightstar699]

Wish I had a way to open it up, or I'd give you guys a look. Been content with it working in the Yobo for now, but since it still interests me, tomorrow I'll clean the living hell out of it, see if it will work in my NES then.