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I put some time into both of these games tonight. Both are part of a backlog I've been meaning to get around to for what seems like ages now. I tested Ultima: Exodus before but hadn't actually played it and Nightshade had been gathering dust on the shelf since I bought it.
Ultima, surprisingly enough, may become quite an addictive game. It's mixture of strategy and turn-based combat while simple, has that level grinding quality about it that tells me I could put 100 hours into it easy. The music isn't bad, though the constant flickering of the sprites on-screen can be a bit distracting, especially when blinking characters are the prompt for action. NES port or not, it still has that classic medieval RPG feel about it that many PC games had in the 80's. Oh and the battery still works too!
Nightshade is a neat game. Sort of a point and click adventure mixed with beat-em ups when you confront a baddie. The idea of a "popularity meter" that rises or falls depending on your actions is unique, the puzzles well thought out and exploration is fun. I will however, need to get used to the controls. It's not really meant for a 2 button gamepad but after a few hours I'm sure I'll get used to it.
 Now if your a diehard Nintendo fan or overzealous purist with a Zapper shoved so far up your ass that you view famiclones as unclean, stop reading, nothing for you to see here  . If your a gamer, consumer and collector who has a significant investment in Nintendo hardware and wishes to preserve said hardware for years to come while enjoying the games you own, then read on, this may be of interest to you.
Although I usually consider myself an advocate of playing games on original hardware, I realize that the older NES's and SNES's become, the less chance they can be found for reasonable prices and/or in working order. Sure you can find them now, but what about in another 10 years? 20? 30? Hell I'm a young man..... 40 or 50 even!!
I've dabbled in emulation for over 10 years now. More for the curiosity of running a game in an unorthodox environment and experimenting with enhancements than any actual gameplay or as a viable platform for classic gaming. So I was well aware of the drawbacks of these "Nintendo on a chip" alternatives and the sacrifices made when using them. But I've also been aware of the advantages to a gamer and a collector who wishes to continue playing these games for many years to come.
I'm sure many of you have read the reviews, opinions and bashings of gamers and collectors from all over the world who have bought Items such as the Tristar 64, the Super 8, Messiah's Generation NEX, the various Yobo famiclones and various others. Now that the hardware patents have expired for the original hardware the market has dramatically increased over the last few years. All the while so has the quality and performance of these clones.
While I have my share of extra systems sitting in storage, I've long contemplated one of these for my daily gaming needs. Something I can beat around and not worry about maintenance, cleaning etc while I enjoy my games. Years had passed and I still just couldn't bring myself to pick one of these things up and before I knew it, CIB NES's and SNES's began to skyrocket in price. Have you searched eBay lately for a boxed NES or SNES in mint shape? You really should. It's less the market for nostalgic gamers and more for the enterprising seller with inflated prices, shady wording and uncertainty as to a system's true working condition. Or head to a flea market or average game specialty store and prepare to pay through the nose for one that may have a cheap replacement pin connector that will bend if you look at it sideways. Mind you it's not always the case but it is a common occurence.
So when I heard that Yobo released the FC Twin it was like "uh-huh, another famiclone." Then I found out it played both NES and SNES games. That piqued my interest. I waited many months watching the prices fall on these, reading user reviews etc etc. Just when it was beginning to fade from my thoughts I walked into a local game store and saw a brand new one sitting there, mint, cheap and beckoning me. Not usually such an impulsive buyer I found myself heading home with a FC Twin under my arm excited about the prospect of saving space in my shelves with a 2-in-1 and having something that doesn't require swabs and alcohol or Mr. Clean Magic Erasers every time I use it.
 So I guess I'll give you a rundown of what I do and don't like about the FC Twin. Maybe it'll help some of you on the fence about buying one, maybe it'll squash rumors or exaggerated accounts of what these are and aren't capable of, in any case here goes:
What I don't like:
- Can't use NES controllers or accessories (incompatible ports).
- AC adapter has a short cord (at least I think so).
- Usual incompatibility problems with a small number of games found with these clones.
- No eject button.
What I do like:
- Small footprint (size of a SNES 2) and available in different colours.
- Plays both NES and SNES games, SNES games are nearly flawless.
- Compatible with genuine SNES controllers
- Very reasonably priced as an alternative to buying two different systems.
- Has composite jacks (Yellow, Red, White) built in.
- The two controllers it comes with are surprisingly well made and work well.
Now don't mis-interpret my message here. I'm not saying you shouldn't buy or use genuine hardware. I'm saying if your like me and wish to preserve the Nintendo hardware you own and could use a legal, yes legal space saver, or prefer playing real cartridges as opposed to downloadable games, this can be a great alternative. To be honest I'd prefer a Generation NEX, but until they come out with a SNES clone or a 2-in-1, the FC Twin sits proudly beside my Sega Master System and my Sega Genesis as my Nintendo equivalent 8 and 16 bit gaming platform.
From my old blog, posted August 8:
You probably think I'm referring to Super Mario Bros.? The Legend of Zelda perhaps? Nope, I'm referring to the sub simulator Silent Service! Yeah that's right. Silent Service. the NES port of the 1985 computer classic.
I played so much of this game as a kid. There are few NES games that make my top list of all-time and this is one of them. Hours a day spent hunting the seas for convoys, running from sub-killing destroyers and racking up kills to my credit.
Well as a collector today is a happy day indeed. The postman brought me some eBay goodies and among them was my complete in box copy of Silent Service! Personally the most important NES game I needed for my collection. Also the one that will ensure the NES will stay hooked up to my TV.
Also I got Top Gear Rally for the N64 CIB, as well as a Buck Bumble manual I needed and a Diddy Kong Racing operation card (the pack-in quick reference guide). I also received a Star Trek Elite Force manual for the PC that I mistakenly thought was a PS2 one instead. LOL Oh well, 'try try again' on that one. 
From my old blog, posted July 25:
I'm not a big NES fan, never have been. But there's always been a small list of NES titles that I love very much, LoZ is among them. Between the Gamecube Bonus disc, GBA re-release and emulation I hadn't played an actual copy of Zelda on a real NES for probably 17 years or more.
So I had decided out of the blue to hook up a NES and play a few games. When I had gotten to Zelda I decided that I'll keep it hooked up for a while longer. It's almost unbelievable that after so long, I can still feel comfortable with a NES pad in my hands and navigate the map and dungeons like an old pro. Just like riding a bke I guess. One thing that did surprise me was the green colour of the woods. I had forgotten just how green they were, a detail perhaps lost on remakes or re-releases lately.
Of course then I had remembered how much we used to play on B&W TV's which were still being made and used in the late 80's. And how we'd beg our parents to use the "big" set in the living room. I happen to have a black and white set sitting on top of my second TV in the bedroom, more or less for nostalgia and Pong. I bet if I hooked my NES up to that I'd feel like a kid again, though my old eyes will have to squint to see the small 13" screen.
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