Super Famicom Intermittent Sprite Flicker

[AndyG]

Hey all.

My first post, but I've been reading this site for years.

I collect Super Famicom stuff, but have noticed a flaw with some of my games, and I can't work out of it's the console or games.

On a couple of games, there is serious sprite flicker of the main character (e.g. Belmont in Castlevania, Arthur in Ghouls N Ghosts).

I'm not talking about the usual flicker which the SFC is famous for, when the screen gets overcrowded. This flicker is really weird, in that it only affects a few games...but once in while, when the game loads up, it's fine. It does make the games absolutely unplayable though, for example in Super Ghouls N Ghosts, Arthur disappears half the time because he flickers so badly...same goes for Castlevania.

Any ideas if it's the games or console?

Thanks

[BuckoA51]

What kind of TV are you using?

[AndyG]

I'm using an old Sony CRT, Super Famicom with GameCube RGB Scart cable, Megadrive power adaptor! + PAL SNES controller

I've just tested my entire colleciton, and it only happens on the following games:

Street Fighter II Turbo
Super Ghouls N Ghosts
Castlevania Vampire Kiss
Mickey's Magical Quest 3.

And weirdly, I have two bizarre problems with the following games:

1. Super Mario Kart - the title screen options are all messed up - 'start' doesn't work, up and down are the wrong way round and select makes me go back. I physically cannot get off the title screen...it's just an endless loop of options.

2. Pilotwings - the icons on the title screen don't work at all, so again, I can't get off it.

3. Starfox - graphics are completely messed up and I can't see the screen properly, although the sound is perfect!

Surely it cannot be the Famicom as most games work ok? But it's weird that with each game, it's a small problem within the game itself!

I might try to buy some loose carts of the above games to see if the same problems exist, then I know it's the SFC!

[BuckoA51]

really does sound like a fault with the SFC, though you are using a less than optimal SCART cable with it. Try said games in another machine just to be sure.