2PCS NES Cartridge Case Shell for Nintendo NES Games Cartridge with 3 Phillips Head Screws(Grey)

When searching for cartridge shells for the purpose of making brand new carts for the NESLCDMOD ROM hacks, I didn't need anything too high quality or expensive, just something that would work to hold the PCBs. I ordered these shells from Ninthseason, figuring these would be quite average at best (which, again, was all I needed), but upon receiving the shells, I was actually quite pleased with the quality.ProsThe Ninthseason shells are surprisingly accurate to the original NES cartridge shells in terms of dimension and fit. I took apart an original three-screw cartridge and checked to see if the front and back of the reproduction shell would mate with the original shell. Both front and back pieces fit really well with the original shell, so if you have a cartridge that has a damaged side, you can safely purchase this to replace it (assuming it is a three-screw shell). Since the shells are accurate, there is no risk of the cartridge being too loose or too tight when inserted in the original NES or in third-party offerings, such as the RetroN 5. They also feel just as sturdy as the originals, and are probably using the same plastic.The shells were also accurate internally, ensuring that the PCBs were held snugly in place. I tested original PCBs, PCBs from other homebrew games I had laying around, and the NROM PCBs from Muramasa Entertainment that I used for the Duck Hunt and Hogan’s Alley LCD hacks, all of which fit precisely in their slots without either having too much wiggle room, or too little tolerance. When screwed together, the PCB is held solidly and ensures good contact with the 72-pin connector.The shells, thankfully, come with the required screws, so you don’t have to source your own. They were tucked away neatly inside a plastic bag inside the shells, so you shouldn’t have to worry about searching through the packaging in order to find them. They are Phillips head screws as the listing mentions, which although inaccurate to the original cartridges, means that you don’t have to worry about buying a special screwdriver or bit.ConsAs a couple other reviews have pointed out, the colour is slightly darker than an original cartridge shell. It is a very minor gripe at best, as on it’s own, it looks as though it is correct, but it does become apparent if you put the original and repro shells together. If you’re looking to fix a physically broken cartridge, this is something worth noting.Even though I consider the inclusion of the Phillips head screws to be a pro, as it makes it a more accessible product for most, some may wish for the more accurate security bit screws that were introduced with the three-screw cartridges. Again, I would consider this a very minor gripe, and I understand why the decision was made to use the Phillips head screws instead, at the cost of accuracy.ImprovementsAs far as I know of, Ninthseason only offers three-screw shells, and not the rarer five-screw type. It would be nice to see a five-screw offering with the same level of quality as these shells.In addition to addressing the slightly darker tone of grey as I mentioned in the “Cons” section, it would be nice to have more colour varieties. Ninthseason does offer a four-pack of shells that include red, blue, black, and grey, but green, yellow, orange, purple, gold, and silver would also make for some stunning shells. Additionally, clear and transparent options (or even going as wild as a glow-in-the-dark shell) would be fantastic.Labels. It would be so nice to have at least the rear warning info label for the sake of authenticity. It would also be very nice if blank labels for the front/top would be included so you could either print your own labels or at least write on them. The convenience of adding in those blank labels would make this a more compelling option for buyers looking to make their own custom cartridges.

NES cartridges were amazing quality

Everything about this product is perfect EXCEPT the shade of grey is just ever so slightly darker then a original NES cartridge. It is noticeable when stacked with originals, not so much when it’s by itself.

I had double back to the future and the label was bad so i ordered another one and platoon game was bad to

Fresh new carts for a retropie.

Grandson used these to repair old games and was very happy with the result.

I wish all cartridges came with Philip’s screws that’s blank cases are awesome would buy again .

Excellent.