How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

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marurun
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Re: How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

Post by marurun »

Betagam7 wrote:
marurun wrote:A HuCard-only PC Engine or CoreGrafx will probably run you around $100. To get a CD-capable setup would probably run $250 or so. And CD units are old enough that most need their capacitors and CD lenses replaced, though that 250 might get something with one of those things done.
Thanks. I'm trying to work out what the difference is between the Coregrafx 1 and 2. Is there ANY advantage in getting the Coregrafx 2? Racketboy's guide just seems to indicate that it was a cheaper to manufacture design...Is that it?
Well, there was a minor CPU revision that showed up in some Core 1 models and the SuperGrafx, but all that does is fix an audio popping issue when an audio channel is switched on from an off state (mostly helpful with clear sample playback), and due to the way the systems amplify audio, I THINK having a CD add-on can mitigate this popping in the regular CPU version. It only really is an issue for certain sample playback methods (creates a buzz alongside the sample). My old Core I and Duo both seemed to perform identically.

Basically, the Core I and Core II are, for all practical intents and purposes, identical. Now, if you come across a cheap PC Engine (white original model), be wary. They only have RF out, and Japanese TVs use a different RF channel than US TVs. Also, the original white PC Engine controller didn't have turbo switches (I think there were some later white-edition controllers that did, though). But there is an AV addon (that can be hard to find) that adds AV out on the original PCE. CD addons also feature AV out.
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Re: How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

Post by mas »

Love my everdrive this morning I was playing legendary axe. This must be one of my favorite games on the system
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Re: How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

Post by Betagam7 »

marurun wrote:
Betagam7 wrote:
marurun wrote:A HuCard-only PC Engine or CoreGrafx will probably run you around $100. To get a CD-capable setup would probably run $250 or so. And CD units are old enough that most need their capacitors and CD lenses replaced, though that 250 might get something with one of those things done.
Thanks. I'm trying to work out what the difference is between the Coregrafx 1 and 2. Is there ANY advantage in getting the Coregrafx 2? Racketboy's guide just seems to indicate that it was a cheaper to manufacture design...Is that it?
Well, there was a minor CPU revision that showed up in some Core 1 models and the SuperGrafx, but all that does is fix an audio popping issue when an audio channel is switched on from an off state (mostly helpful with clear sample playback), and due to the way the systems amplify audio, I THINK having a CD add-on can mitigate this popping in the regular CPU version. It only really is an issue for certain sample playback methods (creates a buzz alongside the sample). My old Core I and Duo both seemed to perform identically.

Basically, the Core I and Core II are, for all practical intents and purposes, identical. Now, if you come across a cheap PC Engine (white original model), be wary. They only have RF out, and Japanese TVs use a different RF channel than US TVs. Also, the original white PC Engine controller didn't have turbo switches (I think there were some later white-edition controllers that did, though). But there is an AV addon (that can be hard to find) that adds AV out on the original PCE. CD addons also feature AV out.
Thanks for your advice. I opted for a Core I in the end. It was cheaper and there really doesn't seem anything much in it other than the paint job.

Now to start game hunting. :D
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Re: How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

Post by Betagam7 »

My CoreGrafx should arrive tomorrow...although as yet I don't have anything to play on it just yet I do have copies of Populous and New Zealand Story coming in the next few days also.

Populous is a game I've never been able to figure out without a manual so I'm hoping for better luck with this version than I had with the SMS and Game Boy ports.

The New Zealand Story has a particular nostalgia factor to me (and probably most European's of a certain age) as it was pretty huge over in the UK when I was a kid, where home computers were way more popular than consoles.

I was always stuck with the C64 level 1 demo and always wanted to play a version with better graphics. So now my time has come. :lol: Hopefully the port isn't terrible.

It's going to be neat having a new console I've never owned before to tinker with over Christmas.
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Re: How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

Post by alienjesus »

I had a play of a couple of PC Engine games last night.

Had my best run ever in Wonder Boy 3: Monster Lair, reaching the stage 5 boss before game overing. Shame there seems to be about 14 levels really - I'm a long long long long way from being able to finish this one.

The I had a shot at Parasol Stars. I plaugged on through to a good way through world 5 or 6 on this one (can't remember which, probably 5) before I game overed. The difficulty really starts to ramp up at that point, that's for sure.
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Re: How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

Post by marurun »

In Parasol Stars, are you making sure to farm credits? Do you know how to farm credits?
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alienjesus
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Re: How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

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marurun wrote:In Parasol Stars, are you making sure to farm credits? Do you know how to farm credits?
The answer to both of the above is 'no'.

Please enlighten me!
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Re: How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

Post by BoneSnapDeez »

alienjesus wrote:I had a play of a couple of PC Engine games last night.

Had my best run ever in Wonder Boy 3: Monster Lair, reaching the stage 5 boss before game overing. Shame there seems to be about 14 levels really - I'm a long long long long way from being able to finish this one.
We've reached about the same area. The game just gets really hard really fast and seems almost impossible to beat. Though, admittedly, it's not a game I particularly care for so I haven't spent a tremendous amount of effort trying.
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Re: How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

Post by marurun »

You know how sometimes you'll throw an enemy or droplet and it will spawn a line of point items? Throw another enemy or droplet and you can collect them all. That saves time. But every point item you reveal that way causes the next point item to go up in value, until eventually you spawn a credit, which looks like a little blue 100 coin.

This is great on the first levels, because you just find a long open stretch and keep throwing droplets down it to spawn and then collect point items until they stop spawning because that strip of hidden items is farmed out. If you play carefully on the early levels and find the best stretches for point items, you can actually stock up quite a few credits.

Also, make sure to read up on-line about how to get the good ending. It's hard work, but cool when you do it.
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Re: How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

Post by Betagam7 »

I've always enjoyed games that allow you to play as Dragons so I've been excited to discover the number of games where you can play as a Dragon is healthily high on this system.

Dragon Spirit
Dragon Saber
St. Dragon
Dragon's Egg
Dragon's Curse

Am I missing any?
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