What retro system should I get?

[ZeroAX]

get the TG-16. the other systems are too primitive for my tastes

[Octopod]

Lots of hate for the classic systems here.

[ryanofcali]

[Hatta]

Now there's a harder decision. TG-16, or PC Engine Duo. The Duo should play CDRs, and there's no region lock. But the selection there isn't huge and it won't play US hucards. That might not be an issue for you, if you're going to buy them online anyway, and a lot of shooters are easy to play in japanese.

If you get the PCE Duo, you might look into Super Hucard which is apparently a collection of 75 hucards that you can run from a CDR. I haven't tried it myself as I have a flash cart.

Also, it is possible to mod a PCE to be region free. If you're handy enough to do this, the PCE Duo is your best choice hands down.

[Betamax001]

Now there's a harder decision. TG-16, or PC Engine Duo. The Duo should play CDRs, and there's no region lock. But the selection there isn't huge and it won't play US hucards. That might not be an issue for you, if you're going to buy them online anyway, and a lot of shooters are easy to play in japanese.

If you get the PCE Duo, you might look into Super Hucard which is apparently a collection of 75 hucards that you can run from a CDR. I haven't tried it myself as I have a flash cart.

Also, it is possible to mod a PCE to be region free. If you're handy enough to do this, the PCE Duo is your best choice hands down.

If I had 200 dollars...which I don't

[Breetai]

Now there's a harder decision. TG-16, or PC Engine Duo. The Duo should play CDRs, and there's no region lock. But the selection there isn't huge and it won't play US hucards.

A few hundred CD and Super CD games isn't huge??? There are MORE CD games than HuCard games. Not to mention there are double or triple more HuCards that were released in Japan than in N.America. I think there are more PC Engine games overall than Sega Genesis games. There are well over a hundred games that are totally playable in English that are fun. The PC Engine with CD-ROM is a wonderful system. I'd even say that it's better than the Genesis and SNES in some ways.

Good advice with the Super HuCard, though.

Anyway, there is no way the OP would regret getting a TG-16 once he gets a few of the good games.

[AmishSamurai]

Lots of hate for the classic systems here.

They just really haven't aged well, and all of the good games have been ported a million times.

[Betamax001]

They just really haven't aged well, and all of the good games have been ported a million times.

This is true. My favorite Atari games are the Activision ones and I could just get the PS2 or PSP collections.

[CRTGAMER]

They just really haven't aged well, and all of the good games have been ported a million times.

This is true. My favorite Atari games are the Activision ones and I could just get the PS2 or PSP collections.

Compilations are great to give a taste of older systems. Some truly great games will not be played though. Mentioned earlier about a few others. Maze Craze, Stellar Track (a Sears telegames) , Demon Attack and Indy 500 come to mind.

Looky all the games!
http://www.atariage.com/software_list.h ... temID=2600

Prototypes, some did go commercial such as Stellar Track.
http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/softwar ... ftware.htm

Not a paddle, the Indy 500 close to a spinner, driving controller.
Not only a track racer, capture that Flag turn on a dime mania!

[Golgo 14]

Compilations are great to give a taste of older systems. Some truly great games will not be played though. Mentioned earlier about a few others. Maze Craze, Stellar Track (a Sears telegames) , Demon Attack and Indy 500 come to mind.

Looky all the games!
http://www.atariage.com/software_list.h ... temID=2600

Prototypes, some did go commercial such as Stellar Track.
http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/softwar ... ftware.htm

Not a paddle, the Indy 500 close to a spinner, driving controller.
Not only a track racer, capture that Flag turn on a dime mania!

Agreed x 1000. A lot of Atari games that were really popular in their heyday such as Ms. Pac-Man, Frogger, Centipede etc., have had ports come out on newer consoles that are much better and supercede the 2600 versions, but I love the 2600 now for games that I largely overlooked back in the 80's. Combat, Kaboom! and Indy 500 are in my top 10 games of all time and they MUST be played on the original hardware with the original controllers. I cannot stress enough how great 2-player Indy 500 is with those driving controllers!