PAL TurboGrafx + NTSC CD unit = ?

[ApolloBoy]

Who says the Turbo Duo is less reliable than a PC Engine Duo?

I know the addon CD units are pretty fault prone but this is the first I've heard of the Duo of one region being more prone to breaking.

As Breetai said, both the TurboDuo and PCE Duo have capacitor issues which can cause audio and/or CD drive issues. They're actually quite solid once they've been recapped, so it's not all bad. The build quality is also a bit better than the Duo-R/RX (caps aside), especially the PCB which is surprisingly sturdy. A lot of people also prefer the styling of the original Duo, but that's just a matter of personal taste.

The lesser library is not an issue either, I'll only lose out on Japanese Turbo Chip games and so far I have not seen any exclusive titles for it that I would want to own. In fact I already have most of the Turbo Chips that I want. Same goes for Arcade card CD games.

You're seriously missing out by counting out all of the Japanese games. The Japanese library is much larger than the US library and there's a ton of Japanese exclusives, including loads of excellent arcade ports and some neat originals, both on CD and HuCard. Most Japanese games are actually cheaper than their American counterparts so there's also that to consider.

[kamiboy]

I have my crazy reasons for wanting a NA Duo which I am sure none else can relate to. Stylings is one big part of it. I can replace a cap or two, or die trying.

As for shooters, I am not crazy about that genre. I enjoy a few here and there like Blazing Lazers but they are not something I am ever going to dig deep into the obscure Arcade Card only Japanese library for.

Now, if only I could find a mint Duo for sale for around 400-500 I would be set.

Unfortunately the eBay price cartel seems to think a mint unit is worth 1200-4000.

[Breetai]

I have my crazy reasons for wanting a NA Duo which I am sure none else can relate to.

As for shooters, I am not crazy about that genre. I enjoy a few here and there like Blazing Lazers but they are not something I am ever going to dig deep into the obscure Arcade Card only Japanese library for.

TONS of affordable JP games, both shooters and non-, are on the PCE. If you are actually willing to pay hundreds of $$$ for a console, why would you not be willing to get into the real meat of its library?

Now, if only I could find a mint Duo for sale for around 400-500 I would be set.

Unfortunately the eBay price cartel seems to think a mint unit is worth 1200-4000.

Buy an original PCE Duo and spray paint it's hight-lights black. Boom! You have a US Duo!

[kamiboy]

I didnt say being crazy was easy.

But in all honesty I am pretty picky about the games I buy and my attention is divided between many systems, the NA library has plenty to keep me busy.

[ApolloBoy]

I have my crazy reasons for wanting a NA Duo which I am sure none else can relate to.

A region modded PCE Duo will be cheaper than a TurboDuo and it looks practically identical, save for the green power switch and purple disc door button. Plus if you ever decide to get into the Japanese games you have that option available.

[Breetai]

I didnt say being crazy was easy.

But in all honesty I am pretty picky about the games I buy and my attention is divided between many systems, the NA library has plenty to keep me busy.

Sure, I can relate to that.

Still, check out some of the JP stuff. There are some real gems. Along with the Saturn, the PC Engine is perhaps the system with the greatest ratio of good games that did not leave Japan. Not only that, but a lot of the more expensive games in the US are much cheaper on the PC Engine.

How about Soldier Blade? Quite expensive and hard to find for the Turbo, but it's fairly common and much more affordable on the PC Engine.

Final Solider is a great game in that series and is only in Japan. Plus, it's very cheap. You can probably buy it for $10 plus shipping.

Bonk 3 is WAYYYYY cheaper on the PC Engine.

Air Zonk is WAYYYYY cheaper on the PC Engine.

Bomberman '93 is also WAYYYY cheaper on the PC Engine (and even has English menus). Bomberman '94 is Japan-only.

Download is freaking incredible for a few reasons, and is PC Engine exclusive. It's a must-buy! I mean, just look at the awesome game over screens!!! You NEED this game!


Parodius Da!, Gradius, Salamander and Detana! Twinbee are Japan-only, and are all nearly arcade-perfect ports. Yes, you can get them all on the Saturn/PS1 (and Parodius on SNES/SFC), but then you have loading time. Nothing like turning it on and playing right away! All of these are affordable to import.

Mr. Heli is fun, cheap and Japan-only.

I like Saint Dragon, but maybe that's because I used to play it in a bowling alley arcade as a kid. The PC Engine has the only home version of this game.

Magical Chase is sooooo much cheaper to get from Japan.

Toilet Kids! Look it up. Great fun for everyone!

The PC Engine version of JJ&Jeff blows the US release out of the water. It is really no comparison. It's actually a fun game on the PCE, while it is lame on the TG-16.

Street Fighter II': Champion Edition is incredible. You can get it in the $10 range and be amazed at how well it was done. It's better than the Genesis version and arguably better than the SNES version.

Coryoon. Awesomeness!

Gekisha Boy is affordable and one of those really "Japanese" games that is so much fun to play around with.

Dragon Saber is the very good sequel to Dragon Spirit and is cheap.


Remember that these are all import HuCards. I haven't even touched the CDs.

If you get the caps replaced, does the PCE Duo really look that much worse than the US Duo? The ONLY difference is some minor purple styling. You save literally hundreds of dollars and you can still get it region-free. You can get a region-modified one with all caps replaced for the $250 range including shipping. Can't beat that!!!

[kamiboy]

Tell you what, you find me a NIB or near mint Japanese Duo, the black one, and I'll buy it.

If it looks a hair below mint or has been modified in any way then I dont want it because I am crazy like that.

Besides out all the games you mentioned I only plan on getting Bonk 3 at some point, the rest dont interest me. I sort of did my homework on the system before deciding to add it to my collection.

At the rate I go through my games I am set with what I already have or have put on my want list for the next few decades.

[Breetai]

Tell you what, you find me a NIB or near mint Japanese Duo, the black one, and I'll buy it.

I'm not trying to sell you something here. I'm telling you straight up the best way to go for PCE/TG stuff.

I have sold very nice CIB Duos here before, but that was when I was in Japan. I'm in Canada now. Try Dean at multimods.com (he wells PCEs with the caps replaced and region mods) or put in a request at PCEngineFX.com. Some of the members here are in Japan and might help you out as well.

[kamiboy]

I was planning on visiting the fine gents at the PCFX union in the near future. We'll see what they can do for me. But I already put a lot of thought behind this and I want my baby back mint Turbo and by the videogaming gods one day I will own one for a reasonable sum.

Last year there was this sealed unit being auctioned by someone who clearly had no idea what they had on their hand. I really had my ticy ticker set on that one, but those dastardly eBay cartel mafiosos got to the seller, and that was that. A few weeks later it showed up again under that nonesense VGA label for over 3000$ and I was so mad that I punched a baby. Dont worry, it was a cartel baby and had it coming.

Anywaste, in the unlikely event that I should ever want a Japanese chip or Arcade game there is always those crude, cheaply made converters that the eBay cartel seems to think are worth more than the price of the console.

Yeah, there is always that...

[Breetai]

I was planning on visiting the fine gents at the PCFX union in the near future. We'll see what they can do for me. But I already put a lot of thought behind this and I want my baby back mint Turbo and by the videogaming gods one day I will own one for a reasonable sum.

Sure. I don't think any of the regulars there have any very pristine in box original PCE Duos or Turboduos for sale, but they do come up from time to time. Turboduos are very rare, but PCE Duos happen a few times a year.

Last year there was this sealed unit being auctioned by someone who clearly had no idea what they had on their hand. I really had my ticy ticker set on that one, but those dastardly eBay cartel mafiosos got to the seller, and that was that. A few weeks later it showed up again under that nonesense VGA label for over 3000$ and I was so mad that I punched a baby. Dont worry, it was a cartel baby and had it coming.

Ummm... okay... Would a loose Turboduo suffice, or do you really need the box?

Anywaste, in the unlikely event that I should ever want a Japanese chip or Arcade game there is always those crude, cheaply made converters that the eBay cartel seems to think are worth more than the price of the console.

Much cleaner to mod the console, and cheaper as well. If you do ever want a converter, one of the guys at PCEngineFX makes them. They are better than the Kisado ones that you are probably talking about. Still much cheaper to mod or even buy a Core Grafx or something.