NEC --- If you could have any 30 games on your shelf

[mjmjr25]

S

Jackie Chan 1 and 2

There is no 2. This is EXACTLY the same game as the NES version, just with better graphics and audio throughout. Any actual gameplay differences are negligible.

Boss post, maru - I was hoping you'd chime in.

As for Jackie Chan, I was reading the Bible tonight and didn't realize it was just differently named in the US vs JP...so now I see, yeah, just one game, slight name change for region.

[marurun]

Here's another PCE bible of sorts:

PCE Daisakusen, the PCE database. You can even create an account and track your collection.

[Hobie-wan]

Burning Angels - not sure what historical prices have been, but it's $100 buy nows and looking at completeds does $50-60.

Sweet giminy jumping christmas on a pogo stick. I paid $13 for a complete one in June 2011.

I no way shape or form is it worth the going rates IMHO.

I see that Maruroo agrees with the stuff I mentioned.

[dsheinem]

Burning Angels - not sure what historical prices have been, but it's $100 buy nows and looking at completeds does $50-60.

Sweet giminy jumping christmas on a pogo stick. I paid $13 for a complete one in June 2011.

I no way shape or form is it worth the going rates IMHO.

I see that Maruroo agrees with the stuff I mentioned.

I can happily +1 these Marurun suggestions that I didn't already mention:

Legendary Axe
Legendary Axe II
Psychosis/Paranoia
Spriggan
Spriggan Mk II
Galaga 88/90

I took a look in my cabinet and would also add these to the discussion:

Terraforming - Syd Mead game that has some great music and spritework, even if it is a bit unfair (IMO) at points. I'd put it in the top 20 shmups on the system, and I know it has a lot of hardcore fans that would rank it higher.

Space Invaders - Fukkatsu No Hi - The has the original arcade game on it but it also has a really fantastic version of the game with interesting visuals, gameplay variants, etc. Probably my fave SI game that isn't one of the post-2000s psychedelic titles

Renny Blaster - fun beat 'em up with a Castlevania aesthetic and really interesting level design. Like with most PCE games I like, it also has amazing music and spritework. (this one is not in my cabinet, unfortunately)

[marurun]

Terraforming in the top 20? Really? Hmm... I'd have to think on that. There are an awful lot of shooters on this system, and a lot of them are pretty darn good...

[dsheinem]

Terraforming in the top 20? Really? Hmm... I'd have to think on that. There are an awful lot of shooters on this system, and a lot of them are pretty darn good...

It's close, yeah. I have not played more than probably 30-40 shooters on the system, though, so take that for what it is worth.

[marurun]

You know, I'm gonna go ahead and recommend the US version of Cosmic Fantasy 2. The translation suffers from Working Designs's sense of "humor" and the combat mechanics are broken. Literally broken*. But it's not a really long RPG, the music is decent, and the actual plot is really interesting, especially the ending. There's a twist that is not at all typical of US or JPN RPGs, and it's a really good one. Not only that, but there are some other real gem moments as the story progresses, like getting your ass handed to you and getting the opportunity for revenge later.

*There are supposed to be various status effects in the game but they don't actually do anything. The items in the game that cure those effects are pointless because the status effects never take effect.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Basically a response to marurun...

+1 Legendary Axe (haven't played the sequel)
+1 Dungeon Explorer (haven't played the sequel)
+1 Dragon's Curse
+1 Neutopia (haven't played the sequel)

+1 Ys III
+1 Ys IV

Not sure how much (further) love the other Ys games will get. Ys III is considered the black sheep of the series (though the PC Engine CD port is the best) and Ys IV remained in Japan.

There are some other great Falcom games on PCE but we're getting pretty obscure now...

-1 Cosmic Fantasy 2

Sorry, but this just isn't that good. Bland brown/beige graphics, boring battles, broken items (as you said), uneven difficulty. The best thing about the game is the voice acting and cutscenes, which isn't saying much...

Emerald Dragon
Best version of the game. Translation just getting started at pcenginefx.

How is it better than the Super Famicom version?

Lastly, I want to give a huge nomination to a game I can't believe I forgot about - Exile!!!

It's a CD action-RPG with a bizarre religious storyline. Plays a bit like Ys III but with vastly superior combat and some overworld exploration. There's a Middle Eastern vibe and some excellent accompanying music.

It's quite fantastic. The Genesis version was my 2014 (Retro) GOTY, and the Turbo CD port is even better with the benefit of CD audio. Working Designs translation too.

There is a sequel, but I can't recommend that. It's vastly inferior and the difficulty (in the NA version at least) is completely unfair and broken.

[mjmjr25]

Regarding NEXZR - there is the normal artwork and the summer carnival 93 artwork - is the game the same?

Any commentary on Faussete Amour from someone whose played it?

[marurun]

I *THINK* the only difference between NEXZR and the Special/Summer Carnival '93 version is that there's a caravan mode added on. It's been a while. I don't happen to own either. I have played quite a bit emulated that I don't yet have in my physical collection.