How's your TurboGrafx 16/PC Engine Going on

[BoneSnapDeez]

It's a bit different than the SNES and Genesis. It predates both (1987) and feels - pardon the silly term - "12-bit", almost caught between two generations. The controller is like an NES controller with built-in turbo functions. The console also feels "distinctly Japanese" like the Neo Geo - don't expect many Western games or licensed titles (there are exceptions of course).

Also, the CD peripheral is much more important than the Sega CD is to the Genesis. While the Sega CD had some phenomenal games it was also loaded up with dated FMV poop and most the best 16-bit Sega titles were released as carts. Not so in this case - once the CD format became popularized many developers jumped over to that format over HuCards and I'd say that overall the TurboGrafx CD library is vastly superior to the HuCard library. That isn't to say one should discount the HuCards though - really, it's best to view this as one "Duo" system with games available on two different formats.

Not sure how much help I can be when it comes to recommendations. I'm a bit of a TG16 neophyte still and, as you know, I kind of gravitate to obscure shit (like untranslated JRPGs).

Now, as a Zelda fan you should most certainly check out the Neutopia games. They are admittedly derivative and follow the format of the first Zelda very closely, but are extremely competent in their own right.

There are many decent action-RPGs on the system. I know you aren't a fan of Ys Book I & II (WHAT THE FUCK MAN) but Ys III may be more up your alley. It's a bit like Zelda II, with a side-view. In this same vein, I'd also recommend both Exile titles and Dragon's Curse (the latter will also scratch that Metroidvania itch). There's also Cadash, which is one of those rare "arcade action-RPGs." I think it's much better on TG16 than Genesis.

For pure top-down dungeon-crawling fun check out the Dungeon Explorer games. First is on card, second on CD.

Double Dungeons is the system's first-person Japanese-developed dungeon-crawler (so, it's a bit analogous to Shining in the Darkness and Arcana). The visuals are kinda bland but I find the gameplay smooth, addictive, and entertaining.

THE "traditional" JRPG on the system is Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes (by Falcom). Nothing mind-blowing here, but it's a solid experience for those who like Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and the like.

For side-scrolling action, I dig the Valis games which feature "magical girl" type heroes. Sure you can find (some of) them on the SNES and Genesis too but they really shine on the TurboDuo.

(Oh, and I think/hope you were thinking of emulating. The prices of some of these games I mentioned will make you poop.)

[Xeogred]

Nice stuff Bone. This whole time I was kind of seeing it as a "24-bit" system, since with the CD add on I figured it was a bit after the SNES/Genesis, but still before the PSX. Had no idea the original hardware came out that early in 1987.

Neutopia looks awesome. Dragon's Curse has a nice Adventure Island vibe to it from what I'm seeing. I've stumbled upon Valis before, looks really cool.

Skimming some Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes (CD) right now and the music is insane. Seems to be the case with Falcom heh.

I've dabbled into Ys III before. Is the PCE version better than the SNES and Genesis ones?

Yeah I don't really see myself dumping money into this at all right now. But of the handful of systems I haven't really explored much or know anything about, it's definitely the most enticing to me. The 8bit/16bit era is my main DNA and it's just crazy there's an entire system worth I haven't been exposed to. Instead of taking gambles on random new indie games that try to harken back to this era, I bet I'd get way more mileage about of this stuff instead.

So yeah if anyone else has some recommendations or even some of the go to fan favorite picks for the console, I'm definitely interested in hearing about it. Rondo of Blood is arguably one of the best Castlevania's ever, so I can't wait to hit up some other gems of that caliber.

Think I'll rewatch HCG's video on it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MnzDiVFS-k

[alienjesus]

The PCE/TG16 is such a big mysterious void to me. Where do I even begin?

I love...

Mario
Sonic
Zelda
Castlevania
Metroid
Blaster Master
Mega Man
Thunder Force
JRPG's

Is the system more arcadey, or does it have games comparable to the SNES/Genesis?

I have no idea! It's just crazy there's this massive 16bit system I haven't really touched at all because it didn't do so well in the USA. Rondo of Blood might literally be the only thing I've played.

If you like the Castlevania series, you might enjoy the Valis games on TGCD. They're not as good as Castlevania for sure, but I enjoy them rather a lot. My understanding is that the Turbo/PC Engine versions are the definitive ones.

If you're a fan of shmups like Thunder Force, then you'll propbably love the selection on PC Engine. if all the other consoles of the late 80s and early 90s were drowning in platformers, then the PC Engine is the odd one out with it's enormous slew of shmups. Gate of Thunder is one that comes to mind as both an excellent title, and one with some smiliarities to the likes of Thunder Force 3.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I've dabbled into Ys III before. Is the PCE version better than the SNES and Genesis ones?

Oh yes. If you're to play any port you'll want to hit up the one on PCE. SNES is the worst version by far, with some shoddy hit detection.

Genesis fares okay, but the PCE redbook audio really helps push it over the edge.

[marurun]

The PCE is so much a transitional system. It feels both very 8-bit and very 16-bit at the same time. There are absolutely a lot of great games, many on HuCard/TurboChip, but if you don't have CD capabilities you will absolutely miss out on most of the very best the platform has to offer, and some real highlights of the 16-bit generation in general.

Dragon's Curse and the two Neutopias are must-haves. There wasn't a strong platforming scene on the PCE, so not much that's like Mario or Sonic. Most are just walk straight ahead punching or slashing. But shooters (or shmups) are the graphical bread and butter of the system. They lend themselves to strong color capabilities and low RAM. When I get home after work I will provide more detail.

Also, unlike the Sega CD, the PC Engine CD attachments don't add any extra processing power, just a single-channel ADPCM audio chip and RAM cache to use as a virtual cartridge. Later upgrades increase this RAM cache dramatically, enabling programmers to easily steal bits of it for use for system and program data and such to offset the original system's criminally low amount of system memory.

[Xeogred]

Walking straight and punching and slashing things works for me. I actually liked Altered Beast a lot.

It's definitely interesting to compare it to other systems. Like Rondo of Blood vs Super Castlevania IV or something, Rondo doesn't look quite as detailed in most areas, but the colors are definitely a lot stronger. It's an interesting look so I can definitely see what you mean with it being a weird mix of 8bit and 16bit. That's what I love about it from the little I've seen!

[marurun]

OK, so it's not after work yesterday, it's almost after work today, but I'll add a little more. I'm sure I'll be repeating some of what I've dumped into our TG-16 articles for the front page in years past.

The CPU core in the TG-16 is fundamentally 8-bit, but it uses a lot of 16-bit era chip technology to upgrade the CPU by adding additional functions and boosting the CPU core to over 7 mhz. It also was paired with a 16-bit video chip which had very good sprite capabilities and color handling. The new functions and high clock speed conspired to make the CPU an equal to the newer CPU designs used in the Genesis and SNES in most processing functions, with the notable exception being multiplication.

In fact, the TG-16, on the whole, is largely as capable as its contemporaries in all but two key areas. One is the lack of a second tile layer (annoying, but not fatal), and the other is a lack of work RAM. That latter quality is the real biggie. The system was RAM-starved when it game to game logic code and storing variables. That was truly the biggest consequence of being first to market in the next generation. Fortunately, the CD-ROM add-ons helped combat this. Programmers could take some of the RAM cache provided for CD-ROM titles and allot it for system functions. Since these RAM caches were set up to be accessed just like game ROM memory, it was trivial to do and access was fast.

Blah blah blah I'm tired of typing tech junk, even though I love talking about it. Games are the key, right? hope you're good with Japanese, because many of the best titles never arrived on our shores. Not only that, but some of the best Neo Geo conversions were only in Japanese using a Japan-only RAM expansion. The PC Engine versions of Fatal Fury 2, Fatal Fury Special, World Heroes 2, and Art of Fighting blew the pants off the SNES and Genesis conversions.

But you said slashing and punching and running to the right while doing it were OK, right? There are some HuCard/TurboChip titles you're going to love.

Ninja Spirit
Legendary Axe (some folks don't like this since it's more methodical, but I think they're nuts)
Legendary Axe II (don't be fooled, no relationship to the first)
Cadash (IMO, better than the Genny version)
Dragon's Curse (Metroidvania-esque)
Jackie Chan's Action Kung-Fu (just like the NES version, but better looking and sounding)
Legend of Hero Tonma (not quite on the level with the other titles on this list, but still good)
New Adventure Island (but only if you already like Adventure Island style titles)
Splatterhouse

As for more mascot-style platformers, your options are... Bonk 1, 2, and 3. That's it. Nothing else on the system is really any good in this vein.

[Xeogred]

I liked the tech talk! I've heard it was a complex system to program for and I can figure that's probably a big reason why most of its games have never been ported elsewhere.

I watched some "top" lists on youtube and I have to say, Somer Assault stood out a lot to me haha. Looks like something I'd love, in the vein of weirder stuff like Lemmings or Lost Vikings...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mruKBoC9lpQ

Graphically looks very appealing to me too.

[mas]

Well this sucks. Just got my everdrive in and no sd card like the guy says it had. So now I have an everdrive in my tg16 and can't play it. And since I only have a phone and tablet I can't download. Also was going to ask my friends to just buy an sd card and have them hook me up and I'll pay them but the wife and I just did our finances for dec and I can't buy anything and I mean anything till mid jan. Bad enough the kids is only getting a couple of gifts for Christmas. Ohh well that's the price I get when you have a mortgage and utilities and car payment etc.

[marurun]

You can fit every ROM on a 2 gb card, so that's 5 buck. Find a friend who won't charge and you're done.