I should actually post this list here, shouldn't I. Finally got it into a good form a few months ago, after spending some time figuring out the differences between the various external save devices. That took a while, specific information about some of them wasn't that easy to find. The one thing that's missing is a complete list of Japanese titles that support system save. I know this list is very far from complete. Please tell me if there are any errors in this list. I'd also love to know the save file size numbers for the other titles; the only ones I have the numbers for are the ones in that list linked earlier in this thread, and a few others.
Backup Save Unit Types
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TurboGrafx-CD and PCE-CD base units, TurboDuo and PCE Duo, Duo-R, and Duo-RX systems (US and Japan) have 2000 blocks in their internal save memories. These all save via a capacitor, so it'll eventually lose the saves on it if you don't turn the system on for too long; it should be able to hold them for at least a few weeks on each charge.
Turbo Booster Plus (US) - Alternative instead of a CD base unit, adds AV output and 2000 blocks of internal memory. I believe the internal memory is capacitor-backed, like with the CD base units and Duos.
Tennokoe 2 (J) - External backup unit with 2000 blocks of memory. Plugs into the back of the system, to add saving to systems like the CoreGrafx for people who don't want to get a CD drive. Uses AA batteries to hold the save. Doesn't have AV output, because this was mostly designed for systems like the CoreGrafx which have that themselves.
Backup Booster (J) - Another external 2000 block memory unit, again powered with AA batteries (apparently), but this is basically the Japanese equivalent of the Turbo Booster Plus - it's got the internal save, and AV output.
Backup Booster 2 (J) - Save memory only addon - no AV output here. Apparently saves via an internal rechargeable NiCad battery, and gets power from the system. "60 hours charge to save data for a month". Probably is also 2000 blocks, but I don't know for sure.
Backup Unit (J) - Backup unit just for the PC Engine Shuttle. Functionally the same as the Backup Booster 2, just differently shaped.
Tennokoe Bank HuCards (Japan only cards with save memory on them) have 8000 blocks divided into four 2000 block banks - you can only copy whole banks back and forth to the system or delete files in a bank, not copy individual files between banks. Games can't save to it directly, instead you copy the bank you're using to the system. The thing saves via an internal, very difficult to replace CR2032 battery.
Memory Base 128 units (Japan only addons that plug into the controller port as a passthrough) have 128000 blocks on them, divided into 64 banks. You can copy banks back and forth to the system, as with the Tennokoe Bank, though to do this you must go through ingame menus with certain compatible games (because of how it plugs in, it can't have a built-in menu like the Tennokoe Bank, of course). Certain, specific Japanese CD titles that support the MB128 directly can save directly to the MB128, as well. Koei released a clone of the MB128 called the Save-kun; it's the same thing, and is intercompatible. The only negative is that it saves via AA batteries, which won't last nearly as long, but are user-replaceable. There is another internal (rechargable perhaps) battery for when the batteries die, that will hold the saves for about half an hour while you replace the batteries.
Sources:
www6.airnet.ne.jp%2Fwataru%2Fpce%2Fback_sys.htm&act=url or translated:
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww6.airnet.ne.jp%2Fwataru%2Fpce%2Fback_sys.htm&act=urlhttp://turbo.mindrec.com/files/gamesave.faqhttp://forums.magicengine.com/en/viewtopic.php?t=2285For the below list, the US list should be complete. The Japanese list is very incomplete.
TG16/PCE HuCard games with system save
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U
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D&D: Order of the Griffon - 412 blocks (also has passwords, but with PW you can only save on world map; with system save you can save anywhere) (four files allowed)
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JU
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Andre Panza Kick Boxing - 35 blocks
Ballistix
Bomberman - 5 blocks (also has passwords) (can save only at Continue menu. Three files allowed.)
Bomberman '93 - 16 blocks (also has passwords) (can save only at Continue menu. Three files allowed.)
Boxyboy (main game is password only, but edit mode is system save only)
Champions Forever Boxing - 21 blocks (also has passwords)
Chew Man Fu - 2 blocks for game progress, 172 blocks per custom level (also has passwords for game progress, custom levels require system save)
Cratermaze - 1 block (also has passwords)
Davis Cup Tennis - 209 blocks per file
Devil's Crush - 480 blocks in two 240 block files (both required) (also has passwords)
Dragon's Curse - 14 blocks (also has passwords) (four files allowed)
Falcon - 140 blocks in two files, 60 and 80 blocks, both required (also has passwords)
Gunboat - 176 blocks
Jack Nicklaus Turbo Golf - 406 blocks in two files, 130 and 286 blocks (130 blocks for score/player data, 286 to save a game in progress)
Neutopia - 32 blocks (also has passwords) (four files allowed)
Neutopia II - 48 blocks (also has passwords) (four files allowed)
Night Creatures - 40 blocks (can save after dying, game saves number of remaining continues.) (three files allowed)
Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III
Soldier Blade - 63 blocks
Super Volleyball - 112 blocks per file (saves Team Edit mode creations)
Tiger Road - 40 blocks
Timeball - 420 blocks (also has passwords)
World Sports Competition - two files, both required, 216 and 144 blocks (360 total) (can have up to three saves of the 216 block main save files; the smaller file is world records.)
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J (incomplete list)
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Battle Lode Runner (also has password for main game; edit mode requires system save)
Coryoon: Child of Dragon
Darius Plus - 260 blocks
Eternal City: Toshi Tenso Keikaku
Final Soldier - 18 blocks
Knight Rider Special
Lady Sword
Lode Runner: Lost Labyrinth (also has passwords)
Populou
Tora Heno Michi
TG16/PCE CD games with system save - games are for Super CD unless noted with a (CD) or (Arcade CD).
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U
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Beyond Shadowgate - 600 blocks (can have up to three files)
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JU
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4-In-1 Super CD (Gate of Thunder and HuCard copies of Bomberman, Bonk 1, Bonk 2; the first two have saving, see their listings for file sizes.) (Super CD)
Cosmic Fantasy 2 - 338 blocks per file, 2 files required (CD)
Cotton - 40 blocks (saves high scores only) (Super CD)
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes - 601 blocks per file (three files allowed) (Super CD)
Dungeon Explorer 2 - 616 blocks (includes four saveslots within it) (Super CD)
Dungeon Master: Theron's Quest - 409 blocks per file (three files allowed) (can only save at end of level) (Super CD)
The Dynastic Hero - 78 blocks (four files allowed) (Super CD)
Exile - 96 blocks (four files allowed) (save anywhere)
Exile: Wicked Phenomenon - 1155 blocks (includes three saveslots within it) (save in towns only) (Super CD)
Fighting Street - 110 blocks (saves high scores only) (CD)
Forgotten Worlds - 34 blocks (saves high scores only) (Super CD)
Gate of Thunder - 25 blocks (saves high scores only) (Super CD)
Godzilla - 12 blocks (Super CD)
It Came from the Desert - 132 blocks (CD)
Jack Nicklaus Turbo Golf - 368 blocks (game in progress save) (CD)
J.B. Harrold Murder Club - 400 blocks (two files allowed) (CD)
Last Alert - 32 blocks (CD)
Loom - 66 blocks (Super CD)
Lords of the Rising Sun - 1075 blocks (CD)
Might & Magic III: Isles of Terra - 1969 blocks (Super CD)
Monster Lair - 64 blocks (saves high scores only) (CD)
Prince of Persia - 10 blocks (ten files allowed) (Super CD)
Riot Zone - 40 blocks (saves high scores only) (Super CD)
Shadow of the Beast - 144 blocks (WILL AUTO-ERASE ALL OTHER FILES IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SAVE SPACE!) (saves high scores only) (Super CD)
Shape Shifter - 177 blocks (SOMETIMES WILL ERASE ALL OTHER SAVE FILES WITH NO WARNING!) (Super CD)
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective vol 1. - 3 269 block files, one for each mystery (CD)
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective vol 2. - 3 273 block files, one for each mystery (CD)
SimEarth - 2000 blocks (Super CD)
Splash Lake - 62 blocks (CD)
Valis II - 16 blocks (CD)
Valis III - 32 blocks (CD)
Vasteel - 880 blocks (contains four save slots within the file) (CD)
Ys Books I & II - 45 blocks per file (CD)
Ys III - Wanderers from Ys - 48 blocks per file (CD)
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J (very incomplete list!)
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A-Train III (A.III. / Take the "A" Train III / A-Rensha de Ikou III) (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Akamajou Dracula X - 144 blocks
Ane-San
Aoki Ookami To Shiroki Mejika (also supports Memory Base 128)
Art of Fighting (Ryuuko no Ken) (Arcade CD) (?)
The Atlas: Renaissance Voyager (also supports Memory Base 128)
Basted (Bastard!)
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Collection (also supports Memory Base 128)
Blood Gear
Bomberman: Panic Bomber
Brandish - 997 blocks (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Dragon Knight & Graffiti
Dragon Knight 2 - 993 blocks
Dragon Knight 3
Dragon Slayer II
Eikan wa Kimi ni: Koukou Yakyuu Zenkoko Taikai (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun) (baseball sim) (Arcade CD Enhanced, Super CD Required)
Efera and Jiliora: The Emblem of Darkness (CD)
Emerald Dragon - 4 blocks for config file, 274 blocks per save (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Fatal Fury 2 (Garou Densetsu 2: Aratanaru Tatakai) (Arcade CD) (?)
Fatal Fury Special (Garou Densetsu Special) (Arcade CD) (?)
Fire Pro Female Wrestling (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Fray in Magical Adventure
Future Boy Conan - 2 blocks
Ghengis Khan (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Gotzendeiner - 160 blocks
Hi-Leg Fantasy (SOMETIMES WILL ERASE ALL OTHER SAVE FILES WITH NO WARNING!)
Human Sports Festival - 40 blocks (can use passwords, but for one of the three modes only)
Iga Ningen Gaiou
Image Fight II - 19 blocks
Kabuki Ittoryudan (Arcade CD) (?)
Kaze Kiri Ninja Action
Kiaidan 00
Linda Cube (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Metamor Jupiter
Magicoal (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Might & Magic (CD)
Moonlight Lady
Nobunaga's Ambition: Zenkokuban (Nobunaga no Yabou) (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Nobunaga's Ambition: Bushou Fuuunroku (Nobunaga no Yabou) (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Nexzr (saves top 5 scores only)
Popful Mail (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Princess Maker
Princess Maker 2 (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Princess Minerva
Private Eye Doll (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Puyo Puyo CD - 128 blocks
Puyo Puyo CD Tsuu
Road Spirits - 138 blocks
Romance of the Three Kingdoms III (Sangokushi III) (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Ruin - 783 blocks (contains two saves within it)
Shin Megami Tensei (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Sol Moonarge
Startling Odyssey II - 349 blocks
Summer Carnival '92: Alzadick (saves settings, top score in each category) (CD)
Summer Carnival '93: Nexzr Special (saves top 5 scores in main game, 1 score in each carnival mode)
Super Darius (may not save much if anything?) (CD)
Super Darius II
Super Real Mahjong P II + III Custom (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Super Real Mahjong PV Custom (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Tadaima Yusha Boshuchuu (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Tengai Makyou: Ziria (CD)
Tengai Makyou II: Manji Maru
Tengai Makyou - Kabuki Den - 320 blocks per file
Tokimeki Memorial
Valis IV (CD)
Vasteel 2 (also supports Memory Base 128/Save-kun)
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? - 22 blocks
World Heroes 2 - 50 blocks (Arcade CD)
Xak I & II - 640 blocks per file
Xak III
Ys IV: The Dawn of Ys - 2 block settings file plus 45 blocks per save
Zero 4 Champ - 192 blocks
May or may not save, but THE GAME CAN OR WILL ERASE ALL OTHER FILES ON THE CARD WHEN PLAYED
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JU CD
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Shape Shifter (does save, see above)
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J CD
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Space Fantasy Zone (unreleased) (doesn't save but will erase)
Hi Leg Fantasy (does save, see above)
Games with Memory Base 128/Save-kun Support (complete list)
http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=653.0http://forums.magicengine.com/en/viewtopic.php?t=2285http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww6.airnet.ne.jp%2Fwataru%2Fpcefaq%2Fpcefaq.htm%233-22--
J CD
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A-Train III (A. III, A-Rensha de Ikou III)
Aoki Ookami To Shiroki Mejika
The Atlas
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Collection
Brandish
Eikan Wa Kimini
Emerald Dragon
Fire Pro Female Wrestling
Linda Cube
Magicoal
Popful Mail
Princess Maker 2
Private Eye Doll
Sankokushi III
Shin Megami Tensei
Super Real Mahjong P II + III Custom
Super Real Mahjong PV Custom
Tadaima Yusha Boshuuchuu
Vasteel 2
Games with Password Save Only
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HuCards
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JU
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Boxyboy (main game is password only, but edit mode is system save only)
Cyber Core (the "passwords" are really cheat codes)
Double Dungeons
Dungeon Explorer
Final Lap Twin
Impossamole
King of Casino
Military Madness
Sonic Spike
Tricky Kick
TV Sports Basketball
TV Sports Football
TV Sports Hockey
World Court Tennis (RPG part only)
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J
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Bomberman '94
Hot Blood High School Soccer (Nekketsu)
Puzznic
Titan
Zipang
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CDs
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J
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Ranma 1/2 Part 1
Ranma 1/2 Part 3
TG16/PCE/CD games with memory card managers that allow you to see file sizes -- you cannot see them otherwise, the built-in manager has no file size listings.
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U HuCard
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D&D: Order of the Griffon (only if there is not enough space to save)
Falcon (only if there is not enough space to save)
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J CD
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Cosmic Fantasy 3
Cosmic Fantasy 4 Part II
Valis IV (press Select at "Press Start" screen after selecting New Game from the first menu)
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J SCD
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Popful Mail (also has Tennokoe Bank and Memory Bank 128 management features as well as for the on-system save)
PCECD games with built-in Memory Base 128/Save-kun managers -- you cannot see the blocks on the MB128 otherwise, or manage files on it.
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J SCD
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Emerald Dragon - press Up+Run at boot for manager
Linda Cube - press Up+Run at boot for manager
Popful Mail - manager is ingame
Tadaima Yusha Boshuchu - press 1+Run at boot for manager
Vasteel 2 - manager is ingame
That linked thread has some useful info about saving games with PCE hardware, but the comment about saving on the Populous HuCard itself was incorrect speculation. For years most of us here assumed that was what the RomRam logo meant, since the Tennokoe Bank also has that logo. But you can't actually save on any HuCard game itself.
Good to know, thanks.
