Author Topic: Invasion of the newbies (Read 2158 times)

Spector · « **on:** March 11, 2006, 08:28:45 PM »

Hi kids

With the long awaited release of a USB Flash Cart for the PC Engine/Turbografx, I am starting to get more and more interested in buying a PC Engine myself.
I've read about the various formats and upgrades that occurred in Japan and the US, and I've also read that Japanese games will play on a US Turbografx via an adaptor, but US games won't play on Japanese machines without modding. That would suggest that the best thing for a newcomer to do would be to buy an American machine.

The trouble with that is that I think the US Turbografx looks awful. I think the Japanese white model is a magnificent looking machine, and I want it instead.

The question therefore is - did the Japanese PC Engine miss out on a lot of great American titles? I would guess not, but I'm not sure. I wouldn't want to get a Jap PC Engine and find that I wouldn't be able to play a lot of games on it. Also, is the fact that the games are Japanese a hindrance to the English-speaking gamer who mainly wants to play arcade/action games like Vigilante and R-Type?

Thanking you in advance...

sunteam_paul · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2006, 10:45:34 PM »

Great American titles.

Ahaha. Hahahahahahahaha.

Sorry.

Get yourself a Japanese Duo and you'll not look back.

FM-77 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2006, 11:10:20 PM »

Every good game released in the US has been released in Japan. However, there are (overrated) games like Neutopia and Neutopia II that won't be as fun to play in Japanese since I'm going to assume that you don't speak that language.

What's this USB FLash Cart for PC Engine that you speak of?

Spector · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2006, 12:17:00 AM »

I pretty much thought that one of the replies would be along the lines of the first one. Jap is where it's at. I don't want to ask too much about the Duo right now, as that's FAQ territory. From what I've read though, it's an update of the orignal white machine and CD-ROM attachment in a simpler (though not as nice looking) all-in-one package.

As for the Flash Cart, take a look at this.

It comes with free shipping so it's not as expensive as you think. And you have to admit, it looks brilliant with that R-Type design.

sunteam_paul · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2006, 12:29:03 AM »

Quote from: "Spector"

I don't want to ask too much about the Duo right now, as that's FAQ territory. From what I've read though, it's an update of the orignal white machine and CD-ROM attachment in a simpler (though not as nice looking) all-in-one package.
quote]

Yeah the Duo is essentially an all-in-one PC Engine and CD unit. If you are seriously considering getting into the PC Engine I can't stress enough how important a CD unit is. Also note that CD games are region free so on a Japanese machine you can play great RPGs like Ys and Dragon Slayer in English.

FM-77 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2006, 12:48:09 AM »

Whoa! $159!! You can buy every PCE game in the world for that kind of money! MADNESS I TELL YOU!!

Spector · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2006, 01:02:31 AM »

Quote from: "sunteam_paul"

Quote from: "Spector"
I don't want to ask too much about the Duo right now, as that's FAQ territory. From what I've read though, it's an update of the orignal white machine and CD-ROM attachment in a simpler (though not as nice looking) all-in-one package.
quote]

Yeah the Duo is essentially an all-in-one PC Engine and CD unit. If you are seriously considering getting into the PC Engine I can't stress enough how important a CD unit is. Also note that CD games are region free so on a Japanese machine you can play great RPGs like Ys and Dragon Slayer in English.

Here's a follow up question... or two

Can the original white model, equipped with the CD-ROM add-on, play the same games as the Duo?
Question number two - I'm sure I saw the Duo on sale at my local GameStation store a couple of weeks ago (it had a copy of Shadow Of The Beast with it). What would be a good price to pay for it, in your opinion?

sunteam_paul · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2006, 02:35:55 AM »

The old white model can play any game, as long as you have the correct system card. There are three: The original, the Super CD Rom system and the Arcade card. The Super System card is build into the Duo and is essential, the Arcade card is a luxury as there aren't that many games for it.

Not sure of the price.

Spector · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2006, 07:57:44 AM »

Quote from: "sunteam_paul"

If you are seriously considering getting into the PC Engine I can't stress enough how important a CD unit is.

I just want to pick up on that quote from a couple of posts back there. Is the CD-ROM unit really that important gamewise? I read a summary of the PC-Engine's history at http://www.videogameimports.com/pcengine.htm

and it comes out with the quote:
"The actual CD-ROM system held no internal memory, so a system card had to be plugged into the card slot of the Engine. The first version, 1.0, didn't last very long, and was quickly replaced by version 2.0. It held 1 MegaBit of RAM, which really wasn't a lot, and to be honest, apart form the huge intros and CD sound, the games were generally outshined by the HuCard games."

One man's opinion, but that summary is well written, so I can't dismiss it as tosh. I actually remember in 1990 reading some of the first European magazine reviews of the CD-Rom games and they were none too complimentary, suggesting that after an amazing 3 and a half minute animated sequence, you had an average game. So I'd really like to hear those in the know, like sunteam_paul, give me their own opinion.

FM-77 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2006, 08:48:34 AM »

The majority of the high-class PCE games are on the CD format. There aren't that many interesting hu-card titles to be honest. And sure, there aren't that many interesting CD titles either, but they are still of the majority.

Off the top of my head:
[ul]- Ys I-II
- Ys III
- Ys IV
- Fray CD: Xak Gaiden
- Xak III
- Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
- The Legend of Heroes
- Brandish
- The Dynastic Hero
- Puyo Puyo
[/ul]

I'm not really into the PCE, so I can't give you that many recommendations, but those are all better than any hu-card game.

Conclusion:

Hu-cards = boring
CD-games = awesome

Get a Duo. Now.

Edit: You could say a PC Engine Duo is:
a PC Engine,
a PC Engine CD attachment,
a PC Engine CD interface unit,
a System Card 3.0,
and a Tennokoe Bank....
Combined.

rolins · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2006, 11:09:58 AM »

Quote from: "Seldane"

Conclusion:

Hu-cards = boring
CD-games = awesome

They're a lot of great hucards and most of them are better than thoses on CD. It's true if you like RPGs than the better games are on CD, but for a everything else you don't want to miss out on the hucards.

Pinball: Alien Crush, Devils Crash, Time Cruise

Adventure/Platform: Jackie Chan, Legendary Axe I/II, Dragon's Curse, Cadash, Shubibinman, Don Doko Don

Action: Bloody Wolf, Ninja Spirit, Splatterhouse, Genpei Toumaden I/II

Puzzles: Tricky, Beball, Bomberman, Volfield

Strategy: Military Madness, Hisou Kihei Serd

Racing: Moto Roader I/II, Outrun, Power Drift

Shooters: Raiden, Super Star Soldier, Soldier Blade, Gunhed, Xevious, Gradius, R-Type, Dead Moon, Aero Blasters, Metal Stoker, Dragon Spirit, too many to list.

-

vestcoat · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2006, 11:55:11 AM »

Quote from: "Spector"

As for the Flash Cart, take a look at this.

It comes with free shipping so it's not as expensive as you think. And you have to admit, it looks brilliant with that R-Type design.

OK, did i just miss something? Why has no one been talking about this flash cart? you can take roms of any hucard game and play them on a real system??? is this true?

Quote from: "Spector"

Question number two - I'm sure I saw the Duo on sale at my local GameStation store a couple of weeks ago (it had a copy of Shadow Of The Beast with it). What would be a good price to pay for it, in your opinion?

a used US Duo with Shadow of the Best? they could probably get away with charging as much as $200 for it. Probably no cheaper than what you'd pay online, but Gamestation isn't Ebay and it's hard to find a duo for sale in the real world. It's also worth not having to worry about shipping or sellers trying to scam you with a beat-up old deck. if you need a Duo and it's $150 or cheaper i would buy it.

Quote from: "Seldane"

Edit: You could say a PC Engine Duo is:
a PC Engine,
a PC Engine CD attachment,
a PC Engine CD interface unit,
a System Card 3.0,
and a Tennokoe Bank....
Combined.

one-forth of a Tennokoe Bank!

Quote from: "Spector"

The question therefore is - did the Japanese PC Engine miss out on a lot of great American titles?

Good question. i remember seeing a list once of american games that were never released in Japan. what were they? Beyond Shadowgate was one. anyone know the others?

Quote from: "Spector"

I just want to pick up on that quote from a couple of posts back there. Is the CD-ROM unit really that important gamewise? I read a summary of the PC-Engine's history at http://www.videogameimports.com/pcengine.htm

Why must this article turn our NEC community into a House of Lies!

"apart form the huge intros and CD sound, the games were generally outshined by the HuCard games."

ack!

"at a game show in 1995, Hudson showed a full Arcade CD shooter: Sapphire (GINGA FUKEI DENSETSU SAPPHIRE). They only sold it at the show, which is one of the reasons it's so damned rare and expensive (around £300)."

only sold at the show? more lies!

"The PC Engine was also released in the US, with the typically stupid name TurboGrafx-16. It was 're-designed' (looked pretty crappy) and was black."

Blasphemy!
----------

Buy a Duo or CD attachment. The shooters are awesome. the RPGs are awesome. The ACD fighting games are awesome. you have Vasteel, Dracula X, Double Dragon 2, Kazi Kari, River City Ransom, the Valis series...Shadow of the Beast has some awesome music and graphics.
yeah, i'm going to stop talking now...

rolins · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2006, 12:21:26 PM »

Quote from: "vestcoat"

Quote from: "Spector"

As for the Flash Cart, take a look at this.

It comes with free shipping so it's not as expensive as you think. And you have to admit, it looks brilliant with that R-Type design.

OK, did i just miss something? Why has no one been talking about this flash cart? you can take roms of any hucard game and play them on a real system??? is this true?

No one talks about it in fear that all the newbs will jump on it, make a big fuss about it, and the end result is the company increases the price because of high demand.

Actually this particular flash card is a revamp of an older model that has been out for over a year now in Asia.

I've been anticipating this since Sept 2005, but I'm more interested in their 128M flash card (its still in production).

Another company is Tototek. They've have flash carts for the pce and other 8/16-bit consoles for a couple years now, and very few know about them.

Keranu · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2006, 04:45:44 PM »

Thanks for the info on the flash card, had no idea (and yes, that is a sweet box for it

) .

If you are into cheesy games like me, then there are some titles for TG16 that weren't released in Japan that you'll enjoy, as I do

. It Came From the Desert, Beyond Shadowgate (this isn't a cheesy game, but never the less, an awesome game, though expensive), and whatever game that wasn't released in Japan

. But yeah, those two games are neat.

And HuCards are awesome, they provide better linear gameplay for the more classic gamer.

PC Gaijin · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2006, 05:19:07 PM »

I've had the Tototek card for a couple years now. Haven't used it much, but it works. The Windows software is horrible, and actually getting the ROM images on the card is a pain, but once they're there....it works.

The only worthwhile Turbo exclusive HuCard that I can think of is Order of the Griffon, which is a very decent D&D RPG. The Falcon and Gunboat ports are a bit too ambitious for the hardware, and the rest of the Western software isn't anything special (although I like Tailspin). There's some excellent Western software on CD (Loom in particular), but since there's no region-coding it hardly matters whether you have a PC Engine or Turbo system.