New Gamasutra Article - TG16 Turns 25

[esteban]

To echo what jlued686 already said: North Americans were really lucky to have something like Dungeon Explorer at launch. When I look what PCE had in Japan for the FIRST YEAR...ouch.

Yeah, R-Type, along with Gradius, were probably the two most popular post-crash shmups of the '80s, and their respective series would remain two of the most popular shmup series until the '00s.  Having a great port of R-Type was a big deal.  Not everyone likes the game -- the super-hard gameplay is not for everyone -- but it's a fantastic game, and NEC absolutely should have had it as the packin.  I know some people would prefer Legendary Axe, but I like R-Type more, myself.  Plus it's a known name, not an original IP like Legendary Axe.

I understand and agree with most of this. Just feel it is simply the wrong kind of game to be a pack in. The hardcore gamer will always come if you build it, so to speak. Pack ins, especially then, to me were to attract the general gamer crowd--hence, platformers/action games usually.

I agree, GoldenWheels.

[Otaking]

When I look what PCE had in Japan for the FIRST YEAR...ouch.

Of the games released in 1987 Kato chan & Ken chan and Bikkuri Man World are great IMO. 

[esteban]

When I look what PCE had in Japan for the FIRST YEAR...ouch.

Of the games released in 1987 Kato chan & Ken chan and Bikkuri Man World are great IMO. 

Agreed. But look at how long it took for a decent library to form. I am surprised it wasn't more robust, sooner.

[jeffhlewis]

One of my Genesis fanboy friends' first purchases was a PBC and SMS R-Type. It was still a big deal to him.

Imagine if he got to play the Turbo version a year or two earlier.

Hey, SMS R-Type with the FM sound module ain't nothin' to f*ck with. It was seriously a good version of the game for the time, though the PCE version had a leg up.

[technozombie]

Dungeon Explorer as a pack-in would have encourage the sale of more turbotaps and more controllers. Inviting friends over to play would have encouraged more sales of the system and so on and so forth.

[esteban]

Dungeon Explorer as a pack-in would have encourage the sale of more turbotaps and more controllers. Inviting friends over to play would have encouraged more sales of the system and so on and so forth.

I hadn't thought of that. It's sad that it is one of the FEW 3+ player games that really shine on TG-16/PCE.