Which games do I HAVE to get?

[Starfighter]

I see now that a few of the games mentioned were only released in the US (if I can trust the database over at PCE Daisakusen?), can I play those as well on my japanese coregrafx?

[Tatsujin]

You can play every CD on your japanese system (as long you have a CD-ROM & the respective system card), but you can't play any of the Turbo Chips on your JPN system as long you don't use an adaptor or a region mod.

[Starfighter]

What is a turbo chip? You mean like hucards?

[Tatsujin]

lol yeah. US hucards = Turbochips. don't ask me who had that glorious idea.

[Starfighter]

It has to be a liiiiittle "cooler" over there I guess. It's like Rockman -> Mega Man. That always baffled me since Mega Drive wasn't cool enough. In Rockmans case, Mega would be much cooler, but in Mega Drives case - Genesis was teh shizzle. Anyway, thank you for clearing that out for me!

[sunteam_paul]

This list is obviously biased with personal opinion, but what list isn’t?

ESSENTIALS

Parodius
A top quality conversion, Parodius is a magnificent shoot ‘em up which Konami did a remarkable job in bringing to the Engine, not suffering from the awful slowdown that is game-breaking in Gradius. It’s cute, funnny, odd and has some great graphical effects. The sound is decent but not outstanding, although the classical tunes are catchy. It also provides enough challenge to keep you playing without it being unfair.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Parodius.htm

Jackie Chan
Fast paced action platforming at its finest. Jackie Chan is a highly polished package and shines particularly in the lengthy opening levels. Great music and graphics enhance the experience and the difficulty is paced very carefully. One of the best of its kind.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Jackie_Chan.htm

PC Genjin series
Despite comparably primitive (har har) graphics, I find the first PC Genjin provides me with the most satisfying platforming experience of the three. It’s a fairly easy game to complete, but so nicely designed that it is also the one that I replay the most. The second in the series takes the visuals to a new standard, and remains one of the best platformers on the Engine, despite some gameplay tweaks that I did not like. Go for the third if you like the others, but the game is somehow less engaging than its predecessors.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/PC_Kid.htm

Coryoon
A cute horizontal shoot ‘em up that throws sprites galore and loads of parallax scrolling at you, and also has a wonderful soundtrack also (music is very important to me in games). The gameplay is solid and a lot of fun with the screen getting very busy at times, and it maks a nice change from spaceship shooters.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Coryoon.htm

Kyuukyoku Tiger
Forget Raiden, 2KT is a very tough, but superbly crafted vertical shooter. Beefy, thudding sound effects, awesome music and functional, yet somehow quite attractive, overhead graphics enhance the game. It gets hard and I hate hard games, yet I love this one. That should say something about how good it is.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Kyukyoku_Tiger.htm

Bloody Wolf
There just something really special about this game, it’s hard to put your finger on it. It has its faults - slowdown can be frustrating at times - but the whole package is a great experience and the best game of its type on the machine (far better than Red Alert or the poor Die Hard). It has some nicely drawn environments and the music sounds great with headphones on.
http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Bloody_Wolf.htm

‘Soldier’ games
You already have SSS, but should also pick up Soldier Blade and Final Soldier as they are both quality examples of the genre. Gunhed is often praised but I find that game a rather hollow and sometimes dull experience.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Soldier_Blade.htm

PC Denjin
Similar to Coryoon in many ways, yet a step up, this game is full of variety, mad special weapons and brilliant design. It’s a very satisfying game to play and you never feel that it treats you unfairly. Full of imagination.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/PC_Denjin.htm

Devil Crash
If you think pinball on a console sounds boring then that’s even more of a reason to buy this to prove yourself wrong. Devil Crash is the best pinball game on console - ever. Utterly addictive, you’ll always come back to it, drawn in by the atmospheric graphics and perfectly suited music.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Devil_Crash.htm

GIVE THESE GAMES A CHANCE

Atomic Robo-kid Special
A unique shoot ‘em up with varied stages - some encourage you to explore to find hidden areas, others are simple shooting stages. The graphics are a mixed bunch, but generally nice, with a very appealing style to them. Once you get used to the gameplay and begin to learn the levels, the game really begins to shine and it will really grow on you.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Atomic_Robo-Kid_Special.htm

Doraemon
Not the platforming sequel, but the original Doraemon game. A curious maze game in which you collect items while digging holes to destroy your enemies. Repetition can set in with lengthy gaming sessions, but a password feature/backup save is there to break it up. It’s really a great little game once you get into it and can’t help but make you smile.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Doraemon.htm

Dungeon Explorer
I don’t consider this an RPG - it’s basically a Gauntlet clone with a bit of a plot. Easy enough to navigate even if you don’t read Japanese, the game has a nice dark atmosphere and some of the best music on HuCard. Much fun.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Dungeon_Explorer.htm

Gomola Speed
A truly original title - you are a robotic caterpillar who must collect his body parts and then encircle his foes to destroy them. It looks simple, but effective, and can really bring on the thumb cramps. But it’s something completely different to the other titles out there and deserves more attention.
Link: http://pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Gomola_Speed.htm

[Starfighter]

Asscrap that's a sweet post!
I wish I had the time to read it through right now (I check this forum like every free minute I get and now I just had two of them , I feel special and candy and rainbows and everything.

[Tatsujin]

I feel special and candy and rainbows and everything.

That's just very normal when encountering the first time with something so much awesome like the PC Engine.

[Starfighter]

Haha, I can understand that.

sunteam_paul: I have read it through very careful and checked gameplay now and every game mentioned is now on my list of have to get-games. I'm going to put them in "wishlist" over at pcedaisakusen later today so I don't forget. Thank you very much!

[Starfighter]

I was wondering about prices as well, but this isn't a natural part of this thread so if someone knows much about prices I'd like to hear about it in PM.

Here's my wanted list as of now: http://www.pcedaisakusen.net/2/41/425/show-wishlist.htm - do you know any of the titles accurate value? I'm gonna do my homework and compare prices on different sites etc, but as we all know prices at.. for example eBay isn't always to be trusted..

[nat]

Zipang (Solomons Key!)

Wow, I never knew that Zipang was Solomons Key!

Just to be clear-- Zipang is NOT Solomon's Key. It is a game by Tecmo that is basically a sequel to Solomon's Key. The levels are all different, as is the "story."

[Arkhan]

yeah but its close enough and shit that if you like solomons key, youll be like f*ck YEAH ZIPANG

[nat]

Oh yeah I agree, my point was to get even more excited-- the game is all original!

[Arkhan]

Oh yeah I agree, my point was to get even more excited-- the game is all original!

f*ck YEAH! ZIPANG!

*headbang*


I really like Zipang myself.

[Necromancer]

For puzzlers, you need Columns, Spin Pair, Skweek, and Hatris (f*ck teh haters!).  You could also pick up Blodia (Timeball in the US); I hate it, but a lot of peeps dig it.

For platformers, you need the three Bonk titles, Aoi Blink, and Son Son II.

Pretty much all the great shmups have already been recommended, but I'd add in Deep Blue.  It catches a lot of flak, but it's not that bad; plus it's cheap, so you're not out much if you end up hating it.