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TurboGrafx-16 / PC Engine Mini Lineup Trailer (50 games - 24 TurboGrafx-16 + 26 PC Engine)

Kazza

Member
Seems like Konami didn't communicate things that well with the trailers. I've seen a number of people complaining about the supposedly lack of Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. But then again...wasn't it obvious that the video didn't show all of the 50 games included? A brief showing of the Japanese PC Engine games included would've helped I guess...


I think they messed up the announcement a little. While I like the music and overall presentation, it's weird that they only showed around half the games. I just assumed that this was a partial reveal, but then saw the rest of the games already listed on their website. Then you have the weird thing of Japanese and Western versions of the same game both being counted towards the 50 game figure, plus a text-based game like Snatcher being Japanese language only, and the whole project starts to seem a little low effort. I'm going to wait a little on this one before getting hyped.

Have you seen the og Xbox, the 1st Xbox one, for some reason some local "designers" think that American s like clunky because the country has all that empty space or something 🤪.

I prefer the European version, I just hope that it doesn't play at 50hz.

I have an OG Xbox sitting under my TV at home. It's certainly an ugly beast, with the big X on top and the green blob in the middle; and yet nestled in between much more modern and powerful hardware, it still manages to look like the top dog. It's unashamedly a games console, not just a piece of electronics equipment, and stands out because of that.

I kind of miss local variations. It's a bit boring when consoles are all just the same black boxes.
 
Is it me or have Namco pissed in Konami's cereal? Even Splatterhouse is not there it seems?

I kinda hoped Dragon Spirit, Splatterhouse, Galaga '90, or maybe Ordyne, Valkyrie no Densetsu, and The Tower of Druaga to be there, but alas! Maybe because Namco wants to passively refer fans of some of these games to other compilations, like Namco Museum for Switch...
 
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I think they messed up the announcement a little. While I like the music and overall presentation, it's weird that they only showed around half the games. I just assumed that this was a partial reveal, but then saw the rest of the games already listed on their website. Then you have the weird thing of Japanese and Western versions of the same game both being counted towards the 50 game figure, plus a text-based game like Snatcher being Japanese language only, and the whole project starts to seem a little low effort. I'm going to wait a little on this one before getting hyped.

Yes, my thoughts exactly when it came to showing only half of the games. However, I think there's a certain charm of having Japanese-only titles on there. Importing games was a pretty big part of the PC Engine's culture, and my guess is that the inclusions were done deliberately. Luckily, most of the Japanese-only games don't seem to be held back by the region's text.
 
Liquid Kid? Where on earth is Liquid Kid aka the best game on the PC Engine?

liqu0001-320x224.png
 

Fat Frog

I advertised for Google Stadia
Pretty nice line up.

For the moment, my top 5 mini is:
1 - Megadrive asia
2 - Megadrive Jap
3 - Nec mini
4 - Snes Mini and Genesis Mini (both have good but very flawed line up. Trashs at Sega, unbalanced, limited portfolio at Nintendo)
 

Wonko_C

Member
*takes notes of all the posts mentioning missing PCE classics*

Aside from the usual Naxat Pinball and Ys games, the PCE library is a big unknown to me.
 

Trimesh

Banned
Why were the American redesigns of the time so damn chunky :messenger_tears_of_joy: Japanese version looks best to me. I didn't even know we got our own version in Europe.

The Core Grafx was another Japanese market only model - basically an original white PC engine but with an AV port. I think using it for the EU model is a bit of creative license, since the only version of the PCE/TG16 that got any kind of release in Europe as far as I know was based on the US market TG16, so I think going with the Core Grafx style is honestly an improvement.
 

Lone Wolf

Member
Why not Devils crush?? Its much better than Alien Crush. Also I wanted Final Lap Twin!! Ill still buy this cause nostalgia owns my sorry ass.
 
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Chittagong

Gold Member
The in-game menu looks almost identical to the Genesis/Mega Drive Mini one, and I bet that M2 is involved like it was speculated. Which makes sense, since they have always been close partners of Konami.

Also:


Wow, this looks amazing. So much effort put into making it, just like the Super NES Mini and Megadrive Mini. Really puts Sony's efforts to shame, I hope they redo PlayStation Mini properly. Will be bit of a PR challenge but it should be done, since it would have so much potential if done as well as this.

The accessories look fantastic too.
 
I kinda hoped Dragon Spirit, Splatterhouse, Galaga '90, or maybe Ordyne, Valkyrie no Densetsu, and The Tower of Druaga to be there, but alas! Maybe because Namco wants to passively refer fans of some of these games to other compilations, like Namco Museum for Switch...

They could give us a few though. You know that many TG16 fans are going to bitch at no Splatterhouse as it is a big one for the TG16.

Saying it has 50 games is weird given they are duplicating some. If they had done a MD Mini I would be happy at 45 but what bugs me is asking people for games in a Poll and ignoring it anyway!
 
They could give us a few though. You know that many TG16 fans are going to bitch at no Splatterhouse as it is a big one for the TG16.

Saying it has 50 games is weird given they are duplicating some. If they had done a MD Mini I would be happy at 45 but what bugs me is asking people for games in a Poll and ignoring it anyway!

I agree, it's a bit of a bummer. As for duplicate titles, I agree. Luckily there aren't many duplicates on there though. And as for the included titles, I have no idea how they weighed certain games amongst others. They did include some of the games though:



My only complaints would be: lack of Namco games, Magical Chase, and Legendary Axe.

But overall, I'm still happy with the included titles. 😉
 

WindomURL

Member
Wow, that parallax scrolling is atrocious.
Yeah, and the music is an abortion next to the nes version. Wouldn't necessarily expect that, given the far "superior" audio tech, but perhaps the limitations imposed by the nes created the narrow lens through which the TruFunk of Ninja Gaiden could be focused.

Or maybe it's a completely different composer?

Bitching aside I definitely want one of these. Totally missed out on the TG16 as a kid. Never even played one.
 

Fox Mulder

Member
A little disappointing in some ways as Konami owns so much of the TG16 library. More than half being Japanese versions and overlap is lame. The WiiU VC also got 40 games. Amazon Prime only preorder sucks.

But beggars can't be choosers from Konami these days. It's amazing we're even getting this and it's a decent TG16 list even if you ignore the Japanese side. There will possibly be hacking too like with all of these classics.
 
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In a perfect world, some of the Japanese-only games would have been tweaked to add foreign languages, but at least consumers won't have to deal with region-exclusive titles. Much as I'd rather get the mini-PC Engine, assuming I do buy this thing, shipping costs will probably drive me to the TG16 version.
 
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Pimpbaa

Member
I think I would get this just for Blazing Lazers, Soldier Blade, Super Star Solider, and Salamander. I don't think I played the other shooters in the list, but I'm sure they are awesome and thus a huge bonus for me too. Why the hell did this console manage to get so many shooters but the SNES hardly any? I know the SNES had a shit CPU (which I assume is the main reason it didn't get many), but it had to be at least marginally better than the cpu in the TG16/PC Engine.
 

Lucumo

Member
What's the point of adding 26 titles in Japanese for non-Japan regions if you don't speak it and 24 titles in English in Japan if they don't speak it (with overlap even)? And that for 10500 Yen.

/edit: Also, why is it done by Konami and not NEC?
 
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DunDunDunpachi

Patient MembeR
I think I would get this just for Blazing Lazers, Soldier Blade, Super Star Solider, and Salamander. I don't think I played the other shooters in the list, but I'm sure they are awesome and thus a huge bonus for me too. Why the hell did this console manage to get so many shooters but the SNES hardly any? I know the SNES had a shit CPU (which I assume is the main reason it didn't get many), but it had to be at least marginally better than the cpu in the TG16/PC Engine.
NEC wanted them and funded a lot of the arcade ports, and Hudson made a lot of console-exclusive shmups, so I think that's why. It's kind of like how the NES got a lot of sports games and platformers: because Nintendo made those too and demonstrated there was a market on their console for those kinds of games.
 

Pimpbaa

Member
NEC wanted them and funded a lot of the arcade ports, and Hudson made a lot of console-exclusive shmups, so I think that's why. It's kind of like how the NES got a lot of sports games and platformers: because Nintendo made those too and demonstrated there was a market on their console for those kinds of games.

Make sense. I guess the Mega Drive/Genesis got a lot of them simply because of it's fast CPU and familiarity with the 68000 making shmup developers life a bit easier.
 

DunDunDunpachi

Patient MembeR
Make sense. I guess the Mega Drive/Genesis got a lot of them simply because of it's fast CPU and familiarity with the 68000 making shmup developers life a bit easier.
Yep, the same reasoning as to why so many shmups appeared on PC Engine applies to the Genesis. Some companies like Toaplan had already made most of their stuff on 68000 hardware and even the same Yamaha sound chip. SEGA also had close relationships with companies like Vic Tokai, Tecno Soft, Compile, Sunsoft, and Taito. I don't think it was as much of a hardware issue as it was a working-relationship issue but in either case these things seem to have a snowball effect. Those old consoles either had a lot of shmups or only a few.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
50 games

24 US
26 Jap

Eyelballing it, I think 6-7 are PC Engine dupes of a US version, so really it's maybe 44 unique games? Can anyone confirm?

And out of those remaining PC Engine games, how many can't effectively be played unless you know Japanese?

So true number of unique games that are playable by non-Japanese speaking people is:

24 US games + # of unique PC Engine games perfectly playable without knowing Japanese...... shooters and Ghouls N Ghosts are, but Snatcher and Super Momo aren't kind of thing)
 
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I agree, it's a bit of a bummer. As for duplicate titles, I agree. Luckily there aren't many duplicates on there though. And as for the included titles, I have no idea how they weighed certain games amongst others. They did include some of the games though:



My only complaints would be: lack of Namco games, Magical Chase, and Legendary Axe.

But overall, I'm still happy with the included titles. 😉


I am still buying it as I do want to support this, but I just wish they went a little bit further with the line up. So far SEGA's the best regarding this and they still missed out Cotton/Rocket Knight and Soliel/Crusader of Centy, which isn't too bad as there were some really great gems on it.

In this case, I think Fantasy Zone and Space Harrier could have been cut to get the obscure Space Fantasy Zone in there.

Magical Chase not only was the second most demanded game on the list, but it got an English release and pretty sought after. I believe Square own the IP rights now (via Quest purchase who made the game with M2) and watching Hi-Score Girl makes me wonder if they would have gave Konami the go ahead if they just asked? M2 (should they be making this), would have been okay with it as well.

Legend of Valkyrie is another surprise omittion as it did get a Playstation Compilation release and hasn't appeared in anything since. If Namco are holding off until they release it on Switch, that is pretty terrible. Same for Splatterhouse.

Image Fight I am unsure they would have been okay to add it as they put it on the Wii U as well as the sequel as it probably competes with Konami's other Shmups but it would have been cool to see.

Coryoon would have probably topped the announcement with Sapphire and Magical Chase. The coveted three games on the Mini would have likely gave Konami a very good look. Glad we got Sapphire but I do think they should have added those two and perhaps omit Bomberman 93 in its place (Bomberman 94 is superior).

The most surprising omittion I feel is Super Air Zonk. The two games would have been a good compliment to Bonk 1 and 2 (even if Bonk 1 is Japanese only).

Cosmic Fantasy 2 (and 3 if they hold the unreleased English Version), would have been a great addition for traditional RPGs as it only has Ys and Necromancer (which is Japanese too). I wonder if Victor Ireland said no in this one?

If they were going to include games in English and Japanese, they could have went the SEGA route and include both as one game to clean up some space. Perhaps having Darius on two Minis is too much and I would have swapped it for Twinbee (given Konami owns the IP, it's surprising they didn't). Two sets of Ys 1&2, Dungeon Explorer and having both Bomberman 93 and 94 is redundant. Feels like Konami didn't take up SEGA's way.

I am thankful they didn't add the Wonder Boy clones given that SEGA's done the better ones in this case. Perhaps Dragon's Lair would have been nice.

JJ & Jeff is a game I have heard bad things about but perhaps they added it in for nostalgia. We skipped Keith Courage entirely which I think is good as well.

Lords of Thunder but not Gates of Thunder is really odd. They are the Yin and Yang!

I personally think Konami blew their load way too early as the Poll felt like a last minute "Oh, we better ask the Fans in case we didn't get any of the good ones in". It certainly didn't help that the announcement is confusing many people.

Valis is a big one to miss. I assumed that Sunsoft is thirsty for more money after the success of Master Blaster Zero and Zero 2 so I am surprised there. Valiis 3 and 4 would have been amazing!

Snatcher....I honestly don't know what to expect with this one. Surely they know that most people don't read Japanese to bring it to the West?

Although I didn't expect everything to get on, some of the big ones or well known ones by fans (Splatterhouse, Cosmic Fantasy 2, Gates of Thunder, Twinbee) were almost shoe ins that Konami should have put in, however I can understand if they added in what they think would sell the most but given that this mini would be catering to the Retro Hardcore fans who know their Onions. I think they could have gone further as I certainly don't feel that casuals will buy this due to lack of nostalgia, some poor choices, Japanese games that require reading knowledge and likely being too expensive with accessories.

It's not going to sell as much as the MD Mini or the Nintendo Minis and it's a shame as they could have done much more to get it out there to people. :(
 

DunDunDunpachi

Patient MembeR
How can you not include The Ninja Warriors?
It's being remade/remastered, so maybe the current license holders weren't keen on offering it elsewhere:

 

Fox Mulder

Member
What's the point of adding 26 titles in Japanese for non-Japan regions if you don't speak it and 24 titles in English in Japan if they don't speak it (with overlap even)? And that for 10500 Yen.

It's so they can make the same internals for all regions. They are making different cases though which is a plus.
 

Lucumo

Member
Because the PC Engine was a collaboration between Hudson Soft and NEC, with the latter handling the manufacturing. Hudson Soft was absorbed into Konami, and so here we are today...
That doesn't really answer the question though, unless NEC had no rights to the console whatsoever.

It's so they can make the same internals for all regions.
? That doesn't make sense. It had the same hardware in Japan and the US, so why would it be different now?
 

Petrae

Member
I have most of these on my WIi already, so this unit isn't for me.

No Legendary Axe hurts. No Bloody Wolf hurts, too. No sports games at all. Neutopia gets both games, while Bonk's Adventure and Devil's Crush can't accompany Bonk's Revenge and Alien Crush because reasons. Snatcher's inclusion doesn't matter to me since it's in Japanese.

I'm glad that the thing exists, though. Hopefully more people will see what an underrated gem the TG-16 was.
 
Is there an alternative, legal way to play these games without buying an original console and games? Petrae Petrae , you say you have most of these already on the Wii? How does that work and is it still a viable option?
 

Petrae

Member
Is there an alternative, legal way to play these games without buying an original console and games? Petrae Petrae , you say you have most of these already on the Wii? How does that work and is it still a viable option?

Sorry, friend. The Wii Shop is dead, so buying these games for Wii Virtual Console is impossible. The only ways to play these games without being in any kind of legal grey area are to either buy the original console and games (which is crazy expensive now and the hardware has an increasing defect rate due to failing capacitors) or to buy this mini-console when it comes out. If I didn't already have these games thanks to Wii, I'd pony up the cash for one of these mini-consoles.
 
That doesn't really answer the question though, unless NEC had no rights to the console whatsoever.

They don't. Like I said, NEC was the manufacturer and distributor of the hardware, nothing more; Hudson Soft itself designed the PC Engine and created the games for it.
 

RAIDEN1

Member
Its a shame the console couldn't last as long as it should have done....better marketing especially in Europe would have helped along with strong 3d pary support......
 

Ol'Scratch

Member
It makes literally no sense why they would put non localized games on here, especially games that are dialogue heavy.
 

Cynn

Member
EU:

gate_coregrafx.png

Japan:

gate_pcengine.png


US:

gate_turbografx.png


Why were the American redesigns of the time so damn chunky :messenger_tears_of_joy: Japanese version looks best to me. I didn't even know we got our own version in Europe.
At the time though the thing seemed like future tech. A slim black slab with games the size of credit cards. Compare that to the horrific elephant man US SNES design and wow.
 
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StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
I got to say out of all these minis coming out, this one has my interest the most to buy it.

Already played many of the Genesis and SNES and PS1 games on those minis. But never had a T-16. Blazing Lazers and Military Madness, always wanted to try.

No Legendary Axe??????????????
 
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