PC Engine vs. Turbo Grafx-16

[SignOfZeta]

This is kind of a wierd queston, IMO. They are the same console with with only differences being:

1) Terrible orginal TG-16 design. Huge, black, and awkward. The stupid flimsy shell thing covering the expansion bus will not stay on the back, and adding the CD just makes a huge t-shaped thing. The same can be said for the Supergrafx w/ Super CD combo I guess, but considering that set-up is way more capible, and virtually nobody has it, I forgive it. The Turbo is litterally twice as big as a PCE just because they thought (probably correctly at the time) that Americans like stuff that is big for no other reason that it being big. Considering the subsequent popularity of SUVs, I'd have to say maybe they were onto something, but that shit doesn't appeal to me.

2) Pathetically small selection of games that are more expensive, and have super crap covers.

3) Virtually everything for TG-16 is harder to find than PCE.



I don't see the appeal of the US stuff now that things have changed so much. Sure, I had a US Duo back in 1992, but that was when the JP systems were $400-500, even the crap games were $60-100. SFII was $120. The Arcade Card was $130. Now you can get tons of PCE stuff for very very little cash.

I think the TG-16 is just for people that like spending more money, and getting less. The TG-16 only has a two button pad, and Fighting Street is (I think) the only fighting game for it. There is no Arcade Card, no Strider, no Sapphire, no Ys IV, no Dracula X, no Bomberman '94, no Fray, no Macross. Most of the shooters are Japan only too. Bazaar de Gozaru...TG-16 people don't have Bazaar de Gozaru. So sad.

I have the US versions of the Duo pack-ins, as well as GoT, but that's about it. I'll take a $3 copy of Gunhead over a $15 copy of Blazing Lasers any day.

[FM-77]

Blazing Lasers

That's Blazing Lazers. The American games also have weird (and misspelled) titles.  

[Odonadon]

PCE all the way, so much we were deprived of.

Amen to that.  When I first had my TG16 I wasn't terribly impressed.  I thought the library of games blew goats, and it wasn't until the CD-ROM came out that I becaome a huge fan.  I became a fan of Hu's once again when I discovered the awesome library of Japanese games that never did get ported.

There used to be an import store in town (funnily enough, the store was called SuperGrafx), and me and a friend used to go down once a week or so and check out the PC Engine and SuperGrafx.  I've always thought the PC Engine/Core units were far more stylish than the ugly bulky TG16.  I especially remember when the Knight Rider game first made it's appearance at SuperGrafx  "KITT's speaking Japanese, I need this game!"

Anyway, PC Engine all the way.  The TG16 still embarasses me a little

OD

[Black Tiger]

Blazing Lasers

That's Blazing Lazers. The American games also have weird (and misspelled) titles.  

You mean like "Snatcher CD-ROMantic", "Virtua Racing/Fighter", "Faussete Amour", "GunHed" or "Hi-Leg Fantasy"?

[FM-77]

Blazing Lasers

That's Blazing Lazers. The American games also have weird (and misspelled) titles.  

You mean like "Snatcher CD-ROMantic", "Virtua Racing/Fighter", "Faussete Amour", "GunHed" or "Hi-Leg Fantasy"?

Yeah, kind of like that. Except those titles weren't officially released in North America - An English-speaking continent.

[Tatsujin]

You don't like the Duo design?  I think it's one of the best in the industry.

yes, and even won the 7th place in best design of home entertainment stuff back in '92 or so!

i just love the DUO. one of the finest looking consoles ever made!

[Tatsujin]

Blazing Lasers

That's Blazing Lazers. The American games also have weird (and misspelled) titles.  

I have the US versions of the Duo pack-ins, as well as GoT, but that's about it. I'll take a $3 copy of Gunhead over a $15 copy of Blazing Lasers any day.

and that one is Gunhed

[esteban]

GunHed !!!!

This is kind of a wierd queston, IMO. They are the same console with with only differences being:

1) Terrible orginal TG-16 design. Huge, black, and awkward. The stupid flimsy shell thing covering the expansion bus will not stay on the back, and adding the CD just makes a huge t-shaped thing. The same can be said for the Supergrafx w/ Super CD combo I guess, but considering that set-up is way more capible, and virtually nobody has it, I forgive it. The Turbo is litterally twice as big as a PCE just because they thought (probably correctly at the time) that Americans like stuff that is big for no other reason that it being big. Considering the subsequent popularity of SUVs, I'd have to say maybe they were onto something, but that shit doesn't appeal to me.

2) Pathetically small selection of games that are more expensive, and have super crap covers.

3) Virtually everything for TG-16 is harder to find than PCE.



I don't see the appeal of the US stuff now that things have changed so much. Sure, I had a US Duo back in 1992, but that was when the JP systems were $400-500, even the crap games were $60-100. SFII was $120. The Arcade Card was $130. Now you can get tons of PCE stuff for very very little cash.

I think the TG-16 is just for people that like spending more money, and getting less. The TG-16 only has a two button pad, and Fighting Street is (I think) the only fighting game for it. There is no Arcade Card, no Strider, no Sapphire, no Ys IV, no Dracula X, no Bomberman '94, no Fray, no Macross. Most of the shooters are Japan only too. Bazaar de Gozaru...TG-16 people don't have Bazaar de Gozaru. So sad.

I have the US versions of the Duo pack-ins, as well as GoT, but that's about it. I'll take a $3 copy of Gunhead over a $15 copy of Blazing Lasers any day.

You're crazy! The TG-16 console has great aesthetics (compared to the hideous, goofy Genesis/MegaDrive and the ugly, awkward SNES). Sure, TG-16 was wide, but it was still slim with a low-profile (the cover on the bus stays snugly in place for me). I think TG-16 (sans logo) would look contemporary alongside today's electronics. Can you say this of any other console? Now, the TurboBooster (Plus) doubled the depth of the console and consequently stripped away the elgance of the core TG-16 design, but, on the other hand, I always liked the aesthetics of the TG-16 + TG-CD combo. It's quirky, but it is actually a lot cleaner (aesthetically) and more streamlined than the PCE suitcase combo, IMO. Sure, this might not be saying much (since the suitcase looks as if it was "slapped together"), but I offer TG-CD as evidence of the neat, uniquely North Amercian aesthetic that too few folks appreciate. The Genesis stacked atop a Sega-CD forms a big ugly brick... tell me, is the TG-CD really so bad?

For comparison: In my humble opinion, the NES had a great utilitarian design and the SMS was the most "futuristic-looking" console design of the 80's (not a bad thing, in my book, since I dig the odd angles and sharp corners and shiny surfaces of the SMS).

On North Amercian artwork: Well, I've beaten this dead horse one too many times, but there is a kitchsy appeal to the NA coverart. I don't think it was wise for NEC in terms of marketing (back in the day, I thought the artwork was unforgiveably lame and really hurt the image of the TG-16). Now, however, after all these years, I really do enjoy the art because, again, it was unique.

Clearly, my feelings have changed over the years: whereas once I wanted re-cycled Japanese covers, now I realize the GIFT that NEC bestowed upon us .

[Keranu]

God, Steve is the greatest when it comes to praising the American TG16 and that's one of the reasons why I e-love him . USA Turbo Grafx 16 4EVAR!!!

[Keranu]

I'd also like to mention how much more I like the American style instruction manuals as well, most especially how it lists "Have you played these other Turbo Grafx 16 Titles?" on the back; I have a lot of fun reading that and picking out which games I own and don't own.

[vestcoat]

It seems like I'm always drawn to obscure, discontinued systems and I like the TG16 more because the selection of games is smaller.  I like a universe of titles that I can wrap my head around.  I like being able to collect all of the RPGs without making an insane effort.  I like only having a handful of racing games to choose from.  I don't like the feeling that I could buy games forever and barely make a dent in what's out there.  With a small library of games like the Turbo has, the "bad" games become quirky little gems.  I can rip on Deep Blue and Fighting Street and still appreciate having those games in my collection.  Compare this with the SNES which had hoards of games.  I don't even know where to start.  The SNES had so much 3rd party support that once you get away from the mainstream, well-known titles there are piles of worthless, terrible games lying around every thrift store.

The PCE is a great system and most of my reasons for liking the TG16 are pretty superficial.  I think the American products had a more consistent style.  Everything stayed black and pretty slim.  No grey and white systems or blue controllers.

The PCE also had tons of lame puzzle, comic-adventure, mahjong and simulation games that don't make any sense to me.

Anyway, it's getting late and I don't really know what I'm talking about.

[Keranu]

I agree a lot with your post. The TG16 is proof that you don't need a huge library of games to make a great console.

[GUTS]

It helps that most of the Turbo CDs that came out over here were really good games, it gives the Turbo a sort of quality appeal as opposed to say SNES or Genesis where there was a shitload of total crap games to go along with all the awesome ones.  

Back in the early 90s I had all 3 systems hooked up and I remember always thinking how quality the Turbo library was compared to all the shit that got released for the other two, I don't think I ever put 2 and 2 together and realized it was because the Turbo only had 1/5 the games the other two systems did.

[Keranu]

I never really thought about that before, but that's a good point. I could see a Turbo nerd back in the day using that to his advantage by comparing a Turbo game to some random licensed crap game for the other two systems.

[Kaminari]

PCE because that's what we got in Europe -- at least on this side of the Channel