Turbografx-16 Mini: An Introductory?

Almost a week ago, the Turbografx-16 turned 30 years old. It was a huge hit in Japan when it came out in 1987 as the PC-Engine. Going stateside in 89, it flopped. This is where I look at this mini that is coming out next year as a question mark.

For 100 dollars, you get over 50 games and a couple of controller ports, an improvement over the original which only had one port. Some of the notable titles include some Bomberman games, a couple Bonk games, Castlevania, Galaga, Splatterhouse. That's just the tip of the iceberg. It's a mix of games that were on the Turbo but also on the CD add-on and Japan only Supergrafx. That means Ghouls 'n Ghosts and the first two Y's games make it onto here. This and the Sega Genesis Mini show that when done right, it can do the same stuff as the NES and SNES Classics.

Unfortunately, it is going to be sold only through Amazon. At least for the time being. My biggest concern also is whether this will do good. In Japan, I would think so, but in the States, it leaves me guessing. The Turbo does have a fanbase, but not to the level of the Genesis and SNES. That being said, I do think it can be a good turning point for anyone wanting to get into it. The mix of titles released in the US and Japan make it a good commodity. A number of the titles go for quite a bit in price. I personally think this could be a good introduction to the third pillar of the 16-bit era.

Maybe if it appears in stores, I'd get it. But I would want to check on how it performs. Hopefully good, because I hear a lot of good things about the Turbografx-16. Can't leave that system behind.

Turbografx Mini

There are a number of older systems I would love to get my hands on. Sega CD, Dreamcast, 3DO, and the point of this topic, the Turbografx-16. It didn't amount to anything in America because of Nintendo's illegal monopoly and Sega pulling ahead with better marketing, support, and library. But it did sport a decently unique set of titles. That's where the Mini makes a little bit of sense.

It's a little over 40 games with titles like Bonk, Dungeon Explorer and a number of arcade titles, originals, and shoot em ups (shmups). The price is set for 100 dollars, but whether there's additional costs, it wouldn't surprise me if there was. A lack of certain titles is always notable. I hear complaints about no Splatterhouse. One, it's a Namco game. Two, it's also a game that warrants an M rating. The system was finished before the ESRB formed, but a lot of the games would either be E or T rated. Having something like Splatterhouse would make it a prohibitive buy for kids.

There isn't much else to discuss. Maybe it is fitting as it turns 30 along with the Sega Genesis. Both Konami and Sega have their Minis set for this year. It's a sense of knowing that they can stand out amongst the other systems getting miniaturized. The Turbo should get quite a bit of respect and sell decently. A lot more knowledge is seen on it and it falls into the underrated areas of gaming.

I hope it does well, because this is a system that would get people into the Turbo. 

Wii Virtual Console Overview Part 1

The only times I have ever played Virtual Console was on the Wii over a two year period from 2010 through 2012. It was mostly Mario Kart 64 and Mario 64. Not to mention I saw others playing Rondo of Blood and a few other titles from other systems. From the get go, Nintendo had the service at launch with five systems. Three of theirs and two competitors. As time went on, they expanded to a few other systems. Some survived, while others were discontinued very quickly. Before it shuts down the ability to use Wii Points, let's go through the systems and games it had through the North American market.

Let's begin with the Nintendo Entertainment System. It had a steady flow of games from launch up until 2012. This one had quite a bit of support from different companies. Obviously, Nintendo with their vast array of titles. Tecmo put a lot of their releases on Virtual Console like Mighty Bomb Jack. Konami had their heavy hitters in as well as Taito and Jaleco. Capcom surprisingly didn't have many. It was mainly Mega Man. There's a few others like Namco, but overall, it is your last chance to get titles that are cheap to download. You got just over 90 games to choose from.

Super Nintendo Entertainment System had the most varied of the Nintendo systems. Most of the same companies put their heavy hitters on Virtual Console. Capcom really gave it their effort to put Street Fighter, Final Fight, and a few others on. Unfortunately, most of their games were delisted a few years ago, so no chance of getting them cheap. Out of all the systems on the service, it lost quite a bit of games, leaving you with just over 60. Nintendo still put up the effort, though there are some notable omissions. Konami and Tecmo went all out. LucasArts were in with their titles, including the Star Wars games. Overall, there is variety, and you might want to buy the few essentials since some of the cart versions go for an arm and a leg.

Last of the Nintendo systems is the 64. It's disappointing that it only got 21 titles. Nearly all of it is Nintendo games. Still, there's most of the Mario stuff, Zelda, Smash Bros., Pokemon. There's also Bomberman, Ogre Battle, and Sin and Punishment, a Japan only release back then that made it to Virtual Console. The system is a victim of companies going bankrupt which includes quite a bit of games from Acclaim and Midway. I know Konami and Capcom didn't release much for it back in the 90s, but they could have at least tried to put something on the service. Obviously, Rare games can't be put on board since Microsoft owns them. Like the SNES, try to get the few essentials because of high prices for some of the carts.

Sega got into the mix from the start of the system's launch with the Genesis. It's got the second most titles with just over 70. A number of titles are ones you see in compilations. Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage, Columns. The list goes on. It's mostly a Sega library list, but there are some ones that made it to Virtual Console. Capcom had a few like Street Fighter and Ghouls n Ghosts. Namco put out a couple games. Interesting titles include some Interplay games like Boogerman and Earthworm Jim. A few exclusives outside the US are the Game Freak developed Pulseman and Sega's Monster World IV.  What you do with this system for Virtual Console, I don't care. Personally, I would try to go after the ones you don't typically see in compilations. A prime example is M.U.S.H.A. A copy goes for literally hundreds of dollars, so try to get ones that you know will disappear for good.

Last of the launch service systems is the Turbografx-16. It's not an easy system to find in terms of hardware and software. Hudson Soft bought into this and brought a good chunk of the library over. The list is just shy of 60 titles. There's shooters like Galaga 90 and system sellers such as Splatterhouse. Other notables include Falcom's Ys, and Konami's Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. This is a system to target since you don't see them out in the wild. Try to get what you think you will like before you can't add more points.

Part 2 includes the additional systems.