Released on August 29, 1989, the TurboGrafx-16 was the result of a collaboration between electronics manufacturer NEC and software developer Hudson Soft. It was launched at a price of $199 and came bundled with one controller and the platformer Keith Courage in Alpha Zones. Its status as a 16-bit console is a point of contention among classic gamers as it had an 8-bit CPU but a 16-bit graphics processor. But with graphics clearly better than anything that 8-bit consoles had to offer, the TurboGrafx’ games more closely resembled those of the 16-bit generation. The TurboGrafx-16 holds the distinction of being the first game console in the U.S. to play CD-based games (with the purchase of a TurboGrafx CD unit). The console was also the first whose games were playable on a handheld system, the Turbo Express. While the system was successful in Japan as the “PC Engine”, beating out Sega’s Megadrive and holding a strong second place behind the Super Famicom, in North America the TurboGrafx was an early casualty in the war between Sega and Nintendo, selling only 2.5 million units prior to being discontinued.
Episode 54 – When the TurboGrafx-16 and Sega Genesis were both launched in the late summer and fall of 1989, neither was able to supplant the Nintendo Entertainment System at the top of the North American Home gaming market, and as a result their only real competition was each other. Both systems had some great … Read more
Co-developed by Hudson and celebrated shooter developer Compile, Blazing Lazers was the lone shooter available at the launch of a system that would gain a cult following because of them. The game was released in Japan as “Gunhed” and was based on a mecha-themed movie of the same name. In Blazing Lazers you can choose … Read more
Episode 30 – This week on the show, it’s the third installment in the “Launch Spectacular” series, the launch of the TurboGrafx-16! We take a brief look at the history of NEC, Hudson Soft, and their joint venture that started in 1987. We also take a look at all of the “launch window” games for … Read more
Episode 20 – This week on the show I review Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo) for the PC Engine Super CD. Possibly the best Castlevania title ever released and one of my personal favorite games. Since Super CD games are region-free, you can play this on your Turbografx-16 CD with … Read more
Episode 9 – This week I teach you how to flip the script on your hipster buddies! Let your friends play their Genesis and Super Nintendo systems, while you play John Madden Duo CD Football for the TurboDuo and Turbografx-16 CD. This and the 3DO version have to be the two most obscure games in … Read more
Episode 8 – This week I review the Turbo Everdrive by krikzz for the TurboGrafx-16, TurboDuo, PC Engine, and SuperGrafx consoles. This device allowed you to play any HuCard game directly from an SD card. The entire TG16 and PCE library will fit on one SD card, so this is an incredibly convenient device even … Read more
Golden Axe is one of my favorite games both on the Genesis and in the arcade, so I already knew that I was going to hold this PC Engine CD version to a high standard. The game starts off well enough; an animated cutscene complete with voice over, a title screen than looks more colorful … Read more
When most gamers think of the TurboGrafx, they think of arcade shooters and they think of Bonk. Much like Mario on the NES and Sonic on the Genesis, Bonk became the de facto mascot for the system. Bonk’s Adventure wasn’t completed in time for the TurboGrafx’ North American launch, but as soon as it was … Read more
“Gateball” is a Japanese sport not unlike croquet. Players use a long mallet to hit balls through three gates in a particular order and then hit a goal post to score and finish their round. It is a team-based sport, with up to 5 players on each squad. One team wins when either every player … Read more
For sports fans, there wasn’t much to choose from on the Turbo. As was the case with most sports, there was only one baseball game on the system – World Class Baseball. The game tries to sell itself as a baseball simulator but is in reality a very arcade-like experience, with pitches that defy the … Read more
Galaga is my favorite arcade game of all time, so when I found out that there was a sequel on the Turbo, I had to play it. Galaga ’90 is actually the fourth title in the series, preceded by Galaxian, Galaga, and the lesser-known Gaplus. Galaxian’s game play was similar to Space Invaders, except that … Read more
Ninja Spirit is one part Shinobi and one part shooter, mixing the side-scrolling ninja action of the classic Genesis title with the power up system found in most shooters. The game play is almost mindless – jump around avoiding enemy fire while mashing the attack button, much like most shoot-em-ups. The only real strategy involved … Read more
Keith Courage in Alpha Zones was the original pack-in game for the TurboGrafx-16. It’s an action platform game consisting of 7 themed levels, each with an overworld and underworld stage. In the overworld, you control the human Keith Courage, making your way through a village fighting off small enemies with a dagger and collecting gold … Read more
Splatterhouse has a plot straight out of a cheesy 80’s horror flick. Rick and Jennifer visit a haunted mansion and are attacked by monsters. Rick is killed, but is brought back to life by a mask that gives him super-human powers which he uses to fight through the mansion to rescue his girlfriend, who has … Read more