The Turbo Grafx-16 may have belly-flopped onto American shores and died a swift death, but it found smash success overseas under the name PC Engine. A quirky name for sure–it was from the era of video game consoles that masqueraded as 8-bit home computers—but its library is one that is remarkably strong and patently Japanese. It excelled at the 2D shooter; only the SEGA Saturn managed to host shmups of such quality and number. In fact, I could have very easily made this list strictly about shooters.
Instead, I decided to pluck representatives from different genres to showcases what this lil’ semi-16-bit system can do. From hop-and-bop mascot action to hardcore one-on-one brawling, here are the best PC Engine games that serve as a marvelous introduction to the system’s varied, and quirky, video game catalog.
The Neo Geo Pocket Color, released in August of 1999 and made by SNK, makers of the (incredibly expensive) Neo Geo systems and arcade cabinets, was a great little handheld — one of the last dedicated to 2D gaming. Made of a smooth, sometimes see-through, sometimes multicolored plastic resistant to finger smudges and damage, it felt great to hold. Battery power lasted so long they rarely needed replacement and huge, backlit 16-bit color screen was a relief to see after over a decade of the Game Boy’s muddy display. There were only two face buttons on it but my god, man, the tactile feedback! They had a joyful spring to them. And the joystick!
The Nintendo Wii U represents the opportunity for one of gaming’s most cherished and iconic companies to adopt modern horsepower–at least until the PS4 and Xbox 720 arrive. We had the opportunity to meet with Nintendo to get hands-on with its much-talked about console–a HD console that utilizes an Apple-white motion-control tablet as an input device.
We check out Escape Plan, Gravity Rush and Touch My Katamari.
Why have I owned nearly 20 video game systems over my lifetime? And why do they continue to occupy valuable apartment space? The answers to questions one and two are quite simplistic, but three and four would require the joint efforts of Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony to create the ultimate gift to gamers: The universal video game console.
Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony are prepping their next generation home video game consoles–but are gamers ready for them? Team 2D-X offers its opinion on whether or not console manufacturers should announce new hardware within the next two years. Do you need a Wii U, Xbox 720, or PS4 on store shelves within the next two years?
Today, Sony announced new prices for its PS3 console, which officially reignites the console (and fanboy) war.
The Nintendo 3DS is tanking–can Nintendo save face?
