SheSaidDutch wrote:How expensive Is the Turbo Duo exactly? and then those upgrades and CD's
I bought a brand new one a few years back for $200. These days, I'd say a used one would run around $150, a bit more for some of the later JP renditions (Duo R and RX).
As far as upgrades go, you don't need any if you get a Duo. It plays Hucards and CDs out of the box. If you want to play any of the Arcade CD games (there's maybe two worth checking out), you need an Arcade Card, which is just a bunch of extra RAM. Also note that you cannot play 1941 or Aldynes with a standard PCE system - those are SuperGrafx-only.
Get a JP console, by the way. There were a lot of shmups that weren't released in the US, although most of the ones that were are cheaper than the JP versions. There's always emulation if you want to try before you buy.
SheSaidDutch wrote:How expensive Is the Turbo Duo exactly? and then those upgrades and CD's
I bought a brand new one a few years back for $200. These days, I'd say a used one would run around $150, a bit more for some of the later JP renditions (Duo R and RX).
As far as upgrades go, you don't need any if you get a Duo. It plays Hucards and CDs out of the box. If you want to play any of the Arcade CD games (there's maybe two worth checking out), you need an Arcade Card, which is just a bunch of extra RAM. Also note that you cannot play 1941 or Aldynes with a standard PCE system - those are SuperGrafx-only.
Get a JP console, by the way. There were a lot of shmups that weren't released in the US, although most of the ones that were are cheaper than the JP versions. There's always emulation if you want to try before you buy.
Also, US Duos can play US and Japan CDs but only US hucards. Japan Duos can play US/JP CDs but only JP hucards. Converters are hard to find/expensive (like $80+) unless you luck out (i got mine for $15) so choose wisely. I think I paid about $200 for my used duo with Gate of Thunder/Bonk cd about a year ago, they are quite expensive, but well worth it imo.
Also, avoid Bullseye_games_collectibles if you are looking for a baragin. He sells duos in box for about 400 to 500 dollars and is very inconsistant with pricing. Some Japanese sellers are selling Japanese duos in box for about 200 dollars, including shipping. US duos should run you about 200-250 from sellers that don't overprice their goods.
SheSaidDutch wrote:Thanks for the information Omega, I'm glad I wont really need that extra ram then
Well, at some point you definitely should check out Sapphire. It'll blow you away seeing what the PC-Engine is truly capable of with the right amount of memory (18 megabits in this case) and some talented programmers. Find the ISO/MP3 out there, MagicEngine emulates it beautifully. I don't think that game alone warrants the purchase of an Arcade Card, though.
Neon wrote:PCE's mostly for collectors...highly priced, but not much there.
PCE proper? Maybe -- but the Duo? It's got way more wothwhile exclusives than the Saturn.
If you do pick up a Duo, however, I strongly urge you buy a japanese model if you think you may *ever* have any interest in hucards. As noted, the CDs play on both US and JP hardware, but the price to mix and match carts is darn expensive. (I think the number of cards released in the U.S. but not JP can be counted on one hand, while the number the other way around is much higher and includes stuff I consider essential -- like Bomberman '94.)
umi wrote:Don't forget Zaxxon Motherbase 2000 on the 32x... an isometric shmup.
Zaxxon is a 3D game along the lines of Space Harrier. (Viewpoint, on the other hand, is 2D.)
All of the Star Soldiers except for the parody game are hu card based. The original Air Zonk/PC Denjin, which is generally considered to be better than the CD version, is on a hu card. Blazing Lazers/Gunhed is also on a hu card. Not a bad amount of exclusive shooters, though there is more on CD.
Space Harrier 32X, can't get any closer to a good shooter on this system. It's a good conversion of the arcade original from what I've heard and from little experience.
Sol Feace and Dennin Aleste are great shooters for the MCD, can't judge the rest of the shooters on the system since I don't own them and therefore haven't played 'em a lot.
whoisKeel wrote:
Also, US Duos can play US and Japan CDs but only US hucards. Japan Duos can play US/JP CDs but only JP hucards. Converters are hard to find/expensive (like $80+) unless you luck out (i got mine for $15) so choose wisely. I think I paid about $200 for my used duo with Gate of Thunder/Bonk cd about a year ago, they are quite expensive, but well worth it imo.
Is this right? Why are the hu-cards region coded, but the cds not? Kind of strange.
I guess I'll have to buy a Japanese Duo at some point. I have some hu-cards I can't play with my US TG-16.
professor ganson wrote:Is this right? Why are the hu-cards region coded, but the cds not? Kind of strange.
I guess I'll have to buy a Japanese Duo at some point. I have some hu-cards I can't play with my US TG-16.
while i can't say why, i can confirm that this is true.
