The Shmups that Defined the TurboGrafx-16

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:49 pm

not really based on general opinion, but cho aniki, i just cannot imagine these games being on any other system. it has always seemed to me that the pc engine was home to a lot of odd, experimental stuff.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:32 pm

CIT wrote:Well, the PCE HuCards (the game was spilt in two cards) came out in 1988.

It was the first home-port of the game (and the first shooter on PCE), and completely blew away any other port that followed, even Amiga.

This was the first instance where a console game looked really amazingly close to the arcade original, and this only a couple of months after the arcade game was released. You gotta remember that at this time there was no Megadrive and no Neo Geo yet, people in Japan were playing FC and MSX, and in Europe C64. Arcade graphics for a home system was absolutely unheard of. I'm really not exaggerating when I say this was the main reason people went out and bought a PC-Engine.

Maybe you didn't experience the PC-Engine R-Type hype first hand? The only other example I can think of where a launch game had such an amazing impact would be Ridge Racer for Playstation, which did the same for 3D gaming, as R-Type did for 2D.

Yes, I didn't experience it first hand... I didn't experience it at all, actually

But I get from your words that all this buzz must have been in west, I don't think R-Type was such an outstanding seller in Japan (compared to Capcom / Konami stuff I mean), am I wrong?

[my only, really limited source is this http://www.the-magicbox.com/topten2.htm]

I don't see why one should exclude the other. You can define an era, and consequently also define a platform (which happens to be from the same era).

Well, perhaps we have a different idea of what it means to define... I'm sure of R-Type boom on PCE but after a while it was everywhere. Being that closer to the arcade became secondary... I remember in my early nineties, what I lusted after PC Engine were the anime-style games that no one else had. While the Giger-ish R-Type not only became widespread, but influenced tons of biorganic gothic european games, something like Detana!! was completely... "Japanese".

To make a better example to explain my words - what did define the Amiga, Lemmings or (say) Lionheart? Of course one might say Lemmings - but in a matter of years Lemmings became a cultural icon and was about everywhere. So with time the things that defined Amiga began to be the niche products that you could have only on the Amiga. That's to say that there's truth in both POWs.

Palmer Eldritch · Post by **Palmer Eldritch** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:24 pm

I know it´s expensive as hell but Sapphire pushed the system to the edge in a number of ways.
As a shooter it´s probably merely alright, but if you take time to stop and look at the sights there are so many interesting things going on you wouldn´t believe it.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:37 pm

@Turrican

I was mainly talking about the reception of R-type and PC-Engine in Japan. Of course a big hooplah was made about the game in the West as well, especially in the game press, but needless to say only few bought the console (at least in Europe, where it wasn't available unless you got the $$$ import).

And a defining game doesn't need to be a million seller, you know that as well, or you wouldn't have suggested Lionheart as the defining Amiga game.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:37 pm

I still think we're talking of two different timeframes, the "initial big impact" (ooh! it's sooo close to the coin-op! *drooling*) and the "everlasting appeal that defines a system years later" (nine times out of then, the reply is "Gate" or "Winds" in this regard, even in this thread). But I'll leave to you the last word - I'm sure you know much more about the PCE history than I do. I concur on the sale thing, of course, but I guess I don't overlap "most influential" with "define".

Post by **undamned** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:25 pm

Turrican wrote:I guess I don't overlap "most influential" with "define".

As do I.
-ud

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:14 pm

Turrican wrote:I still think we're talking of two different timeframes, the "initial big impact" (ooh! it's sooo close to the coin-op! *drooling*) and the "everlasting appeal that defines a system years later" (nine times out of then, the reply is "Gate" or "Winds" in this regard, even in this thread).

Yeah, I don't disagree with that at all. In fact I would probably name one of the Thunder games as my personal defining PCE shooter as well. I was just trying to offer a different perspective on the subject by drawing to attention what a big impact the R-Type port had back in the day, and how highly regarded it was, until the release of R-Types some 8 years later.

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:42 pm

I think TG16's R-Type was great, however I read in many places that the FM Towns version was superior...having never owned the system, can anyone confirm for me whether or not it topped TG16's version?

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:57 pm

R-Type was not portet to the FM Towns.

You're probably thinking of the X68000 version?

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:28 am

CIT wrote:R-Type was not portet to the FM Towns.

You're probably thinking of the X68000 version?

You are correct. My bad.

Sonic R · Post by **Sonic R** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:53 am

For me personally my define shoot them up was Blazing Lazers. The time was June 1990 and I had walked up to Kmart with my friend, and I proceed to purchase a Turbo Grafx-16 super system! In the month of August I have purchase a couple games, one of which was Blazing Lazers. WOW

This game was have seemless graphics and game play. Slow down is not there. It is talk when you are pick up power ups. "shield", "Field Thunder", Homing Mis-sile", "multi-body"

I don't play R-Type until late 1990- It was very expensive $69.99 plus tax but I "bite bullet" and pay up for R-Type. That was shoot them up defining moment number 2. I play endless hours through 21 credits - I get better everytime I play.

neoalphazero · Post by **neoalphazero** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:22 am

It's not my personal fav but Gates of Thunder did seem to define the Turbo Duo, at least in the US.

For a while in the US the Turbo CD had a of lack of titles and Hu-Cards were slowing to a trickle too. I remember in EGM seeing Bomberman 93 and Gates of Thunder get game of the month a few months apart, this after months months of nothing interesting on the Turbo and the current CD crop being Lords of the Sun and Splash Lake. Though the Duo still failed in the US Gates got the console some notice right away. *-neo

Koa Zo · Post by **Koa Zo** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:16 am

yeah neo, I remember that period exactly the same. Gate of Thunder definately defined the Duo in the US.
For the Turbo itself, Blazing Lazers sure garnered a lot of attention.

In my personal experience; the Spriggan games were my primary reason for buying a Duo-R a handful of years ago. Once the package arrived though, nearly all I played was Galaga '88.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:31 pm

neoalphazero wrote:It's not my personal fav but Gates of Thunder did seem to define the Turbo Duo, at least in the US.

For a while in the US the Turbo CD had a of lack of titles and Hu-Cards were slowing to a trickle too. I remember in EGM seeing Bomberman 93 and Gates of Thunder get game of the month a few months apart, this after months months of nothing interesting on the Turbo and the current CD crop being Lords of the Sun and Splash Lake. Though the Duo still failed in the US Gates got the console some notice right away. *-neo

Turbo Technologies Incorporated (TTI) made a wise decision to include the Gate of Thunder shmup title as a "packaged-in" game bundle to get first-timer new Turbo Duo owners a sweet taste for what to look for in the coming months back in October of 1992 at a retail price of $299.99 USD...still was a lot of $$$ to shell out for one anyways. ^_~

It was possible to buy such a brand new boxed Turbo Duo console for $99.99 USD back in 1994 when American retail stores learned that TTI wasn't going to be releasing anymore hardware/software for it's existing TG-16/Turbo Duo lineup or even release the NEC PC-FX gaming console either. Only if TTI had released more quality Hu-Card titles and SCD game titles, would've the Turbo Duo been more likely to survive the 16-bit console wars of that particular era...

In Japan, Gate of Thunder was a seperate Super CD-Rom2 game title to purchase...whereas, in the USA, it was a freebie... ^_~

TTI also managed to set up some Turbo Duo demo kiosks across the USA featuring the bundled SCD disc -- I very well remember trying out Gate of Thunder for the very time and was blown away by the gameplay of it -- pure classic shmup madness that the PCE/TG-16 platform is famous for..... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

silvergunner · Post by **silvergunner** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:04 am

I like both:Gate&Winds of Thunder.But GoT is the perfect one!(Gameplay,Music,Leveldesign)...just fantastic!

Gunhed is an absolute Masterpiece.Soundeffects & Music are still better as from Super Star Soldier-Series...and so funny to play!

Nexzr is one of my favourite shmup on PCE too.At beginning it`s very hard,i think it`s a "memorizer"like R Type...find the best position to shooting enemies and don`t loose your best weapon-choice!

All in all, it excists so much great shooters for PCE that should be a "must-have"for all shmup-fans,especially for oldschool lovers

...now i must build up a shrine for my duo

durias · Post by **durias** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:22 pm

Dragon Spirit was released for Wii VC today.

HardcoreOtaku · Post by **HardcoreOtaku** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:02 pm

durias wrote:Dragon Spirit was released for Wii VC today.

a mate of mine from japan was telling me today that there the Wii is outselling the PS3 six to one!!

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:41 pm

durias wrote:Dragon Spirit was released for Wii VC today.

Forgot about that one...awesome shmup.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:52 pm

HardcoreOtaku wrote:
durias wrote:Dragon Spirit was released for Wii VC today.
a mate of mine from japan was telling me today that there the Wii is outselling the PS3 six to one!!

Well

I don't know if it's still the case, but up until last month I think, even the PS2 was outselling the PS3, which was really funny...

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:00 pm

Shatterhand wrote:
HardcoreOtaku wrote:
durias wrote:Dragon Spirit was released for Wii VC today.
a mate of mine from japan was telling me today that there the Wii is outselling the PS3 six to one!!

Well

I don't know if it's still the case, but up until last month I think, even the PS2 was outselling the PS3, which was really funny...

- Ha, ha, ha. I knew this would happen.

fullblownaidzz · Post by **fullblownaidzz** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:01 am

Shatterhand wrote:
HardcoreOtaku wrote:
durias wrote:Dragon Spirit was released for Wii VC today.
a mate of mine from japan was telling me today that there the Wii is outselling the PS3 six to one!!

Well

I don't know if it's still the case, but up until last month I think, even the PS2 was outselling the PS3, which was really funny...

I read somewhere that the GBA was keeping up with ps3 in japan.

Mortificator · Post by **Mortificator** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:56 pm

fullblownaidzz wrote:
Shatterhand wrote:
HardcoreOtaku wrote: a mate of mine from japan was telling me today that there the Wii is outselling the PS3 six to one!!

Well

I don't know if it's still the case, but up until last month I think, even the PS2 was outselling the PS3, which was really funny...
I read somewhere that the GBA was keeping up with ps3 in japan.

I can't find the sales figures right now, but I know PS3 slightly outsold GBA for the first time last month. Score!

HardcoreOtaku · Post by **HardcoreOtaku** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:12 pm

Mortificator wrote:
fullblownaidzz wrote:
Shatterhand wrote: Well

I don't know if it's still the case, but up until last month I think, even the PS2 was outselling the PS3, which was really funny...
I read somewhere that the GBA was keeping up with ps3 in japan.
I can't find the sales figures right now, but I know PS3 slightly outsold GBA for the first time last month. Score!

lol

I have to admit though when I was last in japan I noticed that GBA was still very popular.

Personally I've never been too keen on Sony's consoles, yes I know they're popular on this forum and I'll admit after coming here I'm now gonna get a PS2 as I've pretty much ignored it up untill now and so wasn't aware of its selection of Shooters.
Its just Sony had this horrible big corporation image to me that I didn't like, it feels like they got into the games industry just to make a buck I just don't get that same feeling with Nintendo, SNK, Sega or Hudson Soft.