Hopping into the PC-Engine market

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sat May 07, 2005 8:02 am

Thanks for the heads up!
I'll keep an eye out, but I'd probably get II first.

jp · Post by jp » Sat May 07, 2005 2:05 pm

So... what are the technical differences between the consoles? I went to those PC-Engine sites and couldn't get any information... and seeing as how I really like the look of the PC-Engine Duo Rx... I would really like to know how it is technically inferior to the PC-Engine Duo and PC-Engine Duo R.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Sat May 07, 2005 8:07 pm

i got mine (JP Duo, 1st model) for less than $200 with box (prob too much actually) and have had zero problems. anyway, Duo 1 looks way better than the RX. you gotta love the purple detailing.

the rx looks really weak (as in build-wise). it is my favorite console i have right now, even though it tends to be the least-played lately, as i have around 3 games worth playing and i haven't been "in the mood."

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Sat May 07, 2005 8:07 pm

AFAIK, the Duo R and the RX are the same. The only thing is that the RX includes a six-button pad that looks just like the one included with the PCFX.

jp · Post by jp » Sat May 07, 2005 8:17 pm

I think I'll be getting a Duo-RX now then. Thanks!!!

airzonk · Post by **airzonk** » Thu May 12, 2005 7:28 pm

Nemo wrote:NEC just handled the corporate aspect. Since Sony was pining to get in the console business they signed a deal with NEC to produce all the PC-engine systems. So basically the Duo is like the Playstation 0.

Hudson Soft designed the console, and sold it to NEC. This explains why so many games for the platform were Hudson's--they designed the thing. Including all the exotic variations and add-ons... (SuperGrafx, Arcade Card, etc)...

Do you mean that Sony was responsible for building the PC Engine? Because they didn't design it; and the CD-ROM drives were NEC drives... where do you get your information...?

Sony, however, did design the sound chip in the Super NES, and also the extra sound chip that came with the Sega CD. Ken Kutaragi, specifically. Name ring a bell? =)

-Gabe

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Thu May 12, 2005 7:30 pm

^he was just busting his chops

jp · Post by jp » Thu May 12, 2005 7:30 pm

Since this is back up:

Anyone want to throw up a list of 25 must own shmups for these systems? The chances of me getting one in a week are looking mighty high.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Thu May 12, 2005 7:35 pm

don't have many shmups for it now but:

Gate of Thunder is a riot
Soldier Blade is also fun, particularly the Caravan stage

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Thu May 12, 2005 8:25 pm

1943 Kai
Final Blaster
Daisenpuu
Gradius (best port, imo)
Raiden
Tatsujin

I find most of the best shit on PCE is nonshmup, thoe.

matt · Post by **matt** » Thu May 12, 2005 9:57 pm

jp wrote:So... what are the technical differences between the consoles? I went to those PC-Engine sites and couldn't get any information... and seeing as how I really like the look of the PC-Engine Duo Rx... I would really like to know how it is technically inferior to the PC-Engine Duo and PC-Engine Duo R.

All the Duos are basically the same. Except that, on the R/RX models, they took out the headphone jack and the door locking switch. Neither of these are important, unless you either really like headphones or have some pathological fear of the CD door opening whle you're playing.

The Duo-R and Duo-RX are identical. The only difference is that the RX comes with the RX pad, which IMO sucks - the buttons are nice but the D-Pad is wonky.

I say just buy whatever one you see first at a reasonable price. Personally, I think the white Duos look coolest. But, I'm happy that I've got a black one because if it were white, it'd be all grungy by now.

OmegaFlareX · Post by **OmegaFlareX** » Thu May 12, 2005 9:57 pm

Hucards:
Air Zonk/PC Denjin
Coryoon
Dead Moon
Download
Dragon Saber
Final Soldier
Genji Tsushin Agedama (horiz. shmup/platform hybrid)
Gunhed/Blazing Lazers
Hana Takha Daka!?
Kyukyoku Tiger
Magical Chase
Override
Sidearms
Soldier Blade
Super Star Soldier
Tatsujin
Toilet Kids (poop-themed shmup, fucking hilarious)

CDs:
Daisenpu Custom
Gate of Thunder
L-Dis
Lords/Wind of Thunder
Nexzr/Summer Carnival '93
Rayxanber III
Star Parodia
Spriggan
Super Darius
Super Darius II

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:06 am

Try Dungeon Explorer 2 if you get the chance. Really good voice acting, and fun Gauntlet-style gameplay for up to five players with the tap.

OmegaFlareX · Post by **OmegaFlareX** » Fri May 13, 2005 3:57 pm

That's the problem with the Dungeon Explorer games. Unless you have at least one other person to play them with, don't even bother. My progress came to a screeching halt about 1/3 of the way through the first game. I just could not complete this one dungeon by myself. Too many fucking enemies for one character.

jp · Post by jp » Sat May 14, 2005 3:01 pm

Thanks Matt! You are the man!!!

So Neon, what non-shmups would you recommend then?

And thanks for the list Omega! Now I've got a starting point...

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat May 14, 2005 3:57 pm

jp, you traitor! Focusing on another hardware while you're still at 41/53!

jp · Post by jp » Sat May 14, 2005 4:37 pm

Huzzah!!! Looks like I will be getting a PC-Engine Duo R!!!

Here's the games I'm buying:
Super Star Soldier
Star Parodier
Ordyne
Summer Carnavil '92: Alzadick
Rayxanber 2
Nexzr Special
Sidearms Special

w00t w00t I say.

jp · Post by jp » Sat May 14, 2005 4:40 pm

Turrican wrote:jp, you traitor! Focusing on another hardware while you're still at 41/53!

I know I know. I'm going to fire up the final throws of the Saturn shmup collection in the fall. Though I'm probably going to be buying Thunder Force Gold Pack 2 soon... and then I'll spend my summer focusing on getting all the Tecno Soft Saturn games (since, aside from Blast Wind, Thunder Force V Special, and Hyper Duel, they're all mad cheap).

But yeah, I just needed to go ahead and check out some PC-Engine Duo goodness... a little bit of Compile and Naxat Soft not sucking and all that.

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Sun May 15, 2005 1:44 am

Compile not sucking? Aside from Puyo Puyo Sun, I disagree

So Neon, what non-shmups would you recommend then? Smile

All of the following are solid gold (you know I don't recommend anything else):

Be Ball
Bomberman '93
Devil's Crush
Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball Bu PC Bangai Hen
Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball Bu PC Soccer Hen
Don Doko Don
Parasol Stars
Power Drift
River City Ransom (pce CD only)
Street Fighter 2 (duh)

There's also CD versions of Soccer Hen, and another Kunio game, which I haven't tried but I'm sure they're better than the NES versions if they got similar treatment to other Technos games. CD Soccer Hen almost has to be given the high quality of the PCE version

Keep in mind that I'm not too fond of the standard games people recommend for pce (ie Military Madness, Super Star Soldier, Blazing Lazers, etc.) so you might wanna emulate these first.

jp · Post by jp » Sun May 15, 2005 8:10 pm

Neon wrote:Compile not sucking? Aside from Puyo Puyo Sun, I disagree

So Neon, what non-shmups would you recommend then? Smile
All of the following are solid gold (you know I don't recommend anything else):

Be Ball
Bomberman '93
Devil's Crush
Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball Bu PC Bangai Hen
Nekketsu Koukou Dodgeball Bu PC Soccer Hen
Don Doko Don
Parasol Stars
Power Drift
River City Ransom (pce CD only)
Street Fighter 2 (duh)

There's also CD versions of Soccer Hen, and another Kunio game, which I haven't tried but I'm sure they're better than the NES versions if they got similar treatment to other Technos games. CD Soccer Hen almost has to be given the high quality of the PCE version

Keep in mind that I'm not too fond of the standard games people recommend for pce (ie Military Madness, Super Star Soldier, Blazing Lazers, etc.) so you might wanna emulate these first.

I wasn't referring to Compile sucking, I was talking about Naxat Soft sucking, what with Planet Joker and all.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sun May 15, 2005 8:29 pm

I haven't played Planet Joker, but I thought some of Naxat Soft's PC-Engine stuff weren't so bad..

Paranoia's a neat memorise-em-up like R-Type, and creeps the Hell out of me, and Coryoon is a very easy but very cute game, graphics and music.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Sun May 15, 2005 8:29 pm

i want Coryoon bad

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Sun May 15, 2005 9:15 pm

How bad? Gaijin has it for $65. No clue if that's an awesome deal or a ripoff since I don't go for Hucards.

OmegaFlareX · Post by **OmegaFlareX** » Sun May 15, 2005 9:39 pm

Good price. I usually see it go for 80+ on ebay.

jp · Post by jp » Sun May 15, 2005 10:21 pm

Looks like I may actually LOSE the auction for the PC-Engine Duo R due to some asshat collector that just wants to store it away for display. Fucking bitch.

*sigh* We shall see. That would suck to lose the auction and be stuck with $300 worth of PC-Engine Duo games...

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Sun May 15, 2005 10:50 pm

jp wrote:Looks like I may actually LOSE the auction for the PC-Engine Duo R due to some asshat collector that just wants to store it away for display. Fucking bitch.

*sigh* We shall see. That would suck to lose the auction and be stuck with $300 worth of PC-Engine Duo games...

I hope you'll win the auction, damn collecters

If the collector wins it,it better be in a good display

jp · Post by jp » Sun May 15, 2005 10:55 pm

And before anyone asks, I know they're just going to display because:

"Hi There, I'm a collector looing for a mint Duo-R, does it come with instructions? is the console in excellent condition and has the box any tears or..."

Blah! I just want to play the games fucker!

SheSaidDutch · Post by **SheSaidDutch** » Sun May 15, 2005 11:00 pm

jp wrote:And before anyone asks, I know they're just going to display because:

"Hi There, I'm a collector looing for a mint Duo-R, does it come with instructions? is the console in excellent condition and has the box any tears or..."

Blah! I just want to play the games fucker!

I concur

A game is meant to be played not displayed, besides he may even have a copy just not inthe same condiction.

Give the players a chance

jp · Post by jp » Sun May 15, 2005 11:01 pm

*goes into sniping mode*

Last few seconds are approaching... lets see how much this bahstid threw down...

jp · Post by jp » Sun May 15, 2005 11:03 pm

Doh! I hit the bid button on accident.

*cries*

Now I just wait...