Wich PC-Engine/Turbografx must I buy for shmups?

admith · Post by **admith** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:28 am

Thats the question, since there is a few variations of this system, and I don't know exactly how does it works...

Your help will be appreciated.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:40 am

Duo-R or RX

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:28 pm

Or you could buy a U.S. region Turbo Duo console and pick up a Murai or Kisado Hu-Card convertor to play those cool PC Engine Hu-Card game carts. It'll play all those cool Japanese & USA CD-Rom2, Super CD-Rom2 and Arcade CD-Rom2 games with a required Arcade Card Duo upgrade. (TTI and Working Designs were planning to release bundled Arcade CD-Rom2 game package with Arcade Card Duo upgrade but it fell through and wasn't distributed in the USA). Both the Arcade Card Pro and the Arcade Card Duo upgrades were available for purchase through USA mail-order company by the name of Turbo Zone Direct (TZD) -- went out of business not too long ago.

And be sure to pick an NEC Tennokoe Bank Rom-Ram Hu-Card to save your PC Enigne game saves -- it has a whopping 8,000kb of memory storage. All the Duo console have a 2,000kb memory storage limit.

Pick up the TTI version of Magical Chase...that one has an all new background scenery compared to the original Japanese PC Engine version + a few other tweaks/improvements. Just be prepared to spend some serious money for such a mint and pristine copy complete with factory TTI box, plastic tray insert and instruction manual. ^_~

Good luck with your Duo and Hu-Card shmup purchases, admith.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:12 pm

Duo-R or RX

admith · Post by **admith** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:37 pm

Thanks to all. I really appreciate your help.

I suppose I will buy a Duo-R or RX, because I don't like problems, and the solution provided by PC-Engine fan sounds cheaper, but more difficult too.

I prefer to spend a little more, but to have a system that allows me to play easily the games in any format (Hu-Card, CD, etc.), and if possible, from any region, because I suppose this system is NOT region free.

And supposing it's not region free, wich is better for shmups, the JP or the US system? And how about an RGB output signal?

Thanks!

P.D.: I'm checking prices in ebay, and they are a real pain in the ass.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:47 pm

Just in case you wanted to get a fourth opinion:

Duo-R or RX

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:53 pm

again... Duo R or RX

I wouldn't worry about domestic stuff. Any region CD will work fine. Hucards are locked via different pinouts. But there is far more import hucards than domestic. You won't be missing anything by having japanese hucards only.... plus you can mod or get a converter later down the road if you MUST have a U.S. hucard game.

As far as RGB... any choice will require a hardware mod for it.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:30 pm

The majority of fellow shmuppers say to go with either an NEC PC Engine Duo-R or the Duo-RX variant console. So be it.

If you want to play all the format CD games, then an Arcade Card Duo upgrade will allow that option including the ability to play the only Arcade CD-Rom2 shmup game released, Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire.

A nice PCE arcade stick such as the Japanese released "Hori PC Fighting Stick" arcade joystick controller is very nice for your shmup needs as it has functionality for both 2-button, 3-button and 6-button based PCE games. It has built-in auto-fire and slow motion capabilities as well.

If you want to play multi player games, I'd recommend getting a Duo Tap accessory. It's a must if you want more than one player per gaming session. NCSX sells them for a mere $26.50 USD a pop and ships internationally:

http://www.ncsx.com/2006/092506/pcengine_multitap.htm

Some of the top PCE shmup Hu-Cards to get are:

PCE Soldier Blade circa 1992 from Hudson Soft.

PCE Super Star Soldier circa 1990 from Hudson Soft.

PCE Gunhed from Compile

PCE Air Buster -- arcade simultaneous two-player shmup title at it's finest and from Interstate & Kaneko.

PCE Download circa 1990 from NEC themselves, very famous for usage of swearing!

PCE Gate of Thunder -- circa 1991 from Hudson Soft and RED.

PCE Winds of Thunder -- from Hudson Soft and RED.

PCE Slyphia -- is a rare Super CD-Rom2 shmup title but well worth the $$$ for it.

There are many other PCE shmup titles to check out/play/own... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

I'm Alec · Post by **I'm Alec** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:22 pm

which?

witch?

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:30 pm

I'm Alec wrote:which?

witch?

I'm pretty sure that admith meant the word "which".

I like your sense of humor with "witch" spelling as well. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:43 pm

trouble whiches

p.s. I play on a GT and Windoze :p

bcass · Post by **bcass** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:19 am

PC Engine Fan X! wrote:Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire

This is one of the most ill-advised shmups ever made. Apart from the technical facets of it's existence, it really is mediocre in the extreme. Seriously, there are more playable shmups on the ZX Spectrum than this.

I'm Alec · Post by **I'm Alec** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:40 am

umm... i thought sapphire was pretty decent. i didn't play it much because my cdr was skipping.

i could see how pissed you would be if you paid 500 for it or whatever it runs for.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:27 am

Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire

yeah I own this and I don't even play it that much.... it's cool for a tech demo and not an awful game. it's just not that fun to play or really that special other than it's an ok arcade card game and is worth a rediculous amount.

admith · Post by **admith** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:33 am

PC Engine Fan X! wrote:
I'm Alec wrote:which?

witch?
I'm pretty sure that admith meant the word "which".

I like your sense of humor with "witch" spelling as well. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Sorry. I meant "which", but sometimes my english is not very good. But I'm sure your spanish is even worst!!!

Thanks again for all the info. Now I know the system I must go for, and everything about different regions and RGB.

And.. errr... I also know the difference between "wich" and "which"

Leeram · Post by **Leeram** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:22 am

I have a Japanese PC Engine Duo and it plays everything so far as I am aware. I have an Arcade Card Duo for it as well.

It's the best games system on earth, ever, bar none, except maybe the SNES

If I had to rescue any computer/console of mine (and I have just about all of them from Spectrum to PS3) from a fire it would be my PC Engine Duo. Without doubt. I mean, it has Winds of Thunder and Final Soldier, what more could anyone want in life?

Cheers

Lee

admith · Post by **admith** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:01 am

Leeram wrote:I mean, it has Winds of Thunder and Final Soldier, what more could anyone want in life?

Cheers

Lee

... Good prices?

There no way to find a RGB modded Duo-R under 200 bucks!

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:45 am

admith wrote:
Leeram wrote:I mean, it has Winds of Thunder and Final Soldier, what more could anyone want in life?

Cheers

Lee
... Good prices?

There no way to find a RGB modded Duo-R under 200 bucks!

Or you could buy a stock "plain vanilla" Duo-R or Duo-RX console and get it RGB modded. That option is something to consider. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Leeram · Post by **Leeram** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:27 pm

admith wrote:
Leeram wrote:I mean, it has Winds of Thunder and Final Soldier, what more could anyone want in life?

Cheers

Lee
... Good prices?

There no way to find a RGB modded Duo-R under 200 bucks!

If, like me, most people are prepared to risk burning to death to save their beloved PC Engine I can understand why they cost so much

DC906270 · Post by **DC906270** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 4:52 pm

another good alternative set up i used to rock is a Supergrafx system and a Super CDRom2 unit, thats it , no wires required, the Super CDROM2 unit just slides into a slot at the back of the SG, easy as pie

just remember there are a couple of hucards incompatible with the SG, namely Space Harrier , but 99.9% work fine

HardcoreOtaku · Post by **HardcoreOtaku** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:13 pm

I much prefer the original Black Jap Duo to the Duo-R.
The original is smaller, has a Headphone port and looks a million times nicer IMO

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:42 pm

Get one that plays the imports. I have a TG16 (U.S.) and have almost all the shmups that were released here but I'm missing out on the fabulous CD games and HU cards that were released after the Turbo went under.

I had a Duo long ago but sold it like an idiot.

kennyrh · Post by **kennyrh** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:56 pm

ROBOTRON wrote: I had a Duo long ago but sold it like an idiot.

Me too mate . . .one of my great regrets in life.

Wonder what it would cost to get one back

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:30 pm

kennyrh wrote:
ROBOTRON wrote: I had a Duo long ago but sold it like an idiot.

Me too mate . . .one of my great regrets in life.

Wonder what it would cost to get one back

Perhaps an arm and leg nowdays for one... ^_~

I regret selling my Vectrex and eventually paid more than double for one used when I bought my first one brand new for a mere fifty smackers back in 1984. Oh well, such regrets selling such cult console systems and paying even more $$$ to re-kindle such lost gaming memories with them is a painful situation to endure. I knew from the beginning that such a PCE/TG-16 was a special system despite NEC and later, TTI, really not having the killer-app game titles to cater to the die-hard gamers -- there was so much to choose from in the original Japanese Hu-Card/Super CD-Rom2 game library selection, NEC/TTI could've easily done so but did not.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

majors · Post by **majors** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:55 pm

Leeram wrote:If I had to rescue any computer/console of mine (and I have just about all of them from Spectrum to PS3) from a fire it would be my PC Engine Duo.

I like how this man thinks.

I recently picked up a PCE Duo to replace my dieing TG-CD setup. I have been using EMU's to play my CD's, but it's much better in the "real".

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:36 pm

majors wrote:
Leeram wrote:If I had to rescue any computer/console of mine (and I have just about all of them from Spectrum to PS3) from a fire it would be my PC Engine Duo.
I like how this man thinks.

I recently picked up a PCE Duo to replace my dieing TG-CD setup. I have been using EMU's to play my CD's, but it's much better in the "real".

For majors,

It is, indeed, best to play with the real PCE hardware/software setup deal compared to emulation. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

harlequ1n · Post by **harlequ1n** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:12 pm

Sorry to drag this old post out but I'd love to know your opinions on the PC-Engine shmup ports on the Wii Virtual Console? Are they worth the money?

drboom · Post by **drboom** » Mon May 04, 2009 10:17 pm

bcass wrote:
PC Engine Fan X! wrote:Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire
This is one of the most ill-advised shmups ever made. Apart from the technical facets of it's existence, it really is mediocre in the extreme. Seriously, there are more playable shmups on the ZX Spectrum than this.

Yup.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Tue May 05, 2009 5:57 pm

HardcoreOtaku wrote:I much prefer the original Black Jap Duo to the Duo-R.
The original is smaller, has a Headphone port and looks a million times nicer IMO

I agree with your reasons but definitely not the conclusion. Overheating is too big of an issue to just discount.

As for Sapphire, I don't think there are any playability issues. It doesn't really have any major flaws (controls, repetition, etc.) though nothing really amazing either outside graphics.

I personally got a SuperGrafx just for Aldynes and Granzort; probably not the average gamer's cup of tea though since nothing else is really worth playing.

Koa Zo · Post by **Koa Zo** » Wed May 06, 2009 6:16 am

harlequ1n wrote:Sorry to drag this old post out but I'd love to know your opinions on the PC-Engine shmup ports on the Wii Virtual Console? Are they worth the money?

yeah! how about that?
are the Wii PC-Engine ports spot-on?

shmups.system11.org

Wich PC-Engine/Turbografx must I buy for shmups?

Wich PC-Engine/Turbografx must I buy for shmups?

The 411 on the TTI released Turbo Duo console...