What do you guys think of the PC Engine / PC Engine CD?

[MrOldSchoolCool]

Before I came to this board, I would hear all the time how it's the best 16-bit shmup system and has more great shmups than any other system. But then I came here and people don't seem to think the same.

[Skykid]

I think it is the best 16-bit shmup system, in very close contention with the megadrive.

If you're referring to the "Rank shmups by console" thread, ignore it, its embarrassing. I would have expected better too.

[louisg]

I love the PC Engine. It's got a great shmup selection, and it very nearly fits in your damn pocket. Also, for the time, it had some really excellent arcade ports. Nexzr, the "of Thunder" games, the Konami shmups, Soldier Blade, Air Zonk, a solid version of Twin Cobra, an almost perfect Galaga 88, Star Parodier, Xevious with an exclusive remix mode, and even Super Star Soldier-- all pretty good games! Even some of the more average shooters like W-Ring or Dead Moon I think are a little bump up in quality compared to the shmups that are off the beaten path on SNES and Genesis (I'm thinking the equivalent there might be something like Imperium or Arrow Flash). And on top of that, you even get a port of Mr. Heli! And even Sidearms (NOT the CD one) is pretty decent, as is Spriggan.

Nah, that thing is in danger or being underrated now. And seriously, if anyone hasn't played Nexzr or Lords of Thunder, please try them immediately.

[Ed Oscuro]

If you're referring to the "Rank shmups by console" thread, ignore it, its embarrassing. I would have expected better too.

Hey, I mentioned it as the one must-have system!

Soldier series
Coryoon (nice caravan mode)
______ of Thunder games (haven't played myself, though)
Nexzr / Alzadick etc.

Bunches of others I'm neglecting of course.

[KAI]

Lords of Thunder



Also Akumajo Dracula X: Chi no Rondo.
PC Engine CD is the Most awesomest 16-bit system ever!

[Ganelon]

If you're looking at the positive reviews on the Shmups.com sister website, most of them were written over a decade ago. Some of the classic members in previous iterations of the board loved the PCE and PCE CD.

Nowadays, I'd imagine the scoring systems are often too simple, the graphics could be considered old-fashioned to some, hitboxes are all normal-sized, and folks don't want anime cutscenes interspersed (especially not of more mature-looking characters). Also, most English-speaking folks here didn't amass a decent PCE library when the system was still active so there's none of the nostalgia factor that the SNES and SG had.

I wouldn't try too hard to enjoy PCE shooters. I can easily see how a Cave fan might find most of them uninteresting. If they're not for you, then move on. Otherwise, have fun!

[Mortificator]

The old-school-isms aren't a problem, the design is. I have a lot of affection for Lords of Thunder, but the typical hori on the console has totally flat stages that repeat three or so enemy formations over and over. Sengoku Blade is like a PCE hori that cuts the filler.

[Friendly]

I think it's an awesome system with a great library. Duo-RX is a sexy system.
Games like Dracula X, Soldier Blade and Nexzr have aged very well.

[mulletgeezer]

It is not the best 16 bit shmup system; It is the best 8 bit shmup system

I'd also like to point out that L-Dis is a really interesting shmup that nobody ever talks about.

[Herr Schatten]

I'd also like to point out that L-Dis is a really interesting shmup that nobody ever talks about.

I keep mentioning it all the time, but nobody really seems to notice. I think Ghegs mentioned it a couple of times too.

[Skykid]

It is not the best 16 bit shmup system; It is the best 8 bit shmup system

Still debatable!

[mulletgeezer]

I'd also like to point out that L-Dis is a really interesting shmup that nobody ever talks about.

I keep mentioning it all the time, but nobody really seems to notice. I think Ghegs mentioned it a couple of times too.

Glad to hear it!

I have a nice PCE related tip for any Vita owners - The japanese ps+ is giving a 15 day free trial at the moment (not sure if they always do this) and both Gunhed and Super Star Soldier are included right now so for the sake of a few minutes work you can get them running on your Vita. The excellent screen and controls really brings out the goodness in these games.

[CStarFlare]

Nowadays, I'd imagine the scoring systems are often too simple

This is mostly it. I've found a lot of the games are long and fairly boring for the first three quarters or so.

The fact that it's basically -the- system for caravan modes is a big plus for the PC Engine, though. It has some serious winners, too - some people have already mentioned Lords of Thunder, and it's impossible to deny the greatness of a game that rips off 80s heavy metal riffs.

[Kollision]

The PC Engine is cool and such, but most shooters (not all, thanks to Konami) are just a little better than SMS and NES ones.
Now the PCE CD is where it's at if you going into this system. Its game library is definitely better than the stock PCE.

[Fudoh]

The PC Engine is cool and such, but most shooters (not all, thanks to Konami) are just a little better than SMS and NES ones.

oh, come on! Must have been some time since you saw those systems next to each other. While PCE is up there with MD and SNES, SMS is a technical mess and NES is so flawed by it's limited graphics processor.

To call Tatsujin, Gunhed, Final Soldier, Lost Sunheart, Hana Tahka Daka, Magical Chase or Chuka Taisen "just little better than SMS or NES" is ridiculous.

[Kollision]

The PC Engine is cool and such, but most shooters (not all, thanks to Konami) are just a little better than SMS and NES ones.

oh, come on! Must have been some time since you saw those systems next to each other. While PCE is up there with MD and SNES, SMS is a technical mess and NES is so flawed by it's limited graphics processor.

To call Tatsujin, Gunhed, Final Soldier, Lost Sunheart, Hana Tahka Daka, Magical Chase or Chuka Taisen "just little better than SMS or NES" is ridiculous.

ahn... okay I may have gone too far on that one
but my opinion on the pCE CD still stands

[Fudoh]

the PCE CD wins in quality of the top titles (RayXanber III, Winds of Thunder, Star Parodier), but I think the HuCard base wins in number.

[Friendly]

Tatsujin is a nice example of a hu-card game that's better than its Mega Drive counterpart. And it will seriously kick your ass, too. So you think modern danmaku games are hard? Think again

[Hagane]

but the typical hori on the console has totally flat stages that repeat three or so enemy formations over and over. Sengoku Blade is like a PCE hori that cuts the filler.

Uh, have you even played Sengoku Blade?

On topic: I love caravans and it has the best Castlevania, so it's great in my book.

[Blue_Ray]

Always wanted a Turbo Duo when it came out. And I've yet to get around to acquiring the system as I've not done the proper research.(Super Arcade Card wat?!) But it's on my "to buy" list for sure, especially once I get a good PVM or 2 from work for all my old school systems.

[HydrogLox]

Of all the 4th generation console systems the PCE/PCE-CD seems (to me personally) to have the most interesting and best collection of titles. However what put me off was the good likelihood of having to deal with some sort of system-failure of the CD portion of the system in the near future.

• Due to its age acquiring a surviving/still working PCE Duo R/PCE Duo RX can be pricy.
• If it hasn't already been done, expect to have to perform a full system "capacitor transplant".
• To be on the safe side you better acquire at least one replacement optical pickup CD laser lens (now, while you still can) for when the one in the system invariably dies. Fagin has already started stockpiling (Replacement CD console lenses; and a game pick-up!).

Now I imagine that the Hue card only Core-system is much more resilient but that also cuts out a lot of the interesting titles.

[shmuppyLove]

and folks don't want anime cutscenes interspersed (especially not of more mature-looking characters)

I like how you just slipped that in there

This was one of the reasons I really wanted a PCECD back in the day ... those anime cutscenes!

Unfortunately we didn't seem to get very many localized versions of these awesome games, and it wasn't really until Working Designs came on the scene with their fantastic library of PlayStation and Sega CD games that I really started to see this style/genre widely available.

[CloudyMusic]

Paging PC Engine Fan X, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

[Jeneki]

Gonna toss in some Image Fight II tonight, just because. Ready to die? Yes I am.

[Special World]

TG16 owns. Gate of Thunder is the single best classic scroller I've ever played. Lords of Thunder and Star Parodier are awesome as well. Downloading TG16 games on the wii VC was what got me back into scrolling shooters, so I owe it a huge debt.

[DEL]

Its awesome. The GT handheld is great too.

The Tatsujin/Truxton card is pretty much perfect. Twin Cobra is great. Akumajo Dracula X: Chi no Rondo.
I have L-Dis but haven't yet played it.

The GT handheld is so good I once gave myself the challenge of 1CCing Salamander on it and succeeded. Considering I am useless with a pad, this is a testament to how good the GT's pad and the port are. The port ever.

[MrOldSchoolCool]

As much as I love having the original hardware (and I've spent a lot of extra money to make this so), it seems like it would be a smart choice for me to just get the PC Engine CD games on the Virtual Console. It doesn't seem like it's worth the 700+ dollars to get the hardware and the 5 games or so I want. Not to mention it's got reliability issues and crappy composite video quality without modification. So getting it modified would be another huge hassle.

[MJR]

Ahh.. PC Engine. I could tell you how I wanted to own this console and its games since 1989, how I've had for years dreams where I am in huge game shop and browsing through PC Engine Hu Cards and waking up with deep longing.

But I can just say that I recently bought the original 1987 white console, had it RGB modded, bought R-type, Gradius, Mr.Heli, Salamander, Splatterhouse, Kato & Ken, New zealand story, Rabio Lepus, Alien Crush and Devil crush, and..

..I am not disappointed by one bit. The games are fucking awesome still.
PC-Engine version of Salamander is far superior to the arcade, because it is no longer a rip-off designed to steal your coins, level 4 boss actually makes sense now, and many enemies (such as flame dragon or tentacles) have far smoother movement, no more scaled sprites, you can actually have extra lives for points, etc.

I LOVE PC-Engine! It is awesome console, it's games are awesome and people who like them are awesome.

Also, in reply to the previous post, I did have PC-Engine games for virtual console of course, but the playability on the original, and graphics, are FAR better, as in emulation always. Alien Crush makes a dramatic difference. And japanese versions are better too.

My 2 cents

[Edmond Dantes]

an almost perfect Galaga 88

ALMOST perfect? I played the arcade one in MAME, and came away feeling like the PC Engine version was superior.

I dunno about anyone else, but I huggle-wuv my PC Engine.

Oh, has anyone mentioned Cho Aniki yet?

[louisg]

Not every game is on the Virtual Console, but it's not a bad place to start, especially seeing what's happened with 16-bit game prices on eBay going through the roof. But what I've been using is a Duo-R, and I think those are supposed to have more reliable caps than the original Duo model. The composite output is also pretty clean, unlike the Genesis, so it does look decent on a CRT.

The Tatsujin/Truxton card is pretty much perfect

I really wish that wasn't a zillion dollars. It seems like a very nice port.

This was one of the reasons I really wanted a PCECD back in the day ... those anime cutscenes

Oh man, I can't express how exotic those looked to me back in the late 80s/early 90s. The PC Engine CD was one of those machines like the Neo Geo-- they were an expensive luxury that you might get only if you're serious enough to plunk down $300 or more, at a time when a typical console cost $150 or less (IIRC, the Genesis was $120 even in the days when Altered Beast was a pack-in. Or that's what I got mine for.)