Just got Duo. Absolutely shocked by awesomeness!

[BrianC]

I bought it mostly for shooters but there are others (in other genres) I want. care to make some specific recommendations?

Wonderboy 3: The Dragon's Curse is one of the best non-shmup games I've ever played.

Other good ones I recommend:
Ninja Spirit
Moto Roader
Military Madness
Forgotten Worlds (CD)
Dragon Slayer 2 (CD)
Y's Book 1 & 2 (CD)

I also recommend Dragon's Curse, but the TG-16 version doesn't have Wonder Boy 3 in the title and the plot and graphics have changed a slight bit. The other versions of the game are called Monster World II: The Dragon's Trap in Japan. The Japanese version of Dragon's Curse is actually called Adventure Island, but the title is written in English, unlike the Bouken Shima games where the title was translated from the Japanese.

[llaoyllakcuf]

Don't forget the first two Cho Aniki games!


(I prefer the original one over its sequel)

[OmegaFlareX]

No one's mentioned Star Parodia yet. It's one of the best cute-em-up's ever made. Replay value is next to nil, due to it's complete lack of difficulty (I can 1-life it on Hard, and I'm an average shmup player), but the experience is awesome. I can think of very few games that beat it in stage variety.

Some more non-shmups (hucard):
Legendary Axe
Bloody Wolf
Cadash
Jackie Chan
Legend of Hero Tonma
New Adventure Island
Somer Assault/Mesopotamia
Tiger Road

And CD:
Shubinbinman 3
Valis II
Vasteel
Loom
Shape Shifter
Last Alert
Ys IV

Most of these are US releases. From looking around at the PCEP, the vast majority of non-shmups on CD are RPGs and strategy games - stuff not really accessable unless you can read Japanese.

[captain ahar]

in the near future my next games will be:

-Cho Aniki
-Cho Aniki Ai (if i like the 1st as much as i think i will)
-God Panic
-Lords of Thunder (us probably, unless there is some reason that jp is clearly better)
-Spriggan
-RayXanber III
-Star Parodier (cannot resist playing as a PC Engine, and... it's apparently painfully easy )
-Steam Hearts seems like a riot. Too bad its, what? $180
-Kazekiri too. although that is in excess of $110 as well.

wow those are pretty much all shooters. add a few platformers in that mix. also, i'd love to have Neo Nectaris, but as it only released in japan, that's out (it seems that understanding menus would useful in this case ).

[GaijinPunch]

-Spriggan

A very good shooter. Add Sylphia to the list if you like this one.

-Steam Hearts seems like a riot. Too bad its, what? $180

I guess I'm a moron for just selling my complete copy for $65. Guess some people should check my FS thread.

-Kazekiri too. although that is in excess of $110 as well.

Also great game. Just wait, you can get it cheaper than that.

[ccovell]

-Lords of Thunder (us probably, unless there is some reason that jp is clearly better)

I say go for the US release. Winds of Thunder has some commentary over top of the intro/cinema music which gets annoying when you want to play the rock music in your CD player.

It's not like it hasn't been mentioned before, but here are some other good/great games (*means it's a shmup):

CD:
Dracula X
Dungeon Explorer 2
Dynastic Hero
L-Dis*
NEXZR*
Pomping World (Buster Bros.)
Side Arms Special*
Spriggan*
Gradius II*

Hu:
Aero Blasters*
Doraemon Meikyuu Daisakusen (Cratermaze)
Gomola Speed
Neutopia I & II
Paranoia*
Parodius Da!*
Gunhed (Blazing Lazers)*
Soldier Blade*
Super Star Soldier*
Kyuukyoku Tiger*
Ordyne*
Valkyrie no Densetsu

[Ghegs]

As a rapid Side Arms fan I have to recommend the hu-card over the CD. While the CD has two difficulty options (Easy and Normal) and CD-music, there's also a bit of loading time before every boss (when the game changes the BGM) and the "Before Christ" version is pretty bad.

[Dylan1CC]

while i heavily agree that Bonk games rock. i do not have the 1st and 2nd on CD. i stated above that my version of Gate of Thunder is the jp "1-in-1" release. great info about the Factor 5 download too!

I highly recommend you get the U.S. GoT disc which has Bonk 1 and 2 and the hidden Bomberman game. Even if you have these on Hucard already, it's still nice to have them on CD if ya wanna play something more "relaxing" after a heated GoT session. Plus the U.S. CD has a neat little semi-animated cartoon Bonk intro.

[tehkao]

I have to concur that the Duo is possibly the coolest console ever made. I've bought many consoles in my life, but none gave me the same excitement and thrills as the first day when I got my Duo!

[SheSaidDutch]

I have to concur that the Duo is possibly the coolest console ever made. I've bought many consoles in my life, but none gave me the same excitement and thrills as the first day when I got my Duo!

Preach It brother

I must also agree, It's got the balance of the 8bit and 16bit era in terms of gameplay etc.

Awesome System




I haven't got the system, but I've ordered Magic Engine

It'll do for now

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I have to concur that the Duo is possibly the coolest console ever made. I've bought many consoles in my life, but none gave me the same excitement and thrills as the first day when I got my Duo!

Preach It brother

I must also agree, It's got the balance of the 8bit and 16bit era in terms of gameplay etc.

Awesome System



I haven't got the system, but I've ordered Magic Engine

It'll do for now

Yo SheSaidDutch,

If you can afford to buy a real PC Engine Duo or a Turbo Duo console, you won't regret it. One of the finest consoles ever produced from NEC just to play shmups bar none! Of course, using Magic Engine is a fine substitute for the real thing...nothing is better than having/owning the real geniune article.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[captain ahar]

And it's real sexy lookin'.

[captain ahar]

Question too. The Duo RX shipped with a six-button controller. Is there a reason why? thanks.

[BrianC]

Question too. The Duo RX shipped with a six-button controller. Is there a reason why? thanks.

Street Fighter II Champion Edition

[SheSaidDutch]

PC Engine Fan X

Whats the average price of a Jap Turbo Duo?
(btw Is that the model with both the Hu-cards and CDRom system together)

With the games I dont care for complete sets/manual etc, How much of a difference in cost would that be, instead of comeplete sets?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

PC Engine Fan X

Whats the average price of a Jap Turbo Duo?
(btw Is that the model with both the Hu-cards and CDRom system together)

With the games I dont care for complete sets/manual etc, How much of a difference in cost would that be, instead of comeplete sets?

Hey there SheSaidDutch,

The usual going price is about $300-$400 for a used Japanese PC Engine Duo with Super CD-Rom2 interface. If you want a complete PC Engine Duo with original packaging & all related paperwork included, expect to pay even more. Yes, that's the one with both Hu-Card & Super CD-Rom2 formats. You would only need a NEC Arcade Card Duo Upgrade Hu-Card to play the later released PC Engine Arcade-CD-Rom2 games like the Duo Arcade CD-Rom2 formatted shmup, Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire. There are actually three different PCE Duos to choose from:

*the original "all black colored" PC Engine Duo

*the 2nd NEC produced Duo-R that is all "white colored"

*the 3rd NEC produced Duo-RX version that is a Duo-R console with a kick-ass white-colored 6-button Duo pad

*and of course, the USA released TTI (Turbo Technologies Incorporated) version of the Turbo Duo console which made it USA debut on September 2, 1992 (hence the cool but catchy 9/2/92 release date) at the retail price of $299.99

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Ghegs]

Man, I got very lucky then. I paid ~$100 for my Duo-R. That didn't include shipping, of course.

[SheSaidDutch]

I'll hold off onthe console purchase, $300-$400 Is a-bit much for me atm

But I'll keep on checking

Whats the average price for Hu-Cards and CDRoms
(I dont care for comeplete sets as I've stated)

Ghergs you sure were lucky How much did you pay for shipping?
(What times are you not at your house onthe weekdays)

I dont know the prices on shipping, Imports I've never dealt with this.
Comeplete newbie at all this shipping and import bussiness
Also I'm from the UK

[Ghegs]

The shipping was almost as much as the system itself, as I opted for the most reliable and fastest method. Didn't want that baby to get lost. Then I had to ship it to UK and back to get an RGB mod for it (thanks Saurian!) so overall I did pay about $250-300.

Prices vary greatly depending on the hu-card or CD. And unlike with most retro consoles, both came in a cd-case which naturally don't fall apart as easily as filmsy cardboard boxes. This is why most hu-cards and CDs are sold as complete (though spinecards are kinda rare). The only loose hu-cards I've ever seen on eBay were crappy games anyway...

[captain ahar]

i bought mine within the us, and based on some of the things i have seen, i probably could have payed a bit less.

it cost me $217 after shipping and included the box and some of the original foam packing that it shipped with new (no manuals).

you being in the uk though (SheSaidDutch), i'm not sure how much that changes things.

[SheSaidDutch]

Thanks for the information guys

I'm in no rush so I'll have a look around.

[captain ahar]

Just thought I would point out:

Devil Mode in Gate of Thunder is a riot!

I can barely clear the first boss, when on normal i can one life half-way into Crown (haven't played farther, as i always get interrupted by having to run for the bus to work).

[OmegaFlareX]

Yeah, Devil mode is nasty. I can't remember if it was here (at the old board) or at TNL, but there was a Devil section on the high score thread. I think my best was 400k-something.

I like to obliterate everything with the heat/earthquake weapon. I use it almost exclusively until Dark City (the one after Crown), where I break out Sonic Boom.

[captain ahar]

i can now get to the boss of Crown reliably, but it always takes me by surprise with that wave shot thing, so i lose my extra pod things and continue to die because i can't cope with the lack of firepower.