Turbografx-16 Promo VHS Video 2: "Power Up"

[frozenintears]

best console that was ever created!

[Number1StarSB]

Riot Zone 2-player action my ass.

[TheSwizz23]

I'm sold. Where can I get one? 1992?

[123doomdoom]

"2 player action adventure, riot city" ROFL my ass! cool vid!

[samlepirate666]

i really want to beat the crap out of this kid ! i don't even know why !

[TheNumberOneShmuck]

This is so cheesy that the number 6 in the TurboGrafx 16 logo should have been replaced with a hand giving the thumbs-up.

[PatTheNESpunk]

Why wasn't TV Sports Baseball ever released? It looks a hell of a lot better than World Class Baseball.

[Lianas1980]

Wow.. you know.. back when i was a child.. i freaked out over stuff like this, even now looking at this video, i am like.. wow... that's awesome! i wanna play those games!.. then again, i am a retro gamer.. i am not all that crazy about all these 3D games...

[atebit80]

@Lianas1980 yeah I feel the same way, I mostly play old games too, have a pc hooked up to my TV just for emulators. I have most of the old systems but its just easier with the emulators and roms. I know as a kid I would have wanted this system just by seeing the commercial

[ninehunid]

i have this VHS..

[melvoin]

Most TG 16 games seem to look like enhanced 8 bit games. Not surprising I guess, considering it was an 8-bit system.

[katsujinken10]

jesus look how huge that turbo express looks in that kind's hands. it's like something from a soviet submarine

[ninigou1983]

memories

[thatsistheguy]

@ gonepishing

The Amiga A500 was about 600-700 dollars when it first came out. Really puts perspective on things doesn't it?

[jacobleb420]

Bonk kinda looks like a giant headed Krillin from Dragon Ball!

[st1ka]

As much as I love the TG 16, it really just couldn't compete with the megadrive or the SNES games wise

[AntichristDemoncore]

@st1ka not in japan, the PC engine shits all over the megadrive there

[LAVATORR]

I love the 90's.

I hate the 90's.

[miiwii93]

"you'll be cracking up, when your'e not cracking heads!!"

....good one.....

[Gilbertoballesteros]

yah but its only 8bit game cards!!!!!!!!!

[superpcenginegrafx]

It's a 16-bit class console and the games come on cards (exactly the same as carts) and CDs (better than carts).

[msimplay]

@superpcenginegrafx

Limited memory on cards compared to carts though ?

[kyramek]

@msimplay not really, Street Fighter 2 Champion Edition had a lot of memory (20 mbit) which was on par with the large carts on SNES and Genesis

[msimplay]

@kyramek Kind of true but not quite the largest Snes cart was 48mbit. The questions arise what was the largest PCE card and if it wasn't as large as the Snes cart did it at least have the potential for it ?. Also carts had the options to add extra processing chips to enhance graphics. Such as seen on Starfox and Virtua Racing. So please elaborate on how cards were as good as Carts ?

[AntichristDemoncore]

@Gilbertoballesteros 8 bit processing, 16 bit graphics shithead

[malducci]

@Gilbertoballesteros You are only 8bit game cards !!!!!!!!

[snake2006]

@Gilbertoballesteros

Not true.

The CPU is 2 8 bit processors.

While the GPU is 16 bit.

[snake2006]

@Gilbertoballesteros

The game cards were not 8 bit.

The CPU on the console was 8 bit.

But the console also had 2 16 bit GPU's, one specifically for color and the other for graphics and sound.

[mattnintendonerd]

when i saw this ad i knew what i wanted for christmas

[mattnintendonerd]

This is my very first game system

[gonepishing]

lol these games look terrible

Amiga A500 was around before this... really puts perspective on things

[superpcenginegrafx]

The Amiga A500's a computer.

Still, the TG-16/PC Engine has way better games.

[gonepishing]

I know its a computer, my point is that it was ahead of its time in the quality of games and graphics

[bastardtubeuser]

top quality nostalgia upload.

turbografix-16 is exellent.

[Progearspec]

Pretty much and how controlling nintendo was in those days.

Just like with any company they took what it take to make money.

Still TG16>Sega Saturn

[Progearspec]

I watched this again for laughs.Still a underrated console for it's time.

If only nec/tii manage it better in the u.s.Beside nintendo policey in it's day for not letting third partys make games for other consoles didn't help either.

It's some thing it had plenty of titles in japan while the u.s owners here,didn't get too much.

[GamerGuyProductions]

this is sweet, gamer guy appreciates this upload

[cuttock]

what awful style the 90's had. Crappy squiggly lines and colours in background. UGH

[spakey1983]

OK never heard of it? 1 question hit or miss?

[snakes3425]

it was somewhat of a success, but it ultimatly failed owing to it's competitors: the Genesis/Mega-Drive, SNES, and NES

[lspear25]

TV Sports Baseball never came out. :(

[miiwii93]

wow this just screams early 90's!

[ryanharrisonawesome]

That greenscreen stuff is HILARIOUS!

[grayfox1471]

Awesome games like Bonk, Bomberman, Prince of Persia, Spriggan... wait... wtf is a Spriggan?!?!

[BigSkills01]

wow if thats the same dude doing all of those voices he's either the best voice actor who ever lived or a skitzo.

[cranfield1]

one guy is doing the same voices, lolll

[Starduck37]

I woulda got a Turbo Duo for 299.99 with 5 free games, the magazine subscription, and all that! I wish companies today would release systems with awesome deals like that! ^_^

[Segacamp]

That TurboDuo Power System I'm guess wasn't made when it died so sad for them it was never made

[mcdanie5]

The turboduo was the first system to *require* av inputs-way ahead of its time with the cdrom.

[st1ka]

man talk about milkage, ok buy the system... now buy the cd adapter.... now buy the 4 megabit catridge... geez

[MightyThor83]

So I get a free Bonk with this? Ho ho!

[sleazypig]

Is there any wonder why this flopped

[SafyreSchoolFilms]

i think all the funds went into the voice actors for that tape. thanks for the great nostalgia!

[jasongamino]

How about a "Super Mega Grafx Totally Longer than 5" Controller Cord"?! I hate when I'm getting into a gme and lean back to have my console almost slide off the table

[superpcenginegrafx]

Thats what the Turbo cable was for. You can hook it between the Tap and the system so everyone has room.

[poa9s]

@superpcenginegrafx I never owned a TG-16, but I gatta give it points for naming the cord TURBO CABLE, rather than just a plain boring name like extension cable like other consoles.

[Jac2Mac]

Wasn't the weird rolling synth music when the word action comes flying toward the screen later used for the first A-PIX Entertainment logo?

[marcules]

The system just didn't have enough shooters.

[Intersonus903]

And, it's no wonder why the TG16 failed; with a video like this, they patronized their customers towards Sega and Nintendo. Of course, there are many important reasons why it tanked, such as lousy 3rd party support, connectivity limits (no A/V out so you had to buy the Turbo Booster for better A/V than the RF and no 2nd controller port so you had to buy the Turbo Tap for more than 1 player), and the arrogant attitude of NEC/TTi management; most great Japanese PCE games = no U.S. TG16 release.

[blackzc]

Oh stop being so dramatic this is long ago.. mario and sonic where just to much for the TG16. It was a great system and holds up great over time. And i remember watching this video as a kid in toys R us. It worked for me.

[Intersonus903]

The popularity of Sonic and Mario are factors, but they weren't the only ones.

Nintendo engaged in illegal behavior in the first half of the NES years that got them in trouble with the SEC because they were monopolistic. If you developed for Nintendo back then, you signed a contract that said you ONLY developed for Nintendo and no one else. That was one of a few reasons why systems like the TG-16 and the Sega Master System tanked.

[Intersonus903]

And, again, NEC USA/TTi management had arrogant attitudes toward the North American market; as good as some games for the TG-16 were, they pale to what Japan enjoyed on the PC-Engine. It is reminiscent of the attitude that Sega of America had under the tenure of Bernie Stollar with the Sega Saturn.

[blackzc]

There were a FEW games that didnt make it over, but in that time frame when i was 13-14 there wasnt the internet and people didt know what they were even missing.But there was alot of crap that didnt need to come over. I could see how that is seen as arrogant but it was prolly more likely they just didnt think the games would sell, and they probably wouldnt have. TG16 was one of my favorite systems because no one even knew about it, i was the only one i knew that had one.

[superpcenginegrafx]

They might as well said that the TG-16 does what Nintendon't.

The Turbo Duo has built-in A/V out. When the TG-16 launched, nobody used composite.

The Tap isn't a big deal for a few reasons.

TTI/NEC could never compete with Sega/Nintendo in arogant attitude.

Most of the big/good PCE games were released for TG-16.

[Intersonus903]

1. True enough. The NES is simply not as capable as the TG-16. However, the threat of a lawsuit from a breach of contract and some underhanded tactics from Nintendo were enough to keep developers off until the SEC intervened.

2. That's the Turbo Duo. If that came out instead of the TG-16, then the only problem would be price.

3. It's not a big deal unless you want more than one player.

4. Arrogance affects everyone.

[superpcenginegrafx]

Lack of composite was still not a weakness back in 1989. Right through the 32-bit generation most people still used RF switches or modulators.

[Intersonus903]

Except it still would've been nice, especially since I used composite more than VHF RF, even back then.

At the very least, it could've been managed with an optional cable instead of a more expensive expansion piece.

[Intersonus903]

5. Meh.

[Intersonus903]

I remember a different marketing video for the Turbo Grafx 16 at a Toys-R-Us back in Burbank, CA. if my memory doesn't fail me, but it was on LaserDisc.

[Serenaslam05]

Best game for turbo graphx 16 Chew man fu

[2Blessed2bStessed]

Woah, I remember when I was 13 and first bought this from Wal-Mart!! I was like the coolest kid on my block.. Until Super Nintendo came back

[daggertits]

I have the lords of thunder vhs

[OceanBlueKirby]

I really love this video. Now if only all promotional videos were like this. It's kinda funny how they use more realistic sound effects to go with some of the games. Ys pronouncation? I also like how they use "Turbo Duo Power" as the two words you need to know and are sweeping the phenomenon.

[superpcenginegrafx]

The official spelling of "Turbo Duo" is TurboDuo.

[OceanBlueKirby]

Oh. I sometimes thought that TurboDuo was two separate words, unlike the TurboGrafx-16. I was thinking that they've made a mistake there, except that it was done for a good cause to make the TurboDuo look more powerful. Good luck updating your website, and thanks for returning!

[ChathamFr0]

Just frickin' wow.. this is in good shape. Kudos for reviving and converting this. Kinda crazy to see how far we've progressed!

[Ragtime4]

The TurboGrafx commercials turned me off to the system. I felt like they were pure propaganda because the narration was so over-the-top-cheesy and the commercials never had much in the way of sound/music from the games being displayed.

Now that I've actually gone back and given it a chance, it's probably my favorite system.

[ChibiFighter]

As huge as the Turbo express was it does sound pretty sweet I mean Fantasy Zone Pac-Land *Come on people that game was not that bad* Alien Crush I hope Splaterhouse came in a Card form portable Splaterhouse now that would be sweet

[superpcenginegrafx]

Yes, Splatterhouse was only released on HuCard.

[ChibiFighter]

SWEEEEEETNESSS LOL.

[Panpizza15]

damn, you have to spend like 900 dollars for all that stuff with the console, the cd, the 2 grafics cards the other cd thing

[superpcenginegrafx]

The system card is only needed for the Turbo CD, which also requires the TG-16.

The Turbo Duo is everything all-in-one. They even released accessories for it in Japan that make it fully portable.

[matthiasakkermans]

Get ready to "POWER UP" :o

[qwerty4197]

interesting at 2:35, this was 1989 when less than 1% of 1% of the american public knew who Jackie Chan was

[zenbyo]

LOL i remember this demo playing on loop at my local Toys R Us. Thanks for making me feel OLD haha

[DancerInTheHeart]

This kinda looks more polished than Megadrive.

[MegaFanatic187]

LOL, the Prince Of Persia bit made me chuckle a bit. Why does the narrator have to use a characterazation voice for certain parts of this promo?

[chris3116]

I don't know for Neutopia being a RPG. Neutopia is like the answer of Hudson to Zelda and Zelda is not a RPG.

I can't wait to have my Wii. I would download some TG-16 games on the virtual console for sure. Neutopia and Bonk FTW.

[pwEclipse]

dude, buy a gp2x and you will have all this games in original shape emulated on a handlheld console, and also on your TV using the tv out, google around for infos about gp2x

[superpcenginegrafx]

Or you can buy a Turbo Express and a TG-16 ;)

[UltimateGravey]

I'm kinda sad about the turbo-grafx 16's failure... it could have worked out to be a decent system.

[superpcenginegrafx]

Just get a PC Engine + games. :)

[figment1988]

or you could get a wii and download some good TG-16 games

[Nintega]

But the you can't download the CD games and Japanese exclusives on Wii.

[figment1988]

hmm, you have a point there, but who knows if hudson soft tries to bring some of them (since i heard that they did release a bomberman title which didn't come to the US when it first came out)

[Nintega]

Actually Bomberman '93 was released in the US in limited quantities. Bomberman '94 on the other hand did not but the Genesis version Mega Bomberman did.

[figment1988]

wait, i was wrong. it wasn't bomberman, it was a lode runner game i was thinking about (i looked the info up from wikipedia)

[superpcenginegrafx]

I wanted the demo unit at the other store, but they'd only come down to $700. I did buy my 1st CD games there though.

They visited Japan & brought back 3 PCE CD games to sell for over $100 each. I bought Golden Axe & Super Darius before getting the Turbo CD. Later I bought Side Arms Special & Monster Lair.

[boilerplate]

When the Tg-16 CD attachment first came out, it was more then that I beleive. I had to REALLY beg my parents to get it. Heck, I remember them buying the Turbo Express portable for me one christmas, and that was 399.99 I still have my CD system and the turbo express. Play the emulator though.

[Toneman]

Order of the Griffon looks pretty slick

[superpcenginegrafx]

It's actually a really good game. I was pleasantly surprised when I first rented it back in the day. Like most non-japanese Turbo games, I wasn't expecting much but it's top quality all round, except that it could use more music and sfx.

[ChibiFighter]

meh allot of the games look great.

[ChibiGAL]

I got to agree Digi that looked so retarded and so did that Night Creatures game.

[DigiHatesMakingNames]

omg the bit where the kid dances with the cd player and headphones makes me cringe....

[superpcenginegrafx]

Pretty much every scene with the kid that lasts more than a couple seconds is pretty crazy.

My favorite will always be the look on his face as he swings the Turbo Express around trying so hard to beat "Turbo CD System Card".