How come I never saw any of those Card Systems in Austria? I mean there seem to be many systems that use those Gamecards. Also they appear to contain more information than a Gameboy cartridge which should have been around the same time. Just saying I dont understand how this Tech was not used further in Handhelds.
@xaer0knight No the PC Engine was the first video game system to use CD-ROM technology as it came out in Japan in 1988 the FMTowns came out in Japan in 1991 so the PC Engine has it beat by 3 years! Way ahead of anything else. But the FMTowns was the first stand alone video game console to be purely CD-ROM based, not an add-on.
Great look at the PC engine and the CD-Rom2, they really did build that think well. Too bad that the Turbo Graphx 16 looked like a weird award mess when it was attached to the CD add on, in comparison.
boy I still have my complete, mutant system. If only I could replace a few of the worn out parts. Nothing was finer than playing Battleship Yamato or the y's games on the cdrom. Could I get parts online?
@MN12BIRD thats kinda what I thought. The vacuum ran over the powercord, shredding the outer plastic and ripping up the wires. I got it to work with a magnifying glass and a whole lot of electric tape. I just don't trust it and would like a new one. oh well.
@lukevertiis Hey I didn't call you any names did I? I don't think you're a n00b you clearly know your PCE as I can tell from your other post here. Sorry if it came across that way okay.
@lukevertiis I'm sure I mentioned that the main processor is an 8-bit CPU but that it was clocked MANY times faster than the Famicom and that it has 16-bit graphics processors capable of higher color counts than Mega Drive. I would consider it a next gen console compared to the Mark III, SMS or Famicom wouldn't you? It is in my opinion the begining of the 16-bit era. The Dreamcast is only 32-bit but we consider it the first of the 128-bit era right? Well it's the same thing if you ask me.
@MN12BIRD According to Wiki it's part of the 4th gen along with the Mega Drive and Super Famicom. In otherwords it's part of the "16-bit" gen. I wouldn't exclude it from the 16-bit gen because of a technicality. Many systems aren't technically x-bit with the other x-bit machines they are related to. We know the Intellivision is 16-bit and the X-Box is 32-bit but we don't consider them part of that generation. Also here in NA the TG16 and Sega Genesis came out within a week of each other.
Where did you get your PC Engine from, because I have the exaclty same setup but mine has a switch on the side which allows me to play JAP and US games.
@danielholmesmoo they did a sensus and they say back then people think there getting a better deal if the thing is bigger not like today the smaller the better
I've been downloading TurboGrafx16/PC Engine games on the Wii's Virtual Console. I'm finding that the system is a hidden gem from the 16-bit days, having lived in the West my whole life. The system has the simplistic charm of the NES/Famicom, but with a graphical edge that puts it leagues ahead of that console. Great little system.
@danielholmesmoo the reason is that (for the famicom atleast) companies resize the american version because they didnt think america would like cute little console and want "bulky, hardcore" gaming systems
2 questions: (1) do you know if the black USA TG16-CD is interchangeable with the white Japanese CD? (2) can you just run the PC engine in the holding unit w/o the CD attached? Thanks
@SnapCraft316 Not sure about the TG16 CD-ROM but I'm going to guess no. But you can use the PCE in the interface unit without the CD-ROM even just to use the AV output.
If I remember correctly there is no regional lock on the TG16-CD's, however PC-Engine HuCard's won't work on a USA TG16 without a convertor but the CD's will work just fine.
Yeah I love the system, to bad the CD-ROM gear in this first model is notorious for yellowing (just like SNES) and then becoming brittle and breaking, last thing I knew was that it was almost impossible to find a replacement for that gear. I'll still pick this up for collectible purposes and use the Duo-R instead. Akumajo!
I just right now got my PC Engine in the mail. AWESOME! I can't wait to track down the CD attatchment shit.
I don't think one controller slot is stupid on the PC Engine. That helps keep it tiny which is fine. The TG16 which is huge for the sake of being huge...now that's stupid to only have one controller input.
@JerryTerrifying Cool! Hope you can find a working CD-ROM and interface unit but they're tricky! I put a new gear in my CD-ROM drive (the one that moves the lens assembly down the track was worn out) and it still doesn't work. It doesn't try to spin the CD at all. Damn old things!
@MN12BIRD It'll be a while before I pick one up I'm sure. This habbit is getting to damn expensive. And likewise I hope you get yours working or find another one for a decent price. I want in on those sweet CD games damn it!
Get the Super CD-ROM2 add on. It's the grey one that piggy backs on the PCE. It is MUCH better built and has the Super System 3.0 card built in, so you don't even need a system card! It looks quite a bit different, but it does work much better.
@Firebomber7 Oh is that the one that sits up and behind the PCE? Yeah I've seen that one (I think Superdan88 has one like that) but I never know it had the Super System 3.0 card built in. That's crazy. I've tried to fix this one I got the gear in place but it still doesn't work the CD spindle doesn't even try to spin.
Yeah, that is exactly it. Grey with orange font. It is basically a Duo add-on, since 3.0 is built in. The same bios screen that the Duo has boots up if you turn it on without a HuCard in it. I actually like this set up a bit more than the Duo, since if one part breaks you can just replace it. If the Duo breaks, you have to buy a whole new Duo to have a fully functioning system. There are NO common problems with it, either, unlike the Interface unit or original Duo.
@JerryTerrifying They could have put controller plugs elsewhere though. along the side for instance. There is no reason why ANY game console should have only one controller port, unless they are banking on the person buying it to not have friends.
sega was pretty ahead of it's time, but they didn't think, when you have the sega cd, 32x and the mega drive (for me), the mega drive is getting banged in every hole by its
addons and where like eating power and it looked like the mega drive where connected to like a life support, constantly trying to prolong it's life.
If you don't mind opening up your console, you can add switches to swap four pairs of connections that will make the console region free. (you also need to lift up one pin on a chip too); cost - for nearly free.
Did you know power supply issue of IFU-30(this unit system)? An original AC adapter is DC9V 1450mA. But, as for long time working of the CD-ROM unit. The precision of the laser to pick up data turns worse remarkably. By such circumstances, the Japanese PC Engine manias use by around DC10V to DC12V. And choice the electric current 2000mA. In Japan, it's most famous episode one of IFU-30.
Fantastic video.. Man, I don't know what it is about this/these system(s), but they have a insane amount of charm.. I've kind of grown bored of playing NES (and SNES somewhat with the exception of a few titles), but this system always screams to be powered on and have a blast :)
You will have to ask that from the geniouses who worked for Nintendo America.
It's just a speculation but I suppose they went by rule "In Us, everything is big."
I'm just glad they kept the original SNES look in EU unlike what they did in US where they made it blocky and ofcourse bigger. Same thing with the cartridges.
It a big shame they didn't release this during NES era since it was revolutionaly advanced for it's time and even beyond. First 16bit console and also first CD console at the same time.
If it would've been more popular it would have crushed all of it contestants.
Dude, you've got a Marantz stereo! Rock on! I love those things. What turntable do you have.
The PC Engine is such a great little games console. The Turbografx never looked good. It always felt so light and empty. Now we all know why.
The poor Turbo was always hamstrung from the very beginning. All the best PCE games couldn't come to the US, Keith Effing Courage was the pack-in, and it was $10 more than the Sega Genesis. The Turboduo was much better, but too little, too late.
@danielholmesmoo I think it's because at the time they thought the US market and european market thought bigger was better... But it's still rediculous.
"You don't need two power bricks like you did with the Genesis and Sega CD."
That's also the same problem with Jaguar and Jaguar CD-- you need a big-ass power adapter for both.
I think it would've been better if Sega and Atari copied NEC's idea of using an interface unit to power both of their systems (or used a special cartridge to power their add-ons like NEC using a HuCard to power their CD-ROM add-on).
I'd love to own a Pc engine but in the UK we didn't even get an official release of the Turbografix 16. I know there were some imports originally but i assume they're really rare nowadays.
just imagine how much fun we would have had in the US with the nes, sega ms & pc engin/ turbo graf-x16 competing at the same time + street fighter 1 on a hu-card, kicking your friends ass at home. NEC could have made fighting street on a card. probably would have sold much more with FS aka SF1 on a card. they had so many games.
just watching you handle that thing like that makes me so effing mad! why couldn't they just import the damn thing and why is the TG16 so much bigger?
it's a feather weight, letting you know they made it bigger for nothing. lastly that whole cd rom was a effing rip off! why did they make FIGHTING STREET (STREET FIGHTER) on cd when STREET FIGHTER2 was made on a hu-card?
every one could have had street fighter 1 at home... if they made it on a card & they could have.
That is awesome man! I want to find the PC Engine it, however, the GoreGrafx seems to be easier to find. The Interface and cd add on are also things I want to get as well.
NEC's sheer display of marketing stupidity and incompetance was reponsible for the failure of TG16. Start with the ugly console, then why did they have to replace the really catchy cover designs of the Japanese versions of the games with utterly ugly versions of the TG16 games?
Nice video. I have been looking at getting a Turbografx-16 I was wondering though would you recommend getting a Turbografx-16 or a PC engine. The reason I ask is that I have noticed how hard it is to find the HU-card adopter to play import games on the american unit and there are a few japan only games I am interested in like Afterburner II.
Go for the pc engine. Games are much cheaper and easier to find. If you are planning on buying a cd add-on, then go for the duo R or RX (both japanese) because the original cd rom2 and the american duo are not very reliable (specially cd-rom2). By the way, cd´s are region free.
Thank you for the response. I was wondering though what are the dimensions of the Duo R the reason I ask is to see if it is about the same size as the PC engine CD combo, I am starting to run out of room for more systems so I am trying to save as much space as I possibly can.
Don´t have the combo, so I can´t tell, but the difference is minimum compared to the advantages of NOT owning a combo. :D Go for the duo. Probably MN12BIRD is right.
Something else worth noting about the CD-Rom add-on was that it was completely self- contained CD player without the PC Engine. It runs on regular AA batteries.
Back in 1988-1990 a personal portable CD player was not cheap. Heck home CD players were still expensive back in 1988-1990.
I just got my pcengine coregrafx2 in today and holy crap its small! I recently scored a telegames import adapter for my Turbografx 16! I have 5 PCEngine and 13 turbografx US Games. I finally have my collection going! Wooohoooo!
I really like the PC ENGINE I got the WHITE HU Card PC ENGINE and I am searching for a decently priced Interface UNIT and CD ROM but I really dont have any luck.
I have a gray one. But why there are so many colour for PC-Engine console? I see a gray one with orange logo or even gray one with blue logo. what are the differents with the colour?
Like he says in the video, it's an 8-bit processor (so 8-bit system) BUT the graphics are 16-bit - it keeps up with Sega Genesis and SNES - so it fits in with that generation.
it's kind-of the 'in-between' system - between 8 and 16-bit. Kinda like the Dreamcast was the in-between PS1/N64 and the PS2/GameCube/Xbox. I consider Dreamcast as part of the generation with those other 3, the same way the TG-16 can be considered part of the 16-bit generation. They each started 'next-gen'.
I wish NEC had tried harder and earlier to bring this system to us in North America. I have the US TG16 and CD-Rom. I've added a switch to the TG16 to allow for the use of US or Japanese HuCards. This way I can use the Super Arcade Card on my US system and play all games ever released for both systems. Only thing it can't run are SuperGrafx cards. I still have it and still play it. Street Fighter II, Blazing Lazers, Dungeon Explorer II and many more favorites for the system.
2 months ago after I took my PC-Engine and CD-ROM2 system out since then I've gotten 20 games on ebay all around $4.99 to $19.99 each! I play this now more than my xbox 360.. lol Currently I'm playing gate of thunder and Ys 2 ..
Hmm... Maybe the reason the PCE was popular in Japan was because the Mega Drive/Genesis didn't gain much traction there... The TG16 fared the same in America as the MD/GEN fared in Japan.
I still have mine with 4 games. it was really popular in Japan and Taiwan at the time. more then the sega mega drive.. the yellowing is from aging. asia is humid at most places..
i'm glad i can still find games on ebay for this! why is retro gaming so popular now? someone is selling this on ebay for $160 + $25 shipping...
retrobright is interesting. maybe i will try it some day. i looked on the web site and there are a few different recipes to make it. found it searching for retrobright in google of coarse.
Great video man! Yeah, that is the only reason USA HuCards can't be used on PC Engine. When I do get the system, I'm going to mod it play both JPN and USA games no problem. It is IMO the best way to play both regioned games, not those expensive converters.
i wonder how long does it take loading games with the cd-rom add on since it was made 1988 and the sega-cd came out in like 92 and took for ever to load games
But Tengen that made nintendo games, copied Sega's Shinobi game to make it a nintendo game. I think both NES and Sega copied and stole each others blue prints probably.
how could Sega be so dumb?! they copied NEC with the Sega CD but did not think to have an interface unit. they even expected their customers to have a 3rd AC adapter for their 32X, no wonder they went out of the console race!
yeah but they lost a lot of money and customers after the Sega CD, 32X. that is why the Saturn and Dreamcast sold so few units. Even the Gamecube sold more than the Dreamcast because they lost their customers
One more thing, if one tries to use a converter with a Japanese PC Engine, it will not work because of an extra lock out chip that was implemented in the PCE to check the region of the HuCard. When it comes to TG-CD games and PCE CD-ROM2 games, they have no region lockout, so it's okay to play a TG-CD game on a PCE CD-ROM2 add-on and vice-versa. One last thing, I'm a good friend of lukemorse1, so if you need help with anything, just let me know and I'll be happy to help in any way I can! :)
Hi MN12BIRD! The reason why the North American HuCards won't work with the Japanese PC Engine and vice-versa is because out of the 38 pins on a HuCard, specifically pins 15-17 and 19-23, where pin 18 is ground, are flipped between US and Japan region HuCards. There are converters for the TurboGrafx-16, but they rare and hard to find. These converters merely flip the pins on a Japanese HuCard, allowing the TurboGrafx-16 to read them. Great videos by the way! :)
what bout the power connection? i'ma guessing PCE had a power brick and the TG-16 had it built in. am i wrong? i agree the Amer. consoles were unNECessary big tottally
The PCEngine's processor was four times faster than the NES', twice faster than the SNES', and almost as fast as the Sega Genesis'. It was very powerful for it's time.
The Super CD add-on is definitely a must have to see what the PCEngine was truly capable of. I mean, games like Castlevania Rondo of Blood and Lords of Thunder look almost like new games that just came out today or something.
How come I never saw any of those Card Systems in Austria? I mean there seem to be many systems that use those Gamecards. Also they appear to contain more information than a Gameboy cartridge which should have been around the same time. Just saying I dont understand how this Tech was not used further in Handhelds.
maximumrisk2004 1 month ago
talking about first CDROM based video game console.. wouldn't the FMTownsMarty be the first?
xaer0knight 2 months ago
@xaer0knight No the PC Engine was the first video game system to use CD-ROM technology as it came out in Japan in 1988 the FMTowns came out in Japan in 1991 so the PC Engine has it beat by 3 years! Way ahead of anything else. But the FMTowns was the first stand alone video game console to be purely CD-ROM based, not an add-on.
MN12BIRD 2 months ago
Rare Pc engine's add on on Ebay
Virtual cushion
270843098518
reymobilesuit 3 months ago
The yellow can be completely reverted to pure white without even touching it...I do it all the time.
gamecollect101 4 months ago
I so badly want that system! Are you selling?!?
cpnnpr 6 months ago
Great look at the PC engine and the CD-Rom2, they really did build that think well. Too bad that the Turbo Graphx 16 looked like a weird award mess when it was attached to the CD add on, in comparison.
schtive81 7 months ago
boy I still have my complete, mutant system. If only I could replace a few of the worn out parts. Nothing was finer than playing Battleship Yamato or the y's games on the cdrom. Could I get parts online?
BrainCreep 7 months ago
@BrainCreep I don't know I heard it's impossible to get the replacement gears in them that wear out like mine did.
MN12BIRD 7 months ago
@MN12BIRD thats kinda what I thought. The vacuum ran over the powercord, shredding the outer plastic and ripping up the wires. I got it to work with a magnifying glass and a whole lot of electric tape. I just don't trust it and would like a new one. oh well.
BrainCreep 7 months ago
nec f@cking rocked...how great does that console look with the cd rom..like something straight out of an anime...i want one
dannyofthededd 9 months ago
nec f@cking rocked...
dannyofthededd 9 months ago
@lukevertiis Hey I didn't call you any names did I? I don't think you're a n00b you clearly know your PCE as I can tell from your other post here. Sorry if it came across that way okay.
MN12BIRD 9 months ago
best look at the PC engine on youtube, ta.
bencheshire 9 months ago
@lukevertiis I'm sure I mentioned that the main processor is an 8-bit CPU but that it was clocked MANY times faster than the Famicom and that it has 16-bit graphics processors capable of higher color counts than Mega Drive. I would consider it a next gen console compared to the Mark III, SMS or Famicom wouldn't you? It is in my opinion the begining of the 16-bit era. The Dreamcast is only 32-bit but we consider it the first of the 128-bit era right? Well it's the same thing if you ask me.
MN12BIRD 9 months ago
@MN12BIRD According to Wiki it's part of the 4th gen along with the Mega Drive and Super Famicom. In otherwords it's part of the "16-bit" gen. I wouldn't exclude it from the 16-bit gen because of a technicality. Many systems aren't technically x-bit with the other x-bit machines they are related to. We know the Intellivision is 16-bit and the X-Box is 32-bit but we don't consider them part of that generation. Also here in NA the TG16 and Sega Genesis came out within a week of each other.
MN12BIRD 9 months ago 2
Where did you get your PC Engine from, because I have the exaclty same setup but mine has a switch on the side which allows me to play JAP and US games.
border205 10 months ago
@border205 That switch is definitely not stock. You must have a modded PC Engine and that mod to play American games is not an easy one.
MN12BIRD 10 months ago
@MN12BIRD How lucky is that guy? He doesnt even know...
SCBianchi 10 months ago
@danielholmesmoo they did a sensus and they say back then people think there getting a better deal if the thing is bigger not like today the smaller the better
rhodesy71 11 months ago
Damn! Nintendo was an ass hole!!
MotherBound1 1 year ago
I just bought a PC Engine Duo recently. Can't wait to check out the Darius games.
ArmaliteFan 1 year ago
Nice video.
I've been downloading TurboGrafx16/PC Engine games on the Wii's Virtual Console. I'm finding that the system is a hidden gem from the 16-bit days, having lived in the West my whole life. The system has the simplistic charm of the NES/Famicom, but with a graphical edge that puts it leagues ahead of that console. Great little system.
traphoot 1 year ago
this system was made partialy by hudson soft right?
vasquez123100 1 year ago
@danielholmesmoo the reason is that (for the famicom atleast) companies resize the american version because they didnt think america would like cute little console and want "bulky, hardcore" gaming systems
StickPeopleAndPuff 1 year ago
retardedly popular lol
idk why but i really got a kick out that
good review also,i enjoy all your videos
PERRIGOSaDICK 1 year ago
I am messed up, for a split second i thought i was looking at a milky bar. Somebody help me.
bazfanv2 1 year ago
2 questions: (1) do you know if the black USA TG16-CD is interchangeable with the white Japanese CD? (2) can you just run the PC engine in the holding unit w/o the CD attached? Thanks
SnapCraft316 1 year ago
@SnapCraft316 Not sure about the TG16 CD-ROM but I'm going to guess no. But you can use the PCE in the interface unit without the CD-ROM even just to use the AV output.
MN12BIRD 1 year ago
@SnapCraft316
If I remember correctly there is no regional lock on the TG16-CD's, however PC-Engine HuCard's won't work on a USA TG16 without a convertor but the CD's will work just fine.
Chaniyth 1 year ago
i just bought one today, all complete. i have looking for along time.
thysawonn 1 year ago
Someone offered me one of these with 6 games for $60, do you think that would be a good deal?
UnequivocallySpeakin 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
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SNaRF66666666 1 year ago
Yeah I love the system, to bad the CD-ROM gear in this first model is notorious for yellowing (just like SNES) and then becoming brittle and breaking, last thing I knew was that it was almost impossible to find a replacement for that gear. I'll still pick this up for collectible purposes and use the Duo-R instead. Akumajo!
gamecollect101 1 year ago
You should clean those things, they look dirty as hell.
RatsBoulevard 1 year ago
@RatsBoulevard The plastic turns yellow from oxidization over time. It's not a simple cleaning to get it white again.
MN12BIRD 1 year ago 7
@MN12BIRD Oh ok, never mind then.
RatsBoulevard 1 year ago
@MN12BIRD What would you need to do? I think my NAOMI system is oxidizing and it aint pretty...
ultimateshadowx9 10 months ago
@ultimateshadowx9 sand it with super super super fine grit sand paper, seal it, and put new graphics on it. Dont do that...
SCBianchi 10 months ago
@danielholmesmoo to keep them from being classified as toys
thatguyontheright1 1 year ago
I just right now got my PC Engine in the mail. AWESOME! I can't wait to track down the CD attatchment shit.
I don't think one controller slot is stupid on the PC Engine. That helps keep it tiny which is fine. The TG16 which is huge for the sake of being huge...now that's stupid to only have one controller input.
JerryTerrifying 1 year ago
@JerryTerrifying Cool! Hope you can find a working CD-ROM and interface unit but they're tricky! I put a new gear in my CD-ROM drive (the one that moves the lens assembly down the track was worn out) and it still doesn't work. It doesn't try to spin the CD at all. Damn old things!
MN12BIRD 1 year ago
@MN12BIRD It'll be a while before I pick one up I'm sure. This habbit is getting to damn expensive. And likewise I hope you get yours working or find another one for a decent price. I want in on those sweet CD games damn it!
JerryTerrifying 1 year ago
@MN12BIRD
Get the Super CD-ROM2 add on. It's the grey one that piggy backs on the PCE. It is MUCH better built and has the Super System 3.0 card built in, so you don't even need a system card! It looks quite a bit different, but it does work much better.
Firebomber7 1 year ago
@Firebomber7 Oh is that the one that sits up and behind the PCE? Yeah I've seen that one (I think Superdan88 has one like that) but I never know it had the Super System 3.0 card built in. That's crazy. I've tried to fix this one I got the gear in place but it still doesn't work the CD spindle doesn't even try to spin.
MN12BIRD 1 year ago
@MN12BIRD
Yeah, that is exactly it. Grey with orange font. It is basically a Duo add-on, since 3.0 is built in. The same bios screen that the Duo has boots up if you turn it on without a HuCard in it. I actually like this set up a bit more than the Duo, since if one part breaks you can just replace it. If the Duo breaks, you have to buy a whole new Duo to have a fully functioning system. There are NO common problems with it, either, unlike the Interface unit or original Duo.
Firebomber7 1 year ago
@JerryTerrifying They could have put controller plugs elsewhere though. along the side for instance. There is no reason why ANY game console should have only one controller port, unless they are banking on the person buying it to not have friends.
thatguyontheright1 1 year ago
sega was pretty ahead of it's time, but they didn't think, when you have the sega cd, 32x and the mega drive (for me), the mega drive is getting banged in every hole by its
addons and where like eating power and it looked like the mega drive where connected to like a life support, constantly trying to prolong it's life.
Rickythemaniac 1 year ago
@danielholmesmoo : Because American's generally believed that a small console is not very powerful.
modewr 1 year ago
dang I want a pc engine with the cd rom add on!Lucky man! >:\
TheSuperNESman 1 year ago
If you don't mind opening up your console, you can add switches to swap four pairs of connections that will make the console region free. (you also need to lift up one pin on a chip too); cost - for nearly free.
MODDEDbyBACTERIA 1 year ago
Did you know power supply issue of IFU-30(this unit system)? An original AC adapter is DC9V 1450mA. But, as for long time working of the CD-ROM unit. The precision of the laser to pick up data turns worse remarkably. By such circumstances, the Japanese PC Engine manias use by around DC10V to DC12V. And choice the electric current 2000mA. In Japan, it's most famous episode one of IFU-30.
doujindance 1 year ago
Fantastic video.. Man, I don't know what it is about this/these system(s), but they have a insane amount of charm.. I've kind of grown bored of playing NES (and SNES somewhat with the exception of a few titles), but this system always screams to be powered on and have a blast :)
Samoutuomas 1 year ago
That explains why my TurboGrafx is so lightweight. I always wondered why it was so big yet so light. I just knew they could make is smaller!
janX9 1 year ago
Hi Jake, I've added a video response to this featuring a look through a JP PC Engine magazine I recently purchased. Feel free to accept/reject it :)
ianwilson1978 1 year ago
@ianwilson1978 accepted of course ;)
MN12BIRD 1 year ago
The PC-Engine is a 8bit console not a 16bit :)
Snakif 1 year ago
@danielholmesmoo
You will have to ask that from the geniouses who worked for Nintendo America.
It's just a speculation but I suppose they went by rule "In Us, everything is big."
I'm just glad they kept the original SNES look in EU unlike what they did in US where they made it blocky and ofcourse bigger. Same thing with the cartridges.
Bastiest 1 year ago
It a big shame they didn't release this during NES era since it was revolutionaly advanced for it's time and even beyond. First 16bit console and also first CD console at the same time.
If it would've been more popular it would have crushed all of it contestants.
Bastiest 1 year ago
It was released in the NES era in Japan, which is a big part of why it did so well. It originally came out in 1987 in Japan.
Ragtime4 1 year ago
Dude, you've got a Marantz stereo! Rock on! I love those things. What turntable do you have.
The PC Engine is such a great little games console. The Turbografx never looked good. It always felt so light and empty. Now we all know why.
The poor Turbo was always hamstrung from the very beginning. All the best PCE games couldn't come to the US, Keith Effing Courage was the pack-in, and it was $10 more than the Sega Genesis. The Turboduo was much better, but too little, too late.
gamesDAMNED 1 year ago
A question: Is it possible to use the US Turbografx-16's CD rom addon with the Japanese PC Engine?
MintythecatIsABeast 1 year ago
Nice marantz
elabit 1 year ago
awesome review man. wish the pc engine was more available for purchase on ebay :(
naikanomtom 1 year ago
@danielholmesmoo I think it's because at the time they thought the US market and european market thought bigger was better... But it's still rediculous.
sovietchimp 2 years ago
"You don't need two power bricks like you did with the Genesis and Sega CD."
That's also the same problem with Jaguar and Jaguar CD-- you need a big-ass power adapter for both.
I think it would've been better if Sega and Atari copied NEC's idea of using an interface unit to power both of their systems (or used a special cartridge to power their add-ons like NEC using a HuCard to power their CD-ROM add-on).
gshowguy 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
PC Engine is also known as ''Turbo Grafx 16 II.'' im gonna call the PC engine ''Turbo Grafx 16 II'' From now on. is that ok?
rescuehero942 2 years ago
@rescuehero942
NO IT IS NOT
michiyoyoshiku 2 years ago
Comment removed
Fanelli81 2 years ago
@rescuehero942
no you can't
it would be like your father calling YOU father...
turn the volume up and watch the fucking video again...
Fanelli81 2 years ago
I'd love to own a Pc engine but in the UK we didn't even get an official release of the Turbografix 16. I know there were some imports originally but i assume they're really rare nowadays.
andyukmonkey 2 years ago
just imagine how much fun we would have had in the US with the nes, sega ms & pc engin/ turbo graf-x16 competing at the same time + street fighter 1 on a hu-card, kicking your friends ass at home. NEC could have made fighting street on a card. probably would have sold much more with FS aka SF1 on a card. they had so many games.
CEEPMDEE 2 years ago
Love the video...
just watching you handle that thing like that makes me so effing mad! why couldn't they just import the damn thing and why is the TG16 so much bigger?
it's a feather weight, letting you know they made it bigger for nothing. lastly that whole cd rom was a effing rip off! why did they make FIGHTING STREET (STREET FIGHTER) on cd when STREET FIGHTER2 was made on a hu-card?
every one could have had street fighter 1 at home... if they made it on a card & they could have.
CEEPMDEE 2 years ago
I had a PC Engine many years ago, it was small and awesome but it got stolen when a thief broke into the house :(
itsjustme49 2 years ago
get super cd rom ,no need for cards or interface unit,youll only need arcade card for arcade games,but anything up to sys 3.o is built in
skunkkey666 2 years ago
That is awesome man! I want to find the PC Engine it, however, the GoreGrafx seems to be easier to find. The Interface and cd add on are also things I want to get as well.
SSJSonikku 2 years ago
the super cd rom unit doesnt require an interface unit,just plugs in back but doesnt look as cool
skunkkey666 2 years ago
NEC's sheer display of marketing stupidity and incompetance was reponsible for the failure of TG16. Start with the ugly console, then why did they have to replace the really catchy cover designs of the Japanese versions of the games with utterly ugly versions of the TG16 games?
kiman2 2 years ago
Nice video. I have been looking at getting a Turbografx-16 I was wondering though would you recommend getting a Turbografx-16 or a PC engine. The reason I ask is that I have noticed how hard it is to find the HU-card adopter to play import games on the american unit and there are a few japan only games I am interested in like Afterburner II.
ATARI800XLfan 2 years ago
Go for the pc engine. Games are much cheaper and easier to find. If you are planning on buying a cd add-on, then go for the duo R or RX (both japanese) because the original cd rom2 and the american duo are not very reliable (specially cd-rom2). By the way, cd´s are region free.
Pai3000 2 years ago
Thank you for the response. I was wondering though what are the dimensions of the Duo R the reason I ask is to see if it is about the same size as the PC engine CD combo, I am starting to run out of room for more systems so I am trying to save as much space as I possibly can.
ATARI800XLfan 2 years ago
I'm pretty sure the Duo and PCE/CD combo is about the same size.
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
Don´t have the combo, so I can´t tell, but the difference is minimum compared to the advantages of NOT owning a combo. :D Go for the duo. Probably MN12BIRD is right.
Pai3000 2 years ago
Question: Does the CD-Rom addon play music CDs?
MagisterHamid 2 years ago
Yep it sure does.
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
Yes
209938488 2 years ago
Something else worth noting about the CD-Rom add-on was that it was completely self- contained CD player without the PC Engine. It runs on regular AA batteries.
Back in 1988-1990 a personal portable CD player was not cheap. Heck home CD players were still expensive back in 1988-1990.
AmigaHeretic 2 years ago
Its really cool, have it found its way to america, in a succesful way of course the videogame insdustry would have advanced like 10 years.
isacloboz 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
im slightly over 20 years old and what is this
VGReviewa 2 years ago
i have the interface unit but the problem is i dont have the ac adaptor for it can yoy please help me guys? thanks
rdblitz10 2 years ago
I just got my pcengine coregrafx2 in today and holy crap its small! I recently scored a telegames import adapter for my Turbografx 16! I have 5 PCEngine and 13 turbografx US Games. I finally have my collection going! Wooohoooo!
ericblr 2 years ago
I really like the PC ENGINE I got the WHITE HU Card PC ENGINE and I am searching for a decently priced Interface UNIT and CD ROM but I really dont have any luck.
xeno882 2 years ago
I have a gray one. But why there are so many colour for PC-Engine console? I see a gray one with orange logo or even gray one with blue logo. what are the differents with the colour?
letletdoit 2 years ago
Main difference is the original white one has no AV output on the side and the dark gray one does.
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
The PC Engine was a beautiful machine. Then NEC went and turned it into an ugly brick because Americans equate size with power.
Relugus 2 years ago 3
Like he says in the video, it's an 8-bit processor (so 8-bit system) BUT the graphics are 16-bit - it keeps up with Sega Genesis and SNES - so it fits in with that generation.
it's kind-of the 'in-between' system - between 8 and 16-bit. Kinda like the Dreamcast was the in-between PS1/N64 and the PS2/GameCube/Xbox. I consider Dreamcast as part of the generation with those other 3, the same way the TG-16 can be considered part of the 16-bit generation. They each started 'next-gen'.
Stinger2578 2 years ago
It's still considered by most gaming scholars (yes there is such a thing) as an 8 bit era system
michiyoyoshiku 2 years ago
16 bit era system.,..nope it's 8 bit
michiyoyoshiku 2 years ago
It has an 8-bit CPU but its still the 16-bit "ERA" hench I used the word ERA in the first place. Is an XBOX part of the 32-bit ERA? Nope.
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
i've always wanted one! unfortunately, the price on ebay is more than i can afford :( someday maybe i will have the chance to own one...
viestemnogotupi 2 years ago
Very informative. Thanks for posting.
jvswerbo 2 years ago
I wish NEC had tried harder and earlier to bring this system to us in North America. I have the US TG16 and CD-Rom. I've added a switch to the TG16 to allow for the use of US or Japanese HuCards. This way I can use the Super Arcade Card on my US system and play all games ever released for both systems. Only thing it can't run are SuperGrafx cards. I still have it and still play it. Street Fighter II, Blazing Lazers, Dungeon Explorer II and many more favorites for the system.
Raligard 2 years ago
2 months ago after I took my PC-Engine and CD-ROM2 system out since then I've gotten 20 games on ebay all around $4.99 to $19.99 each! I play this now more than my xbox 360.. lol Currently I'm playing gate of thunder and Ys 2 ..
Fizz826 2 years ago
a little alchol on a paper towel will take away the yeller on the system like magic.
mmmbbb246 2 years ago
Hmm... Maybe the reason the PCE was popular in Japan was because the Mega Drive/Genesis didn't gain much traction there... The TG16 fared the same in America as the MD/GEN fared in Japan.
dashwarts 2 years ago
No it was decent marketing
michiyoyoshiku 2 years ago
i got a pc engine and cd addon. AWESOME!! and i lay it on top of my wii.
AMD889 2 years ago
Comment removed
Fizz826 2 years ago
im pretty sure the interfce unit had a cover (im probably wrong)
awesomepivots 2 years ago
No it did have a cover but I don't have it
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
you are right!
tatsujincorp 2 years ago
Actually it can only display 482 simultanious colors out of an 512 palette.
kennytheamazing 2 years ago
I still have mine with 4 games. it was really popular in Japan and Taiwan at the time. more then the sega mega drive.. the yellowing is from aging. asia is humid at most places..
i'm glad i can still find games on ebay for this! why is retro gaming so popular now? someone is selling this on ebay for $160 + $25 shipping...
Fizz826 2 years ago
my 1990 turbo graphics runs killzone 2 crysys and arma 2, amazing product
tecato666 2 years ago 5
so its an 8 bit processor with 16 bit graphics processor?
TwighlightMist 2 years ago
Bingo.
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
I gotta get me one of those.
terriblefilms 2 years ago
is the color of the PCE original or is it yellowing such as some SNES consoles did?
AmgGamer9408 2 years ago
Its yellowing like most of them have over time.
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
what is the yellowing?
6G3rm4N9 2 years ago
Have you considered using retr0brite on it?
ApolloBoy 2 years ago
Yeah I've heard of it. May try that someday.
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
retrobright is interesting. maybe i will try it some day. i looked on the web site and there are a few different recipes to make it. found it searching for retrobright in google of coarse.
james42519 2 years ago
great review :)
breedseeds 2 years ago
Well MN12BIRD you didn't have to get a pce to play jpn hucards.The TG16 can have a region switch put in to play both.
The TG16 i have has it thanks to a member at the forums over at pcenginefx.
Progearspec 2 years ago
Great video man! Yeah, that is the only reason USA HuCards can't be used on PC Engine. When I do get the system, I'm going to mod it play both JPN and USA games no problem. It is IMO the best way to play both regioned games, not those expensive converters.
SSJSonikku 2 years ago
wow, i really like that Interface Unit. I don't know much about the PC Engine but it all looks pretty cool.
coupleofelbows 2 years ago
Dude IM dying for another video man its been to long
MNC122703 2 years ago
i wonder how long does it take loading games with the cd-rom add on since it was made 1988 and the sega-cd came out in like 92 and took for ever to load games
bobbyhill19899 2 years ago
But Tengen that made nintendo games, copied Sega's Shinobi game to make it a nintendo game. I think both NES and Sega copied and stole each others blue prints probably.
vox2007 2 years ago
how could Sega be so dumb?! they copied NEC with the Sega CD but did not think to have an interface unit. they even expected their customers to have a 3rd AC adapter for their 32X, no wonder they went out of the console race!
FAKEBC 2 years ago
but sega went out of the console race after they released the sega dreamcast.
AmgGamer9408 2 years ago
yeah but they lost a lot of money and customers after the Sega CD, 32X. that is why the Saturn and Dreamcast sold so few units. Even the Gamecube sold more than the Dreamcast because they lost their customers
FAKEBC 2 years ago
wow, that has to be the smallest original console, even the Genesis 3 looks bigger than that!
FAKEBC 2 years ago
That is a very cool console. I wish I had one.
NINT3NDOGAM3R 2 years ago
One more thing, if one tries to use a converter with a Japanese PC Engine, it will not work because of an extra lock out chip that was implemented in the PCE to check the region of the HuCard. When it comes to TG-CD games and PCE CD-ROM2 games, they have no region lockout, so it's okay to play a TG-CD game on a PCE CD-ROM2 add-on and vice-versa. One last thing, I'm a good friend of lukemorse1, so if you need help with anything, just let me know and I'll be happy to help in any way I can! :)
Bibleteen 2 years ago
Hi MN12BIRD! The reason why the North American HuCards won't work with the Japanese PC Engine and vice-versa is because out of the 38 pins on a HuCard, specifically pins 15-17 and 19-23, where pin 18 is ground, are flipped between US and Japan region HuCards. There are converters for the TurboGrafx-16, but they rare and hard to find. These converters merely flip the pins on a Japanese HuCard, allowing the TurboGrafx-16 to read them. Great videos by the way! :)
Bibleteen 2 years ago
Bit of a shame your's look really dis-coloured, that's what's put me off buying one with the C.D, the vast majority of them are dis-coloured.
DeanoTheLegend87 2 years ago
Try Retr0Brite but be careful AlecJahn has a video up of it in use
Thepaddster 2 years ago
shit, the CD-ROM2 add-on looks just like a dreamcast!!!!!!
Tleloc 2 years ago
I love all of those Ootputs!! :)
BoldNewTradition 2 years ago
i think that the turbografx 16 looks a lot cooler
then the pc engine, but that is just my opinion
skotty1992 2 years ago
cool!
EarthwormJim55 2 years ago
and of course the SNES and the Genesis beat out the turbografx 16, but id rather have a turbografx16\PC Engine.
anon6655 2 years ago
what bout the power connection? i'ma guessing PCE had a power brick and the TG-16 had it built in. am i wrong? i agree the Amer. consoles were unNECessary big tottally
Aaron5of13 2 years ago
Nope they both have an external power supply.
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
cool, I learned a bunch of new stuff, thanks
aw93053 2 years ago
Very nice!
JTCPingas09 2 years ago
This is the smallest system I ever see.
linkuofcourage 2 years ago
Wow!
Thats advanced for the time.
One of your best reviews and THE best PCE review I ever saw.
Awesome! Keep it up.
RetroGarst 2 years ago
I highly recommend Kato Chan & Ken Chan for the PCE. That game cracks me up every time I play it.
SteveBenway 2 years ago
The PCEngine's processor was four times faster than the NES', twice faster than the SNES', and almost as fast as the Sega Genesis'. It was very powerful for it's time.
bigolebadassbob 2 years ago
now you need to get Toilet Kids.
ultrakupra 2 years ago
wow advanced for the time!
bluebutdude1 2 years ago
You have awesome toys.
sinistermoon 2 years ago 2
It makes me wonder what the insides of the TurboGrafx looks like. I'm guessing it's just a lot of empty space?
Lorfarius 2 years ago 2
You are correct. NEC made it bigger for the western market since they assumed we would find such a small game system unappealing.
Nintega 2 years ago
I love my PCE and when it's combined with the Super CDRom unit there's not a single retro console that's better.
Lorfarius 2 years ago 3
The Super CD add-on is definitely a must have to see what the PCEngine was truly capable of. I mean, games like Castlevania Rondo of Blood and Lords of Thunder look almost like new games that just came out today or something.
bigolebadassbob 2 years ago
Fascinating insight. It makes me wonder if I could find a bunch of side scrollers to pick up for the PC engine - but if only I knew japanese! Damn!
BlooditeDrakan 2 years ago
just think if the pc engine was release in america unchanged maybe NEC would have made a 3-D systems and still be around
gojordon1 2 years ago
That thing is crazy awesome.
ooSteelCalvesoo 2 years ago
That's pretty rad. Great explanation.
youtubasoarus 2 years ago
NEC really had a handle on the design of the PC Engine.
thebonefish 2 years ago
LOL yeah literally.
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
teehee
will2993 2 years ago
Fucking awesome video, thanks Jake, didn't know most of the stuff you explained.
jiminboo 2 years ago
Wow, imagine how rad you would look carrying that bad boy down the street with the handle.
And playing SF2 with the two button controller would be terrible
n8great321 2 years ago
Imagine this came out in the states the same time as japan , we might be playing the PC engine 5 right now
MNC122703 2 years ago
Damn that would be sweet!
MN12BIRD 2 years ago
Jake, I'm sending you a PM now.
Nice review of the monster
lukemorse1 2 years ago
pc engine is far more detailed then snes.
thorgrim103 2 years ago