RELEASED: 1987 // NEC

PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16

Name: PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16
Brand: NEC

The little giant. Tiny console, huge power. It dominated Japan with its shoot-em-ups and was the first to have a CD-ROM attachment.

Legacy & History

Released in 1987. It was a joint venture between Hudson Soft and NEC. In Japan, it outsold the Famicom for a time, but struggled in the US market.

Cultural Impact

It pioneered the CD-ROM format for games with the CD-ROM² add-on, years before the Sega CD or PlayStation. This allowed for voice acting and Redbook audio soundtracks.

Modern Legacy

The PC Engine Mini and the Virtual Console releases have kept its library of legendary shooters alive.

Under the Hood

Despite being marketed as 16-bit (TurboGrafx-16), it actually had an 8-bit CPU (a modified 6502) paired with a dual 16-bit GPU setup. This unique architecture allowed it to push huge, colorful sprites and fast scrolling, making it the ultimate machine for "shmups" (shoot-em-ups).

CPUHuC6280 (8-bit)

MEMORY8 KB RAM

DISPLAYUp to 512 x 242

AUDIO6-channel wavetable

Defining Titles

Castlevania: Rondo of BloodAction-Platformer • 1993

Bonk's AdventurePlatformer • 1989

Soldier BladeShooter • 1992

Devil's CrushPinball • 1990

Ys Book I & IIAction-RPG • 1989

Best Selling Title

PC Genjin (Bonk)

PC_ENGINE Games

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PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16

Legacy & History

Cultural Impact

Modern Legacy

Under the Hood

Defining Titles

PC_ENGINE Games

Devil's Crush

Super Star Soldier

Bomberman '94

Dragon's Curse

Bonk's Revenge

Terra Cresta II: Mandoler no Gyakushuu

Final Lap Twin

Final Soldier

Galaga '90

Air Zonk

Soldier Blade

Pong! The Hu-Go! Game

Bomberman '93

Final Match Tennis

Neutopia

Legendary Axe II

Tatsujin

Ninja Ryuukenden

Coryoon: Child of Dragon

Magical Chase

New Adventure Island

Silent Debuggers

The Legendary Axe

Bonk 3: Bonk's Big Adventure

Military Madness

Time Cruise

Zipang

Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III

Neutopia II

Bouken Danshaku Don: The Lost Sunheart

Kyuukyoku Tiger

Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu

Cyber-Core

Darius Plus

S.C.I: Special Criminal Investigation

Override

PCE Invaders

Bikkuriman World

Son Son II

Psycho Chaser

Atomic Robo-Kid Special

Dragon Egg!

Darius Alpha

Dead Moon

Samurai-Ghost

Soldier Blade Special: Caravan Stage

Gekibo: Gekisha Boy

Genji Tsuushin Agedama

F1 Circus '92

Mr. Heli no Daibouken

1943 Kai

Juuouki

Cyber Knight: Saibaa Naito

Aero Blasters

Burning Angels

Toy Shop Boys

Final Soldier: Special Version

Obocchama-Kun

Bomberman: Users Battle

City Hunter

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