Other / Misc.

Kishin Douji Zenki FX: A Lost PCFX Gem From Japan’s Gaming Golden Age Introduction In the mid-1990s, when the console wars between Sega, Sony, and Nintendo dominated the headlines, NEC’s PC-FX quietly entered the market with an unconventional approach and a library of only a few dozen titles. While it failed to compete commercially, it left behind several forgotten treasures that have since become highly sought after by collectors. Among …

Retro Review: Gate of Thunder – A TurboGrafx-16 Hidden Gem Introduction Few titles shine as brightly as Gate of Thunder for the TurboGrafx-16. Released in 1992 by Hudson Soft and Red Company, this horizontal shooter has stood the test of time, offering a gaming experience that remains impressive even by today’s standards. Let’s dive deep into what makes this game a true classic. Developer Background Red Company, the primary developer behind …

Bonk’s Revenge: A Timeless TurboGrafx-16 Classic Introduction Certain titles stand out as timeless classics that continue to captivate players decades after their release. Bonk’s Revenge, the 1991 sequel to Bonk’s Adventure for the TurboGrafx-16, is undoubtedly one such game. Developed by Red Company and Atlus, and published by Hudson Soft, this prehistoric platformer has aged remarkably well, offering a delightful blend of quirky humor, challenging gameplay, and charming visuals that …

Retro Review: Bonk’s Adventure for the TurboGrafx-16 Bonk’s Adventure for the TurboGrafx-16 is a 2D side-scrolling platformer that has cemented its place in gaming history. Developed by Red Company and published by Hudson Soft, this game was a standout title for the TurboGrafx-16, a console that struggled against the dominance of the NES and later the SNES and Sega Genesis. It was released in Japan as PC Genjin in 1989 and came to North America in …

Popful Mail: A Delightful and Overlooked Gem on the Sega CD As a fan of Working Designs, known for their excellent localization of Lunar: The Silver Star Story, I was thrilled to discover Popful Mail, a charming action-platformer developed by Falcom and published by Working Designs for the Sega CD in 1994. Despite being overshadowed by other high-profile releases of its time, Popful Mail is an amazing game that deserves recognition …

** I had to mute so many portions of this game because of copyright issues.** Hook for the Sega CD: A Retro Review The Sega CD, known for its ambition to bring the power of CD-ROM to the gaming industry, hosted a variety of titles that sought to exploit its enhanced audio and visual capabilities. Among these games was “Hook,” a title based on the 1991 film directed by Steven …

I failed to pick the harder difficulty level, and the game cut off without letting me play the final few levels. So that’s that. I do not want to play through a 2nd time, perhaps I will revisit this one later in life. Demolition Man on Sega CD: A Retro Review The Sega CD, an ambitious add-on to the Sega Genesis, sought to revolutionize the gaming industry with its CD-ROM …

Retro Review: Robo Aleste – Mechanical Majesty As the Sega CD spun to life, heralding the arrival of “Robo Aleste,” it promised a journey to an era where the line between man and machine blurred amidst the backdrop of feudal Japan. This shoot ’em up title, developed by Compile, was a spectacle of technical prowess that demonstrated the Sega CD’s capabilities. It was a game that made an indelible mark, …

Sylphia – A Mythical 8-Bit Shoot ’em Up That Still Delivers Fun The TurboGrafx-CD was home to some great shoot ’em ups back in the day, and Sylphia stands out as one of the more unique entries in the system’s library. Developed by Compile and released in 1992, Sylphia is a vertical scroller that feels heavily inspired by the NES classic Legendary Wings, and that’s a very good thing. In …

The Legendary Axe Review Forget Keith Courage. The Legendary Axe was a good reason to own a TurboGrafx-16. The TurboGrafx-16 era brought us many titles, but none so memorable as “The Legendary Axe.” It’s 1989, and what we have here is a game that not only looked like a treasure trove with its crisp graphics but played like an epic saga too. Meet Gogan, our barbarian hero, larger than life …

Neutopia Review: TurboGrafx-16’s Homage to Hyrule In the realm of video games, imitation is not just a form of flattery but often the seed from which a new gaming experience blossoms. This was undoubtedly the intent behind Hudson Soft’s “Neutopia,” a game for the TurboGrafx-16 system that wears its inspiration not just on its sleeve but in every pixel and gameplay element. Released in the shadow of Nintendo’s groundbreaking “The …

Keith Courage in Alpha Zones: A Stalwart of the TurboGrafx-16 Era “Keith Courage in Alpha Zones” emerged on the TurboGrafx-16 in 1988, the same year the gaming world was graced with the iconic “Super Mario Bros. 3” on the NES. While Nintendo’s heavyweight was stealing headlines and hearts, Keith Courage quietly carved out its own niche, delivering a remarkable adventure that showcased the TurboGrafx-16’s graphical and gameplay capabilities. Borrowing this …

Blazing Lazers on TurboGrafx-16: A Time-Honored Classic Revisited During the height of the console wars of the early ’90s, the TurboGrafx-16 carved out its place in the hearts of gamers as the underdog. One of its crowning jewels was “Blazing Lazers,” a game I vividly remember playing in the ’90s after my friend Chris introduced me to the system by lending it to me. This classic shoot ’em up has …

Where to start with Lucienne’s Quest. I was one of the rare kids who had a 3DO, even rarer still I owned this title. I had no idea it was as rare as it was, or I would have never sold it in some red-neck, tractor pull auction with all my other 3DO games and system for a few bucks. I was always a fan of RPG games dating back …