Favorite PC Engine games not on PC Engine Mini

chazumaru

exodus Devil’s Crush - just putting this in puzzle for some reason. It’s the best pinball game I’ve ever played. I guess Alien Crush is in the collection but it really can’t lay a finger on Devil’s Crush.

Yeah that one is really weird. I tend to be cautious because the French PC Engine scene has some strange quirks about what games were more popular to us vs. the rest of the World but it always seemed to me pretty obvious and universally understood that Devil’s Crush is a much better game than Alien Crush and I can’t explain why Alien Crush always takes precedence (indeed Alien Crush is in the Mini). Am I missing something? Is Alien Crush way better known in the US despite the MD port of Devil’s Crush?

If not, I suspect that it’s a legal issue, either related to the title’s trademark or that Hudson might somehow own part of Alien Crush (since they produced and published Alien Crush Returns) but maybe has no ownership over Devil’s Crush.

exodus

Devil’s Crush is pretty universally regarded as the better game, I’d say. Alien Crush is one of those “ah, try it out, it’s not so bad!” kind of games, in the consensus. I have a strong suspicion that, like you suggest, Hudson got involved in the project and made it easier to get hold of. It’s possible also that the MD port somehow got the rights further muddled for the whole property or something stupid?

But yeah, I’d say “everyone” knows Devil’s Crush is The Game, no matter the region, and they also know that the PCE/TG-16 version is the best one.

gdri

exodus Hudson was supposed to publish Alien Crush as Horrorball.

Someone speculated that Hudson would give games to other companies to make it look like the PC Engine had more third-party support. Break In was another Hudson game published by Naxat. Spin Pair is definitely a Hudson game, if you look at the credits, but it was published by Media Rings, and Hudson’s name is nowhere to be found.

bribbs

exodus have you played demons tilt? Its a fantastic throwback to Devils crush.

hellomrkearns

chazumaru hey. i know that guy.

robinhoodie

Really bummed that Riot Zone isn’t on there as its a decent brawler.

I am surprised that none of the SNK ports made it on to the mini. They’re all pretty competent, SNK seems pretty into licensing out their catalog, and it would have give the system at least one fighting game. Though I would imagine the controller being a big issue there. Which rules out Street Fighter. But I feel like you could swing World Heroes 2 or maybe that Tengai Makyou fighter.

exodus

Interesting about those Hudson loan-outs. I guess it worked, since they did eventually get a fair number of publishers.

All those SNK fighters are 2-button, I think?? I don’t think they actually work with the 3 or 6 button controllers… but maybe that’s an old and incorrect recollection.

As for Riot Zone, I hate to naysay on anything PC Engine, but that game is too long and too samey for me. It never evolves, and the combo system is so static. I do own Riot Zone and Crest of Wolf both, but that’s mostly because I like the soundtrack. I feel like the PC Engine is particularly lacking in the brawler department - Genesis had streets of rage, SNES had Final Fight partially-exclusive, and of course there were imitators everywhere on both consoles. But PCE just didn’t really get the same level (it does have that AMAZING Double Dragon II OST though, wow).

For my money, the brawler to get is Anesan. Yankee girls fighting in the streets, then going home and decorating their rooms while having dreams of princess or pulling “ugly face” contexts. Wish the music were cooler though.

robinhoodie

exodus I could see Anne San as its a pretty out there internet bait-y game. That could drum up some excitement. I agree Riot Zone is limited, I would say Splatterhouse is a vastly better game, its just SO punishing. I guess you do have save states on the mini though. I forgot about the gal fighter on the PCE and maybe AVG or Asuka 120 could also have been thrown on there for their “Wacky Japan” appeal. Though I feel like Brandon you are a proponent of the PCE Asuka 120%.

gsk

I don’t have a list offhand but more game support the 6B controllers/stick than you might think: there’s SFII, the SNK ports and a few other fighters like Variable Geo and whatever else, some wrestling games, a few of the later mahjong games and RPGs, etc, maybe a couple dozen games all up. I haven’t tested them all but I remember someone telling me SFII’s the only one that actually uses all six buttons, but don’t quote me on that.

Some of the big omissions from the PCE Mini are the later CD RPGs like Emerald Dragon, Linda Cube, etc. The producer seems serious about wanting to do a second version with some of the games that aren’t on this one and while I don’t have a problem with that idea, I honestly think they got most of the crucial games the first time around.

RE: Alien Crush, I don’t know for sure but the impression I get it that it takes precedence simply because it was an earlier game that sold more, so it has perceived nostalgia going for it.

chazumaru

At least another title that I can confirm uses all six buttons if you play with an Avenue Pad 6 is Kabuki Ittōryōdan, the fighting game spun off from Tengai Makyō Kabuki-Den. It’s the standard punch x 3 kick x 3 approach.

oprel

I agree with the others in the thread. I was very confused by the omission of Devil’s Crush. It really is one of the best games every made. I even would have preferred Time Cruise II to Alien Crush.

Here’s a short list of games that I would have loved to see on the mini:

Bloody Wolf
Ryukyu
Gekisha Boy
Atomic Robokid
Maerchen Maze
Son Son II
Mesopotamia
Coryoon
Legend of Hero Tonma
Magical Chase
Metal Stoker

Motoroader II or MC also would have been an nice improvement over the first installment. I also have fond memories of the Tatsujin port on the PC Engine.

exodus

Yeah, the only reason I didn’t mention Asuka (which was designed from the ground up for 2 button controllers btw!) is because there are better versions on other platforms. I’d rather someone’s first impression of asuka be on the saturn or playstation. I kindaaaaa feel that way about Linda Cube as well, but not totally?? I’m not sure.

Also it’s really too bad that Kabuki Ittōryōdan isn’t more fun to play! It looks real nice, but that’s about it. Kind of like Kaze Kiri! Pretty game with nothing to do in it.

I do loooooove splatterhouse, and the PC Engine version is my favorite. It’s one of the only games where I can give actionable tips for someone playing it. The music perfectly gets that giallo vibe, too. But that is on the mini so I didn’t bring it up :3

robinhoodie

exodus I could see that. I think its interesting that with the PCE mini more than most any other system, they are kind of defining what that system was to a new crowd of people. I feel like we all are seeking a broader more balanced library, while the overall package ended up being more Bonk + Shooters + Arcade ports. Its a tough call though when so much of the broader library was JP only. Ha ha! Like, this system had LOOM on it of all things. And that’s the only console port.

James-

swarm I really love the look of this. It’s got a very Landstalker/Dark Savior feel. Then again, I’m a sucker for isometric stuff, even if it doesn’t often play the best.

robinhoodie It wasn’t until some time in the last year that I started learning about and checking out the PCE/TG16, and my initial exposure was definitely Bonk/Shooters. The mini was a massive blessing for both having a huge variety on it and sparking discussions like this, which has mare it a lot easier to learn about the really cool stuff the system had to offer.

swarm

Götzendiener is kinda cool. It’s an isometric action game by GAINAX where you’re a princess who has to escape a castle.

exodus

I always liked the idea of this one but got too confused with the maps and where I was supposed to go… I never wound up getting very far because of that, but I should really revisit it. isometric prince of persia is not something many companies attempted! It’s interesting also because it almost feels like a Japanese team making a fan-game in a Western genre. And I guess it basically is? It’s like a western team making a successful JRPG.

Karasu

exodus you’ve got me really curious about Metamor Jupiter, I shooter I had literally never heard of before now! Does it… have a dedicated button for turning your ship to face the other direction?!?

exodus

I forget!! it might!? I’ll play some later today. It’s also mentioned in the “impossible techniques” thread if you wanna check out a bit of it!

robinhoodie

James- I only have slight catalog with the PCE but I will say the line up on the mini has some stone cold classics. One of the games that on there that makes the thing almost a must purchase for me is Parasol Stars. I am so glad more people will maybe discover that game.

James-

robinhoodie That one has a super cute arcadey look and feel to it. My experience is still really lacking, and will probably continue to be so until I get my hands on a mini at some point (you know, when things are being made and available for purchase again…).

gyozaleaf

The two big omissions (from my perspective) were Telenet and Masaya. To drill down more specifically, I think Valis III would be the best choice because it’s emblematic of the system and was localized. And on the Masaya side I’d want to see Shockman or Shubibinman 3. The former was localized and has cute Mega Man vibes and the latter is pure 90s anime ridiculousness.

From a personal perspective, I simply adore Monster Lair and still play it regularly, which I’ve been doing off and on for 30 years. As one of the earliest CD games and one of the two launch CD games for the US, I feel it has a good claim to being there. Plus, clearly Sega played ball with Space Harrier.

To digress a little (segeuing from Space Harrier) it was interesting to me to see from the selections and conversation around the MD and PCE minis, which games mattered to Japanese players that don’t matter to the western audience as well. China Warrior was clearly hugely (pun intended) important to showing off the system’s power in Japan in 1987 but I don’t know anyone in the west who cares about that game at all.

Also say what you will about it, but how can it be the TurboGrafx mini without Keith Courage? Seriously.

I wish I could point toward a western-developed game for the system that I’d want to see on the mini but I’m coming up dry. Loom?