The must have PC-Engine titles

[RadiantSvgun]

My list goes like this:

Hucard
Neutopia
Neutopia II
Dead Moon
Download
Ninja Spirit
Blazing Lazers/Gunhed
Soldier Blade
Legendary Axe/Makyo Densetsu
Dead Moon
Splatterhouse
Photograph Boy
Air Zonk
Dungeon Explorer
Street Fighter II'
Bloody Wolf
Vigilante
Magical Chase

CD-based
Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman 3 (must own title)
YS book 1 & 2
YS book 3
Buster Bros.
Spriggan
Mugen Valis
Valis II
Valis III
Valis IV
Ninja Action Kaze Kiri
Legend of Heroes: Dragon Slayer
Sapphire
R-type Complete CD
Flash hiders
The TV Show
Cotton

[Technosphile]

Nobody has mentioned Dead of the Brain 1&2. As a big Snatcher fan, I'd like to get some impressions of it.

Speaking of, add Snatcher CD-ROMantic to the list. Probably tied with the western-exclusive Sega CD rev. for the best version of the game.

[SuperDeadite]

Most of my faves have already been listed, but a few more:

Bizzaru de gozaru no game de gozaru! : Really cool puzzle game. Kinda like Lemmings, except you only have 1 character to guide through the level. Also instead of building bridges, your monkey does the moonwalk.

Go! Go! Birdie Chance - This one certainly won't please everyone but in my opinion this is the greatest golf game ever made. In story mode you are the coach, you train your girl (similar to other girl-training sims), but the cool part is how it really affects her golf game. As in, you tell her where to aim, but her accuracy is completely based on stats, not how well you hit a button like most golf games. Some great dialog too if you can understand Japanese.

Dragon Knight I-III: I and III got really nice upgrades for the PCE, far improved battle systems, and big graphical improvements. Also the T's music arrangements are sweet. II is more of a straight port, but still a fun game.

[runinruder]

Startling Odyssey
I would drop this one as the sequel is much better. Also the game has some programming problems where you can get stuck and not be able to go on kind of like with Arunumus No Kibi. Also the end of the game has stumped both me and Gaijin.

Sorry to bring up an ancient comment, but I just completed the first Startling Odyssey myself, and I didn't encounter any programming problems. If that comment is in reference to being unable to return to the airship if you left it in an unreachable spot, you can actually use the "Warp" spell to hop back into it whenever you want.

I agree that SO2 is better, but they're both good games.

I played through Fang of Alnam recently as well, and didn't encounter any problems there either, although it wasn't a very good game and it wouldn't surprise me if it contained its fair share of glitches.

Anyway, returning to the subject of the thread, I don't know if these have been mentioned yet or not, but here are some great games that are sometimes overlooked:

Violent Soldier
Asuka 120%
Blood Gear
Efera & Jiliora
Kiaidan 00
Madou Monogatari
Private Eye Dol
Ranma 1/2 2
Tenshi no Uta
Tenshi no Uta II

[Technosphile]

Go! Go! Birdie Chance - This one certainly won't please everyone but in my opinion this is the greatest golf game ever made. In story mode you are the coach, you train your girl (similar to other girl-training sims), but the cool part is how it really affects her golf game. As in, you tell her where to aim, but her accuracy is completely based on stats, not how well you hit a button like most golf games. Some great dialog too if you can understand Japanese.

At any point do you actually *play*?

[Gaijin Punch]

Sorry to bring up an ancient comment, but I just completed the first Startling Odyssey myself, and I didn't encounter any programming problems. If that comment is in reference to being unable to return to the airship if you left it in an unreachable spot, you can actually use the "Warp" spell to hop back into it whenever you want.

Wow, where were you 8 years ago. I got to some point in the game, I think I took the air ship up in the clouds, and this boss literally beat the piss out of me. Like two turns and everyone was dead. I put it down, and never returned. I was quite far into it too.

I agree that SO2 is better, but they're both good games.

Isn't SO2 freakishly long?

Tenshi no Uta
Tenshi no Uta II

I was recommended a while ago to play these, but simply never got around to them. One day, I would hope.

[SuperDeadite]

Go! Go! Birdie Chance - This one certainly won't please everyone but in my opinion this is the greatest golf game ever made. In story mode you are the coach, you train your girl (similar to other girl-training sims), but the cool part is how it really affects her golf game. As in, you tell her where to aim, but her accuracy is completely based on stats, not how well you hit a button like most golf games. Some great dialog too if you can understand Japanese.

At any point do you actually *play*?

Yeah you pick her club, direction, and amount of power. How well the shot actually goes depends on her training (which is up to you). Its a unique concept and its a lot more entertaining then the traditional golf. But I also said this game isn't for everyone. There is also a standard golf mode where you have full control, but then its just boring old golf.

My ancient and really shitty gameplay vid: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6321400444841518586

[Technosphile]

Yeah you pick her club, direction, and amount of power. How well the shot actually goes depends on her training (which is up to you). Its a unique concept and its a lot more entertaining then the traditional golf. But I also said this game isn't for everyone. There is also a standard golf mode where you have full control, but then its just boring old golf.

My ancient and really shitty gameplay vid: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6321400444841518586

Heh after seeing your initial post I watched that very video.

I love Neo Turf Masters, so "boring old golf" sounds fine. Too bad this is so goddamn expensive.

[SuperDeadite]

Yeah you pick her club, direction, and amount of power. How well the shot actually goes depends on her training (which is up to you). Its a unique concept and its a lot more entertaining then the traditional golf. But I also said this game isn't for everyone. There is also a standard golf mode where you have full control, but then its just boring old golf.

My ancient and really shitty gameplay vid: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6321400444841518586

Heh after seeing your initial post I watched that very video.

I love Neo Turf Masters, so "boring old golf" sounds fine. Too bad this is so goddamn expensive.

You're missing my point I think. Probably 99% of golf games are the same thing over and over again. Once you master the button timing and know how to read the wind, you will always do well. GGBC doesn't work like this, you have to think outside of the usual walls. Even the girls' confidence is integral to the game.

I found playing the coach role to be quite immersive. The girls are all very likeable and its easy to get sucked in. Watching my golf girl go from missing the tee-off three times in a row, to hitting birdie after birdie felt so good. When my girl got her first hole-in-one, I went out and got a beer in honor of HER success. Its sounds lame as hell, but damn do I love this game.

I also really enjoy The IDOLM@STER, which is a similar experience, but it didn't even come close to pulling on my emotions as much as GGBC did. Truly one of the best experiences I've ever had in a videogame.

[Koa Zo]

Startling omissions: Out Run and Salamander

[Gaijin Punch]

Startling omissions: Out Run and Salamander

Wouldn't you just get them on the Saturn or Playstation in the case of the latter?

[RadiantSvgun]

Startling omissions: Out Run and Salamander

Wouldn't you just get them on the Saturn or Playstation in the case of the latter?

Something about the PC-engine's salamander music gives it its charm. But I have a more important question for you:

How the fuck did Shubibinman sell enough copies to make that awesome 3rd game?

[Gaijin Punch]

How the fuck did Shubibinman sell enough copies to make that awesome 3rd game?

It's one of those weird miracles of old school gaming. The first might be the worst platformer on the system, while the third is probably the best.

[Ganelon]

Nah, no miracle. It was just blessed with being among the earliest PCE games (released a few months after the system came out, long before PC Genjin) so younger gamers looking for a sidescroller had no choice but to buy it.

Then, when the 2nd one actually played well, they were able to make a 3rd one. There's also Shubibinman 0 for the Satellaview, the last game in the series, but that's sort of a step back.

[Captain Picard]

Personal favorites:

1943 Kai
Be Ball
Bomberman '93
Daisenpu (HuCard)
Devil's Crush
Gradius
Nekketsu series (dodgeball, soccer, River City Ransom on CD)
Parasol Stars
Power Drift
Rabio Lepus Special
Don Doko Don

I prefer 1943K and Gradius to the arcade versions, although 'better than arcade perfect' is of course debatable; Power Drift isn't as good as the Saturn version but still 'worth having' IMO.

Also, haven't tried Kunio Soccer on CD, but I imagine it's better. I think the Turbo CD port of Rainbow Islands is probably the best version out there, too. Love that game.

edit - and how could I forget Bloody Wolf?

[Gaijin Punch]

Rainbow Islands is great... although some what frustrating (like all the Taito puzzle/platformer-esque games).

[RadiantSvgun]

I forgot to add Dungeon Explorer II and Legend of Xandau II. Even though I couldn't understand them, the gameplay was intense. U.S. release of Dungeon Explorer II is too got-damn expensive.

[Koa Zo]

"Guests and new users are not allowed to post messages with URLs."
why can I post this, but I can't post my actual reply, that does not have any URLs?!?

[Gaijin Punch]

"Guests and new users are not allowed to post messages with URLs."
why can I post this, but I can't post my actual reply, that does not have any URLs?!?

URLS + offending words. I'm not posting the list b/c the point is to annoy the spammers. Words like "download" are prohibited.

[Koa Zo]

"Guests and new users are not allowed to post messages with URLs."
why can I post this, but I can't post my actual reply, that does not have any URLs?!?

URLS + offending words. I'm not posting the list b/c the point is to annoy the spammers. Words like "download" are prohibited.

ah, interesting. can't imagine what it was I typed

Anyhow,
The PC-Engine ports of Out Run and Salamander are solid, and tons of fun to play. They are also very enjoyable on the GT. Must owns imo.

[Azazel]

Sorry to bring up an ancient comment, but I just completed the first Startling Odyssey myself, and I didn't encounter any programming problems. If that comment is in reference to being unable to return to the airship if you left it in an unreachable spot, you can actually use the "Warp" spell to hop back into it whenever you want.

Wow, where were you 8 years ago. I got to some point in the game, I think I took the air ship up in the clouds, and this boss literally beat the piss out of me. Like two turns and everyone was dead. I put it down, and never returned. I was quite far into it too.

I agree that SO2 is better, but they're both good games.

Isn't SO2 freakishly long?

Tenshi no Uta
Tenshi no Uta II

I was recommended a while ago to play these, but simply never got around to them. One day, I would hope.

Thanks for the info. I don't know if I would go back and try to finish Startling Odyssey 1. Don't really remember what you were supposed to be doing at that point of the game anymore.

I think Startling Odyssey 2 is about 40 hours or so. At least the difficulty is toned down from as far as I played it. Its about on par with Star Breaker.

[Ganelon]

Yeah, that's the problem with resuming RPGs. You feel like you missed the entire first half of the game (if you're somebody who's played way too many RPGs). And that's like your first post since forever, Azazel; thinking of actively posting again?