Need TG-16 Advice , What To Get........

[ScumBum]

Hi  everyone , new guy here . I'm an old school gamer , playing games since early 80's at arcades and got my first NES in 85 . My parents got me a Genesis and then a SNES back in the day when they came out . Once they got me the SNES there was no way of convincing them to get me another game system , TG-16 or Neo Geo . So I missed out on the TG-16 , being 10 when it came out I had no money . Anyways I forgot about it till I got Bonk's Adventure on Virtual Console and really really loved the game , now one of my favorite games !! I just beat it 2 days ago & started playing it all over again .   

So once I get some extra money I wanna get a TG-16 and some games ,

but I don't know how much I should pay for a system or what games are worth getting .

I saw the top 10 games  , but what games do you guys like that might not be top 10 games ?

I'm not a collector , just a gamer , so I don't care about rare games just fun games I'll play .

Thanks ,

[nectarsis]

Welcome to the site

A lot of what system to get will depend on what you want to spend.  I'm sure many of the others will get into that more indepth.  No matter what route you go, the Turbo/PCE is a sweet system, that will bring a lot of fun. 

[MurderDate]

hey Scum Bum!  Welcome !

good question.  Let me recommend some games I think you'll like:

Fantasy Zone
Blazing Lasers
World Court Tennis / Final Lap Twin (which appeals to you more , tennis or racing? Both games are excellent sports-RPGs!)
Parasol Stars
Cadash

if you want to hear about CD games , let me know !       - MD

[rag-time4]

Welcome aboard!

I'd recommend not limiting yourself to just the TurboGrafx 16... Get the CD ROM attachment or get a Duo so you can have access to all the games.

If you get an American TurboGrafx and a CD add-on, you'll be able to play all the US chip/HuCard games and both US and Japanese CD games... but you'll need a converter or a mod to play the Japanese chip/HuCard games.

[NecroPhile]

Welcome aboard, ScumBum.  It's good to hear that you've finally seen the light after years of SNES/Genny darkness. 

You're best bet on picking up games a TG-16 (or Duo) is to buy a decent sized lot on ebay.  I recommend that you check completed listings for a ballpark value; if one looks good, then come here and ask about its value.  As for game recommendations - is there a particular type of game that you prefer (RPG, shooter, etc.)?

[MurderDate]

hmm  yeah he's right ..   you can find a lot with a system and anywhere from 10-30 games multiple times a month these days.  That's whatcha do.

[ScumBum]

Welcome aboard, ScumBum.  It's good to hear that you've finally seen the light after years of SNES/Genny darkness. 

Yes , it all hit me as soon as I started playing Bonk that TG-16 is awesome !! I love the colors and the controls are original when I thought everything had already been done in  platformer games.

As far as favorite type of game , I like everything , platformers , shooters , puzzle......... If its fun to play I like it .

I didn't know if I wanted to get into CD games thinking that they were pretty rare and expensive since they didn't sell good here in the USA . Is this true ?

Are most of the good games on  CD ?

[rag-time4]

Welcome aboard, ScumBum.  It's good to hear that you've finally seen the light after years of SNES/Genny darkness. 

Yes , it all hit me as soon as I started playing Bonk that TG-16 is awesome !! I love the colors and the controls are original when I thought everything had already been done in  platformer games.

As far as favorite type of game , I like everything , platformers , shooters , puzzle......... If its fun to play I like it .

I didn't know if I wanted to get into CD games thinking that they were pretty rare and expensive since they didn't sell good here in the USA . Is this true ?

Are most of the good games on  CD ?

Some of the best games on the system are on CD: The Ys series, Lords and Gate of Thunder... you'd be really missing out by not getting into the CD stuff, but there are good games in both formats.

[NecroPhile]

I didn't know if I wanted to get into CD games thinking that they were pretty rare and expensive since they didn't sell good here in the USA . Is this true ?

Not really; most of the extravagantly priced titles are on CD (except Magical Chase and Bonk 3, which is actually on both formats), yet there's plenty of moderately priced CD titles as well.  The hardware will cost more, but less than an extra benny as part of a nicely priced lot.

Are most of the good games on  CD ?

Somewhat; like all consoles, the latter games are generally the most polished/fancy, and most titles released near the end of Turbo's life were CDs.  More importantly, the CD is not region protected, so buying a TG-CD or Duo would open the huge (and often cheap) library of PCE titles without having to modify the hardware.

[ScumBum]

Thanks for all your help guys !

Cool , so  I'm gonna get the CD-ROM peripheral too .

Whats better , getting the original TG-16 and CD-ROM peripheral  ,  getting a Turbo Duo , or getting a Japanese system ?

Any of them have better features than others like  , better video output or anything like that ?

[nat]

Video output is all pretty much the same from TG-CD to Duo-RX.

I'd go for a Japanese Duo-R or Duo-RX as those seem to offer the best value for your buck, and are less likely to have problems. The first-gen black Duos (both US and JP) are prone to have bad audio systems, and while this is fully fixable, it's probably not something you'll want to deal with unless you're technically handy.

Regardless of what region console you get, you'll have to get it modded to play the opposite region's carts. The CDs are regionless.

Why I'd stay away from the original TG-CD: it's big, it's loud, you'll need a seperate "System Card" to play CD games, and it's slightly slower at loading CD games when compared with the Duo. Pros of the TG-CD: standard A/V connection, more robust laser assembly.

Duo-R/-RX cons: cheaper optical unit than the TG-CD (more prone to calibration drift or complete failure), proprietary A/V connection. Duo pros: sleek, low-profile, quiet, "System Card" is built into the BIOS, and a bit quicker at dealing with CDs.

For me the Duo-R pros outweigh the cons and outweigh the pros of the TG-CD. And you can avoid one of the cons, problems with the optical unit, by simply not playing CD-Rs in your console.

[Ceti Alpha]

...what nat said. 

Welcome to the boards Scumbum. I would definitely go for a Duo R/RX. While the black Duo is slick looking it is prone to having audio problems, even if you buy it brand new. But you will want to get into CD gaming. In any case, it's great to see a former Genny/SNES player finally seeing the light. 

[ScumBum]

Yes and light is very bright , ahh blind !!

Alright so a Duo-R/-RX .

So I'll need to get this modded to play US cards .  How much does it cost to get modded ?

I also need to get a different power adapter right , I can't just plug this thing into the wall with USA voltage right ?

I had a red twin  famicom years back and had to get a plug from radio shack to use it .

[GohanX]

I echo the sentiment of buying a Japanese Duo R.  They are usually cheaper than the US unit, and oh so sexy.  Japanese hucards are generally cheaper as well, and there aren't too many US released hucards that are unplayable in Japanese. 

You don't need a different power adapter, Japan uses the same kind of power as the US.

However, be warned, your wallet is going to take a beating.  Once you get the system, you are going to want to get:

New controller
6 button controller
Multitap (even if you don't have any friends)
Arcade Card
Tennoko (sp?) bank
PC Engine GT
Backup system, just in case
Flash cart
A friend in japan who can hook you up with cheap games

You have been warned 

[nat]

JKM is correct-- you don't need a new AC adapter. There is a minor difference in voltage between the US and Japan but not enough to cause any issues. I've been using Japanese ACs, lots of them, for years.

[ScumBum]

Thanks for all your help guys !!

Theres soo many different systems , I had no idea which one to get .

I found a couple on ebay , how much should I be willing to spend ?

Theres a PC Engine Duo RX for $180 ,

[nat]

I saw that one, it's a loose system. Hold out for a bulk deal that comes with some games-- you'll save money.

[nectarsis]

Also if buying from overseas (assuming your in the US), ALSWAYS watch for shipping.  Some sellers WAY overcharge for systems.

[nat]

Very good advice. I learned the hard way-- was too quick to click "Buy it Now!" on a cheapy system once only to discover that shipping effectively doubled the price of the item. 

[ScumBum]

Alright , so I'm gonna save up some money , around $250 for a Duo-R/-RX Lot .

Thanks , I'll post some lots that I'm interested in to see if you guys think their good .
 O:)

[Keranu]

I'd actually recommend buying just a Turbo Grafx 16 system first to introduce to the games and see how you like them (which you will  ). Then while playing around with that for awhile, save up some money to buy a Duo R later so you can access Japanese and CD games. This way you will have the most effective and inexpensive set up for playing all formats of Turbo games.

[rag-time4]

I'd actually recommend buying just a Turbo Grafx 16 system first to introduce to the games and see how you like them (which you will  ). Then while playing around with that for awhile, save up some money to buy a Duo R later so you can access Japanese and CD games. This way you will have the most effective and inexpensive set up for playing all formats of Turbo games.

How does a US TurboGrafx compare to a converter or region mod in terms of price?

[Ceti Alpha]

I echo the sentiment of buying a Japanese Duo R.  They are usually cheaper than the US unit, and oh so sexy.  Japanese hucards are generally cheaper as well, and there aren't too many US released hucards that are unplayable in Japanese. 

You don't need a different power adapter, Japan uses the same kind of power as the US.

However, be warned, your wallet is going to take a beating.  Once you get the system, you are going to want to get:

New controller
6 button controller
Multitap (even if you don't have any friends)
Arcade Card
Tennoko (sp?) bank
PC Engine GT
Backup system, just in case
Flash cart
A friend in japan who can hook you up with cheap games

You have been warned 

Haha. Don't scare him!!  But a lot of those things can be had for pretty cheap. 6 button controllers (i.e. Avenue Pad 6), and a brand new boxed DuoTap can be had for $10 each. The Arcade Card is also a must, but those can go for pretty cheap as well. I would suggest getting your Duo modded as soon as possible, just to get it done and over with. 

A backup system is also not a bad idea. I have a TG-16 as a back-up, but that leaves most of my collection unplayable. hehe. I foresee myself getting a Supergrafx w/ the SuperCD combo unit. The day that happens will be a sweet day.

Anyway, don't worry. Your wallet will survive the turbo madness. 

[NecroPhile]

I'd actually recommend buying just a Turbo Grafx 16 system first to introduce to the games and see how you like them (which you will  ). Then while playing around with that for awhile, save up some money to buy a Duo R later so you can access Japanese and CD games. This way you will have the most effective and inexpensive set up for playing all formats of Turbo games.

Not a bad idea, though it's a bit less convenient having two consoles and the TG-16's controllers will need adapters to work with anything else.

How does a US TurboGrafx compare to a converter or region mod in terms of price?

If bought as part of a lot with a bunch of games, the cost is about even to a modification and usually much cheaper than a converter.

[ScumBum]

Mmmm , ok so getting a TG-16 to play US games and save up for the Japanese CD system later works out to about the same as getting a Japanese system and getting it modded .

Thats a good idea ,

[nat]

Except most people don't want the hassle of owning two systems.

I'm of the mind that you don't really need more than one of these things until you REALLY get into gaming on it, and even then it's debatable. But it's your call, to each his own.

[Ceti Alpha]

Except most people don't want the hassle of owning two systems.

I'm of the mind that you don't really need more than one of these things until you REALLY get into gaming on it, and even then it's debatable. But it's your call, to each his own.

I agree with nat. Having one system that can play all your games is far more convenient than having to switch up between two systems all the time. But whatever floats yer boat. 

[ScumBum]

I know I only need one , its just being impatient , waiting to save up for the big sha bang is tough but worth it in the end .

[Ceti Alpha]

I know I only need one , its just being impatient , waiting to save up for the big sha bang is tough but worth it in the end .

haha. Either way you go, you'll be a happy camper. 

[guyjin]

something to keep in mind, if you go the 2 systems route: the TG16 uses different controller ports from the Japanese systems (and even the US Duo.) To avoid double-buying taps and controllers, just get one type (likely Japanese, the variety of controllers is greater) and an adaptor for the other.

[ScumBum]

Well the way I see it ,

I like the idea of getting a boxed TG-16 , pretend its 1989 , and that I didn't miss out on the TG years back...... Also later that night watch Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure , to really feel like its 1989 ,

But , and a big BUTT ,  I know down the road I won't need two systems , I have had many and sold many game systems over the years , and the Japanese system Is all I need and will want to keep .

Choices in Life can be tough sometimes ,

[Keranu]

To chime in my thoughts more on the two system route:

Us Turbo nerds are heavy collectors and it's probably hard to find one who doesn't own mutliple Turbo hardware  . It's also convient if you're not into having your systems modded and you can always sell off the TG16 later if you find you don't play it as much as your Japanese counterpart. As far as the controller issue for TG16, you'll probably only need one controller for it anyways. However you don't necessarily need the American versions of games to begin with as the Japanese versions are just as understandble for the most part, so maybe just getting a Duo R would be the right thing. I just like having American versions for the hilarious covers and instruction booklets.

[Ceti Alpha]

To chime in my thoughts more on the two system route:

Us Turbo nerds are heavy collectors and it's probably hard to find one who doesn't own mutliple Turbo hardware  . It's also convient if you're not into having your systems modded and you can always sell off the TG16 later if you find you don't play it as much as your Japanese counterpart. As far as the controller issue for TG16, you'll probably only need one controller for it anyways. However you don't necessarily need the American versions of games to begin with as the Japanese versions are just as understandble for the most part, so maybe just getting a Duo R would be the right thing. I just like having American versions for the hilarious covers and instruction booklets.

Yes. Never underestimate the nostalgia factor. Again, I would go the modded Duo R/RX route, and get a TG-16 for a backup as well as for nostalgia. You can find some pretty sweet TG bundles on eBay. You just have to wade through the endless ripoffs.

[ScumBum]

I finally picked up a TG-16 !!

I wanted to get a Jap system , but I'm also into classic Arcade Games and every time I had the money , an Arcade game would pop up on craigslist and I'd blow my money on that instead !

So I found a guy on craigslist that had a TG-16 for sale with 5 games  , Keith Courage , Victory Run , Ninja Spirit , Take it To The Hoop , JJ & Jeff and a Turbo Booster.

I offered up a bunch of different stuff for trade and he wanted my Nintendo DS .  So I traded him my Nintendo DS for all his TG-16 stuff ! 

All I need now is Bonk and Adventure Island and I'm set for awhile .


I've been playing JJ & Jeff and I'm stuck on the first Level where it comes to a tree stump at the edge of a cliff , how do I get past that ?

[TheClash603]

In JJ and Jeff you just need to pretty much spray and kick everything.  Kick either the stump or on top, I forget... and a platform appears.  Later in the game you can jump on springs and get sent way back in the game! 

P.S. - That game WILL piss you off.

[ScumBum]

In JJ and Jeff you just need to pretty much spray and kick everything.  Kick either the stump or on top, I forget... and a platform appears.  Later in the game you can jump on springs and get sent way back in the game! 

P.S. - That game WILL piss you off.

Thanks , I beat the first level now but I'm stuck in the second level in the sewers , trying to jump over the second gap thats super long .

[MotherGunner]

For some good U.S. games get yourself

Soldier Blade
Alien Crush
Dragon's Quest
Military Madness
Ninja Spirit

[esteban]

In JJ and Jeff you just need to pretty much spray and kick everything.  Kick either the stump or on top, I forget... and a platform appears.  Later in the game you can jump on springs and get sent way back in the game! 

P.S. - That game WILL piss you off.

Thanks , I beat the first level now but I'm stuck in the second level in the sewers , trying to jump over the second gap thats super long .

There's probably a sign near the edge of the gap. KICK IT! A platform will appear.

As TheClash mentioned, JJ & Jeff is all about KICKING to find bonus areas, activate hidden platforms and find bonus items (not unlike Adventure Island in which you hunt for the EGG on various levels).

JJ & Jeff has more than its fair share of haters, but if you dig Wonderboy 1/Adventure Island (as you do), then I think you'll find JJ & Jeff to be a wonderful bastard child.

Also, I think U.S. TG-16 is perfect: you can grab the HuCards you want (i.e. English-language, exclusive to North America, etc.). Later you can check out the wonderful world of CD's and PCE  HuCards...

[Ceti Alpha]

Gratz on the TG, scumbum!! 

[Obfuscate]

IMO Must Haves are:

Soldier Blade
Bomberman 93
Final Lap Twin {Quest Mode is so fun}

[Vecanti]

For some good U.S. games get yourself

Soldier Blade
Alien Crush
Dragon's Quest
Military Madness
Ninja Spirit

Is there a Dragon Quest for Turbo?

[nectarsis]

For some good U.S. games get yourself

Soldier Blade
Alien Crush
Dragon's Quest
Military Madness
Ninja Spirit

Is there a Dragon Quest for Turbo?

I assume they mean Dragon's Curse as there in DQ games on the TG/PCE.

[hoobs88]

Is there a Dragon Quest for Turbo?

No, but 'Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes'  is very similar to 'Dragon Quest'

[Vecanti]

For some good U.S. games get yourself

Soldier Blade
Alien Crush
Dragon's Quest
Military Madness
Ninja Spirit

Is there a Dragon Quest for Turbo?

I assume they mean Dragon's Curse as there in DQ games on the TG/PCE.

Ok, just wanted to make sure I didn't miss something there.

[ScumBum]

[/quote]
I assume they mean Dragon's Curse as there in DQ games on the TG/PCE.[/quote]
Yeah Dragon's Curse looks cool ! I found it on this site and it looks awesome ! I thought maybe it was only on the PC Engine . http://www.pcengine.co.uk/HTML_Games/Adventure_Island.htm