Best Turbo Grafx Games to Play On Turbo Express?

[nimtene]

Hello-

I bought a Turbo Grafx a few months back, and have really
enjoyed playing it.  Just recently, I acquired a Turbo Express,
because I was looking forward to enjoying the same HuCards
when I'm traveling. But I think I got spoiled playing my Turbo
Grafx on the TV, because all my games look horribly shrunken
down and pixelated, when I play them on my Turbo Express.
Of the half dozen games I have, the most playable is Klax,
and that's because there's an option to increase the resolution,
for people that have their systems attached to a monitor. So
taking advantage of this option makes the game details much
easier to see, and thus makes the game more enjoyable.

So this leads into my questions:

1) What other games can you also turn up the resolution in, to
make them more playable on the Turbo Express?

2) Even is they don't have the above option, Which games are
most enjoyable on the Turbo Express, despite the big loss in
resolution (any game with much reading, I would assume would
be very frustrating.)

I would appreciate any recomendations you all have for me!
I look forward to expanding my TG-16 library, with a focus
towards maximum enjoyment on my Turbo Express.

Best Regards,
Chris Vick
nimtene@hotmail.com

[Keranu]

That's strange because I thought games were always supposed to look nice on the Turbo Express since they were smaller. I have never played one myself, so I can't really comment.

[DragonmasterDan]

The best games to play are the shooters, Blazing Lazers, Soldier Blade, Super Star Soldier stuff like that. Games like Neutopia, Dungeon Explorer, Neutopia II and Cadash are a pain in the ass to play since you can't read the text.

[AlexKidd]

I'd agree that shooters are good on the TE and rpg type games aren't. All of the bonk games are pretty good on there too and so are the pinball games(alien crush,devil's crush,time cruise). I know a lot of people don't like the game but China Warrior looks pretty good on the TE since the sprites are so big.

[twor2005]

I'm shocked and disappointed that this is an issue. I always fantasized about getting a GT. But then again role playing games wouldnt matter for that anyway.

[torgo]

Parasol Stars is awesome on the Express

[esteban]

I've enjoyed most of the Turbo library on the TE... but some faves are:

TIMEBALL !!!!

OK, lots of folks hate this game, but I've spent many airplane trips playing this game and loving it. Only fans of old-skool computer puzzlers will like this, however.

As for shooters: Some folks might not like the single-pixel-bullets... personally, I don't mind it... but if you aren't a shooter fan / already familiar with a game (via a large screen), I can see how it might be somewhat annoying.

In addition to the games folks have mentioned, here are some other games that I enjoyed on long plane rides:
New Adventure Island
Legendary Axe I & II (well, LA II is kinda dark, so it really only works under optimal lighting conditions with the TE).
Splatterhouse (kinda dark, but fun as hell on a small screen)
Bloody Wolf (small bullets, somewhat "messy" look, but fun)
Military Madness (just familiarize yourself with basics first)
Bomberman '93 (2-player mode via TurboLink?)
etc. etc.

I know a lot of people don't like the game but China Warrior looks pretty good on the TE since the sprites are so big.

I agree ... and I would like to add Samurai Ghost to this category!  SG is not nearly as playable as CW, in my opinion (due to SG's awkward controls and it's higher difficulty), but despite this, I like SG. Be forewarned, most folks will not like SG.

[DragonmasterDan]

I've enjoyed most of the Turbo library on the TE... but some faves are:

TIMEBALL !!!!

OK, lots of folks hate this game, but I've spent many airplane trips playing this game and loving it. Only fans of old-skool computer puzzlers will like this, however.

As for shooters: Some folks might not like the single-pixel-bullets... personally, I don't mind it... but if you aren't a shooter fan / already familiar with a game (via a large screen), I can see how it might be somewhat annoying.

In addition to the games folks have mentioned, here are some other games that I enjoyed on long plane rides:
New Adventure Island
Legendary Axe I & II (well, LA II is kinda dark, so it really only works under optimal lighting conditions with the TE).
Splatterhouse (kinda dark, but fun as hell on a small screen)
Bloody Wolf (small bullets, somewhat "messy" look, but fun)
Military Madness (just familiarize yourself with basics first)
Bomberman '93 (2-player mode via TurboLink?)
etc. etc.

I know a lot of people don't like the game but China Warrior looks pretty good on the TE since the sprites are so big.

I agree ... and I would like to add Samurai Ghost to this category!  SG is not nearly as playable as CW, in my opinion (due to SG's awkward controls and it's higher difficulty), but despite this, I like SG. Be forewarned, most folks will not like SG.

Monster Manor looks nice on the express as well, too bad the game is lousy.

[Keranu]

I had a lot of fun when I first played Timeball, actually . By the way, I thought the controls in Samurai Ghost were what made it nice. It's cool to have all of those different sword attack variations and not make it too complicating. It is hard though.

[cozzie]

Powerdrift and Outrun look shit hot!!!

[esteban]

By the way, I thought the controls in Samurai Ghost were what made it nice. It's cool to have all of those different sword attack variations and not make it too complicating. It is hard though.

Oh, I totally agree, the different sword parry / attack positions are very kool -- they definitely make the game more fun than a generic "platformer / hack-n-slash".  But the overall controls (including the jumping and moving, as well as attacking) are not nearly as tight as they should be... especially for a game like SG.  As a result, I've taken a more methodical, slower approach to the game... but I wish I could bust out into a blitzkrieg more often (as you can easilly do in Ninja Spirit, for example).

[Keranu]

Oh yes I know what you mean now. The jumps would go pretty slow make it feel a bit uneasy. Another game no one gives love is King of Casino. I don't like casino stuff really, but I absolutely love that game and I think it's because of it's wonderful, soothing soundtrack and the atmosphere of the game. When you are inside the hotel, it makes you feel like you are having a comfortable time at a hotel and you're on your way to win money. People think I am a crazy and well, I am. But I'm not stopping myself from loving this game.

[AlexKidd]

I've always liked Samurai Ghost . Never played it on a TE though it is on my psp right now. I think it has some of the best graphics and parallax for a hucard. It has a pretty bad learning curve though. I found the first 2 or 3 levels to be very easy and then they throw you in that level where you're running from lava and spiders are tying your feet up so you can't move. Pretty tough level, cool game though.

[Keranu]

Oh yeah that lava level sucked. It wouldn't have been so bad if those spiders didn't shoot webs at your feet. It usually takes me two-three times to get past that stage.

[esteban]

I've always liked Samurai Ghost . Never played it on a TE though it is on my psp right now. I think it has some of the best graphics and parallax for a hucard. It has a pretty bad learning curve though. I found the first 2 or 3 levels to be very easy and then they throw you in that level where you're running from lava and spiders are tying your feet up so you can't move. Pretty tough level, cool game though.

Yes, then there's that stage a little later with the stone bricks that crumble under your feet! Anyway, that's what I like about SG: you actually have to develop a decent strategy for many stages, including the bosses...

... like the boss dude who plays the flute and floats down the waterfall: I still don't have a good technique for beating him.  Or maybe I did, but I've forgotten it.  Don't tell me what you do, though, 'cause I'm gonna beat this game one of these years.

[GUTS]

It's a little off topic, but do you guys remember Kenseiden on the Master System?  That was a fucking awesome game based on the ancient japanese mythological theme, I always wished Sega would have ported it to the PC Engine or the Genesis or made a sequel.

[Keranu]

I need to get that game because I played it on an emulator before and thought it was really sweet.

[DragonmasterDan]

It's a little off topic, but do you guys remember Kenseiden on the Master System?  That was a fucking awesome game based on the ancient japanese mythological theme, I always wished Sega would have ported it to the PC Engine or the Genesis or made a sequel.

I actually just pulled out my SMS recently after picking up a bunch of games for 1.00-2.00 each at a used CD/game store in Chicago. Among the games I picked up was Kenseiden. Weird you should mention it.

[Keranu]

DragonmasterDan, I live in the Chicago area, where and what is this place that you speak of? I must know because I would love to check it out sometime! The best place I know of around here for video game good's is Sean Kelly's (one of the biggest game collectors) Video Games Etc..., which is in Norride, Illinois (it's quite a long drive from my house, actually).

[AlexKidd]

It's a little off topic, but do you guys remember Kenseiden on the Master System?  That was a fucking awesome game based on the ancient japanese mythological theme, I always wished Sega would have ported it to the PC Engine or the Genesis or made a sequel.

Kenseiden is a great game. I actually like it more than sms Shinobi which people usually prefer. I agree that a turbo or genesis sequel would've been awesome.

[esteban]

It's a little off topic, but do you guys remember Kenseiden on the Master System?  That was a fucking awesome game based on the ancient japanese mythological theme, I always wished Sega would have ported it to the PC Engine or the Genesis or made a sequel.

[DragonmasterDan]

DragonmasterDan, I live in the Chicago area, where and what is this place that you speak of? I must know because I would love to check it out sometime! The best place I know of around here for video game good's is Sean Kelly's (one of the biggest game collectors) Video Games Etc..., which is in Norride, Illinois (it's quite a long drive from my house, actually).

The place that I went to is a Disc Replay in Roselle Illinois (just West of Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg). I know a great number of game stores around the area though, there is a place called "High Score" in Oak Lawn in the South Suburbs that has a lot of Master System and even some Turbo stuff, but their prices are lousy. They are also open odd hours as I think it's just the owner working there most of the time.

FYI the disc replays are nice places to pick retro stuff up though their selections vary and are somewhat limited, not all of them have games though. Where in the area are you again? (I think we discussed this before at one point).  http://discreplay.com/pages/1/index.htm

There are a number of independent places selling games still remaining in Chicagoland (as you would expect of an area with a population of 10 million) but at the same time the big chains (Gamestop, EB, and GameCrazy) have run a lot of the smalltimers out of business and over the years about 4/5 of the independent game stores died. Most of what you find are used CD/DVD places that also sell games (ala CD trader). There's a lot of one store non-chain used DVD/Game/Music shops you'll find on the North side of the city that have stuff. Finding less common (Anything besides NES, SNES, GEN, GameBoy, Game Gear, PSone, N64. PS2, Xbox, GC and occasional Dreamcast crap) is almost impossible at the chain stores which is why its important to patronixe the few reminaing independent shops.

[Keranu]

Yes I do believe we have talked about the Chicagoland before on the Magic Engine forums. I live in Crete, Illinois, which is 30 minutes south of Chicago. Maybe sometime this month when I go to Sean Kelly's, I'll try checking out Disc Replay along the way. Oh yeah, game store chains like Gamestop SUCK and they are destroying the good places, as you have said.

[DragonmasterDan]

Yes I do believe we have talked about the Chicagoland before on the Magic Engine forums. I live in Crete, Illinois, which is 30 minutes south of Chicago. Maybe sometime this month when I go to Sean Kelly's, I'll try checking out Disc Replay along the way. Oh yeah, game store chains like Gamestop SUCK and they are destroying the good places, as you have said.

Hmmm, I never use Magic Engine or their forums. Primarily being a Linux user products designed for Windows like that are nearly useless to me (the best emulator for Linux is Hu-Go!). But anyway, is Crete even a suburb? I'm not actually familiar with it. As far as the chains go, they do suck, and they've quietly destroyed the indepedent stores, with that said Chicago was never a great place for independent game stores, we were the first market outside of Minneapolis that Funcoland entered and there were around 70 or so in the area which made it hard for the indepedents to compete. Also as a result of the Gamestop purchase of Funcoland years ago we now have around 100 Gamestops (and also about 70 EBs and 40 GameCrazys) most of which have been here 12-15 years being former Funcolands. Anyway, check out the Disc Replays a few (like the one in Woodridge) don't have games, I think all the other ones (at least the ones I've been to) do.

[Keranu]

Crete is an old suburb south of Chicago. It's not a very popular town, but if you lived in the South Chicago suburbs, you probably would have heard of it.

I miss Funcoland. That was such an awesome name . Do you remember that show Funcoland used to sponser or something where they told you cheats and stuff? That was pretty cool when I was a kid, but I think it stopped about four years ago or so.

[nimtene]

Back on topic, thanks for your suggestions, everyone.
I've had the chance to pick up Legendary Axe I & II,
Bonk's Adventure, and Parasol Stars. I am happy to
say that they all play brilliantly on the Turbo Express.

[Ninja Spirit]

I'll never fuck with console games on a portable. Turbo Express and Master Gear Converter are prime examples.

My worst experience with this scenario is playing the very common Master System shooter "Astro Warrior" on my SMS > Game Gear Converter. One of those situations where when too many bright colors collide, the harmony is gone.

Whoever mentioned Kenseiden I'm feelin' ya on that.

[MotherGunner]

Ninja Spirit!

[lord_cack]

I'll never fuck with console games on a portable. Turbo Express and Master Gear Converter are prime examples.

My worst experience with this scenario is playing the very common Master System shooter "Astro Warrior" on my SMS > Game Gear Converter. One of those situations where when too many bright colors collide, the harmony is gone.

Whoever mentioned Kenseiden I'm feelin' ya on that.

The only thing is the Master Gear concept wasn't the original design of the Game Gear. It was an add on. The Turbo Express was built to use the home games. So it was tailored to handle them.

I would say Cadash, Street Fighter II, Legendary Axe series, Bonk's Revenge are all titles that work out great on the portable.

[Keranu]

Street Fighter II'? Wouldn't that kill on a GT since it doesn't have six buttons? I guess it would be sweet if you can tolerate two buttons though.

[esteban]

Hmmm, I never use Magic Engine or their forums. Primarily being a Linux user products designed for Windows like that are nearly useless to me (the best emulator for Linux is Hu-Go!).

Sometimes the ME forums have some nice topics, or the occasional bit of trivia, that make it all worthwhile. I rarely use ME myself, but since I'm starved for turbo-related info, it's the only place, outside of pcenginefx, that has a loose-knit community of regulars. Other potentially ideal places simply don't get enough traffic.

[Keranu]

The Magic Engine forums have some good topics every now and then and worth checking out if you're into that kind of stuff. Lots of development info too. Really nice stuff.

[lord_cack]

Street Fighter II'? Wouldn't that kill on a GT since it doesn't have six buttons? I guess it would be sweet if you can tolerate two buttons though.

I only have the standard pad....thats how I play Street Fighter II anyway...so I wouldn't have any issues....

[Odonadon]

Sometimes the ME forums have some nice topics, or the occasional bit of trivia, that make it all worthwhile. I rarely use ME myself, but since I'm starved for turbo-related info, it's the only place, outside of pcenginefx, that has a loose-knit community of regulars. Other potentially ideal places simply don't get enough traffic.

Amen to that

(if anyone has suggestions as to how to increase the Turbo2k traffic, I'm all ears)

OD

[esteban]

Sometimes the ME forums have some nice topics, or the occasional bit of trivia, that make it all worthwhile. I rarely use ME myself, but since I'm starved for turbo-related info, it's the only place, outside of pcenginefx, that has a loose-knit community of regulars. Other potentially ideal places simply don't get enough traffic.

Amen to that

(if anyone has suggestions as to how to increase the Turbo2k traffic, I'm all ears)

OD

You read my mind! I was thinking specifically of your site when I made that comment. Seriously, I am surprised there aren't more folks on there. Admittedly, I've stopped checking the boards myself... gotta re-organize my bookmarks and correct that .

[Keranu]

I love Turbo2k! Been visiting it for the past three years or so.

[nimtene]

I just got Time Cruise. It looks and it
plays amazingly on the Turbo-Express!

[Keranu]

Time Cruise is a wonderful game. Has anyone ever noticed that the creators of Time Cruise, Face, all have that distinct sound to their games? I love their sound, it's very early 90's-ish and one track in Time Cruise reminds me of a song in that cheesy "Blank Check" movie when I think about just now.

[nimtene]

I've been playing R-Type a lot on my Turbo-Express lately. When
I played it on my TG-16 a few months back, my first impressions
were that the general colors and appearance seemed a bit bland.
On the other hand, shrunken down on the TE, it seems to pack a
much more exciting visual punch to me. I'm not sure whether it's
the hypnotic shimmering of the pixels as the screen scrolls, or if
my imagination more easily fills in the blanks with the TE's small
screen, but I'm really enjoying the feel of playing my R-Type now.

[Keranu]

Yep, smaller resolutions do that . I really want to try out a Turbo Express some day.