PC Engine Thread

[P]

BRAM is not strictly a CD-ROM² thing, it is used by HuCard games as well in order to save. Typically HuCards offers both passwords and BRAM saving. You can have BRAM without CD by using a Ten no Koe 2 or Backup Booster, but you can not have CD without BRAM since the CD-ROM² and Super CD-ROM² both comes with built-in BRAM (and if you have a CD setup you can't use a Ten no Koe 2 or Backup Booster, nor have you any need of them). In the case of CD-ROM², the BRAM is inside the suitcase-like interface unit which can even be used without a CD to add BRAM and AV ports to your PC Engine I think (although it looks a bit stupid without the CD).

Only the Duo models have BRAM built-in, since those have a Super CD-ROM² built-in which includes the BRAM. The Duos are missing the expansion port so you can't add a Ten no Koe 2 or anything (nor do you have any need to).

No matter what method you use to add BRAM to your PC Engine, it is always 2 kB (that's the "2" in "Ten no Koe 2") and supported by all games that use BRAM. The method it uses to retain the BRAM when power is off is different though. Some uses replaceable batteries (Ten no Koe 2 uses two AA batteries), some use a non-replaceable rechargeable battery (that lost its ability to recharge by now) and the Duo-R and RX use a large capacitor which holds the save files for about a month without turning on the power.

PC Engine Mini looks like a must have

Ah yeah this looks cool. Konami owns Hudson nowdays so it's only natural that they jump on the emulator machine bandwagon and release a PC-Engine mini.
The games announced so far seems to be:
Star Soldier
The Kungfu
PC Genjin
Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo
Ys I·II
Dungeon Explorer
Most of them appears on the recommendation list. The Kungfu is like a demonstration of how big sprites the PC Engine can do, but it's not that great of a game. Nevertheless it is quite iconic for the PC-Engine. Since it's Konami/Hudson I hope for at least a Bomberman game as well and maybe Snatcher. You seem to need a multitap to play 5 players like on the real PC-Engine though.

US version instead have these announced:
R-Type
New Adventure Island
Ninja Spirit
Ys Book I & II
Dungeon Explorer
Alien Crush
A bit disappointing that it's missing some great games like Rondo in favour of a pinball game. On the other hand it has the brilliant Ninja Spirit.

Interesting that the European version will be designed like the CoreGrafx (PC Engine was released in UK as "TurboGrafx" which was just a PAL-modified TurboGrafx-16, but everywhere else in Europe only grey-import systems existed). It seems the European games are the same as the US games so far.

Topic Merge!

Thanks!

[boye]

I'm still confused. Does the standalone PCE have BRAM or not?

[L___E___T]

 



Reading that - Not inherently but yes, via a peripheral for carts that support it.  

[P]

Exactly.

Only the Duo models have BRAM built-in

Unless you have a Duo, you need to add the BRAM using a peripheral (Ten no Koe 2, Backup Booster, CD unit etc).

[P]

The PC Engine Mini is out! Manuals are also up for download!
I didn't pick it up, but it appears that all versions will have mostly the same games unlike Nintendo's emulator boxes. PAL and NA regions will be identical in terms of games. There are a total of 60 titles (with 54 unique games) but no region gets them all. Japanese region of the mini gets 58 titles and the other regions gets 57 of the total 60 titles. Games includes several HuCard, CD, Super CD and SuperGrafx games of both regional versions (Japanese and non-Japanese), and this is generally the same for all regions of the mini. For example the game Kato-chan & Ken-chan is not included in any region of the mini, but the American localized version J.J. & Jeff is included in all regions. Sounds like a strange decision but it's probably due to licensing. Kato-chan & Ken-chan are among the most famous comedians in Japan (and BTW the latter, Shimura Ken, sadly passed away last month, RIP). Other games like Neutopia and Ys I II comes in both Japanese and English versions for all regions.

The Japanese region of the mini gets the Japanese version of Splatterhouse (which is the better version) while other regions gets the non-Japanese version (which is a bit censored and the main character has a different mask). Also the NA and PAL regions gets Salamander (Japanese version) which the Japanese region doesn't. On the other hand the Japanese region gets Tengai Makyou II and Tokimeki Memorial which other regions don't.


Regional differences summary:

Japanese region unique games:
Tengai Makyou II (J)
Tokimeki Memorial (J)
Splatterhouse (J)

NA & PAL regions unique games:
Salamander (J)
Splatterhouse (non-J)

Interestingly enough, all other games are the same for all regions. This includes several games with lots of Japanese text, like Super Momotarou Dentetsu II and Snatcher, the latter is pretty much unplayable without knowing Japanese. But this also means that great games like Dracula X (J), Ninja Spirit (non-J), R-Type (non-J) and Star Soldier (J) comes for all regions. This came as a pleasant surprise, and is not what was previously announced.

To me the Japanese version is clearly superior with two more games, the better version of Splatterhouse and only missing one game, although a great one. I'm not a big shooting game fan though and I can read Japanese. If you can't read Japanese you mainly have to choose between a better version of Splatterhouse and Salamander, since both of the unique games for the Japanese region requires Japanese literacy.


It appears it's possible to start CD games without the correct System Card, which is an important feature considering many games have little easter eggs as part of the warning message that a Super System Card is required. Many CD games also have unique messages when played in a CD player, I wonder if it's possible to listen to these as well.

[Protoman]

I'm interested, because I'm a bit curious in these games, but don't want to start collecting them or anything, so this could be a good option. Would also be nice to play Snatcher and Tokimeki Memorial in their original versions(semi-original for Snatcher). Of course there are games I'd want missing, like Gekibo or Toraete tamaru ka, but it's still a good deal.

[Ghegs]

Ten or so years ago I had a real PC Engine Duo-R (RGB-modded, too) which was certainly a sweet machine but I ended up selling it. I pre-ordered the CoreGrafx Mini day one, it has most of the system's games I'm still interested in.

In my opinion the CoreGrafx Mini is the best of the three. The game library is better (Salamander over JP-heavy and for me personally not interesting titles any day. Also the minigames unlockable in TokiMemo have been confirmed to be available in all three versions), its controllers come with Turbo switches unlike the JP one and it's a bit smaller than the TG16 Mini.

Now if Amazon.co.uk would only start shipping it...

[P]

I have never actually tried to unlock any of the shooting minigames in any version of Tokimemo, since it requires you to become a member of the computer club or something. But I read that all versions (except SFC and GBC versions) has a Twinbee game and another shooting game that is unique for every version. This is Force Gear for PC-Engine, Stardust Symphony EX (which utilizes the PS1's 3D hardware) for PS1 and Psyth (said to be the best minigame) for Saturn.
Also the Twinbee game is Twinbee Returns (based on the original Twinbee) on PC Engine and Twinbee Time Attack (based on both Detana Twinbee and Pop'n Twinbee) on the 32-bit systems.

Anyway, Tokimemo was a very successful game, so it's very cheap and common for all systems. A Japanese PS1 is also very cheap. Getting a CD-capable PC Engine setup isn't that cheap though. The easiest and cheapest path to take is a PC Engine Duo R or RX (not the original Duo) like I recommended in the hardware guide in the first post of this thread. It will be more expensive than most other retro systems, but it's not more expensive than buying the CD unit separately. Especially considering that all other CD units requires more service due to broken cogs and low quality capacitors (and they have trouble reading CD-R discs).
In the light of this, the PC Engine Mini seems like a very good and cheap alternative to collecting the original.


I have only played the Mega CD version of Snatcher, which is censored due to certain US laws I think, but it's an absolutely fantastic game. A 14 year old girl is changed to 18 years old and there are some nudity censoring, and removed scenes, while gore is not censored I think. It's one of the very few English-dubbed Japanese games I can stand, and it has the same translator and quality of translation as the Metal Gear Solid games do. The PC Engine version is probably the definitive version of the game. The original PC-88 and MSX versions are missing the concluding chapter of the game and of course the voice acting (which is excellent in both Japanese and English). The Mega CD versions has some new things though, including light-gun support. There are PS1 and Saturn versions as well, which I've never played.

I guess the censoring of the Jason mask in Splatterhouse might still be relevant today, and considering that, it's a bit surprising that Snatcher is included in all regions of the mini. Unless it was censored again?
I don't see the point of not including Tokimemo or Tengai 2 though. If they are gonna include some Japanese-heavy games, they might as well include all of them, and Salamander too.


Good point about the missing turbo switches on the Japanese region mini, Ghegs. It's based on the original white controller which at first came without turbo. White controllers with turbo are available but sold separately. If you are to get 5 controllers I guess you could collect all the regional variants. They all look very neat.

I still have my PC Engine, so I'm probably not picking up the mini. I hardly ever play my SFC mini either since I have a real SFC. I do use the SFC mini controllers as an IBM-PC joystick via a Classic Controller adapter though. The mini's controllers are USB so I hope someone will write drivers for them, and I might pick up a controller at least.


Looks like the board is made by Hori. All regions seems to use the same board, so the only difference is in the software, which probably won't matter if you mod it once that becomes possible, and in the physical shell and the included controller and box and stuff.