TurboGrafx the most downloaded Virtual Console games?
by Blake Snow 
{ Dec 6th 2006 at 8:55PM }
According to participating members of the NeoGAF Virtual Console sales thread, Bonk's Adventure tops the list of the most purchased games on Wii's download service thus far. Intuitively, one would think Nintendo and/or Sega would dominate this unofficial data, but TurboGrafx games make up three of the top five selling titles on the survey with mostly NES and Genesis titles filling up subsequent spots.While it should be noted this forum is largely made up of rabid gamers like you and I, could this just be early (or new found) excitement for less accessible Hudson games? As one Game|Life commenter wisely pointed out, both Nintendo and Sega have repackaged and re-released most of their hits into oblivion, whereas TurboGrafx games on the Virtual Console represent a first for retro-minded gamers seeking Hudson classics.
[via Game|Life]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tidus @ Dec 6th 2006 9:10PM
I thought I was the only person who remembered Bonk....hmmm its such a good game
Duscrom @ Dec 6th 2006 9:44PM
I agree, Bonk is the only VC game i've gotten. I mean, cause i haven't played it since the TGfx came out so long ago!
naveed @ Dec 6th 2006 9:18PM
And I thought I was the only one that remembered it. :-)
I remember playing it on the original B&W GameBoy. Gotta love the meat power up.
Bob @ Dec 7th 2006 1:54AM
Just an FYI. That screenshot is from the NES game, not the TG16 version.
Beans @ Dec 6th 2006 9:33PM
I only heard that Bonk's adventure was a great game all over the internet so I decided to make it a download priority. Basically, found the game to be worth every penny. And it is true what you guys say. The games on the Turbografix are for the most part going to be virtual unknowns at least here in North America. This is the part where curiosity kicks in...
Now, I do wonder why the VC doesn't have Atari titles... it sure seems reasonable enough.
Tacoman @ Dec 6th 2006 10:00PM
Bomberman '93 is a 5-player game, I believe that makes it the only game to support more than 2 players on VC right now. It's a nice draw for a solid game at a great price.
T-Man @ Dec 6th 2006 10:02PM
Well I've bought zelda and mario like 18 times since the 80s. More games that haven't been released 100s of times, and games that never saw an english release. Less games I've bought multiple times. Sin and Punishment, Mother 1, etc. Without having to sell hundreds of thousands of copies to justify cart/disc manufacture now is time to release these games. That should be what the VC is all about.
Arex @ Dec 7th 2006 12:03AM
The TurboGrafx was always my favorite of the "16-bit" systems (I owned all three, including the CD-ROM attachments for the TG-16 and Genesis). Some of my favorite games of all time were released on the system. Given how relatively unpopular it was back then, it's nice to see a hopefully wider audience finally being able to appreciate all the gems the system has to offer.
Howard Moon @ Dec 6th 2006 10:37PM
Never had a Turbografx...so its nice to play through the games now. Might be the reason they are holding the VC crown now...
Joe @ Dec 7th 2006 5:51AM
I haven't bought any VC games yet, but of the games that are available, the TurboGrafx games are the ones I'm eyeing the most because I never owned a TurboGrafx and I already own most of the Nintendo and Sega games on their original consoles. Plus the TurboGrafx games seem like they have the most value at $6 a game. I can't see myself ever buying an NES game for the VC-- they are too expensive for what they are.
otakucode @ Dec 6th 2006 10:28PM
If they have the balls to drop Neutopia and Neutopia 2, I think they'd see some very surprising numbers. Liked the original Zelda? Neutopia and its sequel will knock your socks off.
Andrew @ Dec 6th 2006 11:19PM
I'm still waiting for Cadash.
Dickenson @ Dec 6th 2006 10:54PM
I will admit that I put $20 into the VC JUST to buy Bonk since I never had a TG16 as a kid and was always jealous of those who had Bonk. It's not a mind blowing game, but I'm glad I bought it. I look forward to spending more $ on the VC over the holidays and as they ramp up the VC library.
Oh and BTW, everyone should start bitching now for MP3 and Divx Movie channels for the wii so I can watch naruto and listen to a playlist without having to convert to uncompressed formats and watching a slide show. no fast forward, pause, or rewind is annoying. Rock on Nintendo.
theoperative @ Dec 6th 2006 10:59PM
bought bonk, and bomberman 93 the day i got my wii. bought super star soldier when that one came out. i bought a turbografx a couple years back when turbo zone still had new systems in stock but for the sake of collecting never opened it up. had played bonk before though and made it a priority. in any case it doesnt suprise me at all the turbografx is doing so well on the vc because its new to most gamers...
Zeruel @ Dec 6th 2006 11:02PM
The TG-16 lineup is what I have been personally rooting for as the most popular lineup behind the Nintendo systems. I remember when I was in Middle School thumbing through Video Games & Computer Entertainment magazine at the local mall when I saw the first screenshot of The Legendary Axe. I couldn't believe what I was seeing - what was (at the time) arcade level graphics on a home console. The Legendary Axe was the game that I first sought to play and it so lived beyond my expectations. It's a classic that I still play to this day.
I always felt that the TG-16 had some decent games that, although flawed in some aspect, just felt right somehow. I'm glad to see so many people feel the same one in some respects.
Anthony @ Dec 6th 2006 11:24PM
I haven't checked the prices, but I would think that these games would also be the cheapest available, which might play a factor.
Pete C @ Dec 6th 2006 11:48PM
Zeruel, your experience sounds EXACTLY the same as mine...even the same magazine. Legendary Axe baby!!! I was lucky enough to have a grandmother who bought me a Turbografx. I also enjoyed Dungeon Explorer, Blazing Lazers, and of course Bonk.
free games @ Dec 7th 2006 6:46PM
I always loved the TG16. Back in the day we used to say, "looks like Genesis, plays like Nintendo". Good to see it making a comeback of sorts after all these years.
Andy @ Dec 7th 2006 12:15AM
Maybe some of you guys can help me. I once played a TG16 RPG a long time ago. It was very zelda like, but you could switch between characters, and it even allowed 2 (maybe 4...) players to play at once...pretty popular back in the day...any idea what it was?
Also wanting for Air Zonk.
jadenguy @ Dec 7th 2006 1:35AM
three tg16 games and a genesis game later, i've still 34 dollars in my account. maybe ristar, or maybe not.
yehsure @ Dec 7th 2006 1:02AM
Wii got released today in Australia and there are no TG16 titles on VC. the system never got a real start in Australia, so im hoping that nintendo havent taken the line of "well they never had this system before, lets not worry about releasing it."
I want to play Bonk, I want to play Splatterhouse, I want to play Gradius and I want to play R-Type.
come on nintendo and give the southern hemisphere some love baby.
yehsure
konchu @ Dec 7th 2006 1:58AM
I have downloaded Bonk and the reason is simple really. I never had a TG16 and they havnt been been released 100 times before.
reppy @ Dec 7th 2006 3:21AM
I owned a TG16. Bonk's Adventure was amazing. Had so much fun playing it. Sadly, the TG16 I owned ended up dying. :(
Jok3r @ Dec 8th 2006 8:59AM
Buy the best Turbo Grafx 16/PC Engine Emulator here: http://www.magicengine.com/
Then download every game ever made for it in a single torrent. http://torrentspy.com/torrent/343492/PC_Engine_TG16_Roms_1_565_FULL_SET_03_07_05_www_euroemu_net
1565 Full Set
Total Cost $19 US Dollars
Works Perfect
Enjoy
Nintendo Wii Fan @ Dec 7th 2006 6:03AM
Well i got my wi to today with about 4 games and love it,
http://www.wiiyou.com
Mr. X @ Dec 7th 2006 7:56AM
I own a TurboGrafx16 and a TurboExpress(portable) and have had them since brand new back in the early 90's. I LOVE Bonk and have many other TG16 titles I would love to see on here like Splatter House and Devil's Crush, which as far as I am concerend was the best pinball game ever made. Devil's Crush still looks beautiful. It is too bad that the TG16 loast its footing as it was at the front of the pack. Even though I have this game on the TG16 I will download it so I don't have to drag my system out from storage ;)
Mr. X @ Dec 7th 2006 7:59AM
#16:
Was it called Neutopia?
striderhayasa @ Dec 7th 2006 9:09AM
@ Andrew
YEEEEEEEESSSS! I loved Cadash in the arcades and TG-16 was the only console that got it...in Japan.
--------------------------------------
TG-16 is one of my main reasons for supporting the VC early. Super Star Soldier and Bonk were bought when they were released.
@ PeteC
You guys ROCK! Those are some of the exact games that I'm waiting for. Legendary Axe 1 and 2, Blazing Lasers, Dungeon Explorer but I also want Ninja Spirit, R-Type and Bloody Wolf. I know the VC has a 512MB limit but I would love to get Gates of Thunder, Lords or Thunder, Valis 3, Valis 4, Wanderers from Ys, Spriggan and Dracula X. I was one of a few people in my area that had TG-16 with the CD player, Fighting Street, Valis 2 and Ys Book 1 and 2. I have fond memories of them. I even had SideArms.
Come on Nintendo/Hudson, where's the love?
striderhayasa @ Dec 7th 2006 9:10AM
Oh I forgot....
Where's Keith Courage in Alpha Zone?
snorkel @ Dec 7th 2006 9:24AM
I have not yet purchased any Virtual Console games (Asked for Wii Points cards for Christmas, seemed like the easiest present for folks to get), but I know that Bonk and Star Soldier will be my first two purchases. I bought a TG16 used long after it failed, and had an absolute blast with that system until it finally died on me. There are other Virutal Console games out there that interest me, but the TG16 titles are definitely the tastiest right now.
Wonder if you folks can help me remember the name of a game... My TG16 came with two really, really odd Dragon Warrior style RPGs that were sport themed. I had a racing game and a tennis game, with tennis definitely being the better of the two. You basically walked around in the woods and would be randomly challenged by enemies to a tennis match, and you gained experience and gold for each victory. The game was incredibly bizarre, but a lot of fun. Anyone remember this thing?
Terry @ Dec 7th 2006 9:42AM
As someone who still has their Turbo-CD from back in the day, I'll say that the Turbo games are the only ones for which the alternative price of availability (i.e. finding a used copy in a game store or eBay) is well above the VC price. I mean, Bomberman '93 goes for anywhere from $15-$75 on ebay, so $6 for a VC download is a steal in my opinion. But paying $8 for Golden Axe? I've got a whole shoebox of Golden Axe multiples in my collection, no point in downloading it again. (Although I did buy it on the VC, too... that "permapause" function is just so great and makes it so much easier to pick up 'n play the emulated titles)
Glad to see URBAN CHAMPION is on the bottom. That game almost soured me on the NES when it was the second game I ever bought. Thankfully back in '85 you could play a game and then return it to the store if it sucked and get full credit. Can't imagine doing that now! What the heck is Nintendo thinking putting that festering turd of a game online? They should pretend like it never existed!!!
rudimentalist @ Dec 7th 2006 10:41AM
No one has mentioned that the best emulator of TG16 for the PC right now is Magic Engine, and unless you pay to register it, it runs in demo mode. Just another factor to throw into the equation, since emulation of those other systems is much more common (and free)
IvanBeavkov @ Dec 7th 2006 11:29AM
The TG-16 was awsome. I was one of 2 people I knew who had it growing up. I still have mine and it works and I bought my friends also. So I have 2 TG-16 /w the CD-ROM attachment an Arcade Card (for playing 2nd gen CD games.) 2 portable Turbo Expresses and a Turbo Duo and 40+ games. If you can't already tell it is probally my favorite system of all time.
Here are some of the games that is/when then get released on the Virtural Console I would recommend tyring out.
Neutopia 1 & 2 - Great Zelda type RPGs.
Dungion Explorer - 5 player simultanious RPG action
Military Madness - Turn based stratagy. Think Advance Wars but using a hex map.
Devil's Cursh - Best Video Pinball Game EVER!
Legendary Axe - Sidescrolling Action
Ninja Spirit - Ninja Gaden but beatable
Cadash - Side Scroling Action RPG
Splatterhouse - Bash the undead with a 2X4
Final Lap Twin - A racing game with an RPG mode
Any shooter - They are all good
Here are a list of CD games they hopfully release.
RPGs
Ys Book 1 & 2
Ys 3 Wanders from Ys
Dragon Slayer, The Legend of Heros
Dungeon Explorer 2
Exile
Exile: Wicked Phenonimon
Cosmic Fantasy 2
Shooters
Gate of Thundar
Lords of Thundar
Action
Shape Shifter
and these are the games I can think of off the top of my head.
epobirs @ Dec 7th 2006 11:43AM
THe TG-16 had no shortage of quality game but a severe shortage of US sales. So those games retain far more novelty value today.
This could go further. There are many third party NES hits that had far superior versions on the PC Engine. Not just visually superior but superior gameplay due to the less stressed system offering more accurate collisions and other factors affecting play. These games couldn't be published in the US on the TG-16 due to a contractual stranglehold Nintendo then had on third party publishers.
Given a choice between the PC Engine Gradius and the NES version, the PC Engine wins easily.
striderhayasa @ Dec 7th 2006 11:59AM
@ snorkel
Yeeah. The racing game you're talking about is Final Lap Twin. I loved that game back in the day. I'm embarrassed I forgot about it. The other I'm not sure of.
---------------------------------
@epobirs
True that. I remember there were at least 4 different versions of the PC engine/Tg-16 in japan maybe as many as 6, I forget. Other than the TG-16, I only had a chance to play the Core Graphics but I wanted a Super Graphics which was the last to be made if memory serves. It was wierd because the Super Graphicx only had six games released for it but one of those games was Ghouls and Ghosts and it was the absolute best version between the Genesis and SNES. Good stuff
---------------------------
Scott W @ Dec 7th 2006 12:01PM
it probably has a lot to do with the fact that not many people have the classic controller, and the tg-16 games are the only "newer" ones that just need the wii remote.
Rootbeer @ Dec 7th 2006 12:19PM
Oh man. If Hudsonsoft digs up and releases the rumored SuperGrafx port of "Strider", I am all over it.
Hatch @ Dec 7th 2006 12:46PM
I wish they had downloads from the Master system I really want to replay the Wonder Boy series especially in Monster World. I guess I'll have to settle for Monster Lair from the TGX16 (it's just not the same)
Andy @ Dec 7th 2006 1:10PM
Ok, I can't stop trying to think of the name of a game..It tried looking at TG-16 game listing and nothing is jogging my memory. It's a RPG where at least 2 players can play at the same time if you want, otherwise the characters follow your main character on screen. It was very similar to zelda (top down view) and either started with Ill.... or L..
Could be a japanese import too...man i have a shitty memory. Anyone know of complete game listings? or even the game I am thinking of?
crono141 @ Dec 7th 2006 1:51PM
I'm shocked no one has mentioned Rondo of Blood yet. That was the single greatest castlevania title i've ever played. Symphony might be better.
Anybody heard a rumor of something big on the horizon for VC? Something about a game coming to it that isn't on any of the current VC platforms. Go Nintendo had an entry about it a few days ago.
technofranki @ Dec 7th 2006 2:35PM
I remember that I played a demo of Bonk's Adventure on the Amiga, but it was called BC Kid. And didn't Bonk's Adventure go under the name PC Kid?
Anyway, this is a game I will download when I get the Wii.
stalworty @ Dec 7th 2006 3:55PM
The TG-16 and the Turbo Duo were two of the best consoles ever made. While I think that there is something to be said about having them on VC there is nothing like having the originals. I've been a big TG fan for many years...really glad that to see the system get some much overdue props!
The Jeremy @ Dec 7th 2006 3:56PM
Finally, someone has referred to the TG-16 with its Japanese moniker...that being the PC Engine.
I wonder if any more of the classic PC Engine titles will be given American translations for sale with the VC. I wonder how much money NEC will be making off each VC title sale...
Amy @ Dec 7th 2006 11:22PM
If you want to keep up with the TurboGrafx-16 releases on the Wii, as well as download the Wii versions of the manuals (anyone else doing this?), hit up http://www.pcenginefx.com.
Scorpiove @ Dec 7th 2006 10:15PM
@Jok3r
If you love the companies that made these games and if you love these games and you want to support games being made in the future that are like these then you wouldn't steal them. You should pay for them if you really support them. It enables companies to make money which enables them to continue making these games. I mean makes sense right?
MIC4311 @ Dec 7th 2006 11:50PM
i had a turbo grafx 16,well 2. my sis burned 1 out messing around. there was a football game on there that was great! i plan on getting a wii 1 day and hope to play a lot of titles. until then i have to stick with my ps2.
Daniel @ Dec 8th 2006 1:00PM
What about scummVM games on a Wii??
That would ROCK!
Nino_fs @ Dec 8th 2006 11:45AM
I am really looking forward to the turbo graphics games. I owned a TG-16 and the express and about 30 or more games. We actually have two because one of the TG's died on us but the other one is still going strong heck I can just plug that sucker in and fire up some TG goodness. I have to say of all the 16bit systems this had my favorite games. But they have yet to release some of the ones that I really loved.
Keith Courage (I could never beat the 4th boss and it eats me up inside)
Blazing Lasers (wonderful scrolling shooter)
Aero Blasters (side scrolling shooter, one of the hardest games I have ever played)
Zonk (oh yes zonk was king)
Sapce Harrier? (a shooter game where you were travelling into the screen and moving your guy around while shooting. The hardest game I have ever played, ever)
Cratermaze (easy as pie but oh so quirky and fun)
ken selleck @ Dec 12th 2006 4:57PM
does anyone know an invincibility code for R-Type?
I have been playing it since it came out and I want to beat it!
Thanks,
superchicken
Cameron @ Dec 22nd 2006 1:53AM
i downloaded bonks adventure out of curiosity of the turbografx. i dont regret downloading it and i also downloaded bomberman 93 and thats also a great game. im not suprised its the top seller on the vc and the all the other games available are not very strong games for the most part. theres sooo many classics that are bound to be released eventually. i hope they put out more systems like sega saturn and sega cd etc. just an idea i think for the successor to the nintendo ds(obviously not out for a while) should be able to download old gameboy/game gear games and other handheld classics. retro all the way!