The History of the PC Engine - Foreword

PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16

The PC Engine, or TurboGrafx-16 in the US, was launched by NEC in partnership with Hudson Soft in Japan in 1987 to compete with the Nintendo. Although it was considered a generation ahead of its competitor, its central processor, the HuC6280, was 8-bit. Its video chip was 16-bit, providing excellent video quality, with a palette of 512 colors, while the Nintendo console had 48. All of the console's processors and chips were manufactured by Hudson Soft. The console did not work with cartridges, but rather with a system called HuCard, which were thick cards. Despite the launch of the American version in 1988, it was soon overtaken in the West by the Mega Drive. Despite this, it was a success in its home country.

PC Engine CD: CD-ROM² and Super CD-ROM²

In 1988, NEC released an add-on called CD-ROM², known as PC Engine CD, which came with the consoles in HuCards and CD-ROMs fitted side by side, bringing digital media support to the console, with more space for sprites, parallax, instrumental music and cut scene animations. Later, the Sega CD imitated this model. A second version, called Super CD-ROM² was released in 1991, expanding the device's RAM from 64kb to 256kb.

PC Engine Duo, PC Engine Duo-R and PC Engine Duo-RX

Arcade Card Duo and Arcade Card Pro

In the same year, the PC Engine Duo was released, which combined the PC Engine HuCards with the Super CD-ROM² in a single device, supporting HuCard, CD-ROM² and Super CD-ROM² games. Two variations of this console were released in 1993 and 1994, the PC Engine Duo-R and PC Engine Duo-RX. In 1994, the Arcade Card was also released, which expanded the console's RAM to 2 MB, for higher quality games. Two versions were released: the Arcade Card Duo for the PC Engine CD-ROM², and the Arcade Card Pro, for the Super CD-ROM². With the exception of this expander, all other add-ons and versions of the console were released in the USA. NEC released 17 different models of PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16.

HuCard Games (PC Engine)

Franchises such as Twin Cobra, Bomberman, Castlevania, Galaga and Ninja Gaiden were successful on the console. Its biggest competition was with the Mega Drive, given the interest of both in ports of arcade games. Among them, we have After Burner II, Splatterhouse, Aeroblasters, Bonanza Bros, Cadash, Chase HQ, Golden Axe, Altered Beast, Out Run, Puyo Puyo, SF II: Champion Edition, Art of Fighting, among others. Shmups were another big brand of the console, among them Parodius, R-Type, Violent Soldier, Soldier Blade, Chou Aniki, Spriggan Mark 2, Psychosis, Air Zonk, Lords of Thunder, Forgotten Worlds, Blazing Lazers and Magical Chase. Games with anime themes, we had Bubblegum, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, Doraemon and Yu Yu Hakusho.

PC Engine CD Games

In addition, we had racing games, such as Power Drift, Victory Run, Road Spirits and Final Lap Twin. Sports games, such as Formation Soccer, J. League, Nekketsu Koukou, Tecmo World Cup and TV Sports. Adventure games, such as Bonk's Adventure, Ninja Spirits, Cadash, Neutopia, Wonder Boy, Adventure Island, Buster Bros and Bomberman, and others. Run and gun games, such as Bloody Wolf, Mystic Formula, Horror Story. Beat 'em up games, such as Double Dragon, Riot Zone, Crest of Wolf, Cyber ​​Cross, River City. Fighting games, such as World Heroes 2, Fighting Street, and the aforementioned SF II and AOF. RPG games, such as Tengai Makyo, Momotaru Densetsu, Dragon Slayer, Exile, Alnam no Kiba, Star Breaker. Disney games, such as Darkwing Duck and TaleSpin. Among many others. The console was discontinued in 1995.