PC Engine - TurboGrafx 16 Mini & Games Review -Best Mini Ever?
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- Опубликовано: 28 июл 2024
- Is the PC Engine Mini the best mini console so far? Get the inside scoop from a lifelong TurboGrafx geek as I pull no punches in this definitive review of the PC Engine, TurboGrafx 16 and CoreGrafx mini systems. Did Konami do right by the fans? Did M2 knock one out of the park with their emulation, easter eggs, and special arcade modes? How about the reported input lag or the missing games?
Any review of the PC Engine must begin with this simple fact... it was the all-time greatest console for Shooters (shmups, shootemups, whatever you like to call them). Lords of Thunder, Gradius, R-Type, Blazing Lazers, Soldier Blade, Nexzr... a mind blowing 120 plus shooters graced this system.
So join me in Smoking the Shooter Crackpipe as we talk about the PC Engine... what made it cool and the top choice for the hardcore Shmup crowd and competitive gaming during the 16bit era.
If you like this video please subscribe ?sub_confirmation=1 as I'll be posting a lot more content regularly going forward. Please leave a Like and Comment.
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And if you're already a fan of the PC Engine (PCエンジン) and TurboGrafx check out my Instagram / turbothunder16 to see more of my collection. I always post fun clips and gameplay there before it goes live on youtube.
There is so much to go over that this video is just Part 1! I'll be releasing follow up videos in small bite size chunks to continue this review and bring everyone more game overviews, lag tests, easter eggs, caravan shooting, and likely more silliness. By fans for fans. Hope you enjoyed. 
Игры
![History of the Amazing PC ENGINE! [Book I]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PFlMZiCZwVc/mqdefault.jpg)
![History of the Amazing PC ENGINE! [Book I]](/img/tr.png)
Gotta say that I really like your enthusiasm. That love for shmups is contagious.
It's the only kind of contagious that's good these days. 😅 Seriously though thanks. This was the first official video I ever made for my channel and was doing it for fun and the love of the games, so I'm glad it shows.
@@ShmupJunkie Does the Turbo Grafx mini have the same titles as the PC Engine mini?
@@nickparsons337 I showed all the info in this video later. They are 99% similar. Pc engine mini doesn’t have Salamander but a couple text heavy Japanese games. So ideally I would get the turbo or coregrafx mini not the white pce mini unless you read Japanese and can understand those couple games.
@@ShmupJunkie Thanks man; I really appreciate you getting back to me so quickly. Have a great day!
😂
Great review man! I've seen a lot of those reviewers that are like "I've never had a TG16 growing up but my buddy did" and "are these games even relevant anymore?" I feel sorry for people that never experienced these games. Keep up the great work!
Retro Reconfig Thanks! Appreciate the feedback. I agree it was one of the main reasons I wanted to make this. All the big channels have to put up their reviews but few of them really understand it. More fans need to get people excited about these games and explain why they are relevant. Especially with shmups making quite a comeback this generation on the PS4 and switch and all the M2 rereleases incoming.
Nearly 6 months later, and this is STILL the best, freshest retro mini console review. Thanks Shmup Junkie!
Thanks! It’s not trending anymore so I guess we won’t likely get many more. This was my first ever real video on here so looking back I see all the improvements I’ve made since then, and this was just part 1! Lol. But when talking about pc engine it’s easy for me to share the nostalgia of it. I really liked my second one the shooter crackpipe on all the caravan shooters on the mini. I had a lot of fun with that one.
So glad to have a proper in depth review of the PCE mini! I was sad with other YT videos saying Lord of Thunder has many issue, thank god it's not true!:) Awesome job man.
DodonEnthusiasticArt Yes thank you. That’s why I made such a big deal about it in the video. It’s not that there is zero lag... it’s just their commentary is unnecessarily harsh. If you just play the game it will take you all of several minutes to adjust to the minor difference and still enjoy it. I’ve got tons of friends loving it. 99% of people complaining about lag are just using it as an excuse for not being great at the game. If you are playing competitively for score at a high level I get it. But that’s not what the mini is for. It’s perfect for just playing and enjoying it.
I've just discovered your channel and absolutely love your videos, thank you for the time and effort and pure passion you put into them. The second you called the people who hate emulation 'pricks' I knew this was the right place for me 😄
😂 thanks man I'm glad you found this and enjoyed it. My very first official video ever! I have tried to be a bit less prickly since then so youtube doesn't demonetize me haha, and in general I much prefer spreading a positive vibe and nostalgia, but some folks are just pricks there's not many other ways to put it. 😅
Great video, thoroughly enjoyed Part 1. It's nice to see someone properly review the console that they grew up with and loved. Looking forward to Part 2 👍
RetroHeed Thank you I appreciate it. Tried to make something fans would enjoy. I learned my lesson here biting off more than I can chew in a single video. So I think future vids will be much shorter bite size chunks that I focus on specific things. Tbh I had the most fun doing the mini overviews of the games. It’s fun to play through them and talk about what made them fun and unique.
I am sad this channel flew under my radar for so long , but I am glad I am here now. The intro had me rolling on the floor haha. Great video. Looking forward to binging your entire uploads playlist.
Welcome! And you certainly started in the right place with my very first ever video. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the follow ups as well and see how far it’s progressed in terms of production value and editing. But I had a blast making these old vids and I’m glad some are still finding them. Look forward to you enjoying some of the others!
It’s been a while since I watched this and bought my core graphx mini. Now I’ve played numerous pc engine games and love the system, might be my favorite, close second favorite system. I re watch this every now and then, it takes me back to a couple years ago, I love the enthusiasm. This video just makes me feel excited, thanks
Man I love seeing this comment thank you. You’ve been with me from the beginning or close to it and can still go back and enjoy my oldest work. It wasn’t even work I was just having fun with zero expectations and trying to get people excited about this mini. I admit I get a bit nostalgic for this original series too. It’s only been two years or so but feels like an eternity.
@@ShmupJunkie I mean hey, a lot can happen in 2 years, a lot has happened for me for sure. Even though some of it wasn’t always the best, thanks to this video a lot of pc engine games made those times less tough on me. Nothing like a week of work and getting to play Air Zonk with the speakers all the way up
Great review! Looking forward to seeing part 2. It's really nice to get an authentic review from someone that is passionate about all things PC Engine/TG16 and not just from a casual or from someone full of negative energy. I absolutely love my Mini and have no regrets about getting it. I agree we are very fortunate to have this in the first place. I'm so grateful. This is from someone who collects original hardware too.
JustVisiting Thanks for that thoughtful comment! I’m a noob here so feedback good and bad is really appreciated. I’m going to try to post every week or so in smaller bite size shorts focusing on different aspects of this mini. Even this 30min vid was a ton of work. Like you I wasn’t too thrilled with most of what I’ve been seeing. So at some point some of us fans need to be an ambassador for this console and get people excited about the opportunity to play these great games. I’m glad that came across in what I did so far.
The most surreal thing to know is Tony Hawk was the one who made the "What do you think about Lords of Thunder" video. That was his voice.
That’s how you know Lords is what the cool kids played haha. Yeah I have a copy of the vhs tape. The times I had making my sega buddy watch that video 😆
Coming back to older videos after watching your amazing mega drive compilation. Absolutely love how you tell it like it is to the hardware/rasberry pi and lag snobs out there. You tell 'em Junkie, and keep tellin' em! We got your back.
😂 I sure was having a bit of fun with my first videos huh. I honestly had no plans to become a successful channel. I’m very meticulous on properly testing lag and call out lazy devs when they deserve it. But the whole this game is unplayable brigade was always something I couldn’t stand. Going back to my racing days when people used their cars as excuses for being crappy drivers.
Your love and passion for this system and its library is inspiring and infectious! Congratulations on this huge success, it's clearly a labor of love and I really appreciate the supreme effort you're putting into this!
EZ Peezy Thank you and I appreciate the support 🙌🏻. It’s definitely a labor love but worth doing knowing lots of people get enjoyment out of it. If I have to play the drug dealer getting more people smoking the shooter crackpipe then so be it 😆
EZ Peezy I most certainly Agree Peezy!
Love how passionate u are with shmups. I’m not pro or anything but I have a blast playing n try to get the old classics that release on switch. Most Shooters on PC Engine art style still hold up today with colours that pop out.
..oh my! just found you. someone after my own heart who *LOVES* shooters. Never had a PC Engine when I was younger but lusted after one (here in UK, you had to import one as it or ots games were not available easily, and hence a massive cost). Loving the mini engine too.
I had quite a few UK friends in the same boat as you and excited to get their hands on the mini. They weren’t disappointed. A shooting fans dream system without a doubt. I’m stoked new people that are finding me still get to my very oldest, first video like this that started it all for me. I had fun making these.
Coming from a guy that had a tg-16 growing up, having the first CD unit in town and a duo I can totally appreciate you and where this review is coming from. Love that you don’t pull any punches and have a real love for the system. Keep up the good work and you got another fan today. Great video.
Brian Thomas Barnhart Thanks I really do appreciate the feedback being new here. Turbo fans are looking for good content so I will try to be a small part of that. It’s a lot of work making these but hearing that people are really digging it makes it worthwhile.
Keep it up, you’re doing a real service for people looking for content that’s true and not just the same ol talking points. That what I’ve always tried to do on my channel, if I’m doing an Atari Jaguar show I better have something to say, I appreciate what you’ve created - welcome to the club
This guy’s energy is amazing. I died laughing at “elitist prick” keep up the great work and thank you for making my day!!
The very first video that I ever made to start my channel and so glad people are still finding and enjoying it. It’s a low tech production but I had a damn fun time making it!
Takumi Senpai here! You read it already from all the guys...the love poured in this review shows for itself...and it’s so inspiring I may be aiming to improve my pc engine collection! Congrats on a job well done!
Enrique De La Rosa No better comment can be given 🙏. If I’m inspiring others to increase their pc engine collection (and also smoke the shooter crackpipe with me) then my duty is done 😆
I'm insanely thankful for your hard work on this review! The detailed info and insight are invaluable and wholly unique to this video.
Thank you. I’m thankful you and many others are enjoying them so much. It makes me look forward to the next video and putting something out that’ll be appreciated. It’s not easy on RUclips so I’m thankful I was lucky enough to get a good break and build such a good group of subs here.
Still watching this video and still enjoying my PC Engine mini. Thank you for talking me into buying one.
Great review. And funny. You can really feel the passion coming through on how much you love PCE and shooting games. Final bit about Lords of Thunder was funny as hell.
LOl thanks man. Yeah I love that old Lords of Thunder promo video. I use clips from it any chance I get. Can you believe Tony Hawk made that on a low budget for them back in the day? I have the original VHS tape with it. I did a whole Lords of Thunder Turbo vs Sega CD video not long ago too that was a lot of fun like that that really digs into the differences between the two ports.
What can I say....I don't watch many YT videos, but was really looking forward to this based on your previews and you didn't disappoint! It was highly entertaining and provided great info. One RUclipsr to another, sound work with editing as well my man! Great work!
SlikkNikk Thanks that does mean a lot and I’m humbled you and many others enjoyed it. You’ve got regular posting figured out and that’s something I’m just about to try and tackle. Going to shoot for one shorter video a week so wish me luck cause I’m going to need it 😆
Such a great video! You know your stuff and put a lot of work into this. The editing is smooth. It's great to see people I follow on Instagram making content for RUclips. I was watching the progress of this in your IG stories.
goldengalaxiesgaming Thank you so much and glad you enjoyed watching it even though you’ve seen so many clips before. I’m always going to post works in progress there it’s a great way to get early feedback. I’m looking forward to continuing this series of reviews since there’s so much left to cover.
Great review! Love your personal reflections as one growing up with the system. You had me hitting up Amazon to buy one in the middle of the video. Won’t be available here in Europe until December but I’m definitely going for it.
Markus Ulfberg Thanks! Don’t think you’ll regret getting one. I’ve got a couple friends in the UK that got theirs on amazon Japan like I did. Last I checked they still had some of the versions available. It’s how I got mine as well if you don’t feel like waiting.
I’ve wanted a PC Engine since I was 15 years old and back then it would have been impossible to get one. Not only didn’t it release in my region importing games back then was almost impossible as well. So imagine my joy and excitement when I 31 years later finally got to play it! It’s by far my favorite mini console and I’m so happy to finally get to experience the fantastic game library that the PC Engine has to offer.
And I got to say I just love your channel. Such an inspiring and fun way to learn about classic shooters.
Looking forward to your next video! Showing some love for the tg16 mini ! Luv it!
Tony Scimeca Thanks 😊 Already working on it. The next one is going to showcase all the games with a caravan competition mode on them, 6 total. One of those details I’m not seeing in other reviews so it’s good to highlight.
Still watching your videos, my only regret so far is that it took my this long to find your channel.
And this was my very first one too, official one anyway. I started my channel just to do some in-depth pc engine mini reviews as I wasn't happy with what was out there. It hasn't been that long, so I am still humbled to see people find my videos and enjoy them enough to go back and try to catch up with what they missed.
Just wrapped it up. Thank you for that entertaining review!
I'm really glad you enjoyed it. Really appreciate any feedback good and bad so I can improve. Had a good time making it.
Great review! I have loved discovering the PC Engine. I bought one for my nephews and 1 for myself.
Thanks! It's the reason I made the review and first started this channel several months ago. So many people have bought the console since then and that alone has made it worth it. To see new people enjoying a lot of the cool games.
Loving my Coregrafx mini. Had to order it from France, but got a great price! I’m so happy to have this and the Genesis mini.
You are probably around my age and remember a TG-16 reviews list on the internet by TurboKid. That's me! Good work on this video!
Just saw you reviewing the Gunhed edition of the new book and saved it to watch later. I got mine and am looking forward to relaxing with it soon. Are any of your old written reviews still online? If so you should totally link them for me so I can check them out. Always good to find other turbo geeks from back in the late 80s and 90s.
I got the TurboGrafx version, didn't even know what this system was, I just collect these minis, and I loved it.
reviews
I seriously have a new favorite channel :)
That’s awesome. Not many people just randomly get a mini and later discover they actually liked many of the games on it. Was it your first time trying something like Rondo of Blood? That game is quite a first experience with that crazy good music.
Picked up a Core Grafx Mini from Amazon Japan last year after watching MadLittlePixel's review. I didn't pick up a Turbo Grafx 16 growing up but it was always in my view but it was out of my reach. I'm so happy I have it now and discovering all these shooters I missed growing up.
Great video. Wish this was longer.
You’re in luck! This was just part 1. I made 4 or 5 of these covering different aspects of the pc engine mini. Second one was called the Shooter Crackpipe and was all about the caravan games on the system. It’s a really fun episode too. I’m glad you found them
love your videos!
you bring a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm to these videos and i appreciate it a lot only a hand full of channels do this kind of stuff
Sorry for the late reply I just caught this comment. Really glad you enjoyed it... this was my first ever official video. I did have a lot of fun putting these early PCE videos together they were a labor of love.
Blazing Lasers is the perfect starter schmup. It's starts out really easy, but fast, smooth, and with a cool power up system. It's the shooter that got me into playing shooters recently
Absolutely. It’s a game that got many of us playing the genre more. I always recommend it when asked for options to try. And I still enjoy playing it today.
Your first 5 minutes reflect exactly what I was thinking about other reviews. Lol like I needed reviews anyways. I preorded minutes after it was up in Japan.
This is such a spirited review. I really appreciate the passionate perspective.
Thanks! It’s the very first official video I ever made and the reason o started my channel. I had a lot of fun making these few video reviews for it. The next one I did featuring all the caravan shooters on the console was a lot of fun too. Between the two of them I feel like I covered what makes the pce mini special. Glad you enjoyed it.
Love your vids! I grew up in this era of games myself and even though I lived in OC once a month I would go to Japan Game Star and get a few game pick-ups. I miss Jim and his wife, hope they are doing well.
Where was the Japan Game Star located? That sounds familiar and I'm wondering if I've been there before too now.
I've always loved the pc engine shooters. I absolutely love my Turbo Duo. I started playing these games on an original turbo with a CD attachment.
GB Games I remember having to use an import SuperCD card to play the newer games I’d rent from the local import store. Was a good while before I upgraded to a Duo too. Good times.
The PC is more portable than the TURBO but the lack of Turbo fire on the PC sucks. I hate not having turbo its like having a broken leg
Excellent as always , I think you’ve convinced me to get one after all . First games I got with my original Engine in late 1988 : R-Type & Galaga ‘88 ......and they , amongst others. still get played more than my current generation stuff ! Although that Cotton Reboot is getting a lot of attention ...
Problem is they are all sold out and being scalped by now for double the price. The window kind of passed on it. But if you ever see a deal by all means grab one. For $200 you may as well try and grab the analogue duo still coming instead. As much as I like the little mini for $99, it's not a 200 dollar device. The Duo will be sick if you can manage to snag one when it comes out.
@@ShmupJunkie Thanks for your reply ! I Got lucky & Amazon U.K. had the CoreGrafx version for £65 , so I’ve been enjoying using that recently .....& my RX is having a well earned rest
Excellent video bro, think I'm gonna play some shoot 'em up's today because of you
Thanks! Always happy to influence a fellow to take some hits of the shooter crackpipe 😅.
Thank you for the enthusiasm for this great console which I missed growing up. I've set up the PS Classic Mini (finally something to do with this sorry excuse of a mini by Sony) for PCE games to get in to the groove of them and looking forward to getting the Duo from Analogue later this year. By the way, you are the first person to subscribe in all these years so that says a lot. Keep going!
Thanks! And welcome to my channel. I love that people are still finding this original video of mine after all these years. It was my very first I ever made when I started my channel. Rough around the edges and low tech but I had so much fun making these. I hope you find more of my content that looks interesting and enjoy. It's come a long way since two years ago, but I can still look back and see what made me start it all in the first place.
Great video, love your channel 😊
Great work, explanation and edition. Respect for this effort.
Kazuya Thank you man kind words. It’s worth the effort knowing people enjoy the work I put into it. I enjoyed making it. Best part is playing through some old favorites again.
Thank you for the upload! Definitely worth getting if you are in to shootrs!
If it wasn’t for many other good games on there too I’d start calling it the shooter mini 😅
Awesome Video! I also had a tg16 when i was a kid in the 90s. what an awesome system. It is so crazy that we get to own these minis today, super cool stuff!
rkgames Thanks 🙏 I feel the same way. It’s a small miracle something like this mini even got made!
@@ShmupJunkie I agree, never would i have thought i could buy a new tg16 product! hopefully Konami did well enough with the mini that maybe they will surprise us with another version later on :) I'm the programmer on an indie switch game that came out last September, i added 3 or 4 tg16 references in the game! what a great classic system!
@@kumrogames Cool. what's it called so I can go check it out?
@@ShmupJunkie It's called Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan. it's on sale this week :) I was the programmer on the game and added a bunch of tg16 goodies :) two of the bosses are inspired from Legendary Axe and Ninja Spirit! There is also a hidden room where there is an actual hucard icon :)
I finally found my home!
I chose the TG16 as my 6th grade graduation present over the Genesis and SNES, and loved the shit out of it.
About a year or so ago, I tracked down a decently-priced/conditioned TG16 with the multi-tap and arcade stick, the dozen or so games I had as a kid (and a few more) in their cases, the RGB mod, modded my back cover to fit the RGB mod, got an Everdrive with all the games, and a 19" Sony PVM to play 'em on. Some of the best money I've ever spent! I was a huge Blazing Lazers and R-type fan, but had no idea there were so many amazing SHMUPS on it. Flirted with getting some of the originals myself for a while, but couldn't justify the prices... and they've doubled since!
The TurboGrafx 16 is criminally underrated. I'm so glad I found this channel.
You did indeed! And glad you found me. I was the same and had a turbo growing up, then a CD and later a Duo. Never owned a Genesis or SNES though I played the hell out of them at friends of course. And given you're a huge fan, if you haven't seen it yet, I actually did a really cool History of PC Engine/Turbo in two parts a while back. Should have no problem finding them in a playlist or search. Guaranteed it'll bring out some nostalgia bugs. Again, glad you found me here and welcome.
@@ShmupJunkieAlready watched it all, that's why I'm back here finally seeing this reply, and watching it again. After finding this channel, nothing else really compares. I really hope to get better at shooters soon. I think I'm gonna start at trying to beat R-type. I play it almost daily, but have never passed the 4th stage. Never really gave it a concerted effort. Blazing Lazers, too. Fuckin' love those games, but've never beat 'em. That's gonna change!
@@dryker7085 Blazing is totally doable! Stock up on golden lives early and power your way through at the end. I’m sure you can do it and it’ll feel great! RType well… lol don’t feel bad. It wasn’t until I owned it on Turbo and played it endlessly to where I could squeak my way through. It’s a very hard game. Just enjoy the process either way.
Yo I'm someone who didn't grow up with these games and is just discovering them now. I really appreciate your passion and love for this, makes me want to take a hit of the shmup crack pipe haha
Once you start hitting that crackpipe it's hard to keep from falling down the rabbit hole. And I'm doing my best to be a good shmup dealer. First one is always on the house haha. I'm glad you're enjoying them as there are so many good ones on this mini. I did my best to get the word out back when it came out.
Thanks for taking the time to put this video together. I'm sold!
You’re welcome. It was so much to cover I ended up making it in 4 different parts 😅 and this was the very first. I hope you can still find one on amazon and it’s not all done. Amazon Japan is where I got most of mine.
@@ShmupJunkie it’s arriving from Amazon UK today : ) Happy Christmas!
@@spamsnak Sweet!!! A great Xmas indeed enjoy. I want to say start with Soldier Blade and never look back, but it’s so good that’s a hard act to follow with anything else. So many good ones on there 🤟
@@ShmupJunkie it’s arrived...
Awesome! Very nice Gradius series review. I really need the core grafx mini now to try out the arcade Salamander port.
It's a really cool port too, I was stoked on it. Now I really want to play Salamander 2 as well, waiting for me on a PS1 collection I picked up.
Your style is awesome! 😍😎🔥
Really good vid, nicely put together and spot on about the mini. Cracking little machine just like the original.
nintendive Thanks really appreciate the feedback. It really is a great mini and a little miracle it was even made. Just wish they weren’t botching the US release. It’s like the 90s all over again 😆
That intro rocks hard dude. Lol.
Haha thanks. I had that lying around from something funny I did a while back and thought it was perfect to use for the mini review. Hell maybe I should just play that for about 10 seconds at the beginning of every video, lol.
Shmup Junkie I absolutely think you should!
You really give a nice... Breath of fresh air to this system! I might need to get one. I feel like I have nostalgia for the PCE even though I never had one as a kid. I've only emulated some games, never played the actual system. It's like a time capsule of 80's/90's goodness and it has a different flavor than its competition at the time. It's hard to pin point.
It’s a uniquely Japanese system for sure and part of what I liked about it. Maybe not as much on the mini, but it had games you’d just never find on the other systems. Lots of rpgs and shooters, and unusual stuff like interactive anime novels that catered to otaku. When I browsed the import games it was like being transported to Japan.
@@ShmupJunkie couldn't agree more! Thanks for your channel, it's really fun! Channels like yours is what RUclips is about; sharing one's passion with others.
By far the best, most in depth PC Engine Mini review on RUclips. 👍
Thanks! And it's only part 1, it took me like 3-4 episodes to go through a bunch of angles on it. 😅 There are still a lot of games I wanted to talk about and will likely get back to.
@@ShmupJunkie keep up the awesome content dude! Subscribed! I used to have a TG16 back in the day I just had few games including Aero Blasters (hard as f$@k) . So I ordered a PCE mini from Japan. Getting back into shooters after a long hiatus!
@@JasonFain Aero Blasters is awesome an old fav of mine too. I did a battle of the shmups comparison for it vs the mega drive version not long ago. You’ll love it since you enjoy the game it’s a good episode. Soon as you get the mini fire up Soldier Blade and don’t look back. It’s probably my favorite on the system.
Excellent video!! I am going to plug in my TG16 mini this weekend!! Thanks.
After my new vid tomorrow you may be plugging it in for some Blazing Lazers ; )
@@ShmupJunkie LOL now I´m in serious trouble with my time left and the shmups realm!! After LoT I will begin and give a try to Blazing Lazers...I believe I have a new collection to look after hahah...
Unlimited Retrogaming At least with Blazing you can watch my 101 video and practice those spots 😁. There are a ton of great shmups on there. Just wait til you try soldier blade 🔥
Epic old reference with the Lucky Goldstar, did you know that's today's LG? Also, LoT Turbo guy is my favorite thing ever!!
Haha, glad to see someone who got the reference. Yeah, I've been calling LG that for many years as I work in the AV industry. Most working for them wouldn't even know the reference anymore. It's funny that Turbo intro and head banging to the game is something I made before I even had a channel. I was screwing around and making a funny Instagram video for a post. And it came out so well I ended up using it as this intro. Really the only way to play 🤘
Again, happy I found this here! Keep it up!
Kortland12 thanks. Yeah I just checked out your ninja spirit video. One thing missing on this mini is a proper manual for the games. Like in ninja spirit you have a whole set of weapons you can cycle through as you play. No way you would know without randomly trying it. Glad these vids are giving you some ideas of cool games to try out.
@@ShmupJunkie Indeed! Again appreciate the feedback and how much content you are pouring into this family of hardware, genre, and games.
That would be one piece of feedback I would give to the team. A digital manual of some kind would be handy for the new coming players or some flavor text about the game. Their website did a fantastic job with that.
Dude. You're an absolute Nutjob. I love it! Thank you. I am going to get one of these badboys. Have recently doughed out thousands of dollars on classic and modern shooters, and im addicted. Keep the videos coming Man!
This was the very first video I ever made and released just over a year ago and it’s crazy to see how far the channel has come. Been trying to make the best pc engine and shooter content ever since. I did a really good two part history of pc engine not long ago but I can’t promise it won’t make you want to go out and spend even more haha. This channel is good for the soul and bad for the wallet.
@@ShmupJunkie I grew up on the genesis and Playstation, but really only played shooters at the arcades. It's been great exploring them at home. After collecting quite a bit of remakes on ps4,I've delved more into the authentic originals. I'm mostly playing on the genesis,saturn, ps1 and ps2. Do you think a dreamcast is worth it?
I subscribed to you!
Very good video and talk style.
I came from the fb group !
Mat Ten Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I’m pretty new to the FB group but I’ll be more active there going forward now that I joined.
I've been playing TG16 games a lot lately, and watching videos on the console. Your video appeared so I am watching this again. This little console did turn me into a SHMUP Junkie. I'm still not good at them, but they are a lot of fun.
It turned me into one too 😎 and still keeps me entertained. Good or not, if you’re enjoying simply playing them that’s what matters. Something about the good ones keeps you coming back regardless.
@@ShmupJunkie I concur with that. I'm always looking for new ones to play, but there are a lot on this console that I constantly play.
I love the menus and all the cool touches M2 put in, but I already have a MiSTer running on a real old school CRT (no filters needed!) so can't justify buying one. Thanks for the cool video!
MiSTer is awesome, there really is no need if you can play them all that way already. I have one too. But it's such a niche product for now that most won't own or figure out, the mini is a really good gateway for many others. This was the very first video I ever made officially for my channel!
Great video mate, well edited, thoroughly enjoyed it and full of great information about the product. This producty is for me 100% but right now I'm gonna need to save my pennies as the next purchase on my list is the original SPLATTERHOUSE HUE card, complete.
King Lizzard's Game Lounge Hey man! Glad you got some time to check out the vid and enjoyed it. Tried to make it fun. I know you’ve been wanting Splatterhouse big time! I hope you finally get that Turbo soon now that it’s local. Feels like I mailed it ages ago.
Excellent vid brother! Very thorough and informative 👍👍
Thanks! My very first official video that started this channel way back then. Oh the memories haha
@@ShmupJunkie
New to the channel.
Just subscribed!
You rock! 🤘🤘🤘
Keep it up!
R-type is the game that got me into shmups. It is the only shooter that I’ve beaten without dying, through extensive practice and research and it is my preferred kind of shoot em’ up where memorization is key. Great video, love the passion you have for the turbo grafx
That's a pretty incredible accomplishment. A super tough game in general let alone to no death. Don't think I have ever done that I screw up sooner or later somewhere. It's one of those games that is so well designed with killer aesthetics and music it's just fun to play regularly. It's ideally not my personal favorite style of shooter, but it's just so good you gotta love it. Plus I grew up playing it as a kid in the arcade, then the Turbo, so nostalgia is a big factor. Glad you enjoyed this video. I actually talk about this port of Rtype again in my other video on the Top 5 Hardest for the PC Engine, which clearly it had to make the list.
@@ShmupJunkie Thanks! You pretty much have to beat the game without dying, lol. It is almost impossible to beat without being fully powered up
@@ShmupJunkie I still remember watching as many R-Type games being played in the Arcade as I could. It was a stunning game graphically then & I still play it regularly. The PC Engine version is almost as good, but I find the up down scrolling a unique implementation, that takes some adjusting too. Do you know if, IREM actually coded the PC Engine version, or was it Hudson Soft? I thought I read IREM, did the programming for the PC Engine release, but I could be getting confused? Very good review of the Mini, and I truly appreciate your knowledge of the system. I'd never heard of Caravan Competitive events. Dude, you must be a a FINE player, to hold your own! Thanks for this upload, I have learnt something new, about a old fave console!
Dude your content is so fucking good. It's a breath of fresh air. You can really feel your enthusiasm for the PC Engine and its incredible library of shooters. I found your videos from the Capcom Arcade one and I'm loving how consistently detailed and full of knowledge they are. This is the good shit. And now I've played Spriggan for the first time tonight and oh fuck was it good.
Really glad you're enjoying these older vids, as these PC Engine mini reviews were the reason I started the channel in the first place, not knowing if it would go anywhere afterward. That's why my first few videos are all PC Engine and broken out... the next one about all the Caravan Shooters was a favorite of mine too before I got into lag testing it and Lords of Thunder in the third one. The PCE is a favorite so I go back and make more PCE related videos from time to time, I have several and they're all in a playlist. I really do enjoy making them so there will certainly be more.
Looks like you already have PC Engine mini! Congrats!👏
Dude you've single-handedly rekindled my love of shmups after getting a PC Engine mini 😎
The whole reason I started making videos! Still my all time favorite mini console by far.
@@ShmupJunkie I totally agree! And OMG how did I miss "Sapphire" after all these years? It's soooo damn good and hard! The same music team as Lords of Thunder, too??? 😳
There's almost NO way to play this game without the mini since the physical copy is over $1,000 now! 😱
I think my only gripe wirh the mini is no Legendary Axe... They could have dropped "The Kung Fu" (and a couple others) for that game at least...
You earned a good subscriber with your mini reviews (and your awesome Ikaruga video) 😉
@@KeithPhillips Almost everybody missed Sapphire since it was arcade card and came out so late at the end. That’s why it’s rare I suppose. Legendary Axe and Gate of Thunder are the two I still can’t believe we didn’t get on there. They were required!
I was not sure about to buy this core graph mini or a generic emulation console with 1500 games.
Then I saw this video.
And now I'm happy core graph mini is in my collection.
Thanks for this great video!
You're welcome! I hope a hack comes along soon so we can add even more games to it.
@@ShmupJunkie I want a hack too really bad. But I hear that they won’t ever be able to do one because the system lacks a reset button which is what is used many times on hacks for the other mini systems. I’m still hopeful though! Want my Core Graphix Mini to have all my other favorites on it like Coryoon and Summer Carnival stuffs among others!
@@Pendragonzero There was an early build running long ago so we were all hopeful it progressed. But then it just came to a halt. My other guess is they are using various emulation types depending on the game, like CD vs Supergrafx vs hucard. So it may be more complex there too. An unenviable task.
@@ShmupJunkie Man I hope people are still working on it too! Definitely an unenviable task for sure.
Air Zonk! My favorite Turbo game! Great review.
Thanks! I still need to do a proper video for that game one day. Really is awesome.
The TG16/PCE had such mind blowing great titles! I wish I had one growing up. To be honest I didn’t know much about it at all growing up. Blazing Lasers is so good! Alien Crush and Devils Crush are great Pinball Games, Bonk Air Zonk them you go into the CD Library and you have the great Lords of Thunder. Too many to List. Great Review. Part 2 is up here we go!
The Nerd Nest TV You just explained why this mini excites me so much. Easy access to these games for people who didn’t get to play them growing up and to experience them. I’m bummed I keep missing your LoT stream 🤦♂️. Tbh Gate of a Thunder while not as crazy may be even better. It’s like the best thunder force clone you can imagine. Was a huge miss not having that on the mini without having to hack it. I think you’ll enjoy part 2!
Shmup Junkie i’ll be doing the Turbo CD version of Lords of Thunder next i’ll let you know when I go live.
Awesome dude love your review!! I agree!
Thanks I’m glad you did. This was my first ever official video and the reason I started my channel. I always hoped more would slowly find these. Too bad it’s now long sold out and only available scalped on eBay mostly.
Awesome review! This is the review PC Engine fans deserve!
Mark M Really appreciate the feedback and glad you enjoyed it. You hit the nail on the head. I wanted to make something fans would enjoy so I love to hear that. Time to get cracking on the next segment.
Great review that bithead1000 needs to watch. Looking forward for more great content 😍👏🏼
Bruno L Thanks man. My channel is an ant 🐜 under Bithead’s mighty boot haha. But I’d bet even he would get a kick out of the headbanging intro
@@ShmupJunkie most definitely 🤣 keep up the good work bro 👏🏼
I second this. I'd love to hear @bithead1000 's take on your review!
@@jszekerj He will say I'm a loser from loserville for owning one haha, but I'll enjoy his videos anyway. Anyone talking about the pc engine is a good thing.
Amazing review. I guess having such a knowledge about shmups made this mini console perfect for you to review. Love my core grafx mini and played a lot on it and even bought the 5 tap adapter. Cheesing through rtype atm. Its just impressive to have very playable!!! Shmups on a emulation box. I also enjoyed your controller lag comparison. I play with a 8bitdo tg16 controller on my core grafx mini bc the og controller gets uncomfortable after a while. You should try the tg16 controller. The dpad is very very good. Better than the retrobit saturn controller imo.
Thanks! This was my very first video I ever made officially and why I started the channel. It’s not as fancy I was still learning but I had so much fun with this one and part 2 on the caravan shooters you can tell. The PCE is very special to me so I wanted to do this mini right and talk about the games more. I’m with you on the stock controller it wasn’t long before my thumb was getting a bit sore. The 8bitdo is a really nice pad I use it too on and off. I think it’s my familiarity and like of the Saturn style dpad that makes me use the the retrobit and similar a lot, but I alternate on the 8bitdo too. It’s a bit more solid feeling as well vs the loose feel of the retrobit. The part 2 of this video focuses on the caravan shooters which are my favorite on the system.
When I was a kid we (my brothers and I) had a SNES, and in Mexico was Sega vs Nintendo, I only saw a Turbografx 16 once in a game store and never again, I thought it was a pirate version of a Genesis or SNES with a bizarre bootleg Mario running.... The time passed and, oooh boy, was I wrong... I don't regret nothing, but here I am, almost 30 years later still exploring the 16 bit generation, and as an emulation entusiast I'm so happy this console existed yet so sad it didn't had enought market on the west, is a weird nostalgic feeling of what i didn't knew at the time. Loving it a lot and thankful with youtubers like you that recomend games (freaking awsome games) for a system that is incredibly easy to emulate on a wide range of devices now. Having Blazing Lazers and Castlevania on my pocket and in mi desktop pc is as cool as it gets.
That's the good news, the system is well emulated and there are great options out there. The mini is nice as a gateway to experience a small piece of it. PC Emulation generally works really well. The flash carts and Super SSD3, the Analogue Duo coming at some point, and the MiSTer especially do a phenomenal job. And the MiSTer even lets you enjoy it on a CRT with no added delay, so it's pretty awesome. This was my first ever official video so I could get the word out on how cool a mini it is, in hopes as many new people as possible would try it out.
I actually got the Turbo Grafx 16 mini a few months back. Love it.
Cool. Hopefully it still was for sale on Amazon and you didn't have to overpay for it. I still use mine sometimes too despite having the hardware.
Having never heard about this growing up [im 37] i had both snes and genesis
I have all the mini consoles, and i love the TG16 mini.
Booting it up is like walking into an arcade! I love it! The graphics and the sound of the games are great, and sound and play different than either genesis or snes!
Ps, using only rf as a kid (i didnt know better) the filter looks fine to me/the genesis looks right with it, too bright without it.
7:18 I NEED this on a shirt😂😂😂
I liked it a lot... continue doing man
Jogos de Navinha Thanks glad you enjoyed 🙌🏻
So glad i found you!
Glad you found me too. And looks like you found my first ever official video I made over 2 years ago to start the channel. I had so much fun making this.
@@ShmupJunkie I’ll be watching more tomorrow. Maybe we can collab some day.
Man the PC engine is super innovative. It's like having a rare gem. The underdog with way more potential and not built for the mainstream. It was made with us rebels in mind
Still my favorite console of all time. This was my first video I ever officially made for my channel, and it's almost exactly one year ago now. It's why I decided to make the PC Engine history video just last week to commemorate it, and the final part 2 is almost done and ready for this next weekend. Literally the reason I started this channel was to review the mini and get more people interested in the system.
Love your video and you're totally right! Except for the PS mini, I have 'em all and the PC Engine (I have a Core Grafx) is my favorite! I don't have any issues with the 'input lag' at all.
Fabian Carta Of the dozens of friends I know who got one none of them do either. But there’s always the handful of trolls making a stink. The Coregrafx is a great model and my favorite as well. It has the turbo switches, Salamander included, and it’s smaller and more ergonomic than the Turbo version. It’s the one I’ve been using for all my gameplay.
hey thanks for this! i grew up with a TG16 and later a Duo and loved shooters, i owned the Thunders and Soldiers games and played the crap out of them even got a ridiculous high score on the Super Star Soldier 5 minute caravan stage! got my TGmini and am grateful to now have beaten pc engine games I missed out on like Salamander, Gradius II, Star Parodius, Sapphire and my favorite of the bunch Spriggan. Still have more to play i love this thing! just wish there was Gate of Thunder and Neo Nectaris.
Jason Angeles Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I think Super Star Soldier is the toughest of the three caravan modes so it’s an accomplishment to score really high in it! Especially the 5min those are real gauntlets. It takes long enough to perfect the 2min. If I had to choose one game I miss most on the mini besides Gate it’s Nexzr. What an awesome shooter that was.
Great review dude! Always good and funny commentary, you love for shooters is infectious! I think that's majority of my purchases this year so far are shooters. And even a while console riddled with em!
It's my fault... I'm a bad influence on all those around me getting them hooked on the shooter crackpipe! Appreciate the feedback I'm glad it's a fun watch. I'll start breaking things down into shorter bite size pieces for future vids.
Love the passion!
My first video ever! I’m glad people are still finding and e joying this thank you. I had a blast making these early ones.
Great video!
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it, was a labor of love. So I had to keep making more.
That intro... if that's not how you play Lords of Thunder, you're just not playing Lords of Thunder. Live life to the fullest!
I had a little too much fun making that one haha. But it came out so funny I had to use it in my early videos for a while.
Rad review. I love the PC Engine mini as well.
Vidya Obscura Thank you! Yes I watched your couple videos on it earlier. I’m just glad there is a way for more people to enjoy these great games now.
I had a copy of that LoT Tony Hawk video back when I had a Duo. Fun stuff.
That’s awesome. I honestly don’t remember ever having one at the time but I managed to snag one a couple years ago and am keeping it for posterity. At least I had the brains to keep my original game. One of the most cherished items in my collection I’ll never sell. Will likely be buried with it 😂
I enjoy seeing other gamers take on the TurboGrafx-16. As a TG-16 owner from original launch I experienced much joy with the console and games along with a great deal of frustrations due to NEC’s atrocious handling of the console outside of Japan. They even fumbled when TTI took over with distribution etc when NEC bowed out by denying TTI’s requests for PC Engine ports sealing its fate in North America or anywhere else in the world. USA had about 1/6th of the games released vs Japan so most of the greatest titles remained in Japan unless you were in the know and fortunate enough to import the PC Engine system and games or a converter to play them in your TG-16. Regardless many require translations which were difficult at the time or just playing games via trial and error. So many mistakes were made but in short NEC Japan wasn’t committed to success outside of Japan. I believe packing in Legendary Axe or R-Type with the console would have been a much better choice than Keith Courage as it just didn’t do the console justice TBPH. I still have my TurboGrafx-16, TurboDuo & Turbo Express from the 90’s and cherish the times I had and sill have playing games on them.
If you haven’t already, I’ll bet you’d love the two part history of the pc engine video I did not too long ago being a fellow Turbo fan. Part one focuses on Japan and part two on the US launch and debacle. Gets into TTI and then some. But it’s done with a lot of humor and came out really fun. I’m there with you and grew up in LA right next to TTI and was front and center for it all too. Thank god for import shops where I could still get all the games! I was so lucky that one near me even rented them. Those were good days.
I seen your 2 part PC Engine series, really good stuff. Ty
@@dwightdixon8508 You’re welcome and enjoy. I have a playlist with all my pc engine vids in there to make it easy for anyone looking for that content specifically.
Thanks from France, good video.
You’re welcome. I’m always happy when new people discover my first pc engine mini reviews. Hope you get one and enjoy the games 👌
@@ShmupJunkie Yes I have one and it's a real pleasure ☺️, even if I'm 30 and it's the first time I played these games.
@@Oden_Kozuki first time many played them especially in Europe. Lots of my online friends are from there and they really enjoyed it too.
Bithead1000 sent me and I had no choice but to comply! You got a new sub from me. :-)
That's some serious Obey haha. He runs a tight ship. I've been watching him for over a couple years now well before I had a channel and found him because of his pc engine stuff. It was awesome of him to do that. This was the very first official video I ever made and the reason I started a channel. And he was a part of what motivated me, so I owe him for that too.
@@ShmupJunkie Yeah, he sure loves his PC Engine! :-) Can we blame him?! heh Yeah, I've been watching him pretty much since the beginning. (10 years? Oof!) I really love the formula he has settled on the past few years... with him doing his "stand-up" bit for the first half of the show before doing other stuff. lol He is sure a true raconteur. :-)
Awesome review my friend you have earned yourself a subscriber.
BF4pawntard Thanks. Already working hard on the next parts. I’ve finally gotten to doing lag tests this week and the results aren’t quite jiving with what we are hearing everywhere else. So it’s going to be interesting.
Shmup Junkie You’re welcome . I look forward to seeing it .
Best intro ever!
Something out of muppet land.
I know right! Lol I thought the same thing after I made it. I have to find a way to bring it back somehow for some newer videos
I was already a fan of shooters before, but you, sir, made me into a junkie with just a puff of the shooter crackpipe
Creating new shmup junkies since 2020 and hoping to start a revolution!
Best Intro! 😂
Deanff3 😁🙌🏻 Somebody had to do it
Years later i still feel my coregrafx mini ( european version ) is one the best mini consoles i've bought, and i'm a big fan of those !
I suck at shooters but mang you make it seem like I'm really missing out!
Dude, if you haven’t yet please watch my video called Learn to Shmup in 7 Days. It’ll put you on the right track. Just enjoy the games and it’ll help you get the most out of them.
100% agree with you here pal greetings from Dublin Ireland 🍀🇮🇪
Greetings dude. I get mistaken for Irish quite a bit actually due to my light skin and hair color, but I'm actually Russian. That being said I had plans to visit both Ireland and Scotland right before the pandemic hit and hoping to go once it's safe. Think I'll fit in quite nicely in that part of the world.