Games played: Seirei Senshi Spriggan (0:01), Bonk's Revenge (0:15), Top Hunter (0:30), King of Fighter '98 (0:50), Super Star Soldier (1:05), Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (1:45), Blazing Star (3:23), Alien Crush (11:11)
When I was in elementary I remember the Turbo Grafx 16 being brought up at the lunch table. None of my friends owned one at the time, we only just knew that it existed. At the same time it was almost like a myth because literally nobody in my group of friends owned one. We didnt even know what it looked like! Crazy times!
Same here, I always remember wanting one but nobody I knew had one and I never really saw it for sale anywhere, I probably just heard about it in magazines and possibly TV.
For me it is also true that I knew of no friends that owned one but there was a TG16 kiosk in mall that I went to so I got to play it quite a lot. I actually liked it, but I was a Sega kid! In hindsight maybe companies should have marketed the idea of owning multiple consoles back in the day ^_^
Same here (my friends and i debated it and the Genesis, back in 89 and 90)....and i remember the commercials for both systems (and their back to back pages in the Sears Christmas catalogue) and how i thought Genesis was my clear choice, based on not having to buy a whole extra component and controller just to play 2 players (TG16 seemed like a rip off, and i was 13, i didn't have that kind of money lol)....me and my friends actually rented a tg16 for a weekend back in early 91, and to this day it's the only time i've ever played one (though i've emulated many of it's great games, since).
Neo Geo was HUGELY appreciated here in South America; Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Perú, Colombia, Brazil. It was pretty much a cheap Arcade system to every local market to maintain as it was very easy to get pirated cartdriges and multi cartridges, kids loved going to buy some groceries and play some KoF or Metal Slug with the quarters left and during the mid 2000s Neo Geo systems still on its popularity. The SNK games are very iconic here, some of the King of Fighters world champions are hispanic.
@@carlosaugusto9821 I grew in California and there wasn't a laundromat that did not have a M.V.S arcade machine. And sure arcade games didn't not appeal to console gamers but as kid who only had a game boy M.V.S arcade cabinet was my only way to game.
TG16 is way less appreciated. Neo Geo was reasonably well known at the time because of arcades, and the highlights from its library are available on all modern systems. The TG16 was virtually a myth in the 90s and its games aren’t widely available today either.
As a kid from the 80s the issue was availability in stores. Most Toys R Us locations were hours away from households and no one went that far very often. So if you were not in smaller retailers you died. Nintendo and Sega figured this out. They also spent lots of money advertising on Saturday mornings when kids watched cartoons from 7 to noon. Saw the TG16 in the Sears catalog and the Turbo Duo. Always asked for it but parents always bought from local stores. The Neo Geo was well known just no one could afford it. If you were lucky enough to have one you also never let anyone play it.
I find it odd that it was mostly unknown. I saw it on display at a few stores and my friend had one for a while. I borrowed it several times and he had a dozen or so games for it. Bloody Wolf and Sidearms were two of my favorites. From my perspective at the time, I assumed it was as popular as the Genesis.
@@nicholasbullock1709 I tend to agree with @Tolbat, I don't recall ever having seen a TB16 or Neo Geo in person. I rarely even saw any Nintendo or Sega gear in person, as I had a computer, and so I'd go to computer centric shops. I hardly ever went into dedicated toy stores, it would usually be because my mother had stuff on consignment there, or the toy department of a department store. Mind you, I grew up only a few miles away from Nintendo of America's corporate headquarters, so it wasn't like we were in backwoods Louisiana or anything like that.
@@RetroBirdGaming I originally blew off the TG16 until the anime Hi-Score Girl on Netflix showed me the error of my ways. That thing really is amazing.
I remember seeing the Turbografx in Toysrus and wanted it so bad! I had NES and Genesis, but the TG16 was here one minute and gone the next in stores and I could never get one in my hands as a kid. As an adult, I finally bought a TG16, the TurboDuo and TurboExpress and really, really love the systems. Don't think I'll ever sell them because it reminds me of growing up in the 80s/90s and that golden age of video games! No one I knew had a TG16 or a Neo Geo when I was a kid. Good times!
I'm a recent subscriber and just want to say thank you for your content. 👍The humour really helps to separate it from the 100s of other retro channels out there. Keep it up, man 😊
Hi Bird, Good to see you again and thank you for sharing this excellent video of which of the two is considered underappreciated. I posted the video up for you on the Neo-Geo thread, and the TurboGrafx-16 thread over on AtariAge for others to take notice. Thank you for sharing this with us bro. 8^) Anthony..
Thank you my friend! When sharing videos in places like that, I find it helps to clarify it's not your personal video you made. Not because I care who gets credit for it, but I've noticed people are less hostile when they know it's not self-promotion.
You're welcome Bird. A pleasure to do so. With all the videos I post to be shared. I always mention the publisher that created the video for him/her to have the full credit they deserve. Looking forward on seeing the next Neo-Geo video from you bro. 8^) Anthony...
In terms of "appreciation", or rather, the "under" side of it, TG-16 for sure. I was the only kid I knew who owned/played one, whereas Neo Geo had the arcade exposure, as you mentioned. TG-16 was the misfit slinking about in dark recesses while other game systems had at least some mild exposure in the early '90s.
So many frustrations as a TurboGrafx-16 owner during the “16bit wars” era. NEC Japan losing what could have been a 2 year lead over the Genesis release because of a silly redesign of the PC Engine to accommodate Americans bigger is better tastes then overthinking what to port to the US from their large PC Engine library declining NEC America requests on almost everything saying the US wouldn’t understand the games, they had no clue. Konami has done next to nothing with Hudson Soft IPs which they own so those frustrations continue to this day. If you’re not going to do anything with the IPs why did you buy it? NeoGeo games constantly get rereleases on almost everything. Back then the Neo Geo AES was rare due to price but it’s the TurboGrafx-16 that’s becoming less and less known because of Konami
"Sega Saturn says Hiiiiii!" Dood, I laughed way harder at this than I should've! lol But yea, Lots of great PC engine games should've went to the west. Japan had so many awesome games for it.
I actually bought a TG-16 from the Sears catalog. I took it home and loved Bonk, but soon realized that there were not a lot of games on it (in 1989). So I returned it and bought the Genesis. I eventually picked up a TG16 and a Turbo Express. It is a great system!
Ok that is really hard to choose: personally, the Turbografx-16 is only *slightly* more underappreciated since the Neo Geo I've heard about at least a few more times. Now compare the Turbografx-16 to the Super A'Can & the differences in obscurity become night & day.
I still have not played a TurboGrafx-16 game yet. To be honest I forgot it even existed. In 2019 I finally was able to play Neo Geo at home with the Neo Geo Mini. I always knew what a Neo Geo was due to the Arcade Games & just dreamed of owning one growing up. As a kid you do not have that type of money. Neo Geo Arcade Games stuck in my head growing up, but I never saw or played a TurboGrafx-16 as a kid, so soon after it stopped being in Magazines it just faded away for me.
I remember my buddy having. Turbo Grafx 16 when we were younger and loving it. Was excited to hear about the Turbo Duo, and heavily debated whether I should get that or an SNES with some money I had saved. Ultimately I decided discs were the future and got the Duo. It was an awesome little system, but the lack of games was frustrating and I think someone eventually gifted me an SNES anyways. Held onto both until adulthood and then needed some money for a move and sold all my gaming stuff. My Duo still had the box and everything. Tough decision because now it’s becomes pretty unaffordable to rebuy. Loved it while I had it though! And if you’re the one who bought, I hope you’re treating it well!
Being a kid who grew up in the 80's and 90's i was right there in the heyday of 8 & 16Bit Consoles. Many a time did i salivate over the graphics of the Neo Geo games in Magazines back in the day. I only ever knew one person who owned a Neo Geo, and he became known around School as that kid who owned a Neo Geo. I never knew anyone that owned a Turbografx 16 such was the elusiveness of the Console, though i do remember reading the reviews of some of it's more popular titles in Magazines. Both Consoles were heavily advertised in the import section of Magazines, though the prices were way out of my league, especially the Neo Geo, which was considered the Holy Grail of Game Consoles at the time, and in some ways still is. This video takes me right back to my youth when i would daydream of owning either of the Consoles. Through emulation i have played some of the games i missed out on back in the day which was a nostalgic pleasure trip down memory lane. Great video 👍
TurboGrax 16 was the very first console I ever played! My dad worked for NEC for a bit in the early 90s and they hooked him up with one super discounted. He basically became a TurboGrafx dealer for my cousins lol
I was recommended this channel for the first time today by RUclips.... and I am now subscribing! Dude, you're the funniest retro gamer I've seen! Freaking hilarious! 🍻🍻
I think both consoles have gotten more appreciation over the years. I believe the Neo Geo probably is recognized more because of the franchises and ease to play the games because they have been ported allover the place. Also, the price for everything Neo Geo is insane and is known for that. At least the Turbografix 16 has some cheap stuff still. I personally own a Turbo Duo that has been recapped, Rgb modded for use with Hd Component cables and is region modded to play PC engine Hu Cards. I love the system. I just wish I found more games in the wild. I also own the U.S. variant of the Aes. It was by far the most pricey console I have ever bought and I only own two games currently for the machine. Still, I really am enjoying it and collecting accessories at the moment. The controllers aren’t as crazy as the games to get. They are still pricey but the cheapest things to buy for the system.
I love your videos, and your humour! On the surface your videos may look simple, but there’s such polish and solid production values that puts you right at the top tier of retro gaming RUclips channels! I only wish more success and subs for your fine channel
I never heard of any of them or knew anyone who had any of them but I did knew of Neogeo from their games as a kid at the time and only knew about the consoles until 4 years back ago
Another huge thing I remember about the Turbo Grafx era was the Turbo Express! I thought the fact it played the same hu cards and was in color was going to ultimately spell the end of the Gameboy, but boy was I wrong there. Reading these comments it seems like I grew up on the other side of the spectrum, have total appreciation for the Turbo Grafx and barely hearing much about the Neo Geo.
When I was 15 or 16 my twin brother and I saved to buy a new console. It was between the Genesis and Turbografx 16. In the end we decided to get the Genesis. While I don’t regret it there will always be a ‘what could have been’ in my head if we decided to go the other way. I’m still to this day trying to find a Turbografx 16 for decent price. I may go the route you mentioned of a PC Engine Duo. Great video!
Neo Geo was always such a cool gaming console I rarely saw and heard of many times and the TurboGrafx-16 was a gaming console I saw sometimes and not many gamers talked about growing up it was always Nintendo , Sony and Sega gaming consoles. I love those cool retro gaming console commercials of TurboGrafx-16 and Neo Geo still makes cool games like King of Fighters 15 which is my favorite game of 2022 so far. Cool video. ^_^
I had the TG-16 as a kid and so did my best friend. Bonk's Adventure and Revenge are some of my favorite games of all time. Nobody I knew had a Neo and I've never played one.
Tg16 for sure. I bought one very early in my collecting days and I still didn't really care enough to buy a ton of games. To this day I still have one game and that's Bonks Adventure complete that I bought sealed for $10. I think of getting rid of it, but just can't manage to part with it even if I could put the money towards something I would appreciate
I dunno if I'd describe it as underpreciated exactly but growing up, I never even heard of TG16. I had an NES, SNES wanted a Genesis and had played Neo Geo games in the arcade. It wasn't until a big Castlevania obsession I had in college that I learned what TG16 was. I have emulated and enjoyed a lot of TG16 games since. However when I have brought up TG16 with friends and family who I have gamed with since I was a kid, none of them know what I am talking about when I bring it up.
The only time I can remember actually playing a TG16 on original hardware was at a store demo. On the other hand, while I didn't know anyone who had the home version of Neo Geo, the arcade cabinets were everywhere. If I were to ever buy a Neo Geo, that's the format I'd want it in because I don't really think of it as console. I've always thought about buying an arcade cabinet, but I can never decide which game and I don't have the space for all my favorites, so a Neo Geo would be perfect. It would also make a better piece to show off as everyone my age would instantly recognize it whereas a lot of people wouldn't immediately recognize the console version.
Yup, I agree the TG-16 is more underappreciated. Neo Geo games were playable in arcades, are more widely available now, and have sizable fanbases for series like Fatal Fury, while most TG-16 games were lost to time. I got a Coregrafx Mini last Christmas, and no joke, it might be the best gaming purchase I’ve made over the last few years. It introduced me to a bunch of games I never played before, and ignited a passion for shmups I never knew I had (Lords of Thunder is the greatest shmup I’ve ever played).
I honestly don’t remember these systems being popular where I lived back in the 90s but I do remember a friend in high school letting me play his Neo- Geo in science class. (Either it was a chill class that day or the teacher was out of the room for awhile.) I played a game, I think it was called Capcom vs. SNK Match of the Millennium??? But yeah, I remember that was a blast. The graphics were incredible too at the time.On a side note, the food at that restaurant looks delicious 🤤!!
I remember the console packaging of Neo Geo hardware not having much impact. It was so expensive. No one talked about it. I'd say it was lower profile than the Amiga CD32 here in east coast USA. It always struck me as an obscure form of legendary arcade hardware. The Turbografx-16 on the other hand had a presence in stores of my childhood. You could see the game cards and demo kiosks at Toy 'R Us, it also appeared in the console sections of department store catalogs we'd make Christmas and Birthday lists from. Games got adds in magazines and on TV. I only knew one kid that had one, very generous parents gifted him a Turbo Express. While I never got a chance to play it, i recall my opinion of the Turbografx at time was that it was cool but expensive. Splatterhouse, Legendary Axe, Book of Ys, and of course Bonk really appealed to me. Amusingly, I never heard about Castlevania: Rondo of Blood until some time in the late '90s when I had internet. If that had been localized and came out earlier in the system's life it could have been a game changer.
I didn’t have either as a kid, but now own a Coregrafx Mini and Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro, as well as many others via emulation. They are two of my favorite libraries now. I hate that I missed the TG-16, since it was relatively affordable. The Neo Geo always fascinated me, but I knew my parents could never afford it. Both are severely under-appreciated, but I’d have to say the TG-16 gets far less respect simply from so many being unfamiliar with it. The games were colorful and unique, and usually had great soundtracks. Really glad to be able to play so many of both systems’ games now.
I still have my old systems all still work , from my neo geo gold , turbo graphix 16 , origian coleco , a sega add for my dads huge laser disc player , plus my first ever system the original atari . The are all in storage now as the wife hates clutter .
TG16CD for me. I worked a summer job taking care of ostrich hatchlings to buy the CD add on. I eventually got most of the games. When stationed in England, 5 player Bomberman and Moto-Roader were popular.
I was a 90s kid and I remember hearing a little bit of talk about the Neo Geo back then and kids thought it seemed cool, but nobody's parents were getting them that for that price. I never heard anybody talking about the TurboGrafx-16 back then and I think that any parent who bought their kid a TurboGrafx-16 over a SNES or Genesis like their friends were getting would have had one sad kid. So, in conclusion, the TurboGrafx-16 was more underappreciated by kids who didn't want to be "that kid that had a TurboGrafx-16 instead of a SNES/Genesis" while the Neo Geo was more underappreciated by parents who couldn't appreciate that it was cooler than putting a down-payment on a house.
I would definitely say TG16. I remember first hearing about TG16 as it was like the sole sponsor, it would seem, of American Gladiators. Then, later on, after my parents gave me a subscription to gamepro, I learned about the games. There eventually was a video rental place that would I got to rent one from for an evening for free if you rent two games for it. (Which I decided to take advantage of one particular evening. My parents were not pleased to see another video game system in the house and promptly returned it when they returned home for the evening. I got to spend a grand total of an hour and a half with it.) To this day I've never played an actual neo geo, but as you said, got to play the arcade games so definitely got to enjoy the fruits of SNK's labor.
I’ve really never been into SHMUPS. But I think they are great on the Turbo Grafix 16. The number of colors on the screen and the smooth gameplay really make them fun to play. On most systems they didn’t look near as great and came across as frustrating. The Turbo Grafix 16 had really great design and mechanics. It felt arcade like.
I was that kid who had a TurboGrafx-16 growing up. Can’t tell you how many schoolyard arguments there were defending its honor. If you factor in the ridiculous amount of games that came out for it in Japan and never made it to the States, I would say the TurboGrafx-16 was under appreciated more than the Neo-Geo.
I got a Turbo for Xmas in 89-90. While my friends thought "cool!" when they saw it, they always gravitated back to the sports titles on the genesis. That was what I always heard, "The Turbo has terrible sports games." I would say, "Try Splatterhouse!" They would, and they'd like it, however it would always be the same result. If only NEC didn't have that disagreement with EA back in the day, things may have turned out differently.
Yeah Turbo Grafx had a 3rd party problem in general. I also had one (a Duo model) and it was painful watching all these awesome games release for SNES and Genesis. I loved it to death but there just wasn’t much to play on it.
To me underappreciated doesn't just mean "less appreciated" it means it was worthy of more appreciation than it got. I think the ratio of appreciation of these two reflected their respective difference in capability.
I just saw your video now. I woke up early this morning had to go to work really early. I remember The Turbo Graphx 16 for Bonks Adventure. I wanted to buy one when I was a kid but never did. For the Neo geo I wasn't even interested in that console when it 1st came out. I know both consoles have awesome games. I think I would prefer the Turbo Graphx 16 just because of the side scrollers & shooters.
Turbo-Grafx 16 is most underrated!! I see Neo Geo games for sale on switch, Xbox and PlayStation. But I don't see many Turbo-Grafx 16 games sales at all.
You bring up a really good point by pointing out that the PC Engine came out in Japan in 1987. At the same point the PC Engine came out, Japanese players were also just getting Zelda II on Famicom Disk System. There's a reason it must've seemed so amazing to them at the time. Not releasing until 2 years later in the US alongside the newer Genesis took a lot of wind out of its sails.
At the time, the Turbografx was 100% the most underappreciated console. Most people hadn't even heard of it, whereas Neo Geo MVS cabinets were everywhere... skating rinks, bowling alleys, arcades, pizza places... and anyone who was into games knew the Neo Geo AES as an almost mythical holy grail that we all wanted. Nowadays, the Neo Geo AES is way more underappreciated. Narratives such as it only having fighting games and only being for elitist collectors permeate the scene, whereas the Turbografx has cultivated a nice fanbase that actively imports as well, as it is relatively more accessible.
@@PCGamer77 yeah, I think age and region make big difference, since the Turbografx wasn't in some areas. I'm in my '40s near a big city, which definitely shaped my experience.
@@bananonymouslastname5693 Same here. I think maybe getting into PC games in a big way, and not being that much into the 90s arcade scene, kept me in the dark about the NeoGeo.
The TG16 is very underappreciated like it always has been since it's American launch, and it still has a cult following. The Neo Geo on the other hand, was more popular given it's Arcade presence. It just so happens when the home console iteration came, NOBODY was willing to drop a chunk of cash for a console, let alone it's games back then. It sucks nowadays that the TG16 mini can only be bought secondhand because Konami decided to stop making them because of the coof pandemic primarily. The Neo Geo mini on the other hand, is still being manufactured although it's library of games are still accessible in many ways. BOTH consoles have their dedicated fans. It'll be a great thing TG16 titles would appear on Nintendo Switch Online.
Good video! I agree, TGFX/PCE is the most underappreciated console in the west. Neo Geo is great at what it does, and back in the day I would have chosen it over the TurboGrafx if I had a choice.. but knowing both of the libraries now I would have to say owning a PC Engine Duo provides a better gaming experience, spanning many genres with some really great experiences across the board. Both are great, but PC Engine comes out on top IMO
I’m from Ukraine 🇺🇦 and when I was a kid there was only the Chinese famicom clones and the European versions of the genesis called “mega drive”. About something like pcengine or neo geo I find out only after some time and it’s fun to explore the history behind the video games. The consoles time was the best. Thanks for cool video. Like your sense of humor and the thoughts is quite interesting. Would like to watch some small sketch show from you in RUclips format. It might not work outside the retro gaming context but it definitely would be interesting. 😀
It’s so sad that many turbographix 16 games may be forgotten because of how little they get get rereleased, I’m planning on buying a few on the Wii U before the eshop shuts down because I’ve never played a turbographix16 game.
TG16 is beyond underappreciated - it's barely even known! I myself didn't know the console existed until it was long gone. When I first saw it, I thought it was some kind of NES clone because the controller is so similar. Everyone knew about the Neo Geo and it's still held to high regards to this day, but it's kinda like the Lamborghini of gaming - everyone knows what it is, but few can afford one!
I remember my friend having a Turbo Grafics 16 and he's kept going on about how good and cool it was...it wasn't a Nintendo so I wasn't into it. Great to hear info on both of these systems
"it wasn't a Nintendo so I wasn't into it" - really? But it has MUCH better graphics (and is just more powerful) than the NES....like back in 89, i would've traded my NES for a TG16 in a heartbeat! Some TG16 games looked almost arcade perfect (eg. Ninja Spirit and Dragon Spirit)...NES wasn't even close.
Hello retrobird great video. I love your skits, they are funny. I agree, the TurboGrafx 16 here in the US, was pretty underrated. As you said, Nintendo had strongarm business practices that locked out nearly all it's competition. By competition (at the time), I mean Atari 7800, Sega master system, Atari xegs, turbo Grafx 16. No one I knew of in the late 80s had a turbo Grafx 16. All of the kids I sat with at lunch from 1989 to 1992, heard of the turbo Grafx 16, but we only saw it in magazines or at toys R Us on a demo unit. As far as neo Geo goes, that was something we all heard about but no one had it because 700 dollars at launch was too much money for the average parent to spend. You mentioned the neo Geo games being super expensive at that tracks. I remember looking through magazines and ads for neo Geo games and the cheapest games were 100 dollars and topping out at 500 dollars. Basically if you were not legit rich back then, the neo Geo and it's games might as well be vaporware lol.
My honest opinion would be that neither system are under appreciated; they are both appropriately appreciated. The turbo grafx 16 wasn’t marketed well enough and the neo-geo was way too expensive for mere mortals. I played plenty of neo-geo games growing up in arcades but I never knew anybody that had a turbo grafx 16, and never even knew where I could buy one. These days I was able to get a turbo grafx 16 mini on first release when it was still reasonably priced and I can honestly say that I love the games! The turbo grafx 16 does shooters really well and that’s one of my favorite retro genres. I have also downloaded several neo-geo games into my PS4 through the PlayStation store and I absolutely love them, especially the Metal Slug series. So there it is, they have both made their beds and now have to sleep in them. The hope for us gamers and retro gamers is accessibility, if I have a way to play your games, I’ll play your games. That’s why I would foam at the mouth for a Sega Saturn mini! Please Sega, give me my fix for Daytona USA, Sega Rally Championship, the Virtua Cop series with a modern hdmi light Gun feature, Panzer Dragoon, etc. There really is a market for all of these games, even if we think they are under appreciated. There are enough people out there that would be willing to spend money on these games that companies can still turn a profit. For instance, I put in a pre-order for the upcoming Sega Genesis Mini 2 just because it would feature Outrun and Outrunners. Thanks for the video Retro Bird, this was an awesome topic!
While it may have been different at some point; I am gonna say The Turbo 16 is the most underappreciated; especially since it gets fewer instances getting re-released on current consoles than the Neo-Geo. Even back in the day; it was very underappreciated here as the Genesis and SNES were in full swing (and more powerful) and the Neo-Geo was the expensive rich kid option; leaving the Turbo to be an after though in the eyes of many. Aside from mom and pop game stores; I barely saw the thing out in the wild as well.
I never had either system. Sega for me. But last Christmas my brother bought me a Anbernic hand held device. I had never heard of it but basically (for those who don’t know). It looks like a gameboy but it plays ROMS on an sd card. It has a lot of Neo Geo games and Turbografx 16 games from Us and over seas. So I’m looking up what those systems were. Great video.
Great vid for two awesome consoles. Looking at popularity, the Neo Geo seems to be hands down more popular. Well w/at least people knowing what it is and even knowing people that own one, even if it is a consolized MVS. When I bring up the TG16 the response received 90% of the time is "what?" It's a real shame since it's great system that's most often slept on.
Turbo Graphx 16. The Neo Geo was a different beast and I'm not even sure if it makes for a valid comparison TBH. It's price point puts it above ordinary consoles which is the main contributor to it's obscurity. The Turbo Graphx 16 on the other hand was priced very competitively and ads would even show up from time to time. I knew of it's existence back then for sure. But the only place I remember the system or the games being on sale was a Toys R Us.
PC Engine/Turbografx-16 was what got me started in the way of import consoles. It's not expensive if you only want to play Japanese Hucard games, a Core-Grafx is not too difficult to get a hold of on the collector's market. But the expense comes by wanting to get more hardware. I got a Turbografx-16 after getting a PC Engine to being able to play both regions. I've also slowly gotten the hardware to being able to play PC Engine CD Rom2. But even if i got a fully Japanese setup, I still want a Turbo-CD to be able to play the games meant for that variant. Turbografx collecting to me is long term collecting that builds up over time. It's total worth get insanely expensive, but it's not a huge investment then and there like the Neo Geo. Neo Geo doesn't require a multitap and a composite out acessory, but you can buy these at a later time for the Turbografx.
I would take TG-16 over NG any day, but I also understand that it’s purely down to the game library and personal preference. I also think that in high school (96-01), I could ask anybody about their preference and very few would have remembered the TG16. So, NG was far more popular where I lived, but I still prefer the TG.
I was "that kid who had a Turbografx-16". I only knew 2 other people who had one for a short period of time but then they traded their Turbos in for Genesis systems once Sonic came out. From that point I became that kid.
Me and my brother had all the consoles of the day except the neo geo and it was that price that kept it outta our hands,my opinion is both are equally underaprieciated
The consoles I would consider the “that kid that had the ” console: Sega Master System Turbo Grafx 16 Atari Lynx Game Gear I would add Neo Geo to this, but I never knew someone who owned one. I actually did have a TurboGrafx16 for a short period of time. I had $100 from Christmas or something like that and Toys R Us was clearancing out their TurboGrafx16 stuff as it was drifting further into the 3rd place of the 16bit console wars. A new TurboGrafx16 was $75 and I also purchased Legendary Axe which was another $20. I had it for about 3 days… but since it only had one controller port (couldn’t play it with friends… unless you got a TurboTap), nobody else I knew had one (couldn’t trade games), no video store rental rented those games and games were disappearing from the shelves along with their quickly disappearing market share… I thought I was investing in a system no more new games were coming out for. I ended up returning it. I did enjoy Legendary Axe but thought Kieth Courage was the worst pack in game imaginable. I thought it was so slow paced and it really put me to sleep. At the time it was the right decision… but I wish I had kept it and just kept buying clearance games for it. I love the PC Engine now, I had one with that SSDS3 attachment and really got into it. When the CD core became available on the MiSTer platform, I ended up selling it and putting that money into something else. As of right now… the only PCEngine/TG16 stuff I have is Dracula X: Rondo of Blood and FX Unit Yuki and a few controllers I didn’t put in the bundle I sold. Right now it’s super expensive to collect for (for the types of games I would want) but I did get heavily into Neo Geo. Up to 36 US AES games, 13 Japanese AES games and 28 US MVS games. I have a Japanese AES with the UniBios chip, a JammaNationX MVS and a bunch of boxed controllers. I really love this console and it was a dream as a kid to own one. Finally got to the point in my life to make some childhood dreams come true and I did it at the right time.
This is such an interesting and unique topic for discussion. I would say the TG16 is more underrated, and i'm one of the people that underrates it... sorry i'm just not that impressed... while sure it's better than the NES, but it was out at the same time as the Sega Genesis/MD and that was just better in every way, sorry not sorry. As for the Neo Geo... everyone who knows about it, treats it with reverence, myself included. Expensive? Surely, but prices have only climbed up since release and demand has never been higher. Anyway, great channel, great content, glad to have [recently] discovered you, sub'd!
This. I don't hate the TG16, but there isn't a lot on it that I've seen that makes me want one. NeoGeo on the other hand has some pretty cool titles. In retrospect though if I had to pick between the two I'd just buy a SNES or Genesis instead. Way bigger library appeal for me personally. NeoGeo and TG16 are both cool systems, but they feel a lot more niche to me.
Neo Geo was respected and appreciated but too expensive. I never heard of anyone actually having one. I remember going to the arcades and raving over the Neo Geo cabinets. I started to buy all the games that came out on Steam a few years back. King of Fighters is my favorite fighting series of all time. Turbo Grafix 16 made my jaw drop back in the day. CD-Rom games and the color pallet blew me away when I saw it on store displays. And this was when it sat alongside Genesis and SNES. I play all 3 systems often and collect minis. Turbo Grafix 16 is packed with gems. Many of the arcade ports look better. It’s a great system. I didn’t ever get to play one until I bought a mini last year. I only got to see them on displays. So I was excited to experience the console for the very first time. Something I have wanted to do for over 30 years. I can see why it was so popular in Japan. I guess the fact it’s most popular titles just about hit the hidden gems category made it obscure. Besides that we got far less titles made it the RC Cola of gaming consoles. I just happen to prefer RC Cola over Coke and Pepsi. To each his own. I recommend getting into the PC-Engine instead with more classics available.
Every US 80's kid envied the graphics of the Neo Geo in the screenshots in the early 90's gaming mags, including me. 40 years later I'd prefer a Supergrafx having to pick one.
There were a lot of demo kiosks for the Turbografx-16 at Toys R Us. I was probably 6 or 7 at the time, but I remember having fun trying out Bonk's Adventure and really wanting it. I didn't have a TG16, but I remember some employee telling me "you can play it on Nintendo too". I got excited and somehow convinced my grandma to let me pull one of those iconic yellow tickets that Toys R Us used to have... only to discover later that there way no possible way for this strange credit card-sized "game?" to fit in the NES!! It was only 2 decades later that I discovered there was an NES version too, but at the time I was just a caveman kid trying to play a caveman game.
One game that came out on Turbografx CD that is really nice is Ys book 1 and 2. Also available on the Turbografx Mini. Also one thing I think is reallt cool with Turbografx is the format the games are. The creditcard cartridges or what you are suppose to call em :) I dont have much experience with NeoGeo.
I know I was not born at their prime but I never saw a NeoGeo outside it's arcade form. And I was born after the 16bit one so had no idea it even existed until now XD
i didn't exist at the time either console was new but i definitely see more Turbo appreciation these days than Neo Geo. i feel like some of that might have to do with the mystique of a console that hasn't had as many game re-releases Neo Geo games get tons of re-releases and are more easily accessible, so the mystique and cool factor goes away a bit
id say it depends on the context, in more mainstream discussions on the generation the turbo graphics 16 is brought up more, but the neogeo is talked about alot more in an arcade context and accessibility is a major factor, especially for people not used to emulation
I kind of think both of these are more niche than fans give them credit for. The Neo Geo's library is a set of 90s arcade games from a fairly limited selection of publishers. In my mind, TurboGrafx/PC Engine games have sense of stiffness to them, with games like Bonk and Neutopia feeling much more limited and less dynamic than their Nintendo equivalents, Mario and Zelda. I think that's why its best games tend to be shmups, without sprawling worlds or much sprite animation. I'm not a particularly big fan of either console, though I do think they both have some great games that are worth investigating. I tend to think the Neo Geo brand is more widely known among retro gamers. SNK have kept franchises like King of Fighters and Metal Slug relevant throughout the years, while Bonk's Adventure has sunk to the ranks of mostly-forgotten caveman platformers like Chuck Rock and Congo's Caper. I think there's more global awareness of the Neo Geo too, with the PC Engine being fairly obscure and ellusive in Europe, and there's so many names, hardware revisions and adapters, it's hard for a lot of people to even picture what the console looks like. Personally, I appreciate the relative diversity of the Turbo/PCE library over the Neo Geo, but neither come close to how much I love the NES, SNES or Mega Drive.
TG16 deserved better. Second most played system I ever owned. Only NES had more hours played by me. I even bought the TurboDuo. The shooters were some of the best of any system.
TG16 is definitely the more underappreciated system, since Genesis and SNES blew it out of the water. The thing about the NeoGeo is that since it was also available in the arcades, compared to owning an arcade cabinet, the price was actually more than reasonable. Arcade cabinets were in the thousands of dollars range.
I have both systems and TURBOGRAFX-16 has no beat em games on no Hue card then again NEO-GEO has a handful of beating up games that's a shame there's not many games like that on these systems
@@CasperEgas oh yeah I remember that yeah. Vigilante was strange it was like a Kung Fu knockoff I think it was better but it didn't feel like it beat'em exactly. As one hit knocks the person off the screen was real weird. But hey at least the skinheads kidnapped Madonna in the video game that is cool!
I wasn't OKAY without the Sega CD. I HAD to have it. Of course, I HAD to have the 3DO also. I was lucky to get the Turbo Grafx 16 in February or March of 1991. Admittedly though, I didn't get the Neo Geo AES until 2010 or 2011, and the Neo Geo CD a few years later. I now own EVERY US released console (aside from department store knock-off's and every Pong Clone ((I do own most Pong consoles)). At this point, I own 338 consoles. I love them all, but my favorite is the SNES. I would say though, that the Turbo Grafx 16, Sega Genesis, Sega CD and Neo Geo AES are in my Top 10.
I remember getting my dad getting the TG16 and it was ok. Then the CD attachment came out and with it...Ys Books I & II. That game was one of the greatest gaming experiences I have ever had. From the gameplay to the music, it really was the complete package. Neo Geo has nothing that rivals that experience.
I didn’t care for either since I was around SNES and Genesis enough and played Neo Geo at the arcades so if you count that, TG-16 is definitely the most under-appreciated by most.
TG-16! And even the Sega Saturn to a degree. Neo Geo was great but primarily focused on fighting. It was the best at that hands down but the TG-16 had so many more games across other categories.
Games played: Seirei Senshi Spriggan (0:01), Bonk's Revenge (0:15), Top Hunter (0:30), King of Fighter '98 (0:50), Super Star Soldier (1:05), Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (1:45), Blazing Star (3:23), Alien Crush (11:11)
As always thx for these !
Thank you 😊
Always appreciated! It irritates me so bad when I see retro game videos and see a cool game that I can't find! Great video as always Bird
Recently discovered your channel. Love it. Has quickly become one of my favorites.
Great info on these! 👍
When I was in elementary I remember the Turbo Grafx 16 being brought up at the lunch table. None of my friends owned one at the time, we only just knew that it existed. At the same time it was almost like a myth because literally nobody in my group of friends owned one. We didnt even know what it looked like! Crazy times!
Same here, I always remember wanting one but nobody I knew had one and I never really saw it for sale anywhere, I probably just heard about it in magazines and possibly TV.
I never heard anyone even mention it back then. Part of that may have just been how young I was though. I was unaware of a lot of stuff at that age.
For me it is also true that I knew of no friends that owned one but there was a TG16 kiosk in mall that I went to so I got to play it quite a lot. I actually liked it, but I was a Sega kid! In hindsight maybe companies should have marketed the idea of owning multiple consoles back in the day ^_^
Same here (my friends and i debated it and the Genesis, back in 89 and 90)....and i remember the commercials for both systems (and their back to back pages in the Sears Christmas catalogue) and how i thought Genesis was my clear choice, based on not having to buy a whole extra component and controller just to play 2 players (TG16 seemed like a rip off, and i was 13, i didn't have that kind of money lol)....me and my friends actually rented a tg16 for a weekend back in early 91, and to this day it's the only time i've ever played one (though i've emulated many of it's great games, since).
@@RetroBirdGaming yeah I think I may be a little older than you. Perhaps that's the reason why? Not sure.
Neo Geo was HUGELY appreciated here in South America; Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Perú, Colombia, Brazil. It was pretty much a cheap Arcade system to every local market to maintain as it was very easy to get pirated cartdriges and multi cartridges, kids loved going to buy some groceries and play some KoF or Metal Slug with the quarters left and during the mid 2000s Neo Geo systems still on its popularity.
The SNK games are very iconic here, some of the King of Fighters world champions are hispanic.
Yeah, I've always heard about how loved the Neo Geo was in South America and always thought that was really cool.
That fact isn't important to his narrative if it didn't happen in his country. And NeoGeo arcades weren't popular there either.
@@carlosaugusto9821 I grew in California and there wasn't a laundromat that did not have a M.V.S arcade machine. And sure arcade games didn't not appeal to console gamers but as kid who only had a game boy M.V.S arcade cabinet was my only way to game.
TG16 is way less appreciated. Neo Geo was reasonably well known at the time because of arcades, and the highlights from its library are available on all modern systems. The TG16 was virtually a myth in the 90s and its games aren’t widely available today either.
Yeah, it's too bad its games haven't been circulated better.
As a kid from the 80s the issue was availability in stores. Most Toys R Us locations were hours away from households and no one went that far very often. So if you were not in smaller retailers you died. Nintendo and Sega figured this out. They also spent lots of money advertising on Saturday mornings when kids watched cartoons from 7 to noon. Saw the TG16 in the Sears catalog and the Turbo Duo. Always asked for it but parents always bought from local stores. The Neo Geo was well known just no one could afford it. If you were lucky enough to have one you also never let anyone play it.
I find it odd that it was mostly unknown. I saw it on display at a few stores and my friend had one for a while. I borrowed it several times and he had a dozen or so games for it. Bloody Wolf and Sidearms were two of my favorites. From my perspective at the time, I assumed it was as popular as the Genesis.
@@nicholasbullock1709 I tend to agree with @Tolbat, I don't recall ever having seen a TB16 or Neo Geo in person. I rarely even saw any Nintendo or Sega gear in person, as I had a computer, and so I'd go to computer centric shops. I hardly ever went into dedicated toy stores, it would usually be because my mother had stuff on consignment there, or the toy department of a department store.
Mind you, I grew up only a few miles away from Nintendo of America's corporate headquarters, so it wasn't like we were in backwoods Louisiana or anything like that.
@@RetroBirdGaming I originally blew off the TG16 until the anime Hi-Score Girl on Netflix showed me the error of my ways. That thing really is amazing.
The Turbografx-16 is probably the most under appreciated of the two.
I remember seeing the Turbografx in Toysrus and wanted it so bad! I had NES and Genesis, but the TG16 was here one minute and gone the next in stores and I could never get one in my hands as a kid. As an adult, I finally bought a TG16, the TurboDuo and TurboExpress and really, really love the systems. Don't think I'll ever sell them because it reminds me of growing up in the 80s/90s and that golden age of video games! No one I knew had a TG16 or a Neo Geo when I was a kid. Good times!
I'm a recent subscriber and just want to say thank you for your content. 👍The humour really helps to separate it from the 100s of other retro channels out there. Keep it up, man 😊
Thank you and welcome to the channel!
Hi Bird,
Good to see you again and thank you for sharing this excellent video of which of the two is considered underappreciated. I posted the video up for you on the Neo-Geo thread, and the TurboGrafx-16 thread over on AtariAge for others to take notice. Thank you for sharing this with us bro. 8^)
Anthony..
Thank you my friend! When sharing videos in places like that, I find it helps to clarify it's not your personal video you made. Not because I care who gets credit for it, but I've noticed people are less hostile when they know it's not self-promotion.
You're welcome Bird. A pleasure to do so. With all the videos I post to be shared. I always mention the publisher that created the video for him/her to have the full credit they deserve. Looking forward on seeing the next Neo-Geo video from you bro. 8^)
Anthony...
You do a great job with the humor in these video, very snappy. The knife wielding Wii U at the end!
In terms of "appreciation", or rather, the "under" side of it, TG-16 for sure. I was the only kid I knew who owned/played one, whereas Neo Geo had the arcade exposure, as you mentioned. TG-16 was the misfit slinking about in dark recesses while other game systems had at least some mild exposure in the early '90s.
So many frustrations as a TurboGrafx-16 owner during the “16bit wars” era. NEC Japan losing what could have been a 2 year lead over the Genesis release because of a silly redesign of the PC Engine to accommodate Americans bigger is better tastes then overthinking what to port to the US from their large PC Engine library declining NEC America requests on almost everything saying the US wouldn’t understand the games, they had no clue. Konami has done next to nothing with Hudson Soft IPs which they own so those frustrations continue to this day. If you’re not going to do anything with the IPs why did you buy it? NeoGeo games constantly get rereleases on almost everything. Back then the Neo Geo AES was rare due to price but it’s the TurboGrafx-16 that’s becoming less and less known because of Konami
"Sega Saturn says Hiiiiii!"
Dood, I laughed way harder at this than I should've! lol
But yea, Lots of great PC engine games should've went to the west. Japan had so many awesome games for it.
I actually bought a TG-16 from the Sears catalog. I took it home and loved Bonk, but soon realized that there were not a lot of games on it (in 1989). So I returned it and bought the Genesis. I eventually picked up a TG16 and a Turbo Express. It is a great system!
Retro bird is the most underappreciated youtuber, oh yeah!
Ok that is really hard to choose: personally, the Turbografx-16 is only *slightly* more underappreciated since the Neo Geo I've heard about at least a few more times. Now compare the Turbografx-16 to the Super A'Can & the differences in obscurity become night & day.
The Super A'Can... now you're talkin'!
I still have not played a TurboGrafx-16 game yet. To be honest I forgot it even existed. In 2019 I finally was able to play Neo Geo at home with the Neo Geo Mini.
I always knew what a Neo Geo was due to the Arcade Games & just dreamed of owning one growing up. As a kid you do not have that type of money.
Neo Geo Arcade Games stuck in my head growing up, but I never saw or played a TurboGrafx-16 as a kid, so soon after it stopped being in Magazines it just faded away for me.
I remember my buddy having. Turbo Grafx 16 when we were younger and loving it. Was excited to hear about the Turbo Duo, and heavily debated whether I should get that or an SNES with some money I had saved. Ultimately I decided discs were the future and got the Duo. It was an awesome little system, but the lack of games was frustrating and I think someone eventually gifted me an SNES anyways. Held onto both until adulthood and then needed some money for a move and sold all my gaming stuff. My Duo still had the box and everything. Tough decision because now it’s becomes pretty unaffordable to rebuy. Loved it while I had it though! And if you’re the one who bought, I hope you’re treating it well!
Nice vid Bird! Our Wii U says Hiiiiiiiiiiii
Being a kid who grew up in the 80's and 90's i was right there in the heyday of 8 & 16Bit Consoles.
Many a time did i salivate over the graphics of the Neo Geo games in Magazines back in the day.
I only ever knew one person who owned a Neo Geo, and he became known around School as that kid who owned a Neo Geo.
I never knew anyone that owned a Turbografx 16 such was the elusiveness of the Console, though i do remember reading the reviews of some of it's more popular titles in Magazines.
Both Consoles were heavily advertised in the import section of Magazines, though the prices were way out of my league, especially the Neo Geo, which was considered the Holy Grail of Game Consoles at the time, and in some ways still is.
This video takes me right back to my youth when i would daydream of owning either of the Consoles.
Through emulation i have played some of the games i missed out on back in the day which was a nostalgic pleasure trip down memory lane.
Great video 👍
TurboGrax 16 was the very first console I ever played! My dad worked for NEC for a bit in the early 90s and they hooked him up with one super discounted. He basically became a TurboGrafx dealer for my cousins lol
”Kid who bird pooped on twice"... did we just get a hint towards the origin of the name Retro Bird??
I was recommended this channel for the first time today by RUclips.... and I am now subscribing!
Dude, you're the funniest retro gamer I've seen! Freaking hilarious! 🍻🍻
Welcome to the channel and thank you!
I think both consoles have gotten more appreciation over the years. I believe the Neo Geo probably is recognized more because of the franchises and ease to play the games because they have been ported allover the place. Also, the price for everything Neo Geo is insane and is known for that. At least the Turbografix 16 has some cheap stuff still. I personally own a Turbo Duo that has been recapped, Rgb modded for use with Hd Component cables and is region modded to play PC engine Hu Cards. I love the system. I just wish I found more games in the wild. I also own the U.S. variant of the Aes. It was by far the most pricey console I have ever bought and I only own two games currently for the machine. Still, I really am enjoying it and collecting accessories at the moment. The controllers aren’t as crazy as the games to get. They are still pricey but the cheapest things to buy for the system.
Rarely any video on youtube makes me laugh that many times than every single one of your videos. Keep up the great work and keep your humor!
Thank you! Glad you're enjoying the channel :)
I love your videos, and your humour! On the surface your videos may look simple, but there’s such polish and solid production values that puts you right at the top tier of retro gaming RUclips channels! I only wish more success and subs for your fine channel
I never heard of any of them or knew anyone who had any of them but I did knew of Neogeo from their games as a kid at the time and only knew about the consoles until 4 years back ago
Another huge thing I remember about the Turbo Grafx era was the Turbo Express! I thought the fact it played the same hu cards and was in color was going to ultimately spell the end of the Gameboy, but boy was I wrong there. Reading these comments it seems like I grew up on the other side of the spectrum, have total appreciation for the Turbo Grafx and barely hearing much about the Neo Geo.
That Wii U at the end was classic!! 😂 People hate the Wii U but love the Wii even though the Wii U plays all Wii games 🤦🏾♂️😂
When I was 15 or 16 my twin brother and I saved to buy a new console. It was between the Genesis and Turbografx 16. In the end we decided to get the Genesis. While I don’t regret it there will always be a ‘what could have been’ in my head if we decided to go the other way. I’m still to this day trying to find a Turbografx 16 for decent price. I may go the route you mentioned of a PC Engine Duo. Great video!
Neo Geo was always such a cool gaming console I rarely saw and heard of many times and the TurboGrafx-16 was a gaming console I saw sometimes and not many gamers talked about growing up it was always Nintendo , Sony and Sega gaming consoles. I love those cool retro gaming console commercials of TurboGrafx-16 and Neo Geo still makes cool games like King of Fighters 15 which is my favorite game of 2022 so far. Cool video. ^_^
Love your videos, Bird. Your sense of humor and positivity is always nice to hear. Keep it up!
I had the TG-16 as a kid and so did my best friend. Bonk's Adventure and Revenge are some of my favorite games of all time. Nobody I knew had a Neo and I've never played one.
That's pretty awesome you both had one. Did one of you get one because the other one got it first?
Tg16 for sure. I bought one very early in my collecting days and I still didn't really care enough to buy a ton of games. To this day I still have one game and that's Bonks Adventure complete that I bought sealed for $10. I think of getting rid of it, but just can't manage to part with it even if I could put the money towards something I would appreciate
I dunno if I'd describe it as underpreciated exactly but growing up, I never even heard of TG16. I had an NES, SNES wanted a Genesis and had played Neo Geo games in the arcade. It wasn't until a big Castlevania obsession I had in college that I learned what TG16 was. I have emulated and enjoyed a lot of TG16 games since.
However when I have brought up TG16 with friends and family who I have gamed with since I was a kid, none of them know what I am talking about when I bring it up.
The only time I can remember actually playing a TG16 on original hardware was at a store demo. On the other hand, while I didn't know anyone who had the home version of Neo Geo, the arcade cabinets were everywhere. If I were to ever buy a Neo Geo, that's the format I'd want it in because I don't really think of it as console. I've always thought about buying an arcade cabinet, but I can never decide which game and I don't have the space for all my favorites, so a Neo Geo would be perfect. It would also make a better piece to show off as everyone my age would instantly recognize it whereas a lot of people wouldn't immediately recognize the console version.
Yup, I agree the TG-16 is more underappreciated. Neo Geo games were playable in arcades, are more widely available now, and have sizable fanbases for series like Fatal Fury, while most TG-16 games were lost to time.
I got a Coregrafx Mini last Christmas, and no joke, it might be the best gaming purchase I’ve made over the last few years. It introduced me to a bunch of games I never played before, and ignited a passion for shmups I never knew I had (Lords of Thunder is the greatest shmup I’ve ever played).
I honestly don’t remember these systems being popular where I lived back in the 90s but I do remember a friend in high school letting me play his Neo- Geo in science class. (Either it was a chill class that day or the teacher was out of the room for awhile.) I played a game, I think it was called Capcom vs. SNK Match of the Millennium??? But yeah, I remember that was a blast. The graphics were incredible too at the time.On a side note, the food at that restaurant looks delicious 🤤!!
I remember the console packaging of Neo Geo hardware not having much impact. It was so expensive. No one talked about it. I'd say it was lower profile than the Amiga CD32 here in east coast USA. It always struck me as an obscure form of legendary arcade hardware.
The Turbografx-16 on the other hand had a presence in stores of my childhood. You could see the game cards and demo kiosks at Toy 'R Us, it also appeared in the console sections of department store catalogs we'd make Christmas and Birthday lists from. Games got adds in magazines and on TV. I only knew one kid that had one, very generous parents gifted him a Turbo Express. While I never got a chance to play it, i recall my opinion of the Turbografx at time was that it was cool but expensive. Splatterhouse, Legendary Axe, Book of Ys, and of course Bonk really appealed to me.
Amusingly, I never heard about Castlevania: Rondo of Blood until some time in the late '90s when I had internet. If that had been localized and came out earlier in the system's life it could have been a game changer.
I didn’t have either as a kid, but now own a Coregrafx Mini and Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro, as well as many others via emulation. They are two of my favorite libraries now. I hate that I missed the TG-16, since it was relatively affordable. The Neo Geo always fascinated me, but I knew my parents could never afford it. Both are severely under-appreciated, but I’d have to say the TG-16 gets far less respect simply from so many being unfamiliar with it. The games were colorful and unique, and usually had great soundtracks. Really glad to be able to play so many of both systems’ games now.
Amazing topic! Love hearing about the TG16
I still have my old systems all still work , from my neo geo gold , turbo graphix 16 , origian coleco , a sega add for my dads huge laser disc player , plus my first ever system the original atari . The are all in storage now as the wife hates clutter .
TG16CD for me. I worked a summer job taking care of ostrich hatchlings to buy the CD add on. I eventually got most of the games. When stationed in England, 5 player Bomberman and Moto-Roader were popular.
I was a 90s kid and I remember hearing a little bit of talk about the Neo Geo back then and kids thought it seemed cool, but nobody's parents were getting them that for that price. I never heard anybody talking about the TurboGrafx-16 back then and I think that any parent who bought their kid a TurboGrafx-16 over a SNES or Genesis like their friends were getting would have had one sad kid. So, in conclusion, the TurboGrafx-16 was more underappreciated by kids who didn't want to be "that kid that had a TurboGrafx-16 instead of a SNES/Genesis" while the Neo Geo was more underappreciated by parents who couldn't appreciate that it was cooler than putting a down-payment on a house.
I absolutely love your style of comedy that you include in your videos...especially at the very end of this one. Had me laughing for a while
Thank you. Glad you enjoy it :)
I would definitely say TG16. I remember first hearing about TG16 as it was like the sole sponsor, it would seem, of American Gladiators. Then, later on, after my parents gave me a subscription to gamepro, I learned about the games. There eventually was a video rental place that would I got to rent one from for an evening for free if you rent two games for it. (Which I decided to take advantage of one particular evening. My parents were not pleased to see another video game system in the house and promptly returned it when they returned home for the evening. I got to spend a grand total of an hour and a half with it.) To this day I've never played an actual neo geo, but as you said, got to play the arcade games so definitely got to enjoy the fruits of SNK's labor.
I have the TurboGrafx 16 Mini, and I love it. It's very underrated and has some of the best SHMUPS of all time.
I’ve really never been into SHMUPS. But I think they are great on the Turbo Grafix 16. The number of colors on the screen and the smooth gameplay really make them fun to play. On most systems they didn’t look near as great and came across as frustrating. The Turbo Grafix 16 had really great design and mechanics. It felt arcade like.
I was that kid who had a TurboGrafx-16 growing up. Can’t tell you how many schoolyard arguments there were defending its honor. If you factor in the ridiculous amount of games that came out for it in Japan and never made it to the States, I would say the TurboGrafx-16 was under appreciated more than the Neo-Geo.
I got a Turbo for Xmas in 89-90. While my friends thought "cool!" when they saw it, they always gravitated back to the sports titles on the genesis. That was what I always heard, "The Turbo has terrible sports games." I would say, "Try Splatterhouse!" They would, and they'd like it, however it would always be the same result. If only NEC didn't have that disagreement with EA back in the day, things may have turned out differently.
Heard that also but those sports games always sucked imo
Yeah Turbo Grafx had a 3rd party problem in general. I also had one (a Duo model) and it was painful watching all these awesome games release for SNES and Genesis. I loved it to death but there just wasn’t much to play on it.
Sports games were just for geeks who wished they were jocks because they were wimps
To me underappreciated doesn't just mean "less appreciated" it means it was worthy of more appreciation than it got. I think the ratio of appreciation of these two reflected their respective difference in capability.
Cool video, and that ending made me chuckle.
I just saw your video now. I woke up early this morning had to go to work really early. I remember The Turbo Graphx 16 for Bonks Adventure. I wanted to buy one when I was a kid but never did. For the Neo geo I wasn't even interested in that console when it 1st came out. I know both consoles have awesome games. I think I would prefer the Turbo Graphx 16 just because of the side scrollers & shooters.
Turbo-Grafx 16 is most underrated!! I see Neo Geo games for sale on switch, Xbox and PlayStation. But I don't see many Turbo-Grafx 16 games sales at all.
I like both of those consoles. 😀👍🎮
Tirbo Grafics 16 has a lot of good shoot-em-ups
SEGA Dreamcast is the most under appreciated
You bring up a really good point by pointing out that the PC Engine came out in Japan in 1987. At the same point the PC Engine came out, Japanese players were also just getting Zelda II on Famicom Disk System. There's a reason it must've seemed so amazing to them at the time. Not releasing until 2 years later in the US alongside the newer Genesis took a lot of wind out of its sails.
At the time, the Turbografx was 100% the most underappreciated console. Most people hadn't even heard of it, whereas Neo Geo MVS cabinets were everywhere... skating rinks, bowling alleys, arcades, pizza places... and anyone who was into games knew the Neo Geo AES as an almost mythical holy grail that we all wanted.
Nowadays, the Neo Geo AES is way more underappreciated. Narratives such as it only having fighting games and only being for elitist collectors permeate the scene, whereas the Turbografx has cultivated a nice fanbase that actively imports as well, as it is relatively more accessible.
Opposite experience for me: Turbo definitely known and sometimes owned, NeoGeo not so much on the radar. I'm guessing that's because of my age group.
@@PCGamer77 yeah, I think age and region make big difference, since the Turbografx wasn't in some areas. I'm in my '40s near a big city, which definitely shaped my experience.
@@bananonymouslastname5693 Same here. I think maybe getting into PC games in a big way, and not being that much into the 90s arcade scene, kept me in the dark about the NeoGeo.
@@PCGamer77 There's the difference! I didn't grow up with a PC in the house, and definitely had an affinity for arcade games!
That Retro Stockpile arcade stick is fire 🔥. I have the red MVS version and blue MVS version myself and love em.
The TG16 is very underappreciated like it always has been since it's American launch, and it still has a cult following.
The Neo Geo on the other hand, was more popular given it's Arcade presence. It just so happens when the home console iteration came, NOBODY was willing to drop a chunk of cash for a console, let alone it's games back then.
It sucks nowadays that the TG16 mini can only be bought secondhand because Konami decided to stop making them because of the coof pandemic primarily. The Neo Geo mini on the other hand, is still being manufactured although it's library of games are still accessible in many ways. BOTH consoles have their dedicated fans. It'll be a great thing TG16 titles would appear on Nintendo Switch Online.
Good video! I agree, TGFX/PCE is the most underappreciated console in the west. Neo Geo is great at what it does, and back in the day I would have chosen it over the TurboGrafx if I had a choice.. but knowing both of the libraries now I would have to say owning a PC Engine Duo provides a better gaming experience, spanning many genres with some really great experiences across the board. Both are great, but PC Engine comes out on top IMO
I’m from Ukraine 🇺🇦 and when I was a kid there was only the Chinese famicom clones and the European versions of the genesis called “mega drive”. About something like pcengine or neo geo I find out only after some time and it’s fun to explore the history behind the video games. The consoles time was the best. Thanks for cool video. Like your sense of humor and the thoughts is quite interesting. Would like to watch some small sketch show from you in RUclips format. It might not work outside the retro gaming context but it definitely would be interesting. 😀
It’s so sad that many turbographix 16 games may be forgotten because of how little they get get rereleased, I’m planning on buying a few on the Wii U before the eshop shuts down because I’ve never played a turbographix16 game.
TG16 is beyond underappreciated - it's barely even known! I myself didn't know the console existed until it was long gone. When I first saw it, I thought it was some kind of NES clone because the controller is so similar. Everyone knew about the Neo Geo and it's still held to high regards to this day, but it's kinda like the Lamborghini of gaming - everyone knows what it is, but few can afford one!
I remember my friend having a Turbo Grafics 16 and he's kept going on about how good and cool it was...it wasn't a Nintendo so I wasn't into it. Great to hear info on both of these systems
Well, you missed out on some gems. No time like the present...
"it wasn't a Nintendo so I wasn't into it" - really? But it has MUCH better graphics (and is just more powerful) than the NES....like back in 89, i would've traded my NES for a TG16 in a heartbeat! Some TG16 games looked almost arcade perfect (eg. Ninja Spirit and Dragon Spirit)...NES wasn't even close.
Hello retrobird great video. I love your skits, they are funny.
I agree, the TurboGrafx 16 here in the US, was pretty underrated. As you said, Nintendo had strongarm business practices that locked out nearly all it's competition.
By competition (at the time), I mean Atari 7800, Sega master system, Atari xegs, turbo Grafx 16.
No one I knew of in the late 80s had a turbo Grafx 16. All of the kids I sat with at lunch from 1989 to 1992, heard of the turbo Grafx 16, but we only saw it in magazines or at toys R Us on a demo unit.
As far as neo Geo goes, that was something we all heard about but no one had it because 700 dollars at launch was too much money for the average parent to spend.
You mentioned the neo Geo games being super expensive at that tracks. I remember looking through magazines and ads for neo Geo games and the cheapest games were 100 dollars and topping out at 500 dollars.
Basically if you were not legit rich back then, the neo Geo and it's games might as well be vaporware lol.
Yeah, it's funny how many people knew about the Neo Geo but never even seriously considered how they might be able to pay for it.
My honest opinion would be that neither system are under appreciated; they are both appropriately appreciated. The turbo grafx 16 wasn’t marketed well enough and the neo-geo was way too expensive for mere mortals. I played plenty of neo-geo games growing up in arcades but I never knew anybody that had a turbo grafx 16, and never even knew where I could buy one. These days I was able to get a turbo grafx 16 mini on first release when it was still reasonably priced and I can honestly say that I love the games! The turbo grafx 16 does shooters really well and that’s one of my favorite retro genres. I have also downloaded several neo-geo games into my PS4 through the PlayStation store and I absolutely love them, especially the Metal Slug series. So there it is, they have both made their beds and now have to sleep in them. The hope for us gamers and retro gamers is accessibility, if I have a way to play your games, I’ll play your games. That’s why I would foam at the mouth for a Sega Saturn mini! Please Sega, give me my fix for Daytona USA, Sega Rally Championship, the Virtua Cop series with a modern hdmi light Gun feature, Panzer Dragoon, etc. There really is a market for all of these games, even if we think they are under appreciated. There are enough people out there that would be willing to spend money on these games that companies can still turn a profit. For instance, I put in a pre-order for the upcoming Sega Genesis Mini 2 just because it would feature Outrun and Outrunners. Thanks for the video Retro Bird, this was an awesome topic!
While it may have been different at some point; I am gonna say The Turbo 16 is the most underappreciated; especially since it gets fewer instances getting re-released on current consoles than the Neo-Geo. Even back in the day; it was very underappreciated here as the Genesis and SNES were in full swing (and more powerful) and the Neo-Geo was the expensive rich kid option; leaving the Turbo to be an after though in the eyes of many. Aside from mom and pop game stores; I barely saw the thing out in the wild as well.
All I remember of the Neo Geo was the only way to get one was by winning it on the game show "Video Power"
What a thrill it would have been to win one.
That and those impossible to win Sweepstakes you would see in video game magazines.
I've appreciated the Turbografx 16 since I bought one in 1989! I've never played a Neo Geo.
I never had either system. Sega for me. But last Christmas my brother bought me a Anbernic hand held device. I had never heard of it but basically (for those who don’t know). It looks like a gameboy but it plays ROMS on an sd card. It has a lot of Neo Geo games and Turbografx 16 games from Us and over seas. So I’m looking up what those systems were. Great video.
Great vid for two awesome consoles. Looking at popularity, the Neo Geo seems to be hands down more popular. Well w/at least people knowing what it is and even knowing people that own one, even if it is a consolized MVS. When I bring up the TG16 the response received 90% of the time is "what?" It's a real shame since it's great system that's most often slept on.
Turbo Graphx 16.
The Neo Geo was a different beast and I'm not even sure if it makes for a valid comparison TBH. It's price point puts it above ordinary consoles which is the main contributor to it's obscurity. The Turbo Graphx 16 on the other hand was priced very competitively and ads would even show up from time to time. I knew of it's existence back then for sure. But the only place I remember the system or the games being on sale was a Toys R Us.
PC Engine/Turbografx-16 was what got me started in the way of import consoles. It's not expensive if you only want to play Japanese Hucard games, a Core-Grafx is not too difficult to get a hold of on the collector's market. But the expense comes by wanting to get more hardware. I got a Turbografx-16 after getting a PC Engine to being able to play both regions. I've also slowly gotten the hardware to being able to play PC Engine CD Rom2. But even if i got a fully Japanese setup, I still want a Turbo-CD to be able to play the games meant for that variant. Turbografx collecting to me is long term collecting that builds up over time. It's total worth get insanely expensive, but it's not a huge investment then and there like the Neo Geo. Neo Geo doesn't require a multitap and a composite out acessory, but you can buy these at a later time for the Turbografx.
I would take TG-16 over NG any day, but I also understand that it’s purely down to the game library and personal preference.
I also think that in high school (96-01), I could ask anybody about their preference and very few would have remembered the TG16. So, NG was far more popular where I lived, but I still prefer the TG.
I was "that kid who had a Turbografx-16". I only knew 2 other people who had one for a short period of time but then they traded their Turbos in for Genesis systems once Sonic came out. From that point I became that kid.
And took your rightful throne!
@@RetroBirdGaming hah
Me and my brother had all the consoles of the day except the neo geo and it was that price that kept it outta our hands,my opinion is both are equally underaprieciated
The consoles I would consider the “that kid that had the ” console:
Sega Master System
Turbo Grafx 16
Atari Lynx
Game Gear
I would add Neo Geo to this, but I never knew someone who owned one.
I actually did have a TurboGrafx16 for a short period of time.
I had $100 from Christmas or something like that and Toys R Us was clearancing out their TurboGrafx16 stuff as it was drifting further into the 3rd place of the 16bit console wars.
A new TurboGrafx16 was $75 and I also purchased Legendary Axe which was another $20.
I had it for about 3 days… but since it only had one controller port (couldn’t play it with friends… unless you got a TurboTap), nobody else I knew had one (couldn’t trade games), no video store rental rented those games and games were disappearing from the shelves along with their quickly disappearing market share… I thought I was investing in a system no more new games were coming out for.
I ended up returning it. I did enjoy Legendary Axe but thought Kieth Courage was the worst pack in game imaginable. I thought it was so slow paced and it really put me to sleep.
At the time it was the right decision… but I wish I had kept it and just kept buying clearance games for it.
I love the PC Engine now, I had one with that SSDS3 attachment and really got into it.
When the CD core became available on the MiSTer platform, I ended up selling it and putting that money into something else.
As of right now… the only PCEngine/TG16 stuff I have is Dracula X: Rondo of Blood and FX Unit Yuki and a few controllers I didn’t put in the bundle I sold.
Right now it’s super expensive to collect for (for the types of games I would want) but I did get heavily into Neo Geo. Up to 36 US AES games, 13 Japanese AES games and 28 US MVS games. I have a Japanese AES with the UniBios chip, a JammaNationX MVS and a bunch of boxed controllers. I really love this console and it was a dream as a kid to own one. Finally got to the point in my life to make some childhood dreams come true and I did it at the right time.
7:18 is yet another LMAO moment.
This is such an interesting and unique topic for discussion. I would say the TG16 is more underrated, and i'm one of the people that underrates it... sorry i'm just not that impressed... while sure it's better than the NES, but it was out at the same time as the Sega Genesis/MD and that was just better in every way, sorry not sorry. As for the Neo Geo... everyone who knows about it, treats it with reverence, myself included. Expensive? Surely, but prices have only climbed up since release and demand has never been higher. Anyway, great channel, great content, glad to have [recently] discovered you, sub'd!
This. I don't hate the TG16, but there isn't a lot on it that I've seen that makes me want one. NeoGeo on the other hand has some pretty cool titles. In retrospect though if I had to pick between the two I'd just buy a SNES or Genesis instead. Way bigger library appeal for me personally. NeoGeo and TG16 are both cool systems, but they feel a lot more niche to me.
Glad you discovered the channel! Welcome aboard :)
Neo Geo was respected and appreciated but too expensive. I never heard of anyone actually having one. I remember going to the arcades and raving over the Neo Geo cabinets. I started to buy all the games that came out on Steam a few years back. King of Fighters is my favorite fighting series of all time.
Turbo Grafix 16 made my jaw drop back in the day. CD-Rom games and the color pallet blew me away when I saw it on store displays. And this was when it sat alongside Genesis and SNES. I play all 3 systems often and collect minis. Turbo Grafix 16 is packed with gems. Many of the arcade ports look better. It’s a great system. I didn’t ever get to play one until I bought a mini last year. I only got to see them on displays. So I was excited to experience the console for the very first time. Something I have wanted to do for over 30 years. I can see why it was so popular in Japan. I guess the fact it’s most popular titles just about hit the hidden gems category made it obscure. Besides that we got far less titles made it the RC Cola of gaming consoles. I just happen to prefer RC Cola over Coke and Pepsi. To each his own. I recommend getting into the PC-Engine instead with more classics available.
Every US 80's kid envied the graphics of the Neo Geo in the screenshots in the early 90's gaming mags, including me. 40 years later I'd prefer a Supergrafx having to pick one.
There were a lot of demo kiosks for the Turbografx-16 at Toys R Us. I was probably 6 or 7 at the time, but I remember having fun trying out Bonk's Adventure and really wanting it. I didn't have a TG16, but I remember some employee telling me "you can play it on Nintendo too". I got excited and somehow convinced my grandma to let me pull one of those iconic yellow tickets that Toys R Us used to have... only to discover later that there way no possible way for this strange credit card-sized "game?" to fit in the NES!! It was only 2 decades later that I discovered there was an NES version too, but at the time I was just a caveman kid trying to play a caveman game.
Both were my two favorite consoles growing up only the switch oled and xbox series has topped them recently as my two favorites
One game that came out on Turbografx CD that is really nice is Ys book 1 and 2. Also available on the Turbografx Mini.
Also one thing I think is reallt cool with Turbografx is the format the games are. The creditcard cartridges or what you are suppose to call em :)
I dont have much experience with NeoGeo.
I know I was not born at their prime but I never saw a NeoGeo outside it's arcade form. And I was born after the 16bit one so had no idea it even existed until now XD
i didn't exist at the time either console was new but i definitely see more Turbo appreciation these days than Neo Geo. i feel like some of that might have to do with the mystique of a console that hasn't had as many game re-releases
Neo Geo games get tons of re-releases and are more easily accessible, so the mystique and cool factor goes away a bit
id say it depends on the context, in more mainstream discussions on the generation the turbo graphics 16 is brought up more, but the neogeo is talked about alot more in an arcade context and accessibility is a major factor, especially for people not used to emulation
A banana tattoo would be awesome! 😂
I kind of think both of these are more niche than fans give them credit for. The Neo Geo's library is a set of 90s arcade games from a fairly limited selection of publishers. In my mind, TurboGrafx/PC Engine games have sense of stiffness to them, with games like Bonk and Neutopia feeling much more limited and less dynamic than their Nintendo equivalents, Mario and Zelda. I think that's why its best games tend to be shmups, without sprawling worlds or much sprite animation. I'm not a particularly big fan of either console, though I do think they both have some great games that are worth investigating.
I tend to think the Neo Geo brand is more widely known among retro gamers. SNK have kept franchises like King of Fighters and Metal Slug relevant throughout the years, while Bonk's Adventure has sunk to the ranks of mostly-forgotten caveman platformers like Chuck Rock and Congo's Caper. I think there's more global awareness of the Neo Geo too, with the PC Engine being fairly obscure and ellusive in Europe, and there's so many names, hardware revisions and adapters, it's hard for a lot of people to even picture what the console looks like. Personally, I appreciate the relative diversity of the Turbo/PCE library over the Neo Geo, but neither come close to how much I love the NES, SNES or Mega Drive.
TG16 deserved better. Second most played system I ever owned. Only NES had more hours played by me. I even bought the TurboDuo. The shooters were some of the best of any system.
TG16 is definitely the more underappreciated system, since Genesis and SNES blew it out of the water. The thing about the NeoGeo is that since it was also available in the arcades, compared to owning an arcade cabinet, the price was actually more than reasonable. Arcade cabinets were in the thousands of dollars range.
I prefer the Turbografx by far. More affordable and the games are more up my alley.
I have both systems and
TURBOGRAFX-16 has no beat em games on no Hue card then again NEO-GEO has a handful of beating up games that's a shame there's not many games like that on these systems
@@demonology2629 Vigilante on Turbografx I believe.
@@CasperEgas oh yeah I remember that yeah. Vigilante was strange it was like a Kung Fu knockoff I think it was better but it didn't feel like it beat'em exactly. As one hit knocks the person off the screen was real weird. But hey at least the skinheads kidnapped Madonna in the video game that is cool!
PC-Engine / TurboGrafx-16 is my favorite system and I can't wait to get the interface unit for my collection.
Had the TG16 before my SNES or Genesis. Parents bought it for me with Keith Courage. Always wanted a Neo Geo, but it cost too much in the 90s.
Neo Geo Was And Is Still An Holy Grail System,Only Rich Players Had Them,TG16 was loved by the few of us that had it
I wasn't OKAY without the Sega CD. I HAD to have it. Of course, I HAD to have the 3DO also. I was lucky to get the Turbo Grafx 16 in February or March of 1991. Admittedly though, I didn't get the Neo Geo AES until 2010 or 2011, and the Neo Geo CD a few years later. I now own EVERY US released console (aside from department store knock-off's and every Pong Clone ((I do own most Pong consoles)).
At this point, I own 338 consoles. I love them all, but my favorite is the SNES. I would say though, that the Turbo Grafx 16, Sega Genesis, Sega CD and Neo Geo AES are in my Top 10.
I remember getting my dad getting the TG16 and it was ok. Then the CD attachment came out and with it...Ys Books I & II. That game was one of the greatest gaming experiences I have ever had. From the gameplay to the music, it really was the complete package. Neo Geo has nothing that rivals that experience.
I didn’t care for either since I was around SNES and Genesis enough and played Neo Geo at the arcades so if you count that, TG-16 is definitely the most under-appreciated by most.
I was one of the 2 kids in town with a tg16. One guy had a neo geo and let me see it on his porch and wouldn't let us inside to play it.
TG-16! And even the Sega Saturn to a degree. Neo Geo was great but primarily focused on fighting. It was the best at that hands down but the TG-16 had so many more games across other categories.