Turbografx-16 games on the VC/Bomberman '93

[Grapple Convoy]

Is it me, or do all TG16/PC-E games basically look like Megadrive games, but with much poorer animation? As in, NES-style animation, if not 'stiffer' and with less frames? (Just trying to be objective. Never had the chance to play anything on the PC Engine during its heyday despite reading magazines like ACE and early Edge, which featured PC-E a fair bit as some unobtainable exotic console. I just feel a little disillusioned.)

Anyway, could I have peoples' opinions on Bomberman '93 for the VC? Was planning to get it downloaded for Christmas as a nice 'party' game, as I have enough controllers to make it worthwhile. It would be played by non-gamers. I have fond memories of Bomberman on the Amiga being a good accessible game that everyone played, y'see.

Thanks.

[Skull Commander]

I havn't played bomberman on the pc engine/turbographix, but I have a few downloaded on the wii from it and think it looks bloody good. You have to remember it was an 8 bit machine at heart so not all the games were going to be up to megadrive standard. The bonk games look very nice, as does r-type and ninja spirit.

[egparadigm]

From what I read in EDGE specials over the years, I recall that it was an 8-bit machine that they tried to extend over into the 16-bit era. When the NES was ruling the world, the PCE was ahead of it's time, so it's probably somewhere between the two generations.

Also, I believe I've heard that Bomberman '93 is the ultimate version. EDIT: Actually, it may have been Bomberman '94...

Here's a review: http://www.vc-reviews.com/review/441/bomberman-93.php

[Mofoman]

The PC Engine may have been 8bit, but it was streets ahead of it's time and it's hugely advanced 8 bit hardware. Very much like a high end Nec PC back then, and thats probably where the name came from. It's actually nearer a Mega Drive than a Family Computer(jap Nes) technically, and had great expansion potential'as was explored through super cd and the various ram hu cards for super cd.

The Supergrafx, was very close to MD performance and a damn shame,so few games were made for the console, combined with SCDROM2 and expansion cards, thay would have had amzing potential,and the games for it don't nearly push it.

[sadat]

the wii version works very nicely, in 5 player no less! cheap as microchips too, and even GIRLS can work out how to play pretty easily.

[rmoxon]

Alot of PC engine games look crap yeah... alot of them play crap too, not exactly the best machine ever made IMO. The music on the CD games was usualy of a high standard though, most of the CD games probabaly had slightly better graphics too.

Hopefuly they will release Rondo of blood soon becuase that and Gates of Thunder are the only two games I relaly like on the machine.

[Vince]

Bomberman 93 is a good version of Bomberman, its the right sort of balance between simple fun and the over the top power up type versions that appeared later on. I personally really like the PC Engine generally although i admit part of that is nostalgia as myself and most of my friends had them, but there are some very good games. I think it does suffer a bit because many of the arcade versions were excellent at the time but have been surpased more recently by versions on compilations or obviously mame, which detracts from it a bit, R-Type is a good example of this.

Basically if you weren't into the PC Engine back in the day then i wouldn't expect too much, its similar to the MD really although probably not as good graphically, but i would say its game catalogue is as good. Another thing of note is quite a lot of the games were quite hard, it was said back then that the majority of MD games were too easy, whereas the PC Engine was more suited to people into gaming.

[Leon Retro]

The PC-Engine is a nice machine, but it is 8bit.

I agree when you say the games look like MD titles, but the animation is very 8bit. That's what I've felt.

There are quite a few excellent PCE games, but a lot are like more colourful NES titles, similar to Master System games.

I'd say that overall, the PCE is between the Master System and Mega Drive when it comes to performance.

Obviously... there are some games for the machine that push the hardware to a point where the games really impress. The weakest point of the machine is its sound, but CD titles usually overcome that weak spot.

As with any console, just play the best games, and enjoy.

[sadat]

did anyone here have a PC Engine GT? That was a BEAUTIFUL handheld, and the first real arcade-perfect handheld experience. R-Type on that was a thing to behold way back when!

[Leon Retro]

did anyone here have a PC Engine GT? That was a BEAUTIFUL handheld, and the first real arcade-perfect handheld experience. R-Type on that was a thing to behold way back when!

A friend of mine had one with PC Kid(Bonk) ... I thought it was great. I've never owned one, but have always been tempted.

[Grapple Convoy]

Prob' download Bomberman '93 then, unless someone can suggest another suitable 2-or-more-player game for non-gamers.

[B1gBeard]

Always brings a tear to the eye the PC Engine. Great machine in its day and games like R-Type and Gunhed really showed its sprite muscle. I think its one of those must have's if you're into retro.

[rmoxon]

Prob' download Bomberman '93 then, unless someone can suggest another suitable 2-or-more-player game for non-gamers.

If you have a 360 get Scene It?!!!

Not exactly as cheap as bomberman, but its the best party game you will have played in years.

I'm not sure many other VC games are party games really to be honest.

[Grapple Convoy]

My conclusion on Bomberman '93: It's not so good.

I was expecting a game like the Super Bombermans, or that PC-E Bomberman game I read a review of in Edge, which had rideable kangaroos and different types of Lego spaceman, err, Bomberman. But no.

(Note to self: do more research in future.)

It's just like the basic original (or not) Bomberman I had on the Amiga as 'Dyna Blaster', really. So there's more multiplayer arenas, but all but the standard grey 'Dungeon' one is too gimmicky to be enjoyable. Still, the kick-the-bomb-to-slide-it power-up isn't too bad in multiplayer, I guess.

So I'd say give this a miss, and hope that one of the Super Bomberman games appears on the VC eventually.

[rmoxon]

Think youre on about Mega Bomberman on the Megadrive, that had Kangeroos in it.