I have a great Turbo story. This has been probably 10 or 11 years ago. I was in a Gamestop for whatever reason when a guy walks in with a box. I hear the guy at the counter tell him "I'm sorry, we don't take Turbografx 16 stuff anymore." So I walk over to the guy and tell him that I am interested in everything he has. Instantly the guy at the counter informs me that I can't do a deal in the store (I had no idea) so we walk outside. Anyway, the guy looks at me and says "I've driven a long way to get here I just want my gas money to get back home. Give me 20 bucks and everything is yours." So I give him 20 bucks and proceed to rummage through the box. Inside I find Splatterhouse, Vigilante, Keith Courage, Bonk 1 and 2, Baseball, Football, a Turbo Tap. I was in heaven. That has to have been the absolute best game deal I ever received in my entire gaming life.
+HappyConsoleGamer I was so excited to mention my story that I forgot to mention in my original post that in that box was also a complete console in working order with all the hookups as well as numerous other games besides the ones I mentioned. It was like finding a pot of gold.
I know this post is old but it’s an awesome story. I also lucked out by finding a new in box Turbografx 16 with 5 games still in box at a flea market and the lady told me she only wanted $10 for it. The lady literally had no idea what it was. She called it a “vcr”... lol
There's a reason my banner or cover photo or whatever it's called on our channel is of the TurboGrafx-16 (it's actually a photo I took myself). Amazing system. Poor marketing. But NEC sure loved the "Grafx" name as they also gave it to the CoreGrafx 1 and 2 as well as the SuperGrafx. I don't think Grafx helped them at all, really. Hardly anyone can spell it to this day. It did them no favors.
In southeastern PA, they sold it at Toys R' Us, and there as an AMAZING display case unit. It was awesome. You walked past all these things you could flip up to learn about the games. Truly great! They had a video feed that played over and over that showed the games. It was awesome! I had all the original TG16 stuff, but today I have Turbo Duo.
Man Johnny I love the genuine passion and love youve shown in this video, have been watching you since the DQ 4 review, and have never been let down. You go man
Thanks for talking about the 25th anniversary of the Turbografx-16. I opened up to liking Keith Courage in Alpha Zones more too after I won the fastest time world record on it at Twin Galaxies.
Yeah, I was the only one of my friends who had one and was always was confused why it got no love. I had SNES also and looked at the Sega Genesis as the enemy, but always praised how awesome the Turbo Grafx 16 was. (still to this day) The sound and colors were badass and Legendary Axe and Ninja Spirit showcased that perfectly.
Yeah poor TG16. My first exposure was seeing it on display at the CNE in Toronto. I think it was the first 16 bit system i saw. I was blown away but it was very expensive so nobody i knew ever had one. I did manage to get one years later from a guy in high school. He sold it to me for $20, with some games, because "he plays with girls now". Psh, sucker.
Johnny your story really brought me back. I was that guy as well back in 89, also in high school at the time, buying the TG16 over the Genesis. I knew one other TG16 owner, and another guy who bought a TurboDuo later when it came out. Great system. I always thought the success of the PC Engine would translate to sales over here, but it just didn't work out.
I was born in 85 and I honestly didnt know about the Turbo Grafx until I like 1993. Now at 28 years old I was finally able to track down a system and try it for the first time. Man, all I can say is if young me could have gotten his hands on this system, things would have been so different. Nintendo? Mario who? It would have been all about Bonk for me haha. It's such a wonderful little machine.
I love the turbo graphx so much. I used to play at a store called PC Richard and sons. I got the system used for $50 in 1996 with some games like bonk 1, dungeon explorer, neutopia and some other games. Great system that I passed down in 2001 and wish I still had it. Great memories.
This is why emulation is important because when I was a kid I was never able to buy the system anywhere and nobody I knew owned one. I didn't get to try it out until one day a pawn shop had one on display with Vigilante. I fiend and itched to play the system again but wasn't able to until the summer of 1997 when I first got a copy of the Magic Engine emulator for MSDOS and some roms. I feel deeply in love with the system and it's games! All the vibrant colors, it's quirky yet recognizable fidelity of sound, the simple controls....it just felt like the NES but on steroids. If you're a spaceship shooter fan like me, then this system is the Mecca for that genre.
The TG-16 really did have a colorful library and I think it is still underappreciated today. I had so much fun with bonk, golden axe, dungeon explorer, victory run, blazing lasers. alien crush, splatterhouse, bloody wolf, ninja spirit, etc. You can really go on and on there are so many unique and truly great games.
One of the many reasons I love your channel Johnny is the love you show Turbografx! So rare among gaming channels. I just started collecting for it 6 months ago, and I have the suitcase and about 8 games, and I'm having a blast! I also only new one kid in jr. high who had it. I just remembered it looked like a slight, colorful upgrade from the NES', but still felt inferior to our Genesis' (probably because that's what my friends and I had). Now I can totally appreciate it and the many great games it has. Also the cover art is great!
I purchased one in 1992 in Ga. I was the only one in my neighborhood that had one, or in my school. It really sucked when Toy-R-Us quit carrying them in the mid 90's.Finally got a used game store in the late 90's that had the games but cost a fortune then, but got CD attachment for 60 bucks. I gave mine to a friend that had no console for his little ones years ago to relive my experiences through them. I miss my console, but relive it on Emu. Great video brought back allot of memories!
I recall Radio Shack being the ONLY place I could find TG16 games towards the end of the consoles life cycle. I remember, I think it was Air Zonk that came on a fatter Hu card and I could only imagine how much EXTRA content would be on it. I loved my TG16. But like you, I was the only guy on my street who knew anything about it.
I remember the ads for the TurboGrafx in all the magazines back then. I didn't own one, but liked what I saw. It was one of those consoles that most gamers had heard about, but most didn't own one. Of all the underground consoles of that period it came closest to the mainstream - more than the 3DO a few years later, for example. 1989 is right when my gaming days started, and I can remember it pretty clearly and it does make me feel rather old. The whole feel of the times was different, partly because of youth, and partly because so much electronics technology was really new. There was a strong sense of novelty.
Hi Johnny you and I are the same age ( I was born in March of 1974) and from the same era of video games (the best era if you ask me), and I remember the TurboGrafx 16. My parents bought me one in 1990 and I still own it to this day. I showed it to my son and he loves it. Thanks for the nostalgia trip, keep it up, love your channel. I'm a gamer, however, I'm a retro gamer through and through, 8-bit and 16-bit runs through my veins.
One of my favorite systems, my brother and his friend both had the TurboGrafx 16 system in the early 90's when I was just a child, there are so many fond memories and I can say I am one of those people that really enjoyed Keith Courage In Alpha Zones and loved the soundtrack, especially that end theme. My favorite game on it I would have to say is Dungeon Explorers, the story, action rpg elements, the amazing music, just everything about it really defined the system for me. Other favorites include Silent Debuggers, the ports of Cadash and Splatterhouse, and lastly my preferred port of Space Harrier. I did enjoy Bonk's Adventure, Dragon Spirit, Dead Moon, Legendary Axe which I could never beat because it is so difficult and many others. I am glad to see much love for the TurboGrafx 16, awesome video!
Turbografx-16 was the system I had growing up. My dad worked at Radio shack at the time, so he got it for dirt cheap. Had some good games, only ever wound up with like 5 of them.
Thank you! Thank you! I appreciate you showing this awesome console some love. I had it when it originally came out. I was fortunate enough to add one back to my collection this year. I love this system and all the games! Definitely an awesome gem in gaming history!
your love for this machine is contagious! I've never touched or even saw it in life but i started to love it since i saw one of your early videos. keep up spreading the word!
I'm from Pgh, PA. Only one of my friends had a TG16, and he was from my old neighborhood we'd already moved away from. He came over for a weekend in 1990 and brought his TG16, Bonk's Adventure, Legendary Axe, and a couple others. My brother and I had never played one before, and that was the last time for me. I think Legendary Axe won some EGM award for best game of the year. Genesis Strider won the following year IIRC.
Man I love your enthusiasm for this console. My favorite console, I was like you, preaching it's greatness to anybody willing to listen. Good for you man, nice to know I'm not the only one.
I miss when consoles was simple like that when you just put in a game turn it on and seconds later you are playing it, There was no menu loading no updates no bs. Just pop in a game and play. I still own my genesis, dreamcast and ps2. I still play them to this day I do play with current consoles as well but I mostly prefer the classics.
I was super excited to get the Turbo Grafx for Christmas in 1990. I was in 10th grade. No one I knew had any interest in system either, and I was always trying to tell people how great it was. I remember there was a promotion when I got it where you could send away for a free game if you bought two other games, and I got Legendary Axe!
The Turbografx was for people that had money. Back in the day. People were die hard for certain consoles due to being able to afford only one console. I have fond memories of Turbografx. Just not in my house...
It's a shame that this system wasn't more popular back in the day. I had a friend that owned one, and I loved it. The only game I remember playing on it back then was Neutopia, and it was awesome. Surprised to hear you recommend the roms. There seem to be a lot of snobby collectors that are against roms, even though some of the games may be stupidly expensive. I hope to get lucky someday, and find a cheap Turbo Duo with a whole bunch of games. Until then, I will happily enjoy the roms on Magic Engine. :)
I had a friend in school who got one on launch, so i got to play games on like Y's, splatter house, military madness, and alien crush. I ended up buying Bonk's Adventure, and splatter house because i could play it on his system. That is one of the few consoles i played as a kid I still need to get.
Great stuff as always Johnny! As a UK gamer, I didn't even know what the TG-16 was until Retro Gamer magazine...I remember thinking "PC Engine?...I thought the Xbox was Microsoft's first console?" :P Really came to love the system's lineup on the Wii Virtual Console, especially Ys and the shooters; Super Star Soldier was honestly one of my most played games on the Wii for several months! Still have many more of its games to check out. I can relate to being in the minority on loving the system, I felt like that a lot during school; I was the N64 kid while everyone else had Playstations, and that only continued with the Dreamcast and later the Gamecube...it was such a delightfully miraculous feeling when you came across someone with the same console!
Wow, I'm as old as the TurboGrafx. XD I actually remember playing it before when I lived in Connecticut as a kid, and I remember wanting to play more and I never got the chance to. Since no one else I knew had one.
So good! Here in the UK, Turbo Grafx / PC Engine was always the machine that a friend of a friend had, just like the Neo Geo, which was very illusive. Most kids would have wanted one (if they knew about it) but had to stick with the one system, which was usually the Master System, Megadrive or Super Nintendo, which was of course not a bad thing. Great video Johnny!
You are doing a great service carrying the torch for the TurboGrafx. It was the same for me in high school, me and one other friend had one and that was it. When I had gatherings on the weekend to play games with other friends the Turbo got lots of love. I remember the weekend we beat Gate of Thunder, man was that last level hard. So many great games and so many great memories. I'll end with my favorite line from Last Alert: "Boss: Hey Guy, let my baby Betty blow you a kiss! Guy: Your some WIERDO naming your helicopter?"
My buddy and I used to walk down to our home town Woodwards store to play the demo set-up of the TG-16 all the time. It was like getting to play free arcade games and there was always a ton of kids hanging around it. Keith Courage blew my mind as did the HUGE sprites of China Warrior. Considering I live in a small town in British Columbia, I actually knew quite a few people that had this including a kid whose Dad bought him a new game every time he beat one (good deal). Eventually it was relegated to RadioShack only and a few years later, I remember they were selling it for thirty bucks. By this time the SNES was in full stride and it didn't seem worth it. I didn't realize how powerful the nostalgia for those Woodwards days was going to be for me and I sought out one years later with no regrets. I was fortunate to have a friend who gave me his original one and a second friend who gave me the CD add-on. I have good friends.
HCG, you bring nostalgia on a whole different level.I like your passion about video gaming and your own personal history that you had throughout the years.
I don't remember ever seeing any Turbo Grafx 16 commercials on TV. The only way I found out about it was I saw it in one of those Sears Christmas catalogs.
i got my pc engine duo in 1993, still have it, its sitting behind me on the shelf, along with later buys, the duo rx, the shuttle and i also got the pc-fx. the pc engine is aweosme and very original. well worth owning
I'm sure someone else has said this but I really enjoy the fact that your videos do not have intros. You get right to the point and there is not a loud annoying intro I've heard a 100 times before. Just thought I'd share that lol
Johnny I'm still younger than you, but I was old enough to be in middle school when I saw the FF3/6 commercials (the god awful "NEXT!" commercial). Yeah time flies and I remember playing through that game multiple times.
i would have been so happy to have known just one other person who had a tg16 back in 89-93 when i was into the turbo/duo/express/cd etc. Just everyone was hating on it, and missing out on A LOT of FUN. The system here in Cali was available at software etc. Electronics Boutique and Toys R Us, Best and Montgomery Wards. I remember i bought R-Type at MW for $69.99!!!
In high school I literally owned the ONLY Turbografx, nobody else had one. A few of us had Sega Master Systems, and the Genesis, NES, and SNES of course were ubiquitous.
I remember the Turbografx. So many good times I remember having on the system. I only had two games but those were awesome to me. I had Keith Courage which IS an awesome game. I also had Bonk which was a fun platformer.
I loved and still do love Keith Courage. I remember the first time I got to play the TurboExpress at Toys R Us. An employee pulled the console out from behind the glass and let me and my brother play it for a while. The worst thing though was the teaser at the end of the game that told the player to watch for the 2nd game... it never happened 😢
Thank you for making a video about this beast! Wished it to be more successful back then because when I first heard about it many years ago I was like... why is there almost no one talking about it? Nice upload anyways.
I'd never even heard of this system until Strong Bad alluded to it in 2005. I'm old enough to remember when it was around (apparently support continued until 1995, when I was in the first or second grade), but I guess it really was "underground". I don't remember it being advertised on TV at all or seeing it in stores.
I remember seeing the TV commercials for the TurboGrafx 16 and being intrigued. Legendary Axe looked sweet. I kind of wanted it. In the end though, the system suffered a similar fate as the Dreamcast. It was released right before the Sega Genesis came out. A superior and better marketed console. The TurboGrafx 16, quickly got forgotten. In the same way the Dreamcast was released before the PS2 and got overshadowed by it. Both great systems. They just never got their time to truly shine.
Very random, I have been playing TurboGrafx all last night and this morning. I come on CZcams to watch some Spida1a and figure I'll check what you have up and, low and behold, TurboGrafx love! Great video! Turbo needs more love!
I only remember two people growing up who even had a Turbo. It was like you said, "Underground". It was the same way with the Sega Master System which was my first console. Only knew two people who had one.
Back 1993, my buddy James was talking video games. His older brother got a Turbo Grafx 16, he kept saying it had the best graphics ever but they didn't have it hooked up to the tv. At the time, I was aware of the Turbo Grafx, I saw ads in magazines in 1990, so I knew of it just couldn't find it at stores. I never saw it in action, though. I'm thinking I should get an emulator and play Turbo Grafx games that way.
Loved the TG-16! still have it hooked up and in honor of the momentous occasion I'll be playing Bloody Wolf and Alien Crush! Thanks for gushing your love for the system Johnny! It truly is fantastic ^>^ (Retro Matt)
wow we are pretty much the same age, i was in 10th grade when this came out and i had the core system and then the CD add-on. i loved Military Madness as well! Blazing Lazers, Alien Crush, Y's were gems. Wish i still had my system and games, prices on eBay are out of control!
I got it in 1990 when I was 20 years old and I still have it. Bonk! Legendary Axe! Splatter house. Great games. I just got my Turbo grafx hooked up to rca connection. A lot better picture. And the Wii u store has a lot of Turbo grafx games.
I had a TG-16 briefly as a teenager. I recently added one to my collection again a couple months ago. I'm glad I did. There might not be tons of games for it, but there's some great ones.
It did do extremely well in Japan, but when the U.S. got a hold of it most people all they new was Nintendo or Sega like you said. The one thing that made it stick out a little more, but still did not get any recognition was Splatterhouse. It was the first game that ever had a rating system. I remember reading comics at the time and the advertisement was about right, but no one knew what it was. You are right it is an amazing system to this day I still miss playing it. A decade ago Hudson did some remakes of Bonk and Adventure Isand for the gamecube, but they only came out in Japan.
The Turbo Grafx history is bittersweet. My story is like yours, Johnny. A neighbor kid was raving over Bonk and Bomberman in early '89, and ultimately he got a Turbo Grafx and an Turbo Express. Within a year or two, I was able to trade in some NES and SNES stuff for a Turbo Grafx of my own. I think that I knew only one other kid that had one at the time (so there were three of us in my area as well). By then, Turbo wasn't doing too well and was all but forgotten. I think that I had traded mine for some SNES stuff, and regretted it. Within a few years I was able to pick up another Turbo and CD system and started collecting again. Put together a decent collection of domestic games before I also switched to the PC Engine, and I'm still collecting for both. Why is it bittersweet? The Turbo really only became popular about 20 years after its release. With the Virtual Console releases, Turbo collecting became harder than ever. That's about all you hear from some of these newer collectors with CZcams shows. It's nice that they are interested though, as it's a great system that all gamers should experience, but the games have dried up and the prices are through the roof for even some common games. Uncommon games are downright ludicrous. Hard to say if it will have the same steam in 5 or 10 years, but it doesn't seem to be slowing down. It's even worse with the capacitor problems in the Duo and Express, but repairs can be easy in the hands of a competent electronics person with a decent set of soldering tools. Here's hoping that the Turbo is fondly remembered for another 25 years and beyond!
Johnny I must thank you for be apart on my love for T16! Al started when I found a "Hugo" Emulator on the Wii and I had no idea what that was, It was packed with all the best rom titles on the T16 and I tried Bonk's Adventure and maaaan... I was sold! I Grow up with the nes/snes/mega drive era (In europe) and this was totally NEW experience for me. Different games/sound/art everything! Then I searched on CZcams for info about this amazing console and your video popped up :) So, THANK YOU!
I remember playing the Turbo 16 on RadioShack stores and we could play just for 5 or 10 min at a time but on a good day sometimes they would let us for half an hour or more. :) had only the NES at that time and the turbo always blew my mind with the graphics. The shooters had very small details on ship ground bombs explosions, Bonk was had lively colors. But one of the games that marked me was Keith Courage. When you transformed to the armored kid it felt like you had power in your hand. In my kid perception that was it.... long time ago....
I have to agree with you 100% I loved my turbo grafx and still do till this day I play it more then my modern systems it was and always will be one of my favorite systems one day I will get a cd and a p.c engine but for now my turbo grafx is my number one choice on my shelf
Keith Courage pissed me off at the first part of the level but, when I got to the second part IT BLEW ME AWAY. The way everything changed. The speed, the sound. F**K YEAH! Turbo Grafx 16 is one of my favorite consoles of all time.
I have wanted a TurboGrafx 16 for years! I keep having dreams where I find it at a mom and pop store for $20 with the CD expansion. I really wish I could get that lucky in real life!!
Loved my TG16!! I still have it but it doesn't work for some reason. It does make a nice decoration. I also have a few games. My favorites were Legendary Ax 2, and Bloody Wolf. Both awesome fun!
I loved my Turbo Grafx. I wasn't in love with Kieth Courage, though. Favorites include Bonk's Revenge, Bomberman '93, Air Zonk, New Adventure Island, Magical Chase, Shockman, Somer Assault, and Parasol Stars.
You are actually the person, who introduced me to the Turbo Grafx back when you first started making videos. I'm 23, so it is before my time and without people like you spreading the word it would be buried in the annals of history.
I could not agree more, dude. I've been into this since 1989 when I got my TG-16 for Xmas. I've got volume 1 and 2 of the "secrets' book along with the TG official encyclopedia. Great video, dude.
i remember my local radio shack in the mall selling the tg16. they had a demo stand at the entrance to the store with bonk's adventure playing. i followed what my much older cousins were playing and that was the genesis and snes. if they had of had a tg16, i would have followed too.
Great video as usual. I remember when the TurboGrafx came out here in the US right about the same time as the Genesis. I never once got to play the system until this year when I decided to pick up some PC Engine stuff. Fun system for sure. I hate the North American box for the system. There were a lot of little things that worked against the system being successful in North America and I won't go into them here, but I will say the timing was rough releasing right alongside the Genesis with a very aggressive and, thanks to the Master System, experienced Sega behind it. I wonder what would have happened if NEC managed to get the system into Canada and the USA in one year instead of the two it took them.
I have a great Turbo story. This has been probably 10 or 11 years ago. I was in a Gamestop for whatever reason when a guy walks in with a box. I hear the guy at the counter tell him "I'm sorry, we don't take Turbografx 16 stuff anymore." So I walk over to the guy and tell him that I am interested in everything he has. Instantly the guy at the counter informs me that I can't do a deal in the store (I had no idea) so we walk outside. Anyway, the guy looks at me and says "I've driven a long way to get here I just want my gas money to get back home. Give me 20 bucks and everything is yours." So I give him 20 bucks and proceed to rummage through the box. Inside I find Splatterhouse, Vigilante, Keith Courage, Bonk 1 and 2, Baseball, Football, a Turbo Tap. I was in heaven. That has to have been the absolute best game deal I ever received in my entire gaming life.
+MegaNova1979 wow!! that is pretty amazing!
+HappyConsoleGamer I was so excited to mention my story that I forgot to mention in my original post that in that box was also a complete console in working order with all the hookups as well as numerous other games besides the ones I mentioned. It was like finding a pot of gold.
+MegaNova1979 Man thats incredible! Good for you, I always stop by garage sales in the hope I may stumble into a TurboGrafx pot of gold!
I had a very similar experience too. and I have the CD with mine, but it didn't work.
I know this post is old but it’s an awesome story. I also lucked out by finding a new in box Turbografx 16 with 5 games still in box at a flea market and the lady told me she only wanted $10 for it. The lady literally had no idea what it was. She called it a “vcr”... lol
There's a reason my banner or cover photo or whatever it's called on our channel is of the TurboGrafx-16 (it's actually a photo I took myself). Amazing system. Poor marketing. But NEC sure loved the "Grafx" name as they also gave it to the CoreGrafx 1 and 2 as well as the SuperGrafx. I don't think Grafx helped them at all, really. Hardly anyone can spell it to this day. It did them no favors.
It's funny you say that as I always double check my spelling of Grafx whenever I do a video on it.
The TurboGrafx remains my most sought after and elusive of consoles. Some day I'll own a Turbo Duo. It will be mine! Oh yes, it will be mine. :D
You'll never get it. Stop torturing yourself man, live in the now! (Garth voice)
I can imagine this video occurring again in 25 years with the Vita.
Sadly you're probably right
I'm feeling that with the Wii U too.
Even though a good amount of people like myself own.
In southeastern PA, they sold it at Toys R' Us, and there as an AMAZING display case unit. It was awesome. You walked past all these things you could flip up to learn about the games. Truly great! They had a video feed that played over and over that showed the games. It was awesome! I had all the original TG16 stuff, but today I have Turbo Duo.
Man Johnny I love the genuine passion and love youve shown in this video, have been watching you since the DQ 4 review, and have never been let down. You go man
Thanks for talking about the 25th anniversary of the Turbografx-16. I opened up to liking Keith Courage in Alpha Zones more too after I won the fastest time world record on it at Twin Galaxies.
Yeah, I was the only one of my friends who had one and was always was confused why it got no love.
I had SNES also and looked at the Sega Genesis as the enemy, but always praised how awesome the Turbo Grafx 16 was. (still to this day) The sound and colors were badass and Legendary Axe and Ninja Spirit showcased that perfectly.
So incredibly jealous of this collection. This is the one system that has avoided me all these years.
+Wes Robertson Ditto, but the PC ENGINE had more games...
Yeah poor TG16. My first exposure was seeing it on display at the CNE in Toronto. I think it was the first 16 bit system i saw. I was blown away but it was very expensive so nobody i knew ever had one.
I did manage to get one years later from a guy in high school. He sold it to me for $20, with some games, because "he plays with girls now". Psh, sucker.
Johnny your story really brought me back. I was that guy as well back in 89, also in high school at the time, buying the TG16 over the Genesis. I knew one other TG16 owner, and another guy who bought a TurboDuo later when it came out. Great system. I always thought the success of the PC Engine would translate to sales over here, but it just didn't work out.
I was born in 85 and I honestly didnt know about the Turbo Grafx until I like 1993. Now at 28 years old I was finally able to track down a system and try it for the first time. Man, all I can say is if young me could have gotten his hands on this system, things would have been so different. Nintendo? Mario who? It would have been all about Bonk for me haha. It's such a wonderful little machine.
I love the turbo graphx so much. I used to play at a store called PC Richard and sons. I got the system used for $50 in 1996 with some games like bonk 1, dungeon explorer, neutopia and some other games. Great system that I passed down in 2001 and wish I still had it. Great memories.
This is why emulation is important because when I was a kid I was never able to buy the system anywhere and nobody I knew owned one. I didn't get to try it out until one day a pawn shop had one on display with Vigilante. I fiend and itched to play the system again but wasn't able to until the summer of 1997 when I first got a copy of the Magic Engine emulator for MSDOS and some roms. I feel deeply in love with the system and it's games! All the vibrant colors, it's quirky yet recognizable fidelity of sound, the simple controls....it just felt like the NES but on steroids. If you're a spaceship shooter fan like me, then this system is the Mecca for that genre.
The TG-16 really did have a colorful library and I think it is still underappreciated today. I had so much fun with bonk, golden axe, dungeon explorer, victory run, blazing lasers. alien crush, splatterhouse, bloody wolf, ninja spirit, etc. You can really go on and on there are so many unique and truly great games.
One of the many reasons I love your channel Johnny is the love you show Turbografx! So rare among gaming channels. I just started collecting for it 6 months ago, and I have the suitcase and about 8 games, and I'm having a blast! I also only new one kid in jr. high who had it. I just remembered it looked like a slight, colorful upgrade from the NES', but still felt inferior to our Genesis' (probably because that's what my friends and I had). Now I can totally appreciate it and the many great games it has. Also the cover art is great!
I purchased one in 1992 in Ga. I was the only one in my neighborhood that had one, or in my school. It really sucked when Toy-R-Us quit carrying them in the mid 90's.Finally got a used game store in the late 90's that had the games but cost a fortune then, but got CD attachment for 60 bucks. I gave mine to a friend that had no console for his little ones years ago to relive my experiences through them. I miss my console, but relive it on Emu. Great video brought back allot of memories!
I recall Radio Shack being the ONLY place I could find TG16 games towards the end of the consoles life cycle. I remember, I think it was Air Zonk that came on a fatter Hu card and I could only imagine how much EXTRA content would be on it.
I loved my TG16. But like you, I was the only guy on my street who knew anything about it.
Look how happy the kid on the box looks. That perfectly encapsulates how great that era was.
Turbo Express is one of my favorite handheld systems of all-time.
I remember the ads for the TurboGrafx in all the magazines back then. I didn't own one, but liked what I saw. It was one of those consoles that most gamers had heard about, but most didn't own one. Of all the underground consoles of that period it came closest to the mainstream - more than the 3DO a few years later, for example.
1989 is right when my gaming days started, and I can remember it pretty clearly and it does make me feel rather old. The whole feel of the times was different, partly because of youth, and partly because so much electronics technology was really new. There was a strong sense of novelty.
Hi Johnny you and I are the same age ( I was born in March of 1974) and from the same era of video games (the best era if you ask me), and I remember the TurboGrafx 16. My parents bought me one in 1990 and I still own it to this day. I showed it to my son and he loves it. Thanks for the nostalgia trip, keep it up, love your channel. I'm a gamer, however, I'm a retro gamer through and through, 8-bit and 16-bit runs through my veins.
One of my favorite systems, my brother and his friend both had the TurboGrafx 16 system in the early 90's when I was just a child, there are so many fond memories and I can say I am one of those people that really enjoyed Keith Courage In Alpha Zones and loved the soundtrack, especially that end theme. My favorite game on it I would have to say is Dungeon Explorers, the story, action rpg elements, the amazing music, just everything about it really defined the system for me. Other favorites include Silent Debuggers, the ports of Cadash and Splatterhouse, and lastly my preferred port of Space Harrier. I did enjoy Bonk's Adventure, Dragon Spirit, Dead Moon, Legendary Axe which I could never beat because it is so difficult and many others. I am glad to see much love for the TurboGrafx 16, awesome video!
Your the reason I started playing Ys Johnny. Love starting my Sundays with some HappyConsoleGamer!
Turbografx-16 was the system I had growing up. My dad worked at Radio shack at the time, so he got it for dirt cheap. Had some good games, only ever wound up with like 5 of them.
Such a great system. So many great games. Really liked that you had the lords of thunder music in the beginning.
Thank you! Thank you! I appreciate you showing this awesome console some love. I had it when it originally came out. I was fortunate enough to add one back to my collection this year. I love this system and all the games! Definitely an awesome gem in gaming history!
your love for this machine is contagious! I've never touched or even saw it in life but i started to love it since i saw one of your early videos. keep up spreading the word!
I'm from Pgh, PA. Only one of my friends had a TG16, and he was from my old neighborhood we'd already moved away from. He came over for a weekend in 1990 and brought his TG16, Bonk's Adventure, Legendary Axe, and a couple others. My brother and I had never played one before, and that was the last time for me. I think Legendary Axe won some EGM award for best game of the year. Genesis Strider won the following year IIRC.
Man I love your enthusiasm for this console. My favorite console, I was like you, preaching it's greatness to anybody willing to listen. Good for you man, nice to know I'm not the only one.
I miss when consoles was simple like that when you just put in a game turn it on and seconds later you are playing it, There was no menu loading no updates no bs. Just pop in a game and play. I still own my genesis, dreamcast and ps2. I still play them to this day I do play with current consoles as well but I mostly prefer the classics.
Splatterhouse and Bloody Wolf were AMAZING Turbo Grafx games.
I was super excited to get the Turbo Grafx for Christmas in 1990. I was in 10th grade. No one I knew had any interest in system either, and I was always trying to tell people how great it was. I remember there was a promotion when I got it where you could send away for a free game if you bought two other games, and I got Legendary Axe!
The Turbografx was for people that had money. Back in the day. People were die hard for certain consoles due to being able to afford only one console. I have fond memories of Turbografx. Just not in my house...
Thanks for the memories Johnny.
I used to have epic World Class Baseball matches with my brother...Tokyo Ninjas vs. New York Apples.
You guys are so awesome!! Please don't stop making videos!! They're just gold!
It's a shame that this system wasn't more popular back in the day. I had a friend that owned one, and I loved it. The only game I remember playing on it back then was Neutopia, and it was awesome.
Surprised to hear you recommend the roms. There seem to be a lot of snobby collectors that are against roms, even though some of the games may be stupidly expensive. I hope to get lucky someday, and find a cheap Turbo Duo with a whole bunch of games. Until then, I will happily enjoy the roms on Magic Engine. :)
I had a friend in school who got one on launch, so i got to play games on like Y's, splatter house, military madness, and alien crush. I ended up buying Bonk's Adventure, and splatter house because i could play it on his system. That is one of the few consoles i played as a kid I still need to get.
Great stuff as always Johnny! As a UK gamer, I didn't even know what the TG-16 was until Retro Gamer magazine...I remember thinking "PC Engine?...I thought the Xbox was Microsoft's first console?" :P
Really came to love the system's lineup on the Wii Virtual Console, especially Ys and the shooters; Super Star Soldier was honestly one of my most played games on the Wii for several months! Still have many more of its games to check out.
I can relate to being in the minority on loving the system, I felt like that a lot during school; I was the N64 kid while everyone else had Playstations, and that only continued with the Dreamcast and later the Gamecube...it was such a delightfully miraculous feeling when you came across someone with the same console!
You definitely have great taste! 😼
I was also with Gamecube and Dreamcast -
with MegaCD and Saturn before that
(my kuyas each had 64s)
Turbo was never popular back when i had it back in elementary school and jr high i loved it and still do, man i miss the 90s
Since the TurboGrafx16 came out and till today, this is the only video game console I have ever owned. Kickass video Johnny, thanks!
I remember being "that guy" with the Turbografx 16. Those were great times.
Wow, I'm as old as the TurboGrafx. XD I actually remember playing it before when I lived in Connecticut as a kid, and I remember wanting to play more and I never got the chance to. Since no one else I knew had one.
So good! Here in the UK, Turbo Grafx / PC Engine was always the machine that a friend of a friend had, just like the Neo Geo, which was very illusive. Most kids would have wanted one (if they knew about it) but had to stick with the one system, which was usually the Master System, Megadrive or Super Nintendo, which was of course not a bad thing. Great video Johnny!
You are doing a great service carrying the torch for the TurboGrafx. It was the same for me in high school, me and one other friend had one and that was it. When I had gatherings on the weekend to play games with other friends the Turbo got lots of love. I remember the weekend we beat Gate of Thunder, man was that last level hard. So many great games and so many great memories. I'll end with my favorite line from Last Alert: "Boss: Hey Guy, let my baby Betty blow you a kiss! Guy: Your some WIERDO naming your helicopter?"
OMG! I forgot all about the Turbo play magazine! I remember getting those. Just awesomeness wrapped in each page!
My buddy and I used to walk down to our home town Woodwards store to play the demo set-up of the TG-16 all the time. It was like getting to play free arcade games and there was always a ton of kids hanging around it. Keith Courage blew my mind as did the HUGE sprites of China Warrior. Considering I live in a small town in British Columbia, I actually knew quite a few people that had this including a kid whose Dad bought him a new game every time he beat one (good deal). Eventually it was relegated to RadioShack only and a few years later, I remember they were selling it for thirty bucks. By this time the SNES was in full stride and it didn't seem worth it. I didn't realize how powerful the nostalgia for those Woodwards days was going to be for me and I sought out one years later with no regrets. I was fortunate to have a friend who gave me his original one and a second friend who gave me the CD add-on. I have good friends.
HCG, you bring nostalgia on a whole different level.I like your passion about video gaming and your own personal history that you had throughout the years.
I don't remember ever seeing any Turbo Grafx 16 commercials on TV. The only way I found out about it was I saw it in one of those Sears Christmas catalogs.
i got my pc engine duo in 1993, still have it, its sitting behind me on the shelf, along with later buys, the duo rx, the shuttle and i also got the pc-fx. the pc engine is aweosme and very original. well worth owning
I'm sure someone else has said this but I really enjoy the fact that your videos do not have intros. You get right to the point and there is not a loud annoying intro I've heard a 100 times before. Just thought I'd share that lol
Johnny I'm still younger than you, but I was old enough to be in middle school when I saw the FF3/6 commercials (the god awful "NEXT!" commercial). Yeah time flies and I remember playing through that game multiple times.
i would have been so happy to have known just one other person who had a tg16 back in 89-93 when i was into the turbo/duo/express/cd etc. Just everyone was hating on it, and missing out on A LOT of FUN. The system here in Cali was available at software etc. Electronics Boutique and Toys R Us, Best and Montgomery Wards. I remember i bought R-Type at MW for $69.99!!!
In high school I literally owned the ONLY Turbografx, nobody else had one. A few of us had Sega Master Systems, and the Genesis, NES, and SNES of course were ubiquitous.
I remember the Turbografx. So many good times I remember having on the system. I only had two games but those were awesome to me. I had Keith Courage which IS an awesome game. I also had Bonk which was a fun platformer.
I was way too young to have even heard of this system at the time, but the more of these kinds of videos I see the more I wish that I had one.
I loved and still do love Keith Courage. I remember the first time I got to play the TurboExpress at Toys R Us. An employee pulled the console out from behind the glass and let me and my brother play it for a while. The worst thing though was the teaser at the end of the game that told the player to watch for the 2nd game... it never happened 😢
only met a guy once who had the TG16 like me, it was around 20yrs ago...it's funny how I still remember him. Fun happy-time memories remembering them.
Thank you for making a video about this beast!
Wished it to be more successful back then because when I first heard about it many years ago I was like... why is there almost no one talking about it?
Nice upload anyways.
I'd never even heard of this system until Strong Bad alluded to it in 2005.
I'm old enough to remember when it was around (apparently support continued until 1995, when I was in the first or second grade), but I guess it really was "underground". I don't remember it being advertised on TV at all or seeing it in stores.
I remember seeing the TV commercials for the TurboGrafx 16 and being intrigued. Legendary Axe looked sweet. I kind of wanted it. In the end though, the system suffered a similar fate as the Dreamcast. It was released right before the Sega Genesis came out. A superior and better marketed console. The TurboGrafx 16, quickly got forgotten. In the same way the Dreamcast was released before the PS2 and got overshadowed by it. Both great systems. They just never got their time to truly shine.
Very random, I have been playing TurboGrafx all last night and this morning. I come on CZcams to watch some Spida1a and figure I'll check what you have up and, low and behold, TurboGrafx love!
Great video! Turbo needs more love!
Thanks to you and the Wii Virtual Console, I've downloaded a crapload of TurboGrafx-16 games. First one I ever played was Bonk's Adventure!
I had 1 in 89',I was 11 and bought it 4 Castlevania
I loved,loved,it!!I played it recently on pc translated.Man I miss my turbo
I only remember two people growing up who even had a Turbo. It was like you said, "Underground". It was the same way with the Sega Master System which was my first console. Only knew two people who had one.
the ys music is bringing back loads of great gaming memories,
Back 1993, my buddy James was talking video games. His older brother got a Turbo Grafx 16, he kept saying it had the best graphics ever but they didn't have it hooked up to the tv. At the time, I was aware of the Turbo Grafx, I saw ads in magazines in 1990, so I knew of it just couldn't find it at stores. I never saw it in action, though. I'm thinking I should get an emulator and play Turbo Grafx games that way.
I had a relative that own a Turbo Grafx 16 and use to play plenty of Splatterhouse back in the day and others games like Dungeon Explorer & such :D
Loved the TG-16! still have it hooked up and in honor of the momentous occasion I'll be playing Bloody Wolf and Alien Crush! Thanks for gushing your love for the system Johnny! It truly is fantastic ^>^ (Retro Matt)
I never had a TG16 growing up but a friend from work recently gave me one with Military Madness! Can't wait to build up my library
wow we are pretty much the same age, i was in 10th grade when this came out and i had the core system and then the CD add-on. i loved Military Madness as well! Blazing Lazers, Alien Crush, Y's were gems. Wish i still had my system and games, prices on eBay are out of control!
I got it in 1990 when I was 20 years old and I still have it. Bonk! Legendary Axe! Splatter house. Great games. I just got my Turbo grafx hooked up to rca connection. A lot better picture. And the Wii u store has a lot of Turbo grafx games.
I had a TG-16 briefly as a teenager. I recently added one to my collection again a couple months ago. I'm glad I did. There might not be tons of games for it, but there's some great ones.
It did do extremely well in Japan, but when the U.S. got a hold of it most people all they new was Nintendo or Sega like you said. The one thing that made it stick out a little more, but still did not get any recognition was Splatterhouse. It was the first game that ever had a rating system. I remember reading comics at the time and the advertisement was about right, but no one knew what it was. You are right it is an amazing system to this day I still miss playing it. A decade ago Hudson did some remakes of Bonk and Adventure Isand for the gamecube, but they only came out in Japan.
Such a great machine it will forever be remembered by the few of our generation
After watching this i want to go and play my Turbo Grafx.
Thank you NEC for Such a great System and for all the memories.
I cannot like this video enough!
Yeah come back on and do a Turbo 25th Anniversary video!
I MISS!!! YOUR VIDEOS =,(
PLEASE!!! COME BACK!!!
The Turbo Grafx history is bittersweet.
My story is like yours, Johnny. A neighbor kid was raving over Bonk and Bomberman in early '89, and ultimately he got a Turbo Grafx and an Turbo Express. Within a year or two, I was able to trade in some NES and SNES stuff for a Turbo Grafx of my own. I think that I knew only one other kid that had one at the time (so there were three of us in my area as well). By then, Turbo wasn't doing too well and was all but forgotten. I think that I had traded mine for some SNES stuff, and regretted it.
Within a few years I was able to pick up another Turbo and CD system and started collecting again. Put together a decent collection of domestic games before I also switched to the PC Engine, and I'm still collecting for both.
Why is it bittersweet? The Turbo really only became popular about 20 years after its release. With the Virtual Console releases, Turbo collecting became harder than ever. That's about all you hear from some of these newer collectors with CZcams shows. It's nice that they are interested though, as it's a great system that all gamers should experience, but the games have dried up and the prices are through the roof for even some common games. Uncommon games are downright ludicrous. Hard to say if it will have the same steam in 5 or 10 years, but it doesn't seem to be slowing down. It's even worse with the capacitor problems in the Duo and Express, but repairs can be easy in the hands of a competent electronics person with a decent set of soldering tools.
Here's hoping that the Turbo is fondly remembered for another 25 years and beyond!
Great video man! I finally got a TurboGrafx this year...after wanting one throughout my childhood. AWESOME machine! Thanks for the review.
Ha ha thats funny. I can relate to your Turbo Grafx 16 love. I was all evangelical for the Sega Saturn when I was in High School.
Johnny I must thank you for be apart on my love for T16!
Al started when I found a "Hugo" Emulator on the Wii and I had no idea what that was, It was packed with all the best rom titles on the T16 and I tried Bonk's Adventure and maaaan... I was sold! I Grow up with the nes/snes/mega drive era (In europe) and this was totally NEW experience for me. Different games/sound/art everything!
Then I searched on CZcams for info about this amazing console and your video popped up :) So, THANK YOU!
I remember playing the Turbo 16 on RadioShack stores and we could play just for 5 or 10 min at a time but on a good day sometimes they would let us for half an hour or more. :) had only the NES at that time and the turbo always blew my mind with the graphics. The shooters had very small details on ship ground bombs explosions, Bonk was had lively colors. But one of the games that marked me was Keith Courage. When you transformed to the armored kid it felt like you had power in your hand. In my kid perception that was it.... long time ago....
honestly one of the biggest underrated systems and I even use to own one.... wish I kept it now..
I have to agree with you 100% I loved my turbo grafx and still do till this day I play it more then my modern systems it was and always will be one of my favorite systems one day I will get a cd and a p.c engine but for now my turbo grafx is my number one choice on my shelf
Keith Courage pissed me off at the first part of the level but, when I got to the second part IT BLEW ME AWAY. The way everything changed. The speed, the sound. F**K YEAH! Turbo Grafx 16 is one of my favorite consoles of all time.
Nice nostalgic journey
I have wanted a TurboGrafx 16 for years! I keep having dreams where I find it at a mom and pop store for $20 with the CD expansion. I really wish I could get that lucky in real life!!
Loved the legendary axe sound track.
I was 3 when this console came out and even i feel old knowing this console is 25
Loved my TG16!! I still have it but it doesn't work for some reason. It does make a nice decoration. I also have a few games. My favorites were Legendary Ax 2, and Bloody Wolf. Both awesome fun!
This is how I feel about the wii U, I am the one calling for all the love for the wii U amongst my friends!
I loved my Turbo Grafx. I wasn't in love with Kieth Courage, though. Favorites include Bonk's Revenge, Bomberman '93, Air Zonk, New Adventure Island, Magical Chase, Shockman, Somer Assault, and Parasol Stars.
You are actually the person, who introduced me to the Turbo Grafx back when you first started making videos. I'm 23, so it is before my time and without people like you spreading the word it would be buried in the annals of history.
I could not agree more, dude. I've been into this since 1989 when I got my TG-16 for Xmas. I've got volume 1 and 2 of the "secrets' book along with the TG official encyclopedia. Great video, dude.
I got a Turbo Express right when it came out and I still have it. Really cool system.
i remember my local radio shack in the mall selling the tg16. they had a demo stand at the entrance to the store with bonk's adventure playing. i followed what my much older cousins were playing and that was the genesis and snes. if they had of had a tg16, i would have followed too.
i actually remember my mom buying this for me at our local Toys R Us. great system
The games look really good!Thanks for that insight into this past time,it was fun!
Great video as usual. I remember when the TurboGrafx came out here in the US right about the same time as the Genesis. I never once got to play the system until this year when I decided to pick up some PC Engine stuff. Fun system for sure. I hate the North American box for the system. There were a lot of little things that worked against the system being successful in North America and I won't go into them here, but I will say the timing was rough releasing right alongside the Genesis with a very aggressive and, thanks to the Master System, experienced Sega behind it. I wonder what would have happened if NEC managed to get the system into Canada and the USA in one year instead of the two it took them.
Wow, that Turbo Tap reminds me of the GameCube Adapter for the Wii U.