PC-FX Questions

[AB Positive]

A second system by NEC, with the "PC" designation... Was this system any good? It looks Japan-only, and I haven't been able to work out much info for it. Does anyone know how good it is?

...anyone? Bueller? Maxlords?

-AG

[Ascending Wordsmith]

Ravengames says the system was a flop. The PC Engine and PC Engine Duo had a library of games that included many games in each of the genres. The PC-FX is said to have had only role playing games aimed at older audiences. No Genjin (Bonk), no Lords of Thunder no Dracula X: Blood of Rondo or anything like that.

[digitalpress]

I own a PC-FX,and just a handful of games for it (my favorite of these is Battle Heat, you can read my review HERE (http://www.digitpress.com/reviews/battheat.htm)).

The system stands upright and looks quite a lot like a tower desktop PC. The games are on CD-ROM but are typically packaged in gigantic cases much like the Neo-Geo home games.

The games that I played were fine, but nothing spectacular (except Battle Heat). I had a few more at one time but there's an exceeding number of Japanese-language titles that are not friendly to westerners such as myself. The hardware itself seems pretty reliable and I'll bet the system COULD have done more, but as it stands it's a footnote system like SuperGrafx before it: just not enough for the time it was released.

[retrogmr]

There are a couple must-have titles for the system... Joe already mentioned Battle Heat; there's also Chip Chan Kick (a strangely addictive platform game; kinda reminds me of Bubble Bobble), and Zeroigar (the only vertical scrolling shooter released for the system, combined with some amazing anime cut-scenes).

And, if you're a completist and insane collector, you can try and track down Zenki; it's a side scrolling fighter ala Kung Fu Master, with loads of anime interspersed in the game. It will also put a $200-$300 dent in your wallet :D

[Ed Oscuro]

Ah yes, that 32-bit system. I don't know much about it, but Battle Heat is on there. Absolutely amazing game; I'm planning on buying a PC-FX someday just for that game. O_o

It got more titles than the SuperGrafx (most everything does, though, since there's apparently only 6 SGX exclusive games) but it couldn't play PCE games. OOPS.

[GaijinPunch]

4 SGX exclusives. :)
www.classicgaming.com/japangaming (check out the SGX section).

I was reading somewhere that Magic Engine will soon emulate PC-FX. Was that wrong? If so, you could save some dosh by not buying the big ass machine, which would cost a fortune to ship overseas.

[zektor]

4 SGX exclusives. :)
www.classicgaming.com/japangaming (check out the SGX section).

I was reading somewhere that Magic Engine will soon emulate PC-FX. Was that wrong? If so, you could save some dosh by not buying the big ass machine, which would cost a fortune to ship overseas.

You are right with the Magic Engine. We should see a release soon that will play the games...and with the quality of the emulator you can be sure the emulation will be dead on! :)

[GaijinPunch]

I just wish it was open source, so someone would port it over to the Xbox. I understand the programmer wants cash for his hard work, but I just hate playing emulators on the PC. :(

[maxlords]

You're not the only one GP! By the way...glad to see you around here! Welcome, welocome!

[GaijinPunch]

Well, after the demise of the other old-school outlets, it's nice to find an active board!