playable pc engine cd games

[AlexKidd]

I just got a turbo duo recently and i'm wondering what are some good pc engine cd games that are still playable if you don't understand Japanese? I'm hoping I can play Ys 4 but maybe not. How hard is it to figure that one out without knowing japanese?

[InsaneDavid]

I heard there was a completed translation patch for Ys IV, I might be incorrect however. Anyway...

All the Valis games can be played without knowing Japanese, sometimes the Japanese versions will be cheaper than the US releases. Kunio-kun Soccer is good, if you've ever played Nintendo World Cup on the NES you'll love it - it's just like that except with better and more diverse graphics and control. I've heard the Asuka 120% game on the PCEngine CD (Asuka 120% Burning Fest. - first in the series) is a good all-girl fighter but I only have the kick ass Saturn version. Advanced V.G. is another all-girl fighter but it's not so great.

...Honestly now that I look at my PCEngine CD games they're mostly all dating sims and digital comics and I don't know much Japanese myself. LOL

[Tron 2.0]

I just got a turbo duo recently and i'm wondering what are some good pc engine cd games that are still playable if you don't understand Japanese? I'm hoping I can play Ys 4 but maybe not. How hard is it to figure that one out without knowing japanese?
English patch for Y's IV right here :D

http://rigg.arrowsmash.com/translations/ys4/

[Ed Oscuro]

There's a bunch of great PC-Engine CD-ROM games, but unfortunately bunches of them are expensive, i.e. Dynasty Wars, Kaze Kiri, Gain Ground SX (different from the Genesis version, noticably so), and Iga Ninden Gaiou, from Nichibutsu, which I really don't have much information about except to say that the music is average to below average for CD-ROM, and the first stage is very simple, even boring (what I've played of it). Simply scroll right and hope stuff happens. Actually, maybe you'd be better off reading this review (http://www.pcengine.com.br/ingaiou/ingaiou.htm) instead.

But yeah, there are more excellent CD-ROM games on PC-Engine than most people know of...but I've probably listed most of the sidescrollers already (didn't need to mention Dracula X, of course). Most of these are pretty expensive, with Gain Ground SX being the only relative cheapie (around $20, while Dynasty Wars probably is worth over $100 on eBay, can't remember if it was $90 or $160, honestly. Kaze Kiri was $70-$80-ish last time I checked, and Iga Ninden Gaiou was $50 or so when I bought it).

[lkermel]

Hi,

There are a lot of great PC Engine CDRom games that do not need you to know any japanese language. Brillant shooters like Gradius 2 or Nexzr, or platform games like Shubibinman 3. And not all of them are expensive...

I'm also a big fan of the PC Engine system and I invite you to have a look at my web site:

http://www.vgden.com

I have about 200 PC Engine games reviewed there, including about 70 CDRoms. I hope this will help you to get a idea of what is out there :)

[Ed Oscuro]

Looks like another great classic gaming site, I'm checking it out now.

Oh, and yeah, Forgotten Worlds was indeed released with an Avenue Pad in Japan. :)

[lkermel]

Thanks Ed Oscuro for the info ! I wasn't 100% sure about this, I've seen both versions but I wasn't sure if the one with the pad was public or only a sort of special promotion.

I wonder if I should post a thread about VGden, it may interest a lot of people in the import-Mania section. I posted it in the Video Gaming section but nobody replied or gave me feedbacks... maybe here will be better... I'm glad you like it, I hope you'll fing useful information there.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Double Dragon 2
Spriggan
Macross 2036
Download 2
Dracula X
Kaze Kiri
Dracula X

[Ed Oscuro]

Thanks Ed Oscuro for the info ! I wasn't 100% sure about this, I've seen both versions but I wasn't sure if the one with the pad was public or only a sort of special promotion.
16-bit (Mad-Gear LLC) had one on eBay sometime last year for $70. Unfortunately, I had no money to buy it.

Also, I'm playing Iga Ninden Gaoh. Surreal game, but definitely not the most amazing title I've ever played.

[lkermel]

Also, I'm playing Iga Ninden Gaoh. Surreal game, but definitely not the most amazing title I've ever played.

I see what you mean. I was a bit disappointed by Iga Ninden Gaoh too, especially as it was released back in 1993.
$70 for Forgotten World + controller... I didn't expect them to be so expensive. Thanks again for the info :)

[Ed Oscuro]

I see what you mean. I was a bit disappointed by Iga Ninden Gaoh too, especially as it was released back in 1993.
Hmm, I've been thinking about doing a little write-up about it (savestated my way through the game until 6 AM yesterday, ho boy). It turns out better than I had originally thought, but that only thanks to some interesting/insane story sequences. Actually, I must say that I felt the story (what I can get out of it, as I don't know Japanese LOL - it all seems quite obvious what's going on) was much better than I would've expected as lots of stuff pays off at the end - in ways I hadn't expected. Of course, it's all told in the traditional wide-eyed anime fashion, so the impact is a bit lessened...

Anyway, I've got to find Kaze Kiri and play that. Hear that's much better.

A bit off-topic, but it's too bad that Nichibutsu stuck to mahjong games.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Anyway, I've got to find Kaze Kiri and play that. Hear that's much better.

I can tell you right now that Kaze Kiri's a bit generic and hardly worth the huge price tag surrounding it. Not that it's a bad game, not at all, it's just not worth 100 dollars.

[Ed Oscuro]

If it's twice as good as ING was, though, then it's worth it to me :P

I'll be finding the ISO first, though.

Also on the lookout for the Dynasty Wars port.

[Tron 2.0]

Xak III
Ys IV can't help but keep mentioning it :D
Fray Xak Gaiden
Spriggan
Spriggan Mark2
GotzenDiener
Chiki Chiki Boys: while the, Genesis version is better in graphics the, PCE has the better sound track ;)

[Drexel923]

Here are the PC Engine CD games I own:

Avenger (vertical shooter)
God Panic (vertical shooter)
L-Dis (horizontal shooter)
Pop 'N Magic (platformer/puzzle...kinda like Bubble Bobble)
Splash Lake (puzzle...also released in the US)
PC Denjin Rockabilly (Super Air Zonk in the US)

Check out this site for more CD Games:

http://www.vgden.com/vgden_cd.htm

Usually if its a shooter, platformer, or puzzle game your safe. You really only have to worry about RPGs and Adventure games.

[importaku]

Shame on you all, wheres the love for the pc engine cd version of rainbow islands.

Its THE best home version you can get plus it has funky new features like you can save so you can replay your favourite islands again & again.

Also has dolby sound according to the back of the cd, sure its expensive but its soooooo worth it. :D

[maxlords]

DP's price guide has a listing for each game and if it's playable by non-Japanese speakers, it'll say "English-friendly" next to it in the price guide. Some of the better ones IMO are shmups and platformers. There's a lot of good stuff out there, but as has been stated, most of the really good English-friendly stuff has a whomping big price tag attached to it.

[cavein2000]

Def Dracula X, I've also wanted to pick up Pop N' Magic as well. Most of the Arcade games are fighters so those wouldn't require a knowledge of Japanese.

[staxx]

Here are the games I recommend

Spriggan
Spriggan mk2 (turn off audio chatting and in game text)
Gradius 2
Dracula X Rondo of the Blood
Rainbow Islands (Rare and hard to find)
Forgotten Worlds (too bad there isn't a true 2 player option like the arcade and genesis version)
Star Parodia (Parody shooter game of the Super Star Soldier series, it's NEC's take on Parodius)
Darius Plus
Darius 2
Hellfire (Love the OST of this game)
Wonderboy III
World Heroes (Arcade Card Game)
Art of Fighting (Arcade Card Game)
Fatal Fury 2 (Arcade Card Game)
Macross 2036
Sidearms (CD version of the Hucard, has better music)
R-Type Complete (Hucard R-Type I & II with cut scenes and better audio tracks)
Gates of Thunder (EXCELLENT GAME, highly recommended)
Wings of Thunder (aka Lords of Thunnder, again EXCELLENT GAME)
Space Fantasy Zone ( Wasn't released BUT the game was completed, you should be able to find it around. The game is cross between Space Harrier and Phantasy Zone )
Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire (Extremely expensive game, but this is probably one of the last PC Engine CD games and they really pushed the limits in this shooter. Also requires Arcade Card)
Rayxamber III
Super Raiden
Strider (Arcade Card game, excellent music)
Asuka 120% Burning Fest
Advanced VG