DOWN and DIRTY REVIEWS:  NEC'S TURBOGRAFX-16 -- A - M

If you love shooters you'll love the Turbografx-16 dude. Too bad most turbo games lack replay value because no games include battery back up (but some will save to a back up unit like the Turbo Duo). There are still a lot of good games here so read away.

TURBOGRAFX-16 CD -
Will only work on a Turbo CD or Turbo Duo.
SUPER CD-ROM2 games -
Will only work on a Turbo Duo.

The scores are out of 100.

The graphics, sounds, and game play are out of 10.

Score / Name

59 The ADDAMS FAMILY (Icom, 1991)

*Turbografx-16 CD game
I remember all the hype surrounding this game before it was released since the big Hollywood movie was making some news back then. Sadly, the game didn't really make players rush out to the stores and get the Turbo CD and after playing it I can see why. In the game you play as the unlikeable lawyer character Tully looking to survive the many dangers in the haunted Addams Family house. Each room in the mansion has its own set of challenges like avoiding toys to fighting these wacky residents one on one. The graphics are nothing special and one room even has a NES console in the background (the arch rival of the Turbografx) but they're clean at least with some nice detail in the backgrounds. As for the game itself the action is fast and intense at times plus the game can get fairly challenging too but the simple jump and shoot game play does get very tedious and even cheap. Fortunately, The Addams Family has some very good music (it even has the original show's theme here too) with some decent sound effects and voice acting too. The Addams Family is nothing you haven't played in a million other platformers but the creepy visuals and eerie sounds help it to be above average.
*Uncommon Turbografx CD game
*Save option available
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 8
gameplay: 5
Find Addams Family on eBay here!


The StarSoldier Game of the Month!
83
AERO BLASTERS (Hudson soft/Interstate/Kaneko, 1991)
This cool game here is a great arcade translation of an awesome shoot em up that's packed with fast action, cool music, and great graphics. There are times when the game can be a little too difficult and a great example of this is the stage 5 mini boss where the creature fires a evil set of five way shots at rapid speeds that are nearly impossible to avoid especially with the more floaty controls used in the space stages. Although it's difficult, Aero Blasters still comes recommend for shooter freaks.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 8
sound: 8
gameplay: 6
Find Aero Blasters on eBay here!



The StarSoldier Game of the Month!

79 AIR ZONK (TTI/Hudson Soft/Red, 1993)

This is one crazy and action packed shooting game with cartoon like graphics and lots of strange characters like a dog and a giant missile as your friends. You're Zonk, a super cyborg send by Bonk himself to stop the King Drool of the future. Unfortunately it's a really short game with only 5 levels and unlimited continues as well. I AM THE WORLD'S BEST AIR ZONK PLAYER!! I was in EGM #45 and I got the score of 30, 332, 430 (Top score) See it at Twingalaxies and search for AIR ZONK and search for AIR ZONK
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 8 ............. very cartoon like, but it looks like a Super Nintendo game.
sound: 7
gameplay: 9

Find Air Zonk on eBay here!


The StarSoldier Game of the Month!
77
ALIEN CRUSH (Hudson Soft/Naxat Soft, 1989)
Alien Crush is a cool looking pinball game on a unique all alien game table plus there are 4 secret bonus areas to find for even bigger points here. Alien Crush may be superior to those NES pinball titles but the awkward two split screen action here may drive some people crazy since it doesn't feel very realistic. Devil's Crush was the semi-sequel to this game by the way and many agree that it was the superior pinball game but this one is still pretty good.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
Find Alien Crush on eBay here!

60 ANDRE PANZA KICK BOXING (Loriciel, 1991)
I don't know who Andre Panza is (and be honest you didn't know him either) but his game isn't too bad (although it isn't too good either). This is your basic one on one fighting game where you try to beat the crap out of your opponent with wide range of legal striking techniques. That's no big surprise but what this game does offer is some stunning graphics with great use of lighting and good animation plus the game even has good enough sound effects to make other Turbografx games jealous. Although there is a lot detail here, the backgrounds also look flat with not a lot going on and there isn't too much for music either. What really kills Andre Panza Kick Boxing here is all the spotty hit detection. I just seen way too many moves like spinning roundhouse kicks just go right through the characters for my liking. Fighting fans may like it but Street Fighter II just beats this up and steals its lunch money at the same time.
*Save option available
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 7
Find Andre Panza Kickboxing on eBay here!


23 BALLISTIX (Accolade, 1991)

Oh great, it's another one of those futurist sports title we don't need (also look at Bill Lambert's Combat Basketball and those Mutant League games). In Ballistix the game is basically a game of Pong but you have to throw other balls in the arena to help guide the main ball into your rivals net. It was interesting concept but throwing all the these extra balls around only doesn't do too much and the whole thing gets way too confusing. Don't buy this game.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 3
gameplay: 4
Find Ballistix on eBay here!

68 BATMAN (Sunsoft, 1990)
*Japanese PC Engine card game
Now this is a odd title to talk about. Unlike the other Sunsoft Batman titles for the NES and Sega Genesis this is overhead maze game instead of your typical 2D side scroller. The heroic Batman is still after the evil Joker and his clown gang before they destroy Gotham City but now you have to clear 60 levels before the big fight can go down. The game looks very goofy at first with tiny enemies that go spinning off screen once they are knock out plus the whole fetch quest game play won't be for everybody either but this action game is still very playable and it's just another odd PC Engine only release since I think this could have done well over here.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 7
Find Batman on eBay here!

36 BATTLE ROYALE (Incredible Technologies, 1990)
What could be more fun then knocking a muscle head over the top rope of a ring? Wait a minute, how come this really sucks then!? Unlike other fun wrestling games there are no susplexes, no top rope dives, no holds what so ever. Some of the manager girls look cool here but the graphics are choppy and way too cartoon-like to be taken seriously and the low key music doesn't help you get into the repetitive action either.
For 1 or 5 players
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 5

Find Battle Royale on eBay here!

78 BEYOND SHADOWGATE (Icom Simulations, 1993)
*Super CD Rom2 game
Cool, remember that tough NES game where you travel from room to room and death can come instantly? Well, that lame Nintendo 64 sequel wasn't the only title in the series cause here is the extremely rare second Shadowgate. In this game you control a young prince that is falsely imprisoned for the death of his father, and now you must find a way to escape and clear your name. Unlike the original point and click adventure game you can actually see and move around your character in the different environments like eerie prisons cells to a peaceful looking town. It brings a nice action element to the game play but it still retains a lot of the puzzle features since using key items will either advance the story or kill you on the spot (which can be pretty funny). Bringing up one of the different items from your inventory is pretty annoying and the game is a bit on the slow side as well but the interesting characters, cool puzzles, and outstanding visuals really impressed me. It may be tough to get but BS here is worth it.
*Extremely Rare Duo Game!!
*Save option available
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 8
Find Beyond Shadowgate on eBay here!

The StarSoldier Game of the Month!

9
0 BLAZING LAZERS (Hudson soft/Compile, 1989)
In this famous vertical scrolling shooter it's your mission here to pilot the 80 ton Gunhed Star fighter and go up against the Dark Squadron army lead by the mysterious enemy known as the Master Computer. This game is loaded with firepower and 9 huge levels, but the thing holding it back is that it's just way too easy for a shooter and can be easily finished the same day or week. Blazing Lazers still comes very recommend.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 8
gameplay: 9
............. loads of weapons and defensive weapons.
Find Blazing Lazers on eBay here!


73 BLOODY WOLF (Data East, 1991)

Bloody Wolf is very similar to Konami's Contra but this action run and gun game features some up close knife combat and an actual story line as well. In the game you are on a mission behind enemy line so you can save the President from an army of terrorists. Believe it or not that's only half the game. The game has some fairly detailed graphics and there are lots power ups to find as well. Sadly there is no two player mode and the action can be a little slow at times too so Bloody Wolf won't please everyone.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 6
gameplay: 8
Find Bloody Wolf on eBay here!


82 BOMBERMAN (Hudson Soft, 1990)
Bomberman is a much improved upgrade to the old NES classic that's now has a new multi-player game mode as well as a huge 48 level single player game. The single player game is really tedious to play and if you hated the dull original NES game then this game is hardly any different. The new multiple player mode though is a much different story because you and a bunch of friends can try and blow one another up in a frenzy of bombs. Bomberman is a must if you have a Turbo Tap and some extra pads plus you can also find this game on the Gate of Thunder disc if you know the secret code.
*Save option available
For 1 to 5 players
graphics: 2
sound: 4
gameplay: 8
Find Bomberman on eBay here!

The StarSoldier Game of the Month!
92 BOMBERMAN '93 (Hudson Soft, March 1993)
The 1993 edition of everyone's favourite bomb expert may feature some of the weakest graphics for a game released that year but you still get some amazing party mayhem that highlight this awesome version of Bomberman. In it you get an excellent multi-player in the battle mode with 10 different levels to try out and you even try out a new Kick power up where you can get bombs out of your face in a hurry. The one player mode is improved over the original and it's a good way to eat up some time. Bomberman 93 is an awesome party game to have and you can finally put that old Turbo Tap to good use.
*Save option available
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 to 5 players
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 9
Find Bomberman 93 on eBay here!

83 BOMBERMAN '94 (Hudson Soft, 1994)
*Japanese PC Engine card game
This edition of Bomberman features new kangaroo buddies to ride on which not only have a few tricks up their sleeve but they can also take a hit for a Bomberman if needed. Bomberman 94 also has a much better playing single player adventure so the action doesn't always drag on as much. The multi-player game is just as crazy as ever because you play in teams and you can even change your bomberman type so you can be old, young, fat, punk, and more. It's the same old Bomberman but it still works. This game is just like Mega Bomberman on the Sega Genesis by the way.
For 1 to 5 players
graphics: 5
sound: 4
gameplay: 8
Find Bomberman 94 on eBay here!


The StarSoldier Game of the Month!

82 BONK'S ADVENTURE (Hudson Soft/Red, June 1990)

Bonk is a very fun action game featuring everyone's favourite head-butting caveman who is trying to save Princess Za and her homeland too. Bonk must fight his way through your typical video game stages like ice worlds and underwater levels but then the game throws in a few strange challenges at you like going inside a giant dinosaur itself. The only real problem with I have with Bonk's Adventure is that it was far too easy and it only comes with only 5 levels.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 8
gameplay: 6
Find Bonk's Adventure on eBay here!


91 BONK'S REVENGE (Hudson Soft/Red, 1991)
Maybe the best Bonk game out there because the game is filled with tons of secrets and bonus levels all over the place. Although the controls are not as tight as the first game, it also makes it a tougher, more challenging quest for Bonk this time around. In the game you can now fly, change into a crab and if you collect 50 smiley's or higher on a level then when you beat the boss you will warp pass one whole level which makes going to the bonus levels worthwhile. Definitely an above average action game for the turbo.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 8
Find Bonk's Revenge on eBay here!


63 BONK III: Bonk's Big Adventure (TTI/Hudson Soft/Red, June 30, 1993)

This huge 8 meg Bonk game looks great and has some very exciting new features like candy power ups that alter your size. Sadly, this game fails to be as good the last two bonk games because of the 7 easy levels, bad music, and boring exploring. The huge and small Bonk power-ups really makes no real sense in this game either too especially since you lose these abilities after taking just one hit. Maybe I can see how the little Bonk can help by going into small tunnels but the big Bonk doesn't really do anything special. It just looks kind of cool I guess. Despite that, it's a very unique action game because of the two player option and this was the last Turbografx-16 HuCard game ever release so you better not miss it if you're a collector.
*Extremely Rare Turbografx game!!
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 8
sound: 5
gameplay: 6

Find Bonk III on eBay here!


61 BONK III: Bonk's Big Adventure (TTI/Hudson Soft/Red, 1993)

*Super CD-ROM2 game
Now here's a rare game! Just before the Turbo Duo died TTI would re-release Bonk 3 for the Turbo Duo for some reason. It's the exact same 2 player, caveman, head butting action like before but now the music is vastly improved and there are a few new mini games included as well. Sadly, I would have liked to see more improvements to the game play because it still feels way too easy. Bonk 3 CD is rare but it also feels like a needless remake.
*Extremely Rare Turboduo game!!
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 7

Find Bonk III on eBay here!



53 BOXY BOY (Hudson Soft/Thinking Rabbit, 1991)

Yeah, this pretty much the same game as Shove It on the Genesis. If you never played that one before you help some kid sort through enough boxes to earn his way to fame and fortune or at least the next level. Boxy Boy is a very simple box moving puzzle game by design so the graphics and sounds are duller then most Acclaim games but the challenge factor makes it a very addictive puzzler as well.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 4
Find Boxy Boy on eBay here!


The Total Recall Dud of the Month!

32 BRAVOMAN (Namco, 1990)
Super heroes and video games should go hand and hand so a game like Bravoman should be a stand out title but there are definitely a few things holding it back. This weird looking game is about a hero with the ability to use long limbs to strike his foes down and he is going to need all the power he has to stop his nemesis Dr. Bomb and his many minions. Bravoman is not only a cookie cutter hero but his game is chunky and horrible.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 2
gameplay: 4
Find Bravoman on eBay here!


70 BUSTER BROS. (Hudson Soft/Capcom, 1992)

*Turbografx-16 CD game
Buster Bros. is a very strange game here with 2 young explorers going over 50 levels from around the world. So what are these guys fighting? BUBBLES! Buster Brothers is a very repetitive adventure unfortunately so you may get sick of the whole game by level 30 or something. Thankfully there are tons of power ups and the action is easy to jump into as well. If you liked the arcade game then you want to check this out; all four of you!
*Uncommon Turbografx CD game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 6
gameplay: 6

Find Buster Bros. on eBay here!



The StarSoldier Game of the Month!

76 CADASH (Working Designs/Taito, 1992)
Cadash may be a odd name but this game here is a good mixture of Action and Role Playing all in one package. Although the colourful graphics were pretty good, the music certainly wasn't. Also it's a shame that there are only five short levels here and it should only take a few hours to finish the whole adventure. The game was still a lot of fun to play and the two player support and four different heroes was impressive too.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 5
gameplay: 8

Find Cadash on eBay here!



52 CAMP CALIFORNIA (Icom Simulations, 1993)

*Super CD-ROM2 game
Oh crap, it's a sequel to that insanely lame Yo Bro. Everything here gets off to a bad start thanks to one of the weakest cinemas I ever seen in my life where barely animated characters get kidnapped and a surfing bear has to rescue them. Appearantly this group of friends is trying to save a beach from being taken over by some big corpation of rats so you have to fight them and stuff. Fortunately, the game is just an action platformer this time so already it plays a lot better and since this is on a CD the background Beach Boys music is actually listenable. The game is still really nothing special. Eventhough there are multiple characters, the repetitive attacking and jumping game play is tiresome plus the game can be rather difficult too since you only get one continue at the start and lives can be loss when you run out of gas in your station wagon. Still not as bad as I thought it would be.
Spoiler Alert! Wanna see the ending to this game?
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
Find Camp California on eBay here!

41 CHAMPION'S FOREVER BOXING (Distinctive Software Inc, 1991)
Although the game's introduction and the sound effects were impressive for a turbo game plus it has a amazing list of real life boxing legends like Foreman, Holmes, and even Ali, this title lacks the decent controls and all important hit detection which keeps it from being the greatest. You definitely won't be playing this forever.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 8
gameplay: 3
Find Champion's Forever on eBay here!


The Total Recall Dud of the Month!

45
CHASE H.Q. (Taito, 1992)
The game starts off pretty well with some decent digital voices and a good description of the car you have to track down but then the actual driving game starts. The game comes with out dated visuals, poor music, and bad controls that will have you cursing at the TV. Imagine crashing in to the many other innocent but dumb drivers on the road while you constantly slow down and lose the jerk you're trying to hunt down here. The arcade game was fun but Chase HQ loses a lot in this translation.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 3
gameplay: 6
Find Chase HQ on eBay here!


77 CHEW MAN FU (Hudson Soft, 1990)

*a.k.a.: Be Ball in Japan
Now here's a game you don't see everyday. In Chew Man Fu you get to guide a young girl (or girls) through several rooms to the stop the evil magician Chew Man Fu. The thing that makes this puzzle game so special is she can use a huge stone ball to smackdown enemies and bust up walls. The game is filled with hundreds of levels and it even supports two players at once so there is a lot of replay value here. OK, the whole thing can get repetitive but if you like puzzle games with a bit of action then this is good bang for the buck.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 7
Find Chew Man Fu on eBay here!

The Total Recall Dud of the Month!
43
CHINA WARRIOR (Hudson Soft, 1989)
*a.k.a.: The Kung Fu in Japan
China Warrior is a very limited side scrolling beat em up starring some fighter who looks very similar to Bruce Lee. The characters are quite huge and even fairly detailed as well as some of them fill up nearly a quarter of the screen but of course, they are also very stiff looking in the process so there's a trade off. China Warrior was only created to show off the Turbo Grafx-16 graphical abilities.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 3
gameplay: 3
Find China Warrior on eBay here!

74 COSMIC FANTASY 2 (Working Design, 1992)
*Turbografx-16 CD game
Although I heard this series was popular in Japan, gamers in North America only got this part of the Cosmic Fantasy collection. That's a shame because this is a pretty good role playing game here. In the adventure you control a young man that must defend his town from aggressive invaders who are adducting women. You and your friends must then go on a long quest to find your kidnapped girlfriend before it is too late. Over the course of the game you'll gain experience and new equipment to improve your characters just like in any other RPG but you also a lot of odd cutscenes like a girl taking a shower. Gotta love fan service, eh? Although it cool to have another CD RPG on the Turbo, it also has a lot of slow loading times and these also effect the many annoying random battle scenes through out the game. If you like your role playing games with lots of battles and colourful characters then Cosmic Fantasy 2 is a solid find.
*Uncommon Turbo CD game
*Save option available
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 7
Find Cosmic Fantasy 2 on eBay here!


55 CRATERMAZE (Hudson Soft, 1990)

If you are looking for more puzzle games on the Turbo then this one may interest you even if it's pretty damn boring. In Crater maze you control a space man that's on a mission to save your kidnapped friends. There are a sh*&load of levels here where you collect power ups and dig holes to trap enemies (who are apparently all Christian because they leave crosses once killed here) but they really don't change too much from one stage to the next kind of like Bomberman. The graphics are colourful but plain plus the background music is lame as well. The game can be fun but don't expect a lot of thrilling action either.
For 1 player only
graphics: 4
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
Find Cratermaze on eBay here!


51 CYBER CORE (ICS, 1990)

Cyber Core starts off well enough with some fast arcade bug killing action here and there. In the game you move around a bug that can shoot enemies from the air and the ground just like a lot of other vertical scrolling shooters like Xevious and Dragon Spirit. Some of the cool features of the title is the ability to take multiple hits (although not much) thanks to a lot of the different power ups and even the graphics are fairly colourful as well but what really destroys Cyber Core is that it's way WAY too difficult. A lot of the insanely hard bosses here for example need to be killed off by you wimpy short range bombs instead of your long range air shots plus your weapons reset back to there lower levels if you pick another colour by accident. "How dumb is that?" Cyber Core is just another boring shooter anyway, so it's best to avoid this typical yet very frustrating game.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 6
Find Cyber Core on eBay here!


The Total Recall Dud of the Month!

26 DARKWING DUCK (Radiance, 1992)

Here is a virtually unplayable game where you play as a crime fighting duck with limited forms of attack to kill your overly powerful enemies. Despite some tough opponents here and there, the game is still too dam short so most players will be done with this in no time. Also the Disney cartoon was quite overrated as well so I bet no one will buy this because of its license.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 4
gameplay: 3
Find Darkwing Duck on eBay here!


29 DAVIS CUP TENNIS (Loriciel, 1991)

Unlike the other Tennis game on the Turbo (World Court Tennis) this game is more of a in-depth simulation then a arcade-like experience. The players on the court look fairly realistic and you get a good view of the action here so the graphics get a passing grade. The problem is the game just takes itself wat too seriously thanks to a high learning curve and insanely difficult computer opponents. I know you weren't going to buy this game anyway (c'mon who really gets these games?) but now you have a good reason to skip Davis Cup Tennis altogether.
For 1 to 4 players
graphics: 7
sound: 5
gameplay: 5
Find Davis Cup Tennis on eBay here!

71 DEAD MOON (Natsume, 1992)
Holy crap, how many shooters do we need on this system here? OK, I'll shut up and just do the review. In Dead Moon you must defend the earth against alien attackers that have invaded the moon. The game starts off quite good because the action is fast paced and there are power ups are all over the place as well. The graphics and sounds are not too bad either too with colourful enemies and decent music but the backgrounds do repeat often and the sound effects are nothing special either. Dead Moon is also a bit too short so you can do better.
*Rare Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 6
Find Dead Moon on eBay here!


The Total Recall Dud of the Month!

12
DEEP BLUE (Pack-in Video, 1990)
Here is yet another shooter on the turbo but this awful game takes place in the ocean. This game here is way too cheap because you lose your all power-ups once you're hit, which happens very often by the way. Your fish ship sucks too because it's way too slow and your enemies are extremely quick which only to add to your worry. Best to avoid Deep Blue even though it has some above average graphics.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 2

Find Deep Blue on eBay here!


90 DEVIL'S CRUSH (Naxat Soft, 1990)
Devil's Crush is a medieval style pinball game with great control, good sounds, nice graphics, and if you become good enough you can even see a real ending here. It's hard for me to get too excited over a Pinball video game especially since you're only playing on one (although fairly large) table but this title has tons of secret bonuses to unlock for bigger points and that's really enough to drive any player to continue here. This game is also on the Sega Genesis under the name Dragon's Fury.
*Save option available
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 9
Find Devil's Crush on eBay here!


15
DOUBLE DUNGEONS (NCS, 1990)

This is a totally boring dungeon based RPG much like the older Might and Magic series. This ugly 3D role playing game would have been decent if I didn't get lost all the time because everything looks the same and there should have been some kind of in game map system to guide the gamer as well. Double Dungeons may be one of the few Role Playing on the system but this is no Final Fantasy!
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 3
gameplay: 6
Find Double Dungeons on eBay here!


92 DRACULA X: Rondo of Blood (Konami, 1992)

*Japanese Super CD-ROM2 game
Dracula X Rondo of Blood is one of those great games that should have came here! I was finally able to get a copy of this cool title thanks to an online friend (thanks Sam). Anyway, if your a CastleVania fan especially of the acclaimed
Symphony of the Night then you're looking at the official prequel here.  Richter doesn't have all the moves he had in SOTN so you have a much tougher game now which is both good and bad but what really makes this game so unique is that you can play a very cute Maria complete with a different set of moves.  This game is filled highly detailed and colourful enemies, the remixed music is impressive, plus the secret paths mixed in the classic CastleVania action makes this an overall excellent title. Dracula X is well worth the extra effort just to get a copy.
*Save option available
For 1 player only
graphics: 9
sound: 9
gameplay: 9
Find Dracula X on eBay here!


87
DRAGON'S CURSE (Hudson Soft/Westone, 1990)

*a.k.a.: Adventure Island in Japan
It's
Wonder Boy III: Dragon's Trap from the Sega Master System! This Master system classic even comes here with minor graphical and sound improvements for us lucky Turbografx-16 fans. If you never played this game before, here is what's going on. Dragon's Curse is a cute adventure game where you are a sword weilding hero who has to deal with different strange animal powers on a long quest to regain your original human form. Although it's lame that Hudson Soft didn't try to improve the graphics and sounds even more since this is on the Turbo, Dragon's Curse is a fun and challenging action title for gamers of all ages.
*Save option available
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 7
Find Dragon's Curse on eBay here!

78 DRAGON SABER (Namco, 1990)
*Japanese PC Engine card game
I liked the original Dragon Spirit so I was excited to hear about this obscure sequel that was only released in Japan. Like the first game this is a vertically scrolling shoot em up where your dragon can breath fire on enemies from the air and the ground but now you don't have to go it alone because the game now supports 2 player co-op. Although it's not radically different the game has a lot more polish in terms of graphics, music, and even difficulty since the first game always felt a bit too hard but this one feels much more balanced. Dragon Saber is a lost gem.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 8
sound: 7
gameplay: 8
Find Dragon Saber on eBay here!



70 DRAGON SPIRIT (Namco, 1989)

Here is another shooter on the Turbo but unlike most of the others here this features a young prince who transforms into a fire breathing dragon. In the game you must save a beautiful princess (I hope she's beautiful anyway since there is no opening story here) from a evil army of demons across 8 deadly levels. Like Namco's classic shoot em up Xevious enemies attack from both the sky and the ground. The ending was kind of cool because it had an Namco retrospective but I won't go any further then that. Dragon Spirit is not one of the prettiest shooters on the system thanks to some bland graphics but the list of power ups and attacks is not too bad.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 7
Find Dragon Spirit on eBay here!

27 DROP OFF (Data East, 1991)
"Never heard of it? Good!" Data East's Drop Off plays kind of like a Arkanoid or a Break Out for the older 8-bit systems where you move a strange ball across the screen to help you bounce a ball around the screen. There are only 45 levels here and that may sound like a lot but you'll breeze through these simple stages in no time flat. The graphics are certainly below the Turbo Grafx's standards, and even the music stinks too! Why in the world would NEC approve this turkey is beyond me?
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 3
sound: 2
gameplay: 2
........... where are the power ups?
Find Drop Off on eBay here!


74 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Order of the Griffon (SSR, 1992)

If you are expecting another action RPG like Neutopia your going to be disappointed but if you are a fan this D&D stuff you'll be in heaven here. In this huge adventure you guide a team of four characters from a possible 7 classes (each with multiple heroes and heroines too) to help defend a kingdom from a uprising of vampires. First off the game is a huge improvement over the weaksauce NES editions, the graphics are not only colourful like you would expect in a Turbo game but the detail isn't too bad either. The presentation isn't perfect though with it's bare bones 3D effects, most of the story here is told with boring text plus the turn based combat is still a bit too slow for my liking especially when characters get in the way in tight spots. Still Order of the Griffon gives you a ton of options and replay value too in one tiny card.
*Save option available
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 9
Find Order of the Griffon on eBay here!


The StarSoldier Game of the Month!

77
DUNGEON EXPLORER (Hudson Soft/Atlus, October 1989)
Gauntlet?
Dungeon Explorer here is a very fun action/adventure game with lots of playable characters ranging from warriors, witches, dwarfs, and you can even find secret characters like a princess and a hermit if you play long enough as well. Can you survive all 14 levels here without turning on your friends or will you go to complete the main objective and save your kingdom from the evil Natas? It's a good pick for action/role playing seekers.
For 1 to 5 players
graphics: 7
sound: 8
gameplay: 8
Find Dungeon Explorer on eBay here!

71 DYNASTIC HERO (Hudson Soft/Westone, 1993)

*Super CD-ROM2 game
If you played Wonderboy in Monster World for the Sega Genesis then this game should look very fimiliar because Dynastic Hero here is pretty much the same game. If you are new it's an action/adventure title where a young warrior in some goofy blue outfit kills monsters and upgrades equipment over time. This game looks crude but it is still plays great. Good luck finding this one though.
*Save option available
*Extremely Rare Duo game!!
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 7
gameplay: 7

Find Dynastic Hero on eBay here!



06
FALCON (TTI/Spectre Holobyte/Sphere, 1992)
Despite the ultra cool name Falcon is a very poorly made 3D flight simulation game that's far too choppy looking to be even playable here. In the game you take various missions like bombing targets and surviving air strikes but I would hardly call them exciting. Is it just me or is the second mission in this game impossible? Either way I didn't want to play this mess any longer. Falcon is easily forgettable.
*Save option available
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 2
sound: 3
gameplay: 3
Find Falcon on eBay here!


65 FANTASY ZONE (NEC Avenue/Sega, 1989)

Here is a classic Sega Master System game that gets a small graphical face lift on the turbo. Fantasy Zone may have a interesting if a liitle too cute theme to it compared to other shooters but be a where however that this is a very short game with only 8 levels that can be finished in less than a minute. Fantasy Zone is a very odd game to bring to North America but despite a few issues the game is OK.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
Find Fantasy Zone on eBay here!

56 FATAL FURY SPECIAL (Hudson Soft/SNK, 1994)
*Arcade Super CD-ROM2 Japanese
I was looking forward to this one one one fighting game but the music and sound effects here were very disappointing considering all the additional hardware support (you need a Duo system and a special Arcade card as well or the game won't play) needed to play this SNK fighter in the first place. Although this is a decent translation of the Fatal Fury 2 upgrade and it even has the scaling effects, but you're better off with the Super Nintendo and Sega CD versions instead anyway because they are not only cheaper but they also higher in quality.
*Compatible with the 6 button Avenue pad
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 6
Find Fatal Fury Special on eBay here!


The Total Recall Dud of the Month!

37 FIGHTING STREET (Hudson Soft/Capcom, 1989)

*TurboGrafx-16 CD game
The first ever North American CD console game is this very disappointing translation of the infamous Street Fighter 1. The story is about Ryu and or Ken's journey to fight the best warriors in five different countries. You must fight tough guys like the giant Birdie (who is a white guy by the way), Mike a deadly US boxer, Adon the lightning quick sentry of the champion, and many more odd ball characters from around the world. The main problem with this game here is the controls (just try to do a fireball) plus for a CD game, there is some really bad voice samples for some reason.
*Save option available
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 5
Find Fighting Street on eBay here!


The StarSoldier Game of the Month!

68 FINAL LAP TWIN (Namco, 1990)
Yup, this could very well be the first ever Driving/RPG ever made! In the adventure mode you can race people across all sorts of towns to gain experience and money so you can upgrade your ride and find important items. If you don't like that you could just race in the arcade section for fun in the single or co-op modes. Final Lap Twin may look and sound average but the game is still quite unique.
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 8

Find Final Lap Twin on eBay here!


75 FINAL SOLDIER (Hudson Soft, 1992)
*Japanese PC Engine card game
Hudson Soft wanted the Star Soldier series to end with a bang so they created a superior shooter to end the series once of for all (that is until it would come to the N64 and GameCube anyway). I love the new weapon system in this game where you can select from 3 types of firepower on 4 different guns although the graphics and sounds are pretty uneventful. Final Soldier is a fun and difficult shooter that still has the bonus 2 and 5 minutes games from past Soldier games here too.
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 7
gameplay: 8
Find Final Soldier on eBay here!



58 FINAL ZONE II (Hudson Soft/Wolf Team, 1991)

*TurboGrafx-16 CD game
If you love action run and gun games like Contra then maybe you'll like Final Zone 2 as well but it sure is a hard sell. The game starts off with some of ugliest looking cinemas in gaming history and it comes complete with horrible voice acting too (it seems to be a NEC trademark, eh?). Fortunately the game play itself is much better thanks to it's fast action and different characters to use. If only the game was more original and longer.
*Uncommon Turbo CD game
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 6

Find Final Zone II on eBay here!



71 FORGOTTEN WORLDS (NEC Avenue/Capcom, 1992)

*Super CD-ROM2 game
This intense arcade shoot em up comes to the Turbo Duo minus the two player mode and there are some graphical downgrades as well but it's still a great shooter nonetheless. In the game you must blast your way through hordes of enemies to save the future from the armies of the past. Forgotten Worlds not only has solid graphics and sounds but it also has great arcade action too.
*Save option available
*Uncommon Duo game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 8
gameplay: 7
Find Forgotten Worlds on eBay here!

The StarSoldier Game of the Month!
77 GALAGA '90 (Namco, 1989)
This is actually Galaga '88 from the arcades and the PC Engine but was renamed for its Turbografx-16 release to keep up with the times. If you are not fimilar with Galaga it is a intense shooter where you blast away at a army of alien bugs looking to destroy you. Some of the bigger bugs can even capture your ship and if manage to get it back you will have double the firepower. Galaga 90 is great for retro fanatics.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 6
Find Galaga 90 on eBay here!

83 GATE of THUNDER (Hudson Soft/Red/Atlus, October 12, 1992)
*Super CD-ROM2 game
This great shooter that came packed with the rare Turbo Duo is kind of short with only 7 levels but it's still very intense much like Techno Soft's Thunder Force III on the Sega Genesis. I didn't like how you have to do quickly tap the button just to shoot to the left but everything else works fine here. The other three games included on the disc are:
Bonk's Adventure, Bonk's Revenge, and the secret Bomberman. Very cool editions to this package to say the least. Gate of Thunder is a must have for the Duo and thankfully it is also the easilest to find since it was the original pack in game for the system.
*Save option available
For 1 to 5 players
graphics: 8
sound: 8
gameplay: 10
Find Gate of Thunder on eBay here!


17 GHOST MANOR (TTI/Turbo Tech, 1992)

Anybody remember this game? I don't but since this is a real Turbografx-16 game I guess I have to review it and to be fair this game could still be good. This colourful but eerie looking title has a young kid with a ugly big head trying to survive in a haunted town and this platform game actually gets off to a good start thanks to it's detailed graphics. Sadly, everything falls apart when you start playing because a lot of jumps in here can be very hard to judge and it doesn't help that there are plenty of respawning enemies in the way too. It was a solid effort but in the end Ghost Manor was a flop and for good reason.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 4
Find Ghost Manor on eBay here!


55 GODZILLA (Hudson Soft/Toho, 1993)

*Super CD-ROM2 game
Here is a one on one fighter featuring over 10 popular Japanese monsters fighting it out. What could have been a awesome brawler ended up being a slow, sluggish game with rough two button controls. One of the rarer Turbo Duo games out there, I just wish it was better.
*Save option available
*Rare Duo game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 5
Find Godzilla on eBay here!

64 GRADIUS II Gofer (Konami, 1992)
*Japanese Super CD-ROM2 game
I was really looking forward to finally being able to play this big title especially since this Gradius II wasn't officially released over here and I was quite disappointed when Konami failed to do a conversion. For you importers out there, Gradius II is easy to get into because most of the game is in English surprisingly. Sadly, this rare Japanese 2D shooter is quite inferior in terms of graphics, sound, and game play to the readily available Gradius III on the Super Nintendo. Even though this is a CD game as well the music and voices are not up to par to other with other Duo shooters plus you can't even save your high scores to the system. Gradius II for the Duo ended up being good but nothing too ground breaking.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 5
gameplay: 6
Find Gradius II on eBay here!


The Total Recall Dud of the Month!

00
GUNBOAT (Accolade, 1992)
If you seen my review of Falcon up there then you know the deal here but this game is even more unplayable. This is a dull 3D war simulation where you pilot a highly powered boat on a mission to destroy your non US enemy. Sure that may sound exciting but the game's interface is overly confusing and unnecessary and it just gets worst when you actually play this so called game here. The action is hard to see so it's hard to know what's even going on in the missions, the sound effects are scratchy, and the 3D visuals are just choppy at best. Gunboat doesn't age too good and it didn't help that it sucked in 1992 as well.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 1
sound: 1
gameplay: 1
Find Gunboat on eBay here!

57 HIT The ICE (Taito/Williams, 1992)

If you are looking for a serious Hockey simulation then just keep on looking because Hit the Ice here is a goofy rock 'em sock 'em arcade action where the rules are simple and fighting is highly encouraged. There are no NHL teams or players here but you can punch basically anytime you want and you also can earn power drinks to use power shots on the goalies to help earn points. It's simple action but it does get very repetitive as well so unless you're playing with friends there isn't much reason to come back.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 to 4 players
graphics: 5
sound: 4
gameplay: 6
Find Hit the Ice on eBay here!

67 IMPLODE (Mind Rec, 2002)

*Super CD-ROM2 game
As much as I wanted to like this newer Turbo Duo release, Implode and its two bonus games were a little on the crude side. Implode plays like a mixture of Sega Swirl and Tetris Attack (or Pokemon Puzzle League, whatever Nintendo wants to call it) and you score points by getting rid of matching colours. Implode can be a fun and addictive title but the difficulty can be either too hard or too easy plus these graphics are certainly nothing special and some of the images look borrowed from other turbo games too (the Pause girl looks very familiar). The other two games are your basic Atari type style titles, so if you like Dodge Em and Pong then you may like these too. The Implode disc is good if you want more Duo games for your machine but don't expect to be too impressed.
*Homebrew game
*Save option available
*Uncommon Duo game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 1
sound: 5
gameplay: 4
Find Implode on eBay here!


The Total Recall Dud of the Month!

40 IMPOSSAMOLE (Gremlin Graphics, 1991)

In this odd game you're a mole who was forced with super powers and now its his lone mission to stop evil aliens from invading the earth. Anyway, Impossamole is a short game with only 5 worlds but at least it's a very challenging action platformer that takes some getting use thanks to the spotty hit detection and weak main character. Although the graphics and sounds are above average (for a turbo game anyway), the ending here is pretty weak so it may not be worth all the effort.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
Spoiler Alert! Wanna see the ending to this game?
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 8
gameplay: 5
Find Impossamole on eBay here!


75 INSANITY (Aetherbyte, 2009)

*Super CD-ROM2 game
If you are a fan of the classic arcade game Berzerk then you should know this one. You are a lone human trying to survive in electric walled dungeons filled with tons of killer robots. I love it on the Atari 2600 and 5200 but how is this edition? Well, the game includes all new cool music and you can even select from standard chip or CD soundtracks and it sounds awesome. Sadly the bland graphics are rather basic for a Duo game especially compared to other Super CD titles like Lords of Thunder and when the robots shoot lasers they can hard to see in the background. Still Insanity gets really intense and if you like classic arcade action then you love this.
*Homebrew Duo game
For 1 player only
graphics: 3
sound: 8
gameplay: 5
Get more info from the website!
Find Insanity on eBay here!

39 IT CAME From The DESERT (Cinemaware, 1991)
*TurboGrafx-16 CD game
Do you love cheesy old horror flicks? It Came From The Desert here is a Full Motion Video game that tells the story of small town being invaded by man eating giant ants. The game consist of a bunch of movies crunched together and there are a few 2D action scenes thrown in as well. The videos are well done with some nice voice work but they look very blurry and some the scenes don't always transition very well. The action levels here can be kind of fun but the controls aren't the most responsive. It Came From The Desert may appeal to people looking for a FMV game but everyone else will find it just too weird.
*Save option available
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 5
gameplay: 2
Find It came from the Desert on eBay here!


52 JACK NICKLAUS TURBO GOLF (Accolade, 1991)

There are actually two versions of Jack Nicklaus Turbo Golf here for the Turbografx-16 here surprisingly. One card, one CD. Both games are the same and you get to play has a golfer on some realistic style courses. The game has some nice features like the ability to do power shots and topspins but there are no numbers on the meters and the graphics are just butt ugly. JN Golf also has some annoying loading screens where you have to wait for the screen to process the field but at least it's not as bad as the CD version.
*Save option available
For 1 to 4 players
graphics: 2
sound: 2
gameplay: 5

Find Jack Nicklaus on eBay here!


11 JACK NICKLAUS CD TURBO GOLF (Accolade, 1991)
*Turbografx-16 CD game
Jack Nicklaus is easily one of the greatest golfers of all time and it's a real shame his game sucks. Turbo Golf here comes with very annoying and very long load times per turns so unless you have the patience to wait for the screen to appear you should be playing something else. Some of the music can be good but the game also has very bland graphics with poor use of colour, and the on-screen interface is very ugly too. The game ended up being easily more tedious then playable.
*Uncommon Turbo CD game
For 1 to 4 players
graphics: 2
sound: 5
gameplay: 5

Find Jack Nicklaus CD on eBay here!


The StarSoldier Game of the Month!
74 JACKIE CHAN'S Action Kung Fu (Hudson Soft, 1992)
Not only does this game star martial arts movie actor Jackie Chan (star of flicks like Drunken Master, Rush Hour and Operation Condor) but his video game here is actually pretty good too. If you don't know the deal this little cartoony but fast paced action game where you jump from platform to platform and destroy bad guys and cute animals along the way. Although there is little you haven't already seen in dozen of other action games before this is still a very good game here with good controls and solid graphics.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
Find Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu on eBay here!


48 JJ & JEFF (Hudson Soft, May 1990)

*a.k.a.: Kato and Ken Chan in Japan
This wacky 2 meg game looks a lot like the original Super Mario Bros. by Nintendo but your heroes wears purple business suits and have giant heads. Although the game may look silly JJ & Jeff is a very, VERY tough action game with draining health, annoying enemies, and 24 long and unforgiving levels. At least there are loads of secrets to discover along the way to help you out but overall you're still going to be cursing a lot here. The ending here is really goofy too....... much like the game itself. JJ & Jeff is a great game for people looking for punishment but because of that casual gamers should go no where near this.
*Highly edited from the original Japanese game Kato & Ken
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 7
Find JJ & Jeff on eBay here!


The Total Recall Dud of the Month!

54 KEITH COURAGE in Alpha Zones (Hudson Soft, August 1989)

This is a good but very repetitive 2 Meg action title where the hero Keith Courage must avenge his father's death by ridding the world of the evil and poorly named B.A.D. gang. This was the original pack in game for the Turbografx-16 and although the game was decent enough, it really failed to spark up interest for the system.
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 6
gameplay: 5

Find Keith Courage on eBay here!


40 KING OF CASINO (Victor Musical Industries, 1990)

All right, most games for the Turbografx-16 are geared towards kids but here's one for the adults. OK, so in this title you or your friends get to play their choice of roulette, blackjack, keno, poker, or slots across several casino with fruity names like Apple and Strawberry. It starts out well but the content really repeats after a while and other then a few palette chances and number of playable areas so unless you really what a Casino game for your Turbo, don't waste your time.
For 1 to 5 players
graphics: 4
sound: 4
gameplay: 5

Find King of Casino on eBay here!



The StarSoldier Game of the Month!
75 KLAX (Tengen/Atari Games, 1990)
Despite some terrible voice samples this is a good and very colourful 2 meg version of the famous falling tiles arcade game originally from Atari. The objective in Klax is to match the falling tiles by colour and you score points by lining them up in at least a row of three but be careful not to let any of the falling tiles to drop before they reach the bottom because if too many fall away then it's game over. Your game can also end if all the 25 squares are filled up so time is not on your side. This was the only Tengen game to be released on the Turbografx by the way but at least it doesn't totally suck.
*Uncommon Turbografx game
For 1 player only
graphics: 6
sound: 5
gameplay: 7

Find Klax on eBay here!


72 LAST ALERT (Sin Nihon Laser Soft/Telenet Japan, 1990)
*a.k.a.: Red Alert in Japan
*Turbografx-16 CD game
Last Alert has a Rambo-like story line in a Contra/Commando style game so it already sounds pretty cool. The game is packed with lots of levels and a nice selection of special guns and special attacks but this title is probably most famous for it's REALLY bad voice acting in the low budget cinemas and various open dialogue throughout the game. You can easily tell that this was NEC of America first try at translating Anime, uh? Last Alert still plays fine and the leveling up system was interesting but overall it's nothing too special.
*Uncommon Turbo CD game
*Save option available
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 6
gameplay: 7
Find Last Alert on eBay here!


61 LEGEND of HERO TOMNO (Irem, 1992)

Here is a game I wanted to like since it was from the creators of
R Type and Ninja Spirit but there are just too many problems holding it back here. In this linear side scrolling action game you control a dorky looking hero in a cape that has the ability to use magic spells. The game starts out fun blasting enemies with fireballs and collecting power ups but our so called hero here can only take one hit. This is especially annoying when you are fighting these tough bosses and constant respawning enemies. The Legend of Hero Tomno had promise and the game isn't impossible thanks to the unlimited continues so it's playable but overall it is too frustrating.
*Rare Turbografx-16 game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 4
gameplay: 6
Find Hero Tomno on eBay here!


The StarSoldier Game of the Month!
92 LEGENDARY AXE (Victor Musical Industries, 1989)
Here is a unique 2 Meg adventure/action platform title with a hero wielding a powerful magical axe. Your hero, Goron must fight and brave the elements alone to rescue his girlfriend Flare from the evil armies of Jagu. Goron must go through 6 challenging levels if he hopes to be successful and each level offers a great list of new challenges. Although the game can be crude in the animation department, the huge end boss Jago here has to be seen to believe. What makes this action game so appealing is the easy to master game play and dead on controls. Sure, Legendary Axe may look a little out dated now but I still like all the twist and turns especially late in the game.
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 8
gameplay: 7
Find Legendary Axe on eBay here!


60 LEGENDARY AXE II (Victor Musical Industries/Red/Atlus, 1991)

Axe 2 is a ok 2 meg sequel that plays absolutely nothing like the first Legendary Axe at all. In it you help a young prince get his revenge on his evil brother who is now king. In the game you work your way down 7 action packed levels with some really crazy enemies and creative bosses to get a chance to end your brother's reign. Unfortunately, you're playing a guy in blue underwear and not the cooler caveman-like hero in the first game. "Seriously, why was this called Legendary Axe II?" The axe isn't even the primary weapon here!? The game still plays well for a action title but it should have got a different name.
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
Find Legendary Axe II on eBay here!


87
LORDS of THUNDER (Hudson Soft, 1993)
*Super CD-Rom2 game
Before the Duo kicked the bucket there was still some fight in the old girl because Lords of Thunder is one of the best shooters in Turbografx history. In the game here you must help a flying warrior use powerful magic to take back the elements of earth. The thing that makes the game one of the better shooting titles on the machine is all the impressive weaponry, stunning graphics, and intense action. Lords of Thunder is not too different from the Gate of Thunder title which also appeared on the Duo, however you have to love the new theme and some more diverse attacks, eh? This game not only comes packed with some nice looking graphics but the game also has cool heavy metal music too. What more could you want in a shooter? This game was also ported over to the Sega CD too but this edition here come out first.
*Uncommon Duo game
For 1 player only
graphics: 9
sound: 9
gameplay: 8
Find Lords of Thunder on eBay here!


83
MAGICAL CHASE (Quest, 1993)

Holy freakin' crap! This is not only the rarest NTSC Turbografx-16 out there but I seen complete copies go for thousands of dollars, that's crazy! Well, anyways this game is a shooter (of course) and in it you control a young witch that must shoot down a bunch of evil demons that she mistaking unleashed on the world. The first thing I noticed about this title is that the graphics are amazing with tons of colour and some impressive parallax scrolling so everything looks fantastic even for a kiddy game. The second thing I notice the game is very intense with enemies coming at me from all angles. It's hard but it's not unfair and this girl pack some serious power ups and can take a ton of damage too plus you can also go to shops as well so it's a great balance. Magical Chase doesn't break the mold but it's there's still tons of action here.
*Extremely Rare Turbografx-16
For 1 player only
graphics: 8
sound: 8
gameplay: 7
Find Magical Chase on eBay here!

02
MAGICAL DINOSAUR TOUR (NEC, 1990)
*Turbografx-16 CD game
Yikes! Yeah, so here is this CD game for the Turbografx-16 and it's actually not a game at all but a educational learning tool where you can get info on dinosaurs...... OK. To be fair I didn't want to hate this game and I turned it on with a open mind and willing to get some major knowledge on some dinos here. Sadly not only is the presentation lame at best thanks to the dull colours but the audio lady sounds bored out her mind reading the material. I don't blame her. The next time I see a dinosaur in a game I better have a gun.
*Uncommon Turbo CD game
For 1 player only
graphics: 3
sound: 3
gameplay: 0
Find Magical Dinosaur Tour on eBay here!

74 METERO BLASTER DX (Mind Rec, 2004)

*Super CD-ROM2 game
I'm glad to see that Mind Rec is continuing to produce games for the Duo but if you haven't figured it out yet, Metero Blaster DX is an Asteroids clone (shoot down rocks and aliens in space). Not exactly one of the type of games I wanted to play on a system this powerful. To be fair though the game may be tough but it is very playable and the goofy story line was pretty funny too. The game also comes with a timed version of Implode and a Pipe Dreams-like game called Loop so you're not just getting the one game either.
*Homebrew game
*Save option available
*Rare Duo game
For 1 player only
graphics: 5
sound: 6
gameplay: 6
http://mindrec.com

Find Metero Blaster on eBay here!


BEST TURBOGRAFX-16 GAME!
The StarSoldier Game of the Month!
97
MILITARY MADNESS (Hudson Soft, 1990)
This cool game is a very addictive 3 meg war board-like game where you have to take turns to fight for control of the moon. Military Madness has loads of different tanks, ground fighters, and aircrafts ready for war and there are 32 levels here in all so you'll be playing this one for awhile. Another interesting thing about this game is that your units can gain experience the more they battle. Military Madness takes a few tries to understand what's going on but it's still an incredible strategy title.
*Rare Turbografx-16 game
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 7
sound: 7
gameplay: 9
Find Military Madness on eBay here!


55 MONSTER LAIR (Hudson Soft/Alfa System, 1990)

*Turbografx-16 CD game
The Second official game for the Turbografx-16 CD system is this simple and rather unremarkable platformer/shooter starring the Wonder Boy and the princess he's always trying to save. Monster Lair may look cute but this is still a very difficult game with 14 long levels and an annoying draining health meter. Although the game can be fun, I don't understand why this is on the Turbo CD and not a card?
For 1 or 2 players
graphics: 6
sound: 7
gameplay: 6
Find Monster Lair on eBay here!


The Total Recall Dud of the Month!

51 MOTO ROADER (NCS, 1990)
That's a odd name. Anyway Moto Roader is a throw back to the overhead racers similar to RC Pro Am or Super Sprint from the NES era. Although MR is one of the few 5 player weapon based racers on the system I really hate these awkward controls. It can be a fun party game if the other players know what they are doing but I highly recommend you get something more advance for your get together's instead.
For 1 to 5 players
graphics: 4 ............ other than the swimsuit models this game looks very plain.
sound: 6
gameplay: 6
Find Moto Roader on eBay here!



82
MYSTERIOUS SONG (Frozen Utopia, 2012)
*Super CD-Rom2 game
It took awhile but in late 2012 the home brew Turbo Duo game Mysterious Song finally got released. So was it worth the wait? In this traditional style role playing game you control a young knight named Spear on a quest to find the cause of monsters invading the land and if that wasn't bad enough he also hears this strange mysterious voice from time to time and he wants answers. If you played a lot of old school 8-bit and 16-bit RPG's like Dragon Warrior or Phantasy Star SMS then this game will feel very familiar. Now I don't like giving you tips in reviews like this bit if I can recommend anything to you while playing this title it's to save enough here since you can be fighting high level enemies rather suddenly and then you're dead. Once you know that the game becomes a lot more enjoyable and I miss the sort of challenge from more modern RPG's. The presentation is basic in a few areas like some of the monster design or non animated npc's but the cinemas looked great and the background music was just awesome. Mysterious Song is oddly short with only a few towns and dungeons in the entire game but there are tons of cool unlockable features and extras like bonus art, sound tests, 3 different languages (English, French, and Spanish) and even alternate modes to help the replay value here. It's no mystery why this is so good.
You can find the website for more info here
*Homebrew Duo game
*Save option available
For 1 player only
graphics: 7
sound: 9
gameplay: 7
Find Mysterious Song on eBay here!



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