Final System to Collect
I could use some advice. I currently collect for the NES, SNES, N64, OG XBOX, and PS1 - PS4. And I am probably down to roughly 5 games that I want to buy per console. This year I have been playing through my PS3 backlog and plan on playing my PS4 backlog which is going to be around 60 games when the PS5 comes out. (I hope its backward compatible). As I'm playing through my PS3 games I'm really starting to see how much time this all takes, and more than a few of these games are starting to feel like a grind. I am starting a new career this year and having my first child. I can't see keeping up my collecting at the pace I've been going because I am going to have too much stuff competing for my time. So, I am thinking I am going to collect for one last console, I don't think I should do the switch b/c it will be too much. I am thinking either the PC Engine or the Dreamcast. The shooters on the dreamcast look great, but I don't see much outaide of that genre. Should I go with the PC Engine?
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Reason I mention pc engine is that there are more pick up and play games on there. Be warned that there are a lot of shooters so make sure you enjoy that genre. PC engine can be pricey but I love that system.
If you get a duo or cd attachment that opens up some awesome pce cd stuff too
I.e. Rhondo of Blood / Lords of Thunder
Is the PC Engine reliable like the NES or does it get tepremental like some other consoles? Also, seems like I'll need to play japanese games, is that easy?
Can't do that with pc engine
The system has all sorts of fantastic benefits, and a huge level to expand beyond it too if the situation ever improves in time. That said you do NOT buy a PC Engine, you get a Core Grafx 1 or 2 (same insides) as it's already with an RCA cable as the PCE uses lame RF, and the CGs also are the NEC system with reliable caps if anything of the family of things. Now what's important here is that being Japanese and less desirable for some reason compared to the expensive mess the TG16 is you can get one for a very very reasonable price. The big deal though is the library. There's like 3 games to every 1 that the US got or something around that, and those many more games they got we got hosed out of a lot of them really make the HuCard format and system shine in a way the TG just floundered compared. There are lots of games, lots of genres, lots of varities in each that really are truly fantastic titles. Yes there are still a good many average and turd titles, and you have the language barrier on those fewer adventure and RPG titles. But you know if you cared that much about those you wait for a used one or Black Friday and get a PC(Turbo) Everdrive for under $100 and you can then run the US versions of those we did get and a good many of the rest have been translated you can just toss on a little micro SD card to get that fix. Also most of the library can be had for under $50/game and that's complete in case, yet if you go for loose games they get even notably more cheap so if space is a concern you can fit a lot of those in a small case like maybe one for trading cards.
If the card ever get old, you can pop another $100 or so into it and get a lock on CDROM device and then you can buy or burn whatever you want from any region as it's not locked which adds many more layers of play. The options and choices for quality, quantity, and good prices in general can't be topped by the PCE format. It's the last console I chose to bother with from the past if you don't count the Virtual Boy as one of those as I tinker with those too (but with like 22 official games it's not a collectors long game there.)
Is the PC Engine reliable like the NES or does it get tepremental like some other consoles? Also, seems like I'll need to play japanese games, is that easy?
The PCE not so much exactly, but the Core Grafx is very very reliable. They're well built, and if you're not tearing it apart or throwing it around it shouldn't be a problem. The one weak point is this rigid-ish ribbon cable with hard wires in it that go from the board to the pin connector and they can be cracked if you hit the thing hard enough on top or just right but that's no worry unless you're abusive or a klutz. And the thing only takes Japanese games but most are still playable, and as I said before, for under $100 you can get a PC Everdrive and get into translations that way or run US versions on that.
A lot of the library is covered here nicely so read up on some reviews: http://www.videogameden.com/hucard.htm (also this one is about as equally excellent too: http://www.pcengine.co.uk/index.htm )
I have about 30 games for mine and an everdrive as well so suggestions/help I can give to a reasonable point.
Bonus is that most of the games are playable without knowing Japanese. Rpg's or anything that's dialogue heavy is tough but for almost every game the menus, passwords settings, etc are in English
Lets Sing, I don't do the every game thing. I probably have 275 or 300 games and will consider myself complete with the above systems with another 40 something games or so. I don't play turn based RPG's so that cuts out a lot of beloved games. After years of beating Mario World and Link to the Past I even cut those out of my collection.
Gargoyles, Mega Turrican, Rocket Knight, Castle of Illusion, World of Illsuions, Castlevania Bloodlines, Aladdin, Hell Fire, Gaiares, Shinobi 3, Lightening Force, Truxton, Ghouls n' Ghosts, and Robocop Terminator
If anyone has any advice on obscure games or opinions on ahooters , beat em ups; or platformerts to pick up or avoid, I'll take it.
Games are still somewhat affordable, though prices are definitely starting to rise, specifically for Complete copies. Another benefit is that as a lb upcoming parent it may be easier to find time to game on a handheld. Just be careful with bootleg copies.
A lot of people are saying the shmup selection on the Dreamcast is the selling point. I don't know if it compares to the 100 + shooters on the PCE though!
With the Mega SG being released and the good amount of platformers I decided to go collect loose sega and then turbo. So far I'm looking for:
Gargoyles, Mega Turrican, Rocket Knight, Castle of Illusion, World of Illsuions, Castlevania Bloodlines, Aladdin, Hell Fire, Gaiares, Shinobi 3, Lightening Force, Truxton, Ghouls n' Ghosts, and Robocop Terminator
If anyone has any advice on obscure games or opinions on ahooters , beat em ups; or platformerts to pick up or avoid, I'll take it.
Rocket Knight is excellent. Would also recommend Ristar and Ghostbusters