The History of the PC Engine-Part 2-1990-1996

The Super CD ROM2 made its debut in 1990/91. This very long unit added 4 times the RAM from 64KB to 256KB. This meant that games could have more detailed sprites and more data presented on screen. Gradually, games shifted away from HuCard releases to Super CD releases.

 For users of past hardware such as the original CDROM2, gamers could buy the System Card 3.0, which allowed users  to play the new Super CDROM games. Upgrading was a regular part of the PC Engine experience, and the System Card 3.0 was the first major hardware upgrade that updated the performance of the games via more memory.

HuCards games were still coming out during this era. The early 1990s produced some of the most impressive HuCard releases. A very impressive port of Street Fighter 2 was released in 1993. PC Genjin 3 (Bonk 3) and Bomberman 94' are some other notable late HuCards. The later HuCards are especially impressive as they use the basic PC Engine hardware without any memory expansion. Most of these games are very valuable nowadays.

With all of the add-ons released, NEC felt the need to simplify the growing complexity of the hardware with a single unit. Combining the Super CD-ROM2 and original PC Engine into one unit, the PC Engine Duo was released in September 1991 at a cost of 59, 800 Yen. Two versions of the PC-Engine Duo were released. The PC Engine DUO-R was released in 1993 at just under 40,000 Yen. The final variation of the Duo, the Duo RX, was released in 1994. With the end of production of the Duo RX, the PC Engine would meet its fate by 1995. However, what a life it was.

Hundreds of quality titles were released for the Super CD Rom2 in the early 1990s. Some of the most memorable include Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, The Dynastic Hero, Gate of Thunder, PC Genjin 3 (Bonk 3) and many others. Many of these later releases are extremely valuable today, fetching hundreds of dollars each.

Another attempt to extend the life of the PC Engine was made in the form of the Arcade Card Duo and Arcade Card Pro. The cards expanded the memory of the PC Engine to over 2 MBs. While not a lot of games were released for the Arcade Card, the shooter "Sapphire", a port of Strider, and several Neo Geo fighting game ports were released. Sapphire is the most valuable and expensive Japanese CD release, and is widely regarded as a technical marvel. However, by the time of its release, most Japanese gamers had moved on to the Super Famicom. Sadly, the Arcade Card games never got the attention they deserve and remain cult favourites.

By 1996-97, only a few releases trickled out. NEC had released the successor to the PC Engine in December of 1994. The PC-FX was a massive failure, built on outdated technology that was unable to produce real 3-D games. The PC-FX would struggle and fade into obscurity against the Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn.

The PC Engine had a long life. In an era where most consoles live around 4-5 years, the PC Engine was a viable platform from 1987-1995. Upgrades kept the system competitive and viable, but came at a high price to the consumer. CD-ROM attachments and memory upgrades were not cheap, but the die-hards were willing to pay the price for some great games. As an immensely successful platform in Japan, the PC Engine is remembered fondly by many. It has a rabid collecting scene, and some pieces can fetch into the thousands. For those that love it, the PC Engine is the console that never was in the West. The Turbografx 16 failed to make a significant impact in the West, but in Japan the PC Engine almost dethroned Nintendo's Famicom. Hundreds of more games were released in Japan that never made it to Western shores. Collecting for the PC Engine today is much cheaper than collecting for the Turbografx 16, due to the PC Engine being much more popular and commercially successful.

The History of the PC Engine-Part 1-1987-1991

Released in 1987 in Japan, the PC Engine (PCE) was the main fruit of labour born of the partnership of software company Hudson and Japanese computer giant NEC. Nearly overtaking Nintendo's Famicom at one point, the system has been regulated to relative obscurity in the West as the Turbografx-16. While the TG-16 tanked in North America and Europe, the PCE was a smash in its homeland. Let's examine the fascinating history of this minuscule little white block.

The marriage of NEC and Hudson began after Hudson's powerful new graphics chips were rejected by Nintendo for use in a potential new console. With the runaway success of the Famicom in Japan, many other Japanese tech companies wanted to enter the burgeoning console market. NEC found their opportunity with Hudson's new chipset. The new console would be designed by Hudson and manufactured by NEC. Dubbed the PC Engine, it used a 8-bit CPU and dual 16-bit GPUs. Arguments  about the true classification of the console remain up for debate today. Some consider the PCE/TG16 to be 16-bit, while others consider it to be an 8-bit machine. Certainly, it occupies a unique place as a console that can only be described as a hybrid between both worlds.

Released on October 30th, 1987, the PCE was a near instant success. Its innovative design, compact size, and impressive graphics were a hit with the Japanese public. Despite a small library in Fall 1987, 1988 brought Namco on board. Growing tried of Nintendo's stranglehold over Japanese developers, Namco was an early supporter of the system. Many of the PC Engine's great titles were Namco releases. These titles included Splatterhouse, Dragon Spirit, Galaga 88, and countless others.

Initially, PC Engine games came exclusively on "HuCards". These credit-card size ROM-boards were a tiny-sized format for a very tiny console. Hudson has developed similar technology in the form of "Bee Cards" for the MSX computers in Japan. HuCards were a novel feature at a time when most games came on bulky plastic cartridges.

The majority of the games most memorable earlier titles came on HuCards. Games such as PC-Genjin 1-3 (Bonk 1-3 in the West), GunHed (Blazing Lazers), and countless other releases shipped on HuCards. However, the PC Engine was soon to make its first format addition.

Despite strong sales of the HuCard-based system, NEC and Hudson felt the need to create an CD-ROM add-on for the PCE. The CD-ROM2 add-on was released in December of 1988. It was the first CD-based console on the market. While the launch line-up was sparse (Fighting Street and No-Ri-Ko, two very mediocre games) sales were brisk and the CD-ROM2 managed to sell quite well despite  being priced at 57,800 yen. This was very expensive, even for the time.

Several other variations of the main PC Engine console would be released in the late 1980s. Pictured above is the PC Engine Core-Grafx and Core-Grafx II. These units gave the PCE A/V out and made some minor hardware revisions.

Now a prized collector's item, the PC Engine Shuttle was released in 1989 and aimed at younger kids. It featured a strange spaceship-like design and bata-rang-style controller. The Shuttle also did not allow connection to the CD-ROM2 unit, unlike the Core-Grafx I and II and White PC Engine.

Around the same time, some other curious models were released by NEC. The PC Engine LT was a laptop-style PCE that came with its own 4-inch screen. The units were very expensive due to the cost of LCD screens at the time, and prices today are no better. Except to pay over $1000 for a boxed unit.

In 1990, the PC Engine GT was released. A truly hand-held version of the PC Engine, it was more powerful than any other handheld on the market at the time. However, it failed to match the success of the Nintendo GameBoy due to its much higher cost, battery consumption, and much-larger size. The GT is also a very expensive collector's item in PCE circles today.

Back to the games. From 1987-1990, the PC Engine would see the release of countless shooters, platformers, and RPGs. For shooter fans, GunHed, Image Fight, Super Star Soldier, and countless others would satisfy. For platformer fans, games such as PC Genjin (Bonk's Adventure), Makyo Densestu (The Legendary Axe), and Tora e no Michi (Tiger Road) would keep fans of the genre satisfied. On the growing RPG front, Neutopia and Ys Books 1 and 2 would keep those looking for a Final Fantasy or Dragon Warrior mostly happy. For nearly every kind of gamer, the PCE had something unique and fun to offer. To be continued in Part 2.............(1991-1996)