Friday 4 January 2019

PC Engine SuperGrafx A-Z

When NEC unveiled their possibly-premature replacement for their super-awesome PC Engine, it had our attention immediately. It tantalised us from afar when we first saw it in gaming magazines of the day. It even intimidated us a little - this mean looking new machine even looked a bit like an actual engine! But something was clearly very wrong almost immediately as only six games were ever released for it before it went belly-up. So, here is a look at the entire PC Engine SuperGrafx software library:

1941: Counter Attack by Capcom (1991)

The second of Capcom's two SuperGrafx offerings (chronologically speaking) was this splendid vertical-scroller which was the third game in their 19XX series. The format remained the same of course - shoot down millions of enemy aircraft - but it was superbly done and gave a decent indication of the SG's abilities.


Aldynes by Produce / Hudson Soft (1991)

As a company formed by ex-Irem staff, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that the sole SuperGrafx offering by Produce was a shoot 'em up, and a horizontally-scrolling one too, no less! It doesn't quite reach the heights of R-Type but it is a jolly decent effort. Worth owning an SG for? Maybe not but it's a good option.


Battle Ace by Hudson Soft (1989)

This was the first SuperGrafx game made, and as a first-person into-the-screen shooter, it probably wasn't what most new owners of NEC's new console were expecting when they bought it. The most surprising thing about it though, was that it was by Hudson and wasn't very good. That didn't happen very often!


Daimakaimura by Capcom (1990)

Capcom's first SuperGrafx release was one that most gamers, Japanese or otherwise, would know very well immediately - Daimakaimura. Or, as most English-speakers know it - Ghouls'n Ghosts! Previously the best home version was claimed by MegaDrive owners but this verison was arguably even better. A fantastic conversion.


Darius Plus by Taito / NEC Avenue (1990)

Unlike the other SG games, this one wasn't a dedicated release - it works fine on the normal PCE and is merely enhanced slightly when played on a SuperGrafx. It's a decent enough, albeit slightly garish conversion of the arcade original though, and a reasonably inexpensive member of the SG family.


Madö King Granzört by Hudson Soft (1990)

Known simply as Granzort to most, this is another Hudson release, this time a platform/combat game based on a mecha-based anime series. Accordingly, players will find themselves in command of not one but three different robots, each with their own abilities. It's a bit clunky but also challenging and good fun.

 

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