Friday, October 3, 2025

The TRBO 50?

 I got this fun idea, well- maybe it's not all that fun, but it sounded fun to me!  But, have you guys tried the UFO 50 game? It's a fake list of games from a fake console from the 80s. It's fairly cheap and a nice collection of retro-inspired games (some are amazing!) that you can grab and just play in a collection. I think it's out for current gen stuff, and steam.  But it got me thinking.


Now I know we got the Turbografx Mini, but let's just say what if you could put together a list of YOUR 50 games you'd use to represent the Turbografx in a similar collection. Now say, you'd want- a good variety of styles (so it's not just all shooties and Imported RPGs), and it was a good variety of games throughout the time the system was out.


OH, and what if!!  You could ONLY include a sequel IF you included the original?  So like for instance, you REALLY LOVE Bonk's Revenge, but hate Adventure?  Too bad, if the first isn't on your list, you CANNOT include it's sequel!

So for instance of the 50 games, you could pick

3 games from 1987
5 games from 1988
7 games from 1989
7 games from 1990
8 games from 1991
8 games from 1992
5 games from 1993
5 games from 1994
2 games from 1995


My list would look something like this:


1987- Not a massive list to pull from, but these are the top 3 for a good variety and fun

Bikkuriman World - to get the Wonder Boy series included!

China Warrior - show off those GIANT sprites!

Victory Run - Get a racing game in early


1988- Gets a little harder here as some great games won't make the cut

Alien Crush - Pinball madness!!  Another good one for variety

Legendary Axe - Of course!  One of the best action platformers!

Space Harrier - show off the arcade chops of the Turbo!

Vigilante- Another good arcade conversion, but also a fun beat 'em up!

Dragon Spirit- Our first shootie, and shows the Turbo isn't just doing spaceship shooters like everything else (but will soon!)


1989- This is when the Turbo was released in the US, and PCE had an AMAZING year for releases. I have to sift through dozens to pick just 7, damn!!

Dungeon Explorer- It's gotta make the cut, I mean the first REAL multiplayer game with 5 players!!  Good Gauntlet killer too!

Bloody Wolf - We need our run n' gun!

Neutopia - Get that action RPG action! We got Zelda too!!

Bonk's Adventure - for obvious reasons!

R-Type - Essential shootie

War of the Dead - Oddlball choice, but honestly it has good variety, and a fine Zelda II clone with Zombies!!

Ys I&II - First CD game, and also essential for any list!


1990- Another AMAZING year, and only 7 choices!!

Splatterhouse - shows this Turbo 50 isn't just for kids!

Ninja Spirit - Best Ninja action possible!

Super Star Soldier - fantastic shoot 'em up- essential!

Military Madness - strategy war at it's finest!

Outrun - Shows off how far the Turbo came since Victory Run (another racing sim)

Bomberman - Absolutely essential to get '93 on the list!

Jack Nicholas Golf -  I know.. Golf? But yeah we need some variety and those video golf fans love this right?


1991- Now we start to get some big titles from the Turbo/PCE CD lineup! 8 games

Cadash - WD's first translated works and an awesome arcade conversion

Buster Bros. - incredible multiplayer fun! Kind of our best single screen puzzle platformer

Bonk's Revenge - get another mascot platformer in here!

Dragon Slayer - Amazing Turn Based RPG, finally!

The Manhole - unique point n' click game for kids?

Prince of Persia - A port of the legendary game, and a damn fine one too!

Salamander - A sexy pick, and we're going with this over Gradius for multiplayer shooting action!

Dragon's Curse - A crazy good port of an awesome series!


1992- We get 8 picks here, so let's go!!  So many to choose from!

Parodius Da! - without Gradius on the list, we need this Konami mock'em up!

New Adventure Island- one of the best platformer games

Air Zonk - A blast!  Of course!

Bomberman '93 - best party game on the system!

Gate of Thunder - Why did Konami leave this off the Turbo Mini pack?

LOOM - one of my favorites, and a lovely port!  (Personal choice?)

Shapeshifter - Cool side scrolling open concept game like Metroid!?  Yes!  And not a bad game at all!

Gekisha Boy/ Photograph boy - Those Pokemon Snap kids will love this!  (and I do too!)

1993 - When I got into the Turbo personally, another amazing selection, but we need to narrow it down to JUST 5!?

Riot Zone - I chose this over Double Dragon 2, just because it's a showcase game, HUGE sprites, awesome soundtrack and kind of like all those awesome beat 'em ups the kids like...  Great Value?

Magical Chase - I'm choosing to include this one using the US release date, and maybe that's cheating but SO BE IT!  It looks gorgeous and plays great!

Lords of Thunder - Fucking metal to the masses!  Has to make the cut!

Street Fighter II CE- essential fighting game, but not the only 1v1 fighter to make the cut!

Beyond Shadowgate - The best beat 'em up/point n' click game ever made!


1994 - Things calm down a bit here as we only get 5 selections from this year!

Puyo Puyo CD - need more puzzle games!

Popful Mail - excellent adventure game!

Gotzendiener - Isometric Gotz GET!

Fatal Fury Special - ACD game represent!  Absolute BANGER of a port too!

Dynastic Hero - Another solid RPG Adventure platformer to round out the Wonder Boy games on PCE


1995 only gets 2 games to round out the TRBO 50!

Sapphire is essential just to show off the graphics!

Far East of Eden: Kabuki Clash - I know, this is the ONLY Far East of Eden game I included in this list.. I wanted SO BADLY to include the first one way back in 1989, but...

  

As an added bonus for the 51st selection of our TRBO 50 - I would add 1996's Bazaru as a fun unlockable game you'd get when you beat at least 25 of the 50 games here.


Which games would you include? Did I miss any (YES!)? I had looked at this list a solid 10 minutes before posting it, and yeah, there's a ton I could change depending on the mood I'm in. Maybe more sports games? PCE has a bunch of good baseball and soccer games, and those have their fans. I mean Kunio Soccer should make the cut, and so should John Madden DUO.  But alas, this is what we're left with?  How would your list look?

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