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Bridging
the gap between the 8 and 16-Bit generations,
the PC Engine came as a fast, smooth and amazingly
capable 8-Bit machine, that comes closer to the
16-Bit generation in terms of performance. It
was the first 'second generation' console, and
the first platform to be genuinely capable of
presenting near-perfect conversions of some of
the most popular arcade games of the 80s. Today
it remains fondly rememebered all around the world
for its excellent library of original productions,
small and compact design, and extensive range
of hardware upgrades and accessories.
The PC Engine was the brainchild of electronics
giant NEC and Hudson
Soft - one of Japan's most prolific software
publishers, and renowned chip and Hardware developer.
Hudson had been looking for financial support
to back a console chipset they had developped.
NEC were also looking to get involved in the video
game market, and together they agreed to produce
the machine in tandem.
The original 'White' PC Engine unit was released
on the 30th of October 1987 - a remarkably small
and compact machine that used tiny 'HuCard' cartridges
- a format directly based on Hudson's 'Bee Cards'
previously seen on the MSX.
The system was dubbed 'Engine' because NEC wanted
to ultimately use the machine as a base unit for
an entire home multimedia system that would handle
telephones, faxes, and home computer functions
via a massive expansion port at the rear of the
machine.
The launch was a success - the PC Engine rapidly
overtook the Famicom in terms of sales, backed
by a very high-quality range of dedicated titles
provided by Hudson themselves (listed on the Hudson
page).
Amongst them came an excellent conversion of Irem's
R-Type, and
the uniquely quirky PC
Genjin (whose name is a pun that rhymes with
PC Engine, and literally means 'Primitive Man').
A huge step forward in gaming technology arrived
in the form of the CD-Rom² unit. Released
in December 1988, the setup involved a large 'Interface
Unit' shef that held the PC Engine alongside a
custom CD drive (that itself could be removed
and used as a standard Audio CD player). The unit
fits snugly inside a special dedicated briefcase,
and came as very lavishly designed piece of kit
for its day - and a tell-tale sign that the future
of home videogaming was no longer one of toy-like
plastic boxes, but one of CD-driven audio/visual
multimedia.
And it wouldn't end there: NEC would go on to
release a fluryy of different console designs
and upgrades, from the flawed Supergrafx to the
essential Super CD-Rom² upgrade, the range
would continue to grow and flourish until the
mid-90s.
More coming soon! |
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HE91001 |
Genji
Tsushin Agedama |
13
Dec 1991 |
HE93003 |
21
Emon - Mezase Hotel Ou |
16
Dec 1994 |
HECD2001 |
Metamor
Jupiter |
22
Jan 1993 |
HECD3002 |
Magicoal |
29
Oct 1993 |
HECD3003 |
Moonlight
Lady |
26
Mar 1993 |
HECD3004 |
Nemurenumori
no Chisana Ohanashi |
30
Jul 1993 |
HECD3005 |
Emerald
Dragon |
28
Jan 1994 |
HECD4006 |
Kaze
no Densetsu Xanadu |
18
Feb 1994 |
HECD4007 |
Brandish |
17
Jun 1994 |
HECD4008 |
Megami
Tengoku |
30
Sep 1994 |
HECD4009 |
Mad
Stalker |
15
Sep 1994 |
HECD4012 |
Wrestling
Angels Double Impact |
19
May 1995 |
HECD4013 |
Xak
III |
30
Sep 1994 |
HECD4014 |
Götzendiener |
25
Nov 1994 |
HECD4015 |
Princess
Maker |
3
Jan 1995 |
HECD5016 |
Jong
Shin Densetsu |
24
Feb 1995 |
HECD4017 |
J.League
Tremendous Soccer '94 |
23
Dec 1994 |
HECD5018 |
Solid
Force |
17
Mar 1995 |
HECD5019 |
Private
Eye Doll |
11
Aug 1995 |
HECD5020 |
Princess
Maker 2 |
16
Jun 1995 |
HECD5021 |
Kisou
Louga II The Ends of Shangri-la |
26
May 1995 |
HECD5022 |
Go!
Go! Birdie Chance |
28
Jun 1996 |
HECD5023 |
Linda
Cube |
13
Oct 1995 |
HECD5024 |
Dead
of the Brain 1 & 2 |
3
Jun 1999 |
HECD5025 |
Bazaru
de Gozaru no Game de Gozaru |
26
Jul 1996 |
HECD6026 |
Teki
Paki Working Love |
28
Mar 1997 |
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