Loading video...

Video Failed to Load

There was a problem loading this video. This could be due to a temporary network issue or the video might be unavailable.

The PC Engine was an 8-bit console that was designed with CD-ROM support in mind from the very beginning. It also used a very unique add-on system. The PC Engine and the CD-ROM drive were completely separate devices, and you even had to purchase a separate interface unit to... connect the two and play CD-ROM games. Because you needed to buy all of these components, the total cost was quite expensive at the time. I never actually saw one in person back then, but even today, I think the build quality, design, and especially the modular add-on concept look incredibly sophisticated. What’s even cooler is that the CD-ROM drive could also be used as an add-on with NEC computers. Pretty cool, right?show more

Gamer_lafan

15,395 subscribers

10,568 views • 4 days ago •via X (Twitter)

Anya Rossi• Live Now

Private livecam show

23 Comments

Whistlin Rick Wilson4 days ago

The PC Engine is one of the best designs ever made, a brilliant job by Hudson. It's just a shame NEC made a mess of it's release outside of Japan. It could have been very disruptive at the time It's the one console every retro gamer needs to play

Gamer_lafan4 days ago

I agree with that👏

Yup3 days ago

PC Engine deserves more respect. NEC truly was ahead of its time in so many ways.

Gamer_lafan3 days ago

I agree with that👏

Yael Trejo4 days ago

The powerful CD-ROM From PCE Who kicks more ass than anyone else of his era

Gamer_lafan4 days ago

👍😆

TwinTailTwist @ Tokyo, Japan4 days ago

It's amazing that the PC Engine kept upgrading as time went on! It was an extremely unique system!

Gamer_lafan4 days ago

😆👌

Wario🍉4 days ago

16-bit.

Techno Thing4 days ago

"were"? are*

Gamer_lafan4 days ago

🙆‍♂️🙆‍♂️

Captain Q4 days ago

Was that also "Dracula X"? Fantastic music choices.

Gamer_lafan3 days ago

Yes🙆‍♂️

ŘƗĆΔŘĐØ ŞĆĦŇƗĐ€Ř4 days ago

🙏👏👏👏

~Xx-_Maki/Ayanami3_-xX~3 days ago

If it was designed to support cd-roms since the beginning, why is the cd reader an add-on? Also, i thought the console was 16-bit

Gamer_lafan3 days ago

당시 CD롬이 너무 비싸서 아마 단가가 내려가길 기다린것 같아요. PC엔진은 8비트 CPU를 썼다고 하네요.

~Xx-_Maki/Ayanami3_-xX~3 days ago

Alright, thanks for clarifying it ☺️

Hammid Shahrokni4 days ago

Gamer_Lafan has been delivering the BEST content for well over a decade.

Gamer_lafan4 days ago

Thank you for your comment. ❤️

panamaorange4 days ago

What song is that from ?

Gamer_lafan4 days ago

Ninja Gaiden 4-1👌

harbelot corentin4 days ago

This is so cool, my teenage dream ^^

Gamer_lafan4 days ago

Me too🙋‍♂️

Related Videos

The PC Engine was so expensive in the late ’80s and early ’90s that it was hard to find even in the homes of well-off friends. On top of that, it had one of the first CD-ROM add-ons, which made it feel incredibly high-tech at the time. Because of its larger storage capacity, many arcade games were ported to it, and the CD-quality audio was absolutely amazing. The real issue, though, was the price. You had to buy everything separately—the PC Engine itself, the CD interface (docking unit), the CD-ROM drive, the system card, and the game CDs.

The PC Engine was so expensive in the late ’80s and early ’90s that it was hard to find even in the homes of well-off friends. On top of that, it had one of the first CD-ROM add-ons, which made it feel incredibly high-tech at the time. Because of its larger storage capacity, many arcade games were ported to it, and the CD-quality audio was absolutely amazing. The real issue, though, was the price. You had to buy everything separately—the PC Engine itself, the CD interface (docking unit), the CD-ROM drive, the system card, and the game CDs.

Gamer_lafan

40,264 views • 6 months ago

A few days ago marked the 35th anniversary of the PC Engine Duo. It combined the PC Engine and CD-ROM² into a single console, offering incredible performance compared to its competitors at the time, the Mega Drive and Super Famicom. The PC Engine was released overseas under the name TurboGrafx-16, but perhaps because the system wasn’t fully prepared for the overseas market, far fewer games were released compared to Japan, which was a shame. As a CD-based console, it delivered things that simply weren’t possible with cartridges at the time—spectacular opening sequences, impressive graphics, and incredible CD-quality music and sound. It truly felt like something from another world back then, and even today, it still looks and sounds amazing.

A few days ago marked the 35th anniversary of the PC Engine Duo. It combined the PC Engine and CD-ROM² into a single console, offering incredible performance compared to its competitors at the time, the Mega Drive and Super Famicom. The PC Engine was released overseas under the name TurboGrafx-16, but perhaps because the system wasn’t fully prepared for the overseas market, far fewer games were released compared to Japan, which was a shame. As a CD-based console, it delivered things that simply weren’t possible with cartridges at the time—spectacular opening sequences, impressive graphics, and incredible CD-quality music and sound. It truly felt like something from another world back then, and even today, it still looks and sounds amazing.

Gamer_lafan

24,329 views • 10 days ago

NEC, the company behind the PC Engine, was well known for creating cutting-edge devices. From the first CD-ROM game system to portable LCD monitors, they released products that drove gamers crazy. Even after nearly 35 years, the hardware still feels premium.

NEC, the company behind the PC Engine, was well known for creating cutting-edge devices. From the first CD-ROM game system to portable LCD monitors, they released products that drove gamers crazy. Even after nearly 35 years, the hardware still feels premium.

Gamer_lafan

63,851 views • 9 months ago

When you look at games on the PC Engine and Neo Geo—arguably the most powerful 8-bit and 16-bit consoles—it can honestly feel overwhelming. Fatal Fury Special was ported to the PC Engine CD, and at that level, it’s fair to call it an almost perfect conversion. The Super Famicom version suffered from hardware limitations and was handled by Takara, a different company, so the results weren’t particularly impressive. In contrast, the PC Engine CD version of Fatal Fury Special was developed directly by SNK as a test case for CD-based game production before the release of the Neo Geo CD, which explains its exceptionally high level of quality.

When you look at games on the PC Engine and Neo Geo—arguably the most powerful 8-bit and 16-bit consoles—it can honestly feel overwhelming. Fatal Fury Special was ported to the PC Engine CD, and at that level, it’s fair to call it an almost perfect conversion. The Super Famicom version suffered from hardware limitations and was handled by Takara, a different company, so the results weren’t particularly impressive. In contrast, the PC Engine CD version of Fatal Fury Special was developed directly by SNK as a test case for CD-based game production before the release of the Neo Geo CD, which explains its exceptionally high level of quality.

Gamer_lafan

29,865 views • 8 months ago

The 1990s were a time when SNK and Capcom were fiercely competing to bring their arcade games to home consoles. Capcom kept upgrading its hardware from CPS1 to CPS3, while SNK stuck with a single platform—the Neo Geo—which was powerful enough to keep receiving new releases from 1990 all the way to 2004. Because of that, many SNK games ported to 8-bit and 16-bit consoles often suffered in quality. However, the PC Engine, despite being an 8-bit system, managed to deliver surprisingly strong ports of SNK games thanks to the power of CD technology. That said, it was incredibly expensive at the time, so I could only admire it at game shops. If I had owned one back then and used it to listen to CDs and play games, it probably would have felt even more impressive than a PlayStation 5 Pro does today.

The 1990s were a time when SNK and Capcom were fiercely competing to bring their arcade games to home consoles. Capcom kept upgrading its hardware from CPS1 to CPS3, while SNK stuck with a single platform—the Neo Geo—which was powerful enough to keep receiving new releases from 1990 all the way to 2004. Because of that, many SNK games ported to 8-bit and 16-bit consoles often suffered in quality. However, the PC Engine, despite being an 8-bit system, managed to deliver surprisingly strong ports of SNK games thanks to the power of CD technology. That said, it was incredibly expensive at the time, so I could only admire it at game shops. If I had owned one back then and used it to listen to CDs and play games, it probably would have felt even more impressive than a PlayStation 5 Pro does today.

Gamer_lafan

17,915 views • 5 months ago

The X68000 was one of the best home computers for enjoying classic Konami and Capcom arcade games. Its hardware was so powerful that, aside from the Neo Geo, it was virtually the only system capable of delivering near-perfect arcade conversions at the time. Unfortunately, it was extremely expensive and sold exclusively in Japan, so very few people ever had the chance to experience it. Even today, decades after its release, the quality of its games is still incredibly impressive. Ghouls ’n Ghosts is a perfect example. Compared to the Mega Drive and PC Engine versions, the X68000 port is on an entirely different level in terms of accuracy and overall quality. It’s still amazing to think that a game this good could fit on just two floppy disks.

The X68000 was one of the best home computers for enjoying classic Konami and Capcom arcade games. Its hardware was so powerful that, aside from the Neo Geo, it was virtually the only system capable of delivering near-perfect arcade conversions at the time. Unfortunately, it was extremely expensive and sold exclusively in Japan, so very few people ever had the chance to experience it. Even today, decades after its release, the quality of its games is still incredibly impressive. Ghouls ’n Ghosts is a perfect example. Compared to the Mega Drive and PC Engine versions, the X68000 port is on an entirely different level in terms of accuracy and overall quality. It’s still amazing to think that a game this good could fit on just two floppy disks.

Gamer_lafan

20,452 views • 3 months ago

Using the amazing Boot Loader from CaptainYS (author of the Tsugaru emulator), FM Towns owners can leverage external SCSI CD-ROM drives (or CDDA-capable SCSI ODEs like ArdSCSino Blaster and ZuluSCSI Plus) to enjoy *some* software, even when their internal CD-ROM drive is dead! As you can see in the video, CDDA is coming directly from this Panasonic external SCSI CD-ROM drive out to a speaker, but you'd simply mix that into your audio chain for seamless integration. Pretty cool! 😎 Note that not all Towns models, and not all software, is supported. The Boot Loader software can run from HDD, CD-ROM, or FDD. You can read more about it at the link below.

Using the amazing Boot Loader from CaptainYS (author of the Tsugaru emulator), FM Towns owners can leverage external SCSI CD-ROM drives (or CDDA-capable SCSI ODEs like ArdSCSino Blaster and ZuluSCSI Plus) to enjoy some software, even when their internal CD-ROM drive is dead! As you can see in the video, CDDA is coming directly from this Panasonic external SCSI CD-ROM drive out to a speaker, but you'd simply mix that into your audio chain for seamless integration. Pretty cool! 😎 Note that not all Towns models, and not all software, is supported. The Boot Loader software can run from HDD, CD-ROM, or FDD. You can read more about it at the link below.

ateam

16,927 views • 11 months ago

I used to play Street Fighter II all the time, but the first time I saw Art of Fighting, the visual impact was unbelievable. The characters filled the entire screen, fighting with overwhelming intensity. And when the distance between them increased, the screen would dynamically zoom out — that effect felt absolutely revolutionary at the time. It was stunning. On top of that, the facial damage system was incredibly realistic. The more you got hit, the more your character’s face would swell and bruise. It added a level of immersion that I had never experienced before. And did you know? The concept of the “super move” was first introduced in Art of Fighting. That was the legendary Ryuko Ranbu. When your life gauge was almost empty, you could unleash it and turn the tide of battle in a single moment. That comeback mechanic felt amazing. Oh, and if I remember correctly, this was also the very first “100 Mega Shock” game. The game was later ported to the SNES, Sega Genesis, and PC Engine CD. Among them, the PC Engine version was surprisingly faithful to the arcade original.

I used to play Street Fighter II all the time, but the first time I saw Art of Fighting, the visual impact was unbelievable. The characters filled the entire screen, fighting with overwhelming intensity. And when the distance between them increased, the screen would dynamically zoom out — that effect felt absolutely revolutionary at the time. It was stunning. On top of that, the facial damage system was incredibly realistic. The more you got hit, the more your character’s face would swell and bruise. It added a level of immersion that I had never experienced before. And did you know? The concept of the “super move” was first introduced in Art of Fighting. That was the legendary Ryuko Ranbu. When your life gauge was almost empty, you could unleash it and turn the tide of battle in a single moment. That comeback mechanic felt amazing. Oh, and if I remember correctly, this was also the very first “100 Mega Shock” game. The game was later ported to the SNES, Sega Genesis, and PC Engine CD. Among them, the PC Engine version was surprisingly faithful to the arcade original.

Gamer_lafan

15,481 views • 7 months ago

The PC Engine was actually so expensive that hardly anyone I knew had one back then. It was sometimes called the “Neo Geo of the 8-bit era” because of its high price. In terms of performance, it was arguably closer to the Super Famicom and Mega Drive, which came a few years later, than to the NES and Sega Master System of the same era. Despite its powerful hardware, the console itself was surprisingly small and cute. And the HuCards, which looked like credit cards, were truly fascinating. I couldn’t believe that an entire game could fit onto such a tiny card. Back then, the PC Engine felt like a unicorn among game consoles to me. Even now, whenever I take it out and play it again, it still feels just as fascinating and special.

The PC Engine was actually so expensive that hardly anyone I knew had one back then. It was sometimes called the “Neo Geo of the 8-bit era” because of its high price. In terms of performance, it was arguably closer to the Super Famicom and Mega Drive, which came a few years later, than to the NES and Sega Master System of the same era. Despite its powerful hardware, the console itself was surprisingly small and cute. And the HuCards, which looked like credit cards, were truly fascinating. I couldn’t believe that an entire game could fit onto such a tiny card. Back then, the PC Engine felt like a unicorn among game consoles to me. Even now, whenever I take it out and play it again, it still feels just as fascinating and special.

Gamer_lafan

10,389 views • 3 days ago

The original PlayStation’s impressive 3D capabilities have somewhat overshadowed it over the years, but SEGA was actually a company that was deeply committed to 3D gaming from the very beginning. In arcades, they were producing 3D games on a completely different level from their competitors, and they were constantly experimenting with new ideas on the home console side as well. If you look at the Mega Drive version of Virtua Racing, SEGA managed to bring over an arcade-quality experience by adding a special processor directly into the cartridge. Seeing that success, they likely realized that a dock-on device with its own dedicated hardware could allow the Mega Drive to handle 3D games—especially SEGA’s arcade-style 3D titles. That idea eventually became the 32X. At the time, the Mega Drive (Genesis) was incredibly popular in North America, so the concept definitely had potential. The problem was its timing. The 32X launched around the same period as SEGA’s next-generation console, the Sega Saturn, which created confusion in the market. If it had been released even a year earlier, giving players earlier access to games like Virtua Fighter and Virtua Racing, it might have achieved much stronger sales. And by the way, the Mega Drive shown in the video is a custom modification that combines the console and the 32X into a single integrated unit. 😆

The original PlayStation’s impressive 3D capabilities have somewhat overshadowed it over the years, but SEGA was actually a company that was deeply committed to 3D gaming from the very beginning. In arcades, they were producing 3D games on a completely different level from their competitors, and they were constantly experimenting with new ideas on the home console side as well. If you look at the Mega Drive version of Virtua Racing, SEGA managed to bring over an arcade-quality experience by adding a special processor directly into the cartridge. Seeing that success, they likely realized that a dock-on device with its own dedicated hardware could allow the Mega Drive to handle 3D games—especially SEGA’s arcade-style 3D titles. That idea eventually became the 32X. At the time, the Mega Drive (Genesis) was incredibly popular in North America, so the concept definitely had potential. The problem was its timing. The 32X launched around the same period as SEGA’s next-generation console, the Sega Saturn, which created confusion in the market. If it had been released even a year earlier, giving players earlier access to games like Virtua Fighter and Virtua Racing, it might have achieved much stronger sales. And by the way, the Mega Drive shown in the video is a custom modification that combines the console and the 32X into a single integrated unit. 😆

Gamer_lafan

12,278 views • 3 months ago

PC Engine’s Street Fighter II’ Dash was something I first encountered while collecting, and it genuinely surprised me. The fact that such a game could fit on a tiny HuCard was impressive in itself, and the actual gameplay didn’t feel lacking at all—even when compared to the Super Famicom or the Mega Drive versions. I also tried playing it on the PC Engine GT. The screen was decent enough to be playable, but the controls were almost impossible. With Start, Select, and Buttons I and II already taking up both hands, you’re basically forced to use three fingers, and then use your foot to hit the button that switches the remaining attacks. Trying to play Street Fighter like that is honestly absurd.

PC Engine’s Street Fighter II’ Dash was something I first encountered while collecting, and it genuinely surprised me. The fact that such a game could fit on a tiny HuCard was impressive in itself, and the actual gameplay didn’t feel lacking at all—even when compared to the Super Famicom or the Mega Drive versions. I also tried playing it on the PC Engine GT. The screen was decent enough to be playable, but the controls were almost impossible. With Start, Select, and Buttons I and II already taking up both hands, you’re basically forced to use three fingers, and then use your foot to hit the button that switches the remaining attacks. Trying to play Street Fighter like that is honestly absurd.

Gamer_lafan

30,575 views • 8 months ago

One of the unique features of the Neo Geo was its memory card support. Most games used it mainly for saving high scores, but some titles could even store stage progress. In Fatal Fury Special, after defeating Ryo Sakazaki at the end and saving to the memory card, you could reload the data and select Ryo Sakazaki in VS mode. Since the MVS and AES shared almost the same hardware architecture, the same memory card could be used on both systems. That was a really interesting feature. However, unless you had an MVS cabinet equipped with a memory card slot, you couldn’t use it, and because the Neo Geo AES itself was extremely expensive, most gamers didn’t even know this feature existed. The original memory cards used battery-backed saves, but the upcoming AES+ memory card uses ROM storage, so I’m really looking forward to it👌

One of the unique features of the Neo Geo was its memory card support. Most games used it mainly for saving high scores, but some titles could even store stage progress. In Fatal Fury Special, after defeating Ryo Sakazaki at the end and saving to the memory card, you could reload the data and select Ryo Sakazaki in VS mode. Since the MVS and AES shared almost the same hardware architecture, the same memory card could be used on both systems. That was a really interesting feature. However, unless you had an MVS cabinet equipped with a memory card slot, you couldn’t use it, and because the Neo Geo AES itself was extremely expensive, most gamers didn’t even know this feature existed. The original memory cards used battery-backed saves, but the upcoming AES+ memory card uses ROM storage, so I’m really looking forward to it👌

Gamer_lafan

72,588 views • 4 months ago

Do you want to get STRONGER on a movement? Few days ago I posted 110lb dips (quality reps) Today I’m focused on staying strong & tight in the hole … a sure way to stall progress is to ADD more weight while decreasing your ROM If you want to keep quality ROM while increasing WEIGHT add pause rep with sub maximal weight while. Increase time under tension / SQUUUEEZEEE!! When zoom out and think about it… using dips as an example. Sure, you can add more weight between the legs but if it comes at a decrease or range of motion was it worth it? (One could make the argument “yes” for lockout of bench but I’d push back and say you’d still get a higher ROI by keeping quality ROM… doesn’t need to even be A1/ perfect but quality!)

Do you want to get STRONGER on a movement? Few days ago I posted 110lb dips (quality reps) Today I’m focused on staying strong & tight in the hole … a sure way to stall progress is to ADD more weight while decreasing your ROM If you want to keep quality ROM while increasing WEIGHT add pause rep with sub maximal weight while. Increase time under tension / SQUUUEEZEEE!! When zoom out and think about it… using dips as an example. Sure, you can add more weight between the legs but if it comes at a decrease or range of motion was it worth it? (One could make the argument “yes” for lockout of bench but I’d push back and say you’d still get a higher ROI by keeping quality ROM… doesn’t need to even be A1/ perfect but quality!)

Zach Homol

16,503 views • 3 months ago

Let me introduce “Kung Fu”, one of the early titles for the PC Engine. It was a launch title for the system and was promoted for its impressively large character sprites. Back then, it was hard to achieve this level of impact and visual power on an 8-bit console.

Let me introduce “Kung Fu”, one of the early titles for the PC Engine. It was a launch title for the system and was promoted for its impressively large character sprites. Back then, it was hard to achieve this level of impact and visual power on an 8-bit console.

Gamer_lafan

23,232 views • 10 months ago

There was a device called Wondermega, which combined the Mega Drive and the Mega-CD into a single unit. Considering that the PlayStation 5 disc model launched at 75,000 yen, it’s shocking that the Wondermega was released back in 1992 for 90,000 yen. When I was young, I never once saw anyone who actually owned one. One of the Wondermega’s most distinctive features was its motorized CD lid that opened and closed automatically—absolutely magical at the time. Other than that, it didn’t really have any standout features. There was a Mega-CD game released under the name Final Fight CD. Unlike the Super Famicom version—which lacked two-player support and didn’t include Guy—this version was ported at a level that was almost identical to the arcade original. I’d say it’s probably the most popular title in the entire Mega-CD library.

There was a device called Wondermega, which combined the Mega Drive and the Mega-CD into a single unit. Considering that the PlayStation 5 disc model launched at 75,000 yen, it’s shocking that the Wondermega was released back in 1992 for 90,000 yen. When I was young, I never once saw anyone who actually owned one. One of the Wondermega’s most distinctive features was its motorized CD lid that opened and closed automatically—absolutely magical at the time. Other than that, it didn’t really have any standout features. There was a Mega-CD game released under the name Final Fight CD. Unlike the Super Famicom version—which lacked two-player support and didn’t include Guy—this version was ported at a level that was almost identical to the arcade original. I’d say it’s probably the most popular title in the entire Mega-CD library.

Gamer_lafan

29,161 views • 7 months ago

You can enjoy retro games as they were, but at the same time, there are various attempts that take advantage of modern technology. Virtua Fighter 4 Final Tuned was originally released on GD-ROM (similar to a CD but with a 1GB capacity), (1/2)

You can enjoy retro games as they were, but at the same time, there are various attempts that take advantage of modern technology. Virtua Fighter 4 Final Tuned was originally released on GD-ROM (similar to a CD but with a 1GB capacity), (1/2)

Gamer_lafan

80,664 views • 8 months ago

If I had to pick one of the greatest PC Engine games, this title simply can’t be left out: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. Even considering that it was released in 1993, it’s still praised for its incredible level of polish, with outstanding graphics, sound, opening sequence, voice acting, controls, and multiple branching paths. The CD format played a huge role in making all of that possible, which naturally made it stand out compared to competing consoles at the time like the Super Famicom and Mega Drive. If you ever get the chance, it’s definitely a game worth playing at least once.

If I had to pick one of the greatest PC Engine games, this title simply can’t be left out: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. Even considering that it was released in 1993, it’s still praised for its incredible level of polish, with outstanding graphics, sound, opening sequence, voice acting, controls, and multiple branching paths. The CD format played a huge role in making all of that possible, which naturally made it stand out compared to competing consoles at the time like the Super Famicom and Mega Drive. If you ever get the chance, it’s definitely a game worth playing at least once.

Gamer_lafan

31,791 views • 4 months ago