Konami just unveiled its very own retro gaming console at E3. It’s called the TurboGrafx-16 but is the Japanese developer simply too late to the party/
In an age where the PlayStation Classic is at a low of around $25 and Atari’s new VCS doesn’t hem itself into the retro platform, it is a wonder that anybody is involved in the yet another retro gaming scheme. Konami, however, feels they’ve got something to bring to front rooms everywhere with the TurboGrafx-16. Unveiled at E3 2019, this release is a slimmed down version of the late Turbografx-16 console.
Back in the early 1990s, when many of us were either wrestling with Windows 3.1 or meeting an Italian plumber for the first time, the Turbografx-16 was manufactured by NEC and designed by a company called Hudson Soft. While the console had little impact here it was huge in Japan. It even outsold the leading Nintendo and Sega systems of its day in the eastern market. This explains why Konami acquired Hudson in 2005 and are ready to bring some classic eastern imports back to western retro gamers.
For gamers wondering what comes with the tiny box, you’ll get the console, a controller and a selection of games, as follows:
North America/Europe:
• R-Type
• Ys Book I & II
• New Adventure Island
• Ninja Spirit
• Alien Crush
• Dungeon Explorer
•
Japan:
• Bonk’s Adventure
• Dracula X
• The Kung Fu/China Warrior
• Ys I & II
• Super Star Soldier
• Dungeon Explorer
We’re expecting more to come but nothing is set in stone as of yet. Due to the different successes and failures of the Turbografx-16, also known as the PC Engine, different regions will get slightly different variations of the product. NA will receive the Turbografx-16 mini, while Europe and Japan will get a version of the PC Engine Mini. While the PlayStation Classic hasn’t had the greatest success, the TurboGrafx-16 mini might very well fit a niche for games that haven’t had much of a second chance in the modern age. You can keep up to date with the Turbografx-16 mini at the Konami website.
