Summary
In North America, the 8-bit generation was essentially run exclusively by Nintendo, despite Atari and Sega’s attempts to make some headway. Sega had better luck in Europe, where some old-school gamers still fondly remember the Master System, although most European gamers were stuck with microcomputers like the Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC until the SNES and Mega Drive (Genesis) hit the market.
In Japan, Sega played a distant third to NEC’sPC Engine. It was capable of 16-bit graphics, albeit with an 8-bit brain, which counted against it when NEC tried introducing it as theTurboGrafx-16in the US. That, and its best games, likeCastlevania: Rondo of BloodandKaizo Chojin Shubibinman, were rarely localized. As such, many of its titles on both sides of the Pacific, be they on HuCard or CD, have become quite rare, and are wroth a pretty penny these days.
$370.92
$816.02
New
$1,669.14
The making of the movieGunhedis more interesting than it is to watch, as it began life as a potentialGodzillatitle where the King of the Monsters would’ve fought its gun-toting robot. But it was passed up in favor ofGodzilla Vs Biollante. Instead, Gunhed got his own movie, and Compile made a pretty good shooter loosely based on the bot’s silver screen outing. Then, to avoid legal issues, Compile removed all the movie references to release it in the West asBlazing Lasers.
Picking up its standard PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 HuCard is actually pretty cheap. However, Compile also madeGunhed Special Version, where they added a Caravan mode (basically a time attack) for local competitions. Getting this rare title involves coughing up $370 for a loose card, or $816 for a boxed copy.
$301.26
$984
$1,968
This list will also include games for the PC Engine CD-ROM²/TurboGrafx CD, since it doesn’t have many particularly rare games. It’s certainly got plenty of expensive ones, as tracking down gems likeCastlevania: Rondo of Blooddoesn’t come cheap. However, few border on the 4-figure mark, likeCotton: Fantastic Night Dreamsdoes.
Players control the titular witch and her fairy friend Silk as they blast monstersR-Type-style in a fantasy horizontal shooter. Picking up a US copy will set buyers back $300 for a loose disc, or $984 if they want the full box. It has since been ported to modern machines at more affordable prices, but some people might be keen on having one of its first official Western ports in their collection.
$450
$990
$2,025
Just because a game is rare and/or valuable doesn’t mean it’s the definitive version of the title. For example, PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16 owners would’ve had a grand time blasting through the single-player campaign inBomberman ’93, or by blowing up their friends in the multiplayer mode. American owners could even earn a good $350 if they put their title on the market.
Then there’sBomberman ’93 Special Version. LikeGunhed Special Edition, it was made for local tournaments and demo kiosks highlighting its multiplayer mode. As such, it has all the single-player content cut out, and its multiplayer games can only be played with human opponents. Only 1,000 cards were ever made, and getting hold of one all boxed up will cost $990.
$613.44
$1,346.67
$1,987.50
For anyone fluent in Japanese, picking upLegend of Hero Tonmais a cinch, relatively speaking. It’s a platformer with a standard save-the-princess plot, so even non-Japanese speakers can likely get the gist of the game. If they already have a Japanese PC Engine, and a spare $50 for a loose card (or $170 for a boxed copy), they can swoop and shoot as Tonma in no time.
However, if players prefer to see the action in English, getting the TurboGrafx-16 version is more of a challenge. Loose copies of the English version ofTonmacost over $610. Getting it boxed costs $1,347, give or take a few cents here and there. Collectors who want it in mint condition, as new as new can be, will need $2,000. Even then, they won’t need much change left over from that high price.
$1,445
$1,461.77
$2,924
If anyone’s ever been wowed by the neo-futurist look ofAliens,Blade Runner,Tron,Turn A Gundam,and more, they have the late Syd Mead to thank. He practically inventedthe cyberpunk aestheticwith his unique mechanical designs. Right Stuff were certainly impressed enough to get Mead on board to create some designs for their horizontal shooter.
Thus,Syd Mead’s Terraformingwas made and reached the TurboGrafx-CD in 1993. Its Japanese version, merely titledTerraforming, can be found for a comparatively manageable $90 ($40 if loose). Its American versions require over 16 times that amount, at $1,462. Getting it without the box isn’t any cheaper, as loose discs still go for $1,453.
$1,530.16
$1,543.14
$82.86
Shoot ‘em up fans need no introduction to theDariusseries. The original arcade game was a big hit in game centers across Japan in 1987, but it took a while to hit home consoles.CD-ROM² owners gotSuper Darius, with all the bosses and arcade-accurate music and sound effects. PC Engine players got the trimmed-down, but equally funDarius Plus.
If players had both games, they could send in two coupons from their manuals to getDarius Alpha. It’s a Boss Rush game where players can fight all the game’s bosses in order. Only 800 copies of it were ever made, so picking one up will require $1,545 at best. However, if they get as lucky as one French buyer on eBay did, they could get a new copy for $82 instead of its usual $3,000 asking price.
$765.38
$1,999.99
$2,169.22
Fans of1990s anime art stylesand vertical shmups will find themselves at home with a copy ofGinga Fukei Densetsu: Sapphire. As niche as that overlapping of fandoms may seem, it was large enough to turn this game into a cult classic. Its gameplay wasn’t anything special compared to its rivals, but its fancy graphics and outstanding sound gave it an edge that other shooters at the time couldn’t hold a candle to.
Its scarce supply led to a flood of counterfeit copies hitting the market in the mid-2000s. If buyers aren’t careful, they could find themselves going out of pocket for a burned CD bootleg. Therefore, they might have to go the extra mile to make sure they’re getting a genuine copy ofSapphire, as the real deal goes for $765 loose, and $2,000 boxed.
$898.77
$2,257.50
$4,515
Bonk, aka PC Genjin, was meantto be the mascotfor the PC Engine, but unlike Mario and Sonic, his games weren’t exclusive to the machine. NES, SNES, Amiga owners, and more got to see what the big-headed caveman had to offer. However, if they wanted to see Zonk in action—Bonk’s futuristic, shades-wearing, 90s attitude-filled equivalent—they needed a TurboGrafx CD.
His debut wasAir Zonk, a horizontal shooter akin toGradiuswith the same zany sense of humor as theBonkgames. The sequel,Super Air Zonk, threw in new levels, assistants (a laGradius’options), and a new rockabilly soundtrack done in Red Book Audio. It was wild, it was easy, and it will cost people $1,000 just to get a loose disc of it today.
$873.26
$3,595.50
$7,191
It’s hard to think of a franchise with more of an identity crisis than theWonder Boyseries. Each of his games has had an alternate title, often with wildly different gameplay, which led to the developers getting confused. For example, the proto-Metroidvania gameWonder Boy in Monster Landled to two differentWonder Boy 3games, withWB3: The Dragon’s Trap(a genuine Metroidvania) also being released asMonster Land 2.
Westone tried to fix things by naming the next gameWonder Boy 4: Monster World 3in Japan, which sounds more like a soccer result in Wonder Boy’s favor. Its TurboGrafx CD release went by the simpler name ofThe Dynastic Hero, which changed the character designs and replaced the old soundtrack with a new one done in Red Book Audio. With so many unique trappings, it’s little wonder boxed copies go for $3,600.
$4,250
$9,897.50
$19,795
With all that said, the rarest, most expensive PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 game doesn’t require any add-ons, CD or otherwise. A single TG-16 version ofMagical Chasegoes for $4,250 on its own. If it’s in its original box, and in good condition, it can earn owners nearly $10,000 if they put it up for sale, and if they can find a buyer.
It’s a solid, fun horizontal shooter made by Quest, the people behindFinal Fantasy Tactics.With its cute graphics and smooth gameplay, it became one of the console’s best games. Sadly, since cutesy shooters weren’t in style in 1990s America, its US port has become particularly rare, although even Japanese copies go for roughly $600-700.
