MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Konami has shared further details on its mini-console, PC Engine Core Grafx mini, including the extended line-up of retro titles coming to the “compact version” of the classic 1987 console, plus two optional peripherals – Turbo Controller for Core Grafx mini, a controller with an automatic shooting function, and Multi Tap for Core Grafx mini, which enables up to five-player multiplayer.
The publisher/developer revealed last month that it is joining the retro console bandwagon with a re-release of PC Engine Core Grafx mini. A smaller scale version of the console – which originally released in 1989 – was announced at E3 2019 and will feature a range of classic retro games. Two additional variants will be released in North America and Japan, named TurboGrafx-16 mini and PC Engine mini respectively.
20 more English TurboGrafx-16 titles have now been revealed on top of the catalogue announced at E3: Air Zonk, Alien Crush, Blazing Lazers, Bomberman ‘93, Bonk’s Revenge, Cadash, Chew-Man-Fu, Dungeon Explorer, J.J. & Jeff, Lords Of Thunder, Military Madness (Nectaris), Moto Roader, Neutopia, Neutopia II, New Adventure Island, Ninjaspirit, Parasol Stars, Power Golf, Psychosis, R-Type, Soldier Blade, Space Harrier, Victory Run, and Ys Book I&II.
The announcement also includes news of a number of original Japanese games coming to the system, too: Akumajō Dracula X Chi No Rondo (Castlevania: Rondo Of Blood) – Aldynes, Appare! Gateball, Bomberman ‘94, Bomberman Panic Bomber, Chō Aniki, Daimakaimura (Ghouls ‘N’ Ghosts), Dungeon Explorer, Fantasy Zone, Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire, Gradius (Nemesis), Gradius II – Gofer No Yabō (Nemesis II), Jaseiken Necromancer, Nectaris (Military Madness), Neutopia, Neutopia II, Ninja Ryūkenden (Ninja Gaiden), PC-Genjin (Bonk), Salamander, Snatcher, Star Parodier (Fantasy Star Soldier), Super Darius, Super Momotarō Dentetsu II, Super Star Soldier, The Kung Fu (China Warrior), and Ys I&II.
The company has partnered with Amazon as its exclusive retail partner, and the system will available for €90 RRP from March 19th 2020. An “Amazon Prime exclusive pre-order period” kicks off today, July 15th.
Konami isn’t the only company with a mini console coming out this year. Capcom – which revealed its plug-and-play system in April – has a mini-console releasing on October 25th, 2019. The system is styled to looked like Capcom’s yellow and blue logo and will also feature a pair of “competition-class Sanwa sticks and buttons for the finest precision, response times and durability” to “enable these games to be played the way that they were meant to be played”.
Sega also recently announced the Sega Mega Drive Mini, a new mini-console pre-loaded with 40 classic Sega games. The mini-console will release on September 19th, 2019, and sees Sega join Nintendo and Sony with its own mini-console replica. It remains to be seen if the console will set tills ringing like Nintendo’s inaugural NES Classic.
Retro Games and Koch Media are also getting involved with The C64, a new retro console, this time in the form of the classic Commodore 64. Unlike the mini NES or PlayStation consoles, The C64 includes a full-sized replica and ships with a keyboard and cables necessary to permit the system to work with contemporary screens and televisions.
