Top 10 Turbo Games

[nat]

Make a list of your top 10 favorite Turbo games. Doesn't matter if they are on a cart or CD. Feel free to include Japanese/PCE-only games. You don't have to rank your list if you don't want to, but it's more fun if you do. Feel free to explain your choices if you wish.

This is tough for me because I'm at work right now and can't look at my library. But I guess that's better, because the ones that pop into my head first are probably the best:

1. Space Harrier
2. Sapphire
3. Dungeon Explorer
4. Castlevania: Dracula X/Rondo of Blood
5. Lords of Thunder
6. Gate of Thunder
7. Anearth Fantasy Stories
8. Sinistron
9. Gunhed (Blazing Lazers)
10. Bonk

"Bonk" could be any of the three games in the series, depending on my mood at the moment. One of my favorite platformer series, second probably only to Mario. Bonk 3 (cartridge) is clearly the best game in the series overall, but not all of the music is great (although a lot of it is). Huge levels, and many of them. I ignore the CD version because the soundtrack is totally "not Bonk". Bonk's Revenge is a close second, with a killer soundtrack but it's too short and easy. Although this one has the biggest nostalgia factor for me since it's the first Bonk game I bought, right when it was released back in '90 or '91. Bonk's Adventure is no doubt the weakest from a level design and graphical perspective, but it's still a lot of fun.

I'll let the rest of my choices speak for themselves. See if you can take a wild guess at my favorite genre based on them.

[RuninRuder]

So hard.  I guess this is what my top ten is at this very second:

1) Ys Book I & II
2) The Legendary Axe
3) Shape Shifter
4) Madou Monogatari
5) Macross 2036
6) Tenshi no Uta
7) Dragon Knight II
Sinistron/Violent Soldier
9) Anearth Fantasy Stories
10) Blazing Lazers

I can't believe how many excellent games I had to cross off in arriving at this list.  I'd list some honorable mentions, but I'd end up going on forever.

[nat]

So hard.  I guess this is what my top ten is at this very second:

[...]

I can't believe how many excellent games I had to cross off in arriving at this list.  I'd list some honorable mentions, but I'd end up going on forever. 

That's kind of the point of the exercise. I think we will all feel the same way. It took me like half an hour to whittle down to the list I posted, and there are just so many great games.

But like you said, this is a "right this moment" kind of thing and I know at least my own list changes slightly as time passes.

Great list, BTW. Anyone else?

[Turbo D]

1. Airzonk
2. Devil's Crush
3. Lords of Thunder
4. Magical Chase U.S. version
5. Bonk series
6. Fantasy Zone
7. Raiden
8. Ys book 1&2
9. Super Star Soldier
10. New Adventure Island

Very tough list to make, haha.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Oooo, this is kinda tough.  Ask me tomorrow, and I'll probably have a very different list.

1. Ys I & II (I'll cheat and throw Ys IV in here too)
2. Lords of Thunder
3. Akumajyou Dracula X Chi no Rondo
4. Bomberman '94
5. Gate of Thunder
6. Dungeon Explorer
7. Bonk's Revenge
8. Soldier Blade
9. Neutopia II
10. Cadash

[VestCunt]

1.  Super Raiden
2.  Order of the Griffon
3.  Gate of Thunder
4.  Air Zonk
5.  Devils Crush
6.  Bonks Adventure
7.  Legendary Axe
8.  Parasol Stars
9.  Prince of Persia
10.  Ghost Manor

I wanted to put Sapphire in there but I think Super Raiden is the better game and my all time favorite time-waster. 

I also love Lords of Thunder but I chose GoT because I like changing weapons, speed, and direction.

Air Zonk is reason I finally broke down and got a TG in 1992.

I've always liked the simplicity of Bonk 1.

I almost went with Battle Lode Runner but my girlfriend likes Parasol Stars better.

Prince of Persia is one of the first CD games I picked up and the only version I've played.  I've never gotten too far, but I like the puzzles and strange play control the the speed turned up all the way.

Ghost Manor is a recent purchase that also appeals to me for some reason.

Ys 1 was going to get a vote but I beat the SMS version first and the CD version has never meant as much to me.

[esteban]

This was really tough to whittle down. In fact, I gave up.

In no particular order*:

1. Blodia / Timeball
2. Rock On
3. China Warrior
4. JJ & Jeff
5. Rastan Saga II
6. Samurai Ghost
7. Gomola Speed
8. Veigues Tactical Gladiator
9. Chew Man Fu
10. Pac Land

* My 10 favorite games to play while under the influence

[CrackTiger]

This isn't a perfect list, since I could never narrow it down for sure-

Far East Of Eden: Fuun Kabuki Den
Neo Nectaris
Lords of Thunder
Street Fighter II CE
Ys I & II
Ys IV
Bomberman '93
Dungeon Explorer II
Aeroblasters
Dracula X

This was really tough to whittle down. In fact, I gave up.

In no particular order*:

1. Blodia / Timeball
2. Rock On
3. China Warrior
4. JJ & Jeff
5. Rastan Saga II
6. Samurai Ghost
7. Gomola Speed
8. Veigues Tactical Gladiator
9. Chew Man Fu
10. Pac Land

* My 10 favorite games to play while under the influence

Where the hell's Military Madness!?!?

[esteban]

Where the hell's Military Madness!?!?

Unfortunately, Military Madness isn't a "pick-up-and-play" game for me.

Plus, I wasn't kidding when I listed those games as the ones I really enjoy when I am "under an influence".

[turbofan1]

1.Bonks Revenge
2.Devils Crush
3.Legendary Ax II
4.Splatter House
5.Gates Of Thunder
6.Spriggan
7.Snatcher
8.Shubibinman III
9.Street Fighter II CE
10.Final Soldier

No particular order.Just tried to have five Turbo games,and five Pc Engine games.Ones that deserve honorable mention are Air Zonk and Buster Bros for the Turbo,and Dracula X and nexzar for the Pc Engine.

[spenoza]

I would have initially thought that my personal list would be controversial, but after seeing these others I think mine'll blend in nicely. My top 10, in no particular order. Now, these aren't necessarily what I think are the best games, simply the ones I played and enjoyed the most.

-Bonk's Revenge
-Gate of Thunder
-Blazing Lazers
-Ys III
-Akumajou Dracula X
-Aeroblasters
-Parasol Stars
-Dungeon Explorer
-Street Fighter II'
-Alien Crush

[ParanoiaDragon]

Hmm, here's 20 in no particular order:

Lords/Gate of Thunder(probably Lords over Gate)
Bonk's everything(esepcially Revenge)
Spriggan
Dracula X
Legend of Heroes(mainly 1)
Legend of Xanadu(mainly 2)
Wonderboy series (mainly Dragon's Curse & Dynastic)
Ys series(4 as my favorite)
Zonk series(mainly 1)
Cosmic Fantasy 2(I'd include the rest, but still have yet to play them)
Beyond Shadowgate
Star Soldier series(mainly Super)
Sapphire
Star Parodia
Parasol Stars
Bomberman series(mainly 93)
Impossamole(even though I get super frusterated with it, I still keep going back to play it!)
Ninja Spurt
New Adventure Island
Veigues

[TR0N]

1. Dracula X
2. Ys 1&2
3. Sapphire
4. Lords of Thunder
5. Ninja Spirit
6. Gate of Thunder
7. Devil Crush
8. Legendary Axe
9. Exile
10. Kaze Kiri

[nat]

Nice picks, Paranoia.

I like a lot of your choices.

[Joe Redifer]

Just off the top of my head right now:

1. - Dracula X
2. - Gate of Thunder
3. - Legendary Axe II
4. - Ys Book 1 and 2
5. - Legendary Axe
6. - Dragon's Curse
7. - Galaga 90
8. - Lords of Thunder
9. - Space Harrier
10.- Devil's Crush

There's probably plenty more that didn't come to mind.

[nat]

Nice! Are those in any kind of order or just the order they popped into your head?

[kid_rondeau]

Heh, I'll take a crack at this too, but in reverse order from good-to-great (just picture David Letterman's voice reading these off, interspersed with moderately funny jokes):

10. Dragon's Curse
9. Ys IV
8. World Sports Competition
7. Military Madness
6. Dynastic Hero
5. Cotton
4. Ys Book I & II
3. Bomberman '93
2. Dungeon Explorer
1. Lords of Thunder

[nat]

A fellow Dungeon Explorer fan!

I don't think anyone but you and I had Dungeon Explorer in their top 3.

I would have initially thought that my personal list would be controversial, but after seeing these others I think mine'll blend in nicely. My top 10, in no particular order. Now, these aren't necessarily what I think are the best games, simply the ones I played and enjoyed the most.

-Bonk's Revenge
-Gate of Thunder
-Blazing Lazers
-Ys III
-Akumajou Dracula X
-Aeroblasters
-Parasol Stars
-Dungeon Explorer
-Street Fighter II'
-Alien Crush

Interesting. I'm seeing a lot of Ys I/II in the top 10 but I think you're the only one with Ys III. Personally I enjoyed Ys III better than the rest (although I haven't made it all the way through II or IV yet) but it didn't quite make it into my top 10.

Speaking of Ys, it looks like Ys I/II might be the most common game to make it into people's top 10. I wonder why this is? Nostalgia? Ys I is certainly an above-average game, but I didn't find it to be top 10 material. Could it be because I didn't play Ys I (or II) until within this past year and thus have no sentimental attachment? When I was younger the game didn't really look appealing to me. I gave it a chance recently because everyone spoke good words about it. It's a great game by any means, but I have to feel it fell a little short of my expectations after all the hype. Despite a glaring technical flaw, I found Ys III to be a better game.

Now, carry on with the lists....

[RuninRuder]

Speaking of Ys, it looks like Ys I/II might be the most common game to make it into people's top 10. I wonder why this is? Nostalgia?

Well, I won't speak for the others, but sure, in my case, nostalgia has something to do with it.  But then again, I think there are very good reasons why I'm MORE nostalgic about that game than I am about any other game from my childhood. 

While I enjoyed Ys I, Ys II was what made the game a legend for me.  To be more specific, the stretch from the confrontation with Dark Fact at the end of I through the final dance steps of the ending credits constitutes one of the most amazing gaming experiences I've ever had.  As I mentioned in the other topic where we were discussing Ys, Book II has SO much cool stuff.  It's funny, it's fun, and it's remarkably dramatic.  The final few minutes are so exciting that they still send a shiver down my brittle old spine. 

You can't get a fair idea of what the game as a whole has to offer until you've experienced stuff like charging up the bell tower to confront Dalles, turning into a monster to talk to other enemies, discovering the secrets of the land in the mystical rooms of the priests, playing an old familiar tune on the silver harmonica to avert catastrophe, listening to the goddesses' revelations, and seeing them engulfed in flames while Darm makes his chilling final speech.

And to this day, the soundtrack is the best of all time.

[gundarN]

I guess mine would be:

Gate of Thunder
Spriggan
Rainbow Islands
Soldier Blade
RayXanber III
Super Adventure Island
Winds of Thunder
Jackie Chan
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
Summer Carnival '93

It's kind of tricky to pick just 10, especially as I like the original PCE titles more than many of the conversions (a couple have still made into my top ten). I may have put something like R-Type down, but I own the PCB which is superior.

[nat]

You can't get a fair idea of what the game as a whole has to offer until you've experienced stuff like charging up the bell tower to confront Dalles, turning into a monster to talk to other enemies, discovering the secrets of the land in the mystical rooms of the priests, playing an old familiar tune on the silver harmonica to avert catastrophe, listening to the goddesses' revelations, and seeing them engulfed in flames while Darm makes his chilling final speech.

Maybe my opinion will change after finishing Ys II. We'll see.

I can't help but view the two as seperate games, though (which they are technically), and Ys III was definitely a more enjoyable experience for me than I.

Summer Carnival '93

Is this one just a time trial of a full game or is it a completely unique game in it's own right? I've always been confused by the Summer Carnival games.

[Keranu]

Well nostalgia isn't really a factor in my love for Ys Book I & II since I first played it back in like 2002 when I was just getting into the Turbo. It was one of the first three TGCD games I've played, so it's kind of nostalgic to me now, but I love it for other reasons. It's one of the most epic games ever made.

While I enjoyed Ys I, Ys II was what made the game a legend for me.  To be more specific, the stretch from the confrontation with Dark Fact at the end of I through the final dance steps of the ending credits constitutes one of the most amazing gaming experiences I've ever had.  As I mentioned in the other topic where we were discussing Ys, Book II has SO much cool stuff.  It's funny, it's fun, and it's remarkably dramatic.  The final few minutes are so exciting that they still send a shiver down my brittle old spine. 

Completely agreed! Nat, you really gotta finish Ys II because the ending moments are unbelievable.

[Joe Redifer]

Nice! Are those in any kind of order or just the order they popped into your head?

Pretty much in the order I enjoy them, but nothing scientific.

[termis]

Ones that pop in my head.  Just in alphabetical order:

Blood Gear
Buster Brothers
Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari
Dracula X
Kato-chan Ken-chan
Lords of Thunder
Sapphire
Spriggan
Street Fighter II:CE
Ys I-II

[gundarN]

Summer Carnival '93

Is this one just a time trial of a full game or is it a completely unique game in it's own right? I've always been confused by the Summer Carnival games.

Summer Carnival '93 is the full Nexzr Special game, plus a new canival mode.
Summer Carnival '92 is only the Alzadick carnival mode only, not the full game (I believe).

[ParanoiaDragon]

As far as I know, there isn't a full game of Alzadik on any console, it's just a Summer Carinval game, &....that's it

[Paisa49]

My 10 in no particular order are:

- Bonk's Revenge
- Legendary Axe II
- Blazing Lazers
- Splatterhouse
- Ninja Spirit
- Devil's Crush
- Galaga '90
- Dungeon Explorer
- Bloody Wolf
- Bomberman '93

[nat]

I really like Ninja Spirit, probably my favorite IREM game. It almost made my top 10, but.... not quite.

[SuperDeadite]

Summer Carnival '93

Is this one just a time trial of a full game or is it a completely unique game in it's own right? I've always been confused by the Summer Carnival games.

Summer Carnival '93 is the full Nexzr Special game, plus a new canival mode.
Summer Carnival '92 is only the Alzadick carnival mode only, not the full game (I believe).

Summer Carnival '93 is missing all the nice anime scenes from the original release though.  As for my top10, I'm still thinking about it....

[termis]

Ah, I missed Ninja Spirit.  That's one kick-ass game.  That probably should replace something on my list (KCKC or Buster Bros).

[nat]

I have a copy of Buster Bros. here from TZD I still haven't opened. Is it really that good?

[CrackTiger]

I have a copy of Buster Bros. here from TZD I still haven't opened. Is it really that good?

Yes, even though I still haven't opened up my sealed copy either(but I'm pretty sure that I have the PCE version too).

[termis]

I think Buster Bros is a LOT of fun, especially with 2 players.

[Turbo D]

please, don't open ur sealed copy, that game is really awful. Seriously, its really bad. I hate that game.

[esteban]

I have a copy of Buster Bros. here from TZD I still haven't opened. Is it really that good?

Dude, it rocks. It's classic, and simply a blast to play. As someone said, 2-player co-op is FUN, but even going solo is wonderful.

[Turbo D]

It seems pretty gay to me

[TR0N]

I think Buster Bros is a LOT of fun, especially with 2 players.

Long as the friend knows what there doing.

In the past i've tried buster bros with a friend let's just say, it didn't turn out too good 

[GUTS]

Buster Bros is one of my favorite single screen style games.  It goes Parasol Stars, Buster Bros, then New Zealand Story.  I love that game.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

It seems pretty gay to me

I think that Buster Bros. is great puzzley action, especially with two players.  Does that make me gay? 

[Turbo D]

no, not anyone who plays it, haha. I mean those guys in the game seem gay when they are posing with each other, haha. I didn't mean to offend anyone

[turbofan1]

Buster Bros. is also one of my favorite games for the Turbo.I also like the music in the game.Telling people not to play the game,because it looks "gay"" is pretty ignorant.

[termis]

Well, you know what they say.  The guy on top's not gay - heeee's just fucking! 

[nat]

It seems pretty gay to me

Please explain why you don't like it.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Buster Bros. rocks!

[Turbo D]

Telling people not to play the game,because it looks "gay"" is pretty ignorant.

If you read my post at the top of the page, you will see that I tell people not to play because the gameplay is awful, I didn't tell people not to play because the characters were gay. Who's ignorant now, you 

[CrackTiger]

Telling people not to play the game,because it looks "gay"" is pretty ignorant.

If you read my post at the top of the page, you will see that I tell people not to play because the gameplay is awful, I didn't tell people not to play because the characters were gay. Who's ignorant now, you 

If you read the sentence you quoted from turbofan1, he said that you said the game looked 'gay'("It seems pretty gay to me"), not the characters.

Although you did follow it up with "I mean those guys in the game seem gay when they are posing with each other, haha."

Who's ignorant now, you   

[Turbo D]

ya, but the whole point of my argument with turbofan1 was that he said i was telling people not to play because because it looked gay, and that was ignorant, when I never told anyone not to play it because of that. I was just stating that it was gay, I never said not to play it because of that. Don't you know how to read black tiger? I guess you are the real ignorant one, haha.

[esteban]

Come on, folks. Why can't we be friends

[Keranu]

I GUESS YOU'RE THE IGNORANT ONE NOW!

[Joe Redifer]

Wait... is there an argument going on that I'm not involved in?  That's weird.

I should get involved.  I plan on taking sides.  Whose side should I take?