Turboduo
SCORE: 99
People routinely ask me what is the best video game machine of all time. They expect to hear the machine that is currently winning the existing console war. Imagine their surprise when I tell them the Turboduo. Sadly most don't even have a clue what I am referencing even when I mention the TurboGrafx-16. So as Family Friendly Gaming has been expanding our hardware section, I decided a review had to be done of the Turboduo. NEC and Hudson can be thanked for the first home based video game console machine that used CD's.
The Turboduo had the perfect design that promoted efficiency in its very sleek look. When I stack up the look of different machines not only does the Turboduo dominate the 16-bit era, it also shames a lot of machines that have come after it. In some ways the Turboduo looks like an answering machine that would take a credit card. One of the real marvels of the look of the Turboduo is how it keeps the color (some older video game machines fade), and it does not hold dust in a lot of places. The graphics of the games beat the Sega CD, Genesis, and Super NES hands down.
The feel of the Turboduo is perfect. This is the only older machine that still inspires me when I take it out of storage. The controller is exceptional for that era. The only drawback is there was only a port for two controllers. Adapters were released so four players could go play together at the same time. Playing the Turboduo also makes me feel like I am a part of some of the good history of the video game industry.
My Turboduo still works wonderful all these years later. I still have not found an end to this machine, and feel very blessed about that indeed. The intelligent design of the system shows in this regard. NEC took the TurboGrafx-16, added a CD player, and all of it plays nicely together. I really like how NEC offered upgrades to the Turboduo from the TurboGrafx-16 for a reduced price. More companies should learn from this. There is also a homebrew community still going strong for this machine.
Turboduo showed the video game industry a lot ways to do things. I wish more developers would have followed their example. The previously mentioned upgrade was one, but the size of the game cartridges (about the size of a credit card) meant savings were passed along to the consumers. If you are interested in the best video game machine of all time, then you will find the Turboduo to be very useful. I still find this machine to be useful, and am looking into recent homebrew releases.
There were a wide array of
video games released on the Turboduo. Many of them are family friendly.
There were some bad ones, however the 16-bit era was a much better era
for families than the 32-bit and 64-bit eras were. The cords for the
controllers were short so tripping over a cord did not happen a lot.
Wireless controllers were not around then, which is a bit of a shame.
The durability of the Turboduo also ensured few accidents would happen.
- Paul
Graphics: 100%
Sound: 100%
Replay/Extras: 100%
Gameplay: 99%
Family Friendly Factor: 95%
System: Turboduo
Publisher: NEC
Rating: 'NR' for Not Rated
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