TurboGrafx-CD

From WE Computers Museum
TurboGrafx-CD logo.png
CD-ROM2 logo.png
TurboGrafx-CD
Designer Hudson Soft
Manufacturer NEC
CPU Relies on TurboGrafx-16
Graphics Relies on TurboGrafx-16
Memory TG-CD/CD-ROM²: 64kB Buffer RAM
Super CD-ROM²: 256kB Buffer RAM
Arcade Card Duo: 2048kB RAM
Arcade Card Pro: 2240kB RAM
Media CD-ROM
Released TurboGrafx-CD/CD-ROM²
JP: December 4, 1988
NA: November 1989
Super CD-ROM²
PC Engine Duo: September 21, 1991
Turbo Duo: October 10, 1992
Super System Card: October 26, 1992
Arcade Card Duo/Pro
JP: March 12, 1994
Added to Museum Not yet

The TurboGrafx-CD, known as the PC Engine CD-ROM² in Japan, was a CD-ROM addon for the TurboGrafx-16, or PC Engine in Japan.

It was the first CD-ROM unit for a video game console, as it was released in Japan on December 4, 1988 and in North America in November 1989.

Super CD-ROM²

The first updated version was known as the Super CD-ROM², which updated the BIOS to Version 3.0 and increased the buffer RAM from 64kB to 256kB.

This was first released as a unit that combined both the PC Engine and the CD-ROM in one unit. This unit was released in Japan on September 21, 1991 as the PC-Engine Duo and on October 10, 1992 in North America as the Turbo Duo.

In Japan, a Super System Card was released on October 26, 1992. It replaced the system card that came with a CD-ROM² unit, upgrading it to a Super CD-ROM².

Games that were made for the Super CD-ROM² format could not be played in a TurboGrafx-CD or CD-ROM² unit.

Games released in Japan were labeled "Super CD-ROM²" to distinguish them from CD-ROM² games.

As a replacement system card was not sold for the TurboGrafx-CD, games in North America that were created in this format were labeled "Duo".

Arcade Card

The second updated version was named the Arcade Card This was released on March 12, 1994 in two versions, only in Japan.

The Arcade Card Duo was designed for Super CD-ROM² systems. This card upgraded the RAM available to 2048 kB.

The Arcade Card Pro was designed for CD-ROM² systems. This card upgraded the RAM available to 2240 kB.

The Arcade Card CD-ROM games were designated as Arcade CD-ROM² games.

Emulated TurboGrafx-CD/CD-ROM² games owned by WEC Museum

Title Developer Released Added to museum Notes
Spirit Warriors Spriggan
(精霊戦士SPRIGGAN,
Seirei Senshi Spriggan)
Compile 1991 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.
Super Darius Taito 1990 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.
Ys I & II Taito 1990 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.

Emulated TurboDuo/Super CD-ROM² games owned by WEC Museum

Title Developer Released Added to museum Notes
Bomberman: Panic Bomber Hudson Soft 1994 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The Super CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood Konami 1993 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The Super CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.
Cho Aniki Masaya 1992 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The Super CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.
Far East of Eden II: Manjimaru
(天外魔境II卍丸,
Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru)
Red Entertainment 1992 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The Super CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.
Gradius II: Gofer's Ambition
(グラディウスII GOFERの野望,
Gradius II: Gofā no Yabō)
Konami 1992 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The Super CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.
Lords of Thunder Red Company 1993 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The TurboDuo version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.
Snatcher Konami 1992 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The Super CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.
Spriggan Mark 2: Re-Terraform Project Compile 1992 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The Super CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.
Star Parodier Kaneko 1992 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The Super CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.
Tokimeki Memorial
(ときめきメモリアル)
Konami 1994 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 The Super CD-ROM² version is on the WEC Museum's PC Engine Mini.

Emulated Arcade CD-ROM² games owned by WEC Museum

Title Developer Released Added to museum Notes
Galaxy Police Legend Sapphire
(銀河婦警伝説サファイア,
Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire)
CAProduction 1995 PCE Mini: May 1, 2020 Included on the PC Engine Mini owned by the WEC Museum.