As I mentioned in the previous TurboGrafx-16 (TG16)
post, the console gets a mini system on May 22nd (exclusive to
Amazon.com) that has both North American and Japanese games built-in. My plan was to find reviews from my old gaming magazines of all 24 North American games so that you can see what the press thought of them at the time of release. Originally there were 25 games though the official website has since changed Alien Crush to the Japanese version but since I had already scanned coverage of that one I'm including it (the official mini website says other than the title screen the two versions are identical). Three games that I could not find reviews of are Blazing Lazers, Chew-Man-Fu, and R-Type. For Blazing Lazers I'll post a preview instead and I do have Electronic Gaming Monthly's (EGM) review scores of it from a buyer's guide (I am missing the issue with the review). R-Type is a very well known shooter series and the TG16 version is an arcade port so it's probably one of the best games on the mini. Actually, that aforementioned EGM buyer's guide has blurbs on each game, including R-Type, so there is some coverage below. Unfortunately, I've got nothing for Chew-Man-Fu. I should add that some reviews, namely early ones from GamePro that are called ProViews, tend to read more like previews or factual statements rather than opinion.

Aside from Alien Crush, there are an additional 32 Japanese games though some of them are repeats of the North American games, such as Dungeon Explorer, Military Madness, Neutopia, Neutopia II, and Ys: Book I & II. One title that stands out in the PC Engine (Japan's TG16) list is Snatcher. I own Snatcher on Sega CD and I've talked about the game before as it's one of my favorites. While Japan can play Snatcher on TurboGrafx-16, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and home computers, North America only got a Sega CD version which makes it somewhat challenging to play today. I'd say that game -- which is heavily influenced by the film Blade Runner -- is worth purchasing the mini for, however, it it is not in English so if you don't read Japanese it wouldn't be much fun. Story is significant for this one as it's an adventure game with much of the gameplay being investigations through conversation, with action primarily limited to some shootouts from a first-person viewpoint (move a cross-hair or use a light gun).
I'll list each game and link the titles to
Mobygames.com so you can easily find more information about them. Mobygames sometimes has review scores from old magazines and users, and might have box art and screenshots as well, plus a bunch of other data. Before listing each game individually let me start with the article from EGM's 1991 Buyer's Guide. By the way, I'll be abbreviating Video Games & Computer Entertainment as VG&CE.
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GamePro - November 1992 |
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VG&CE - November 1992 |
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GamePro - December 1989 |
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EGM #4 - Part 1 |
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EGM #4 - Part 2 |
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EGM #45 |
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GamePro - September 1991 |
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VG&CE - October 1991 |
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VG&CE - December 91 |
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GamePro - December 1991 |
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EGM #3 - Part 1 |
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EGM #3 - Part 2 |
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EGM #3 - Part 3 |
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EGM #4 |
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GamePro - January 1990 |
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Game Player's - February 1990 |
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EGM #10 |
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VG&CE - May 1990 |
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EGM #44 |
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GamePro - March 1990 |
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GamePro - June 1990 |
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EGM #10 |
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VG&CE - June 1990 |
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EGM #38 |
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VG&CE - August 1992 |
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EGM #37 |
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GamePro - December 1992 |
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VG&CE - October 1992 |
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GamePro - November 1990 |
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EGM 1991 Buyer's Guide |
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GamePro - November 1991 |
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VG&CE - November 1991 |
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GamePro - February 1990 |
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EGM #14 |
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GamePro - November 1990 |
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VG&CE - November 1990 |
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GamePro - October 1992 |
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GamePro - March 1990 |
Splatterhouse
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GamePro - August 1990 |
Victory Run
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EGM #4 |
Ys: Book I & II (EGM review appears to only be for "Book I")
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EGM 1991 Buyer's Guide |
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GamePro - December 1990 |
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VG&CE - November 1990 |
Mobygames links for two more North American releases:
Chew-Man-Fu and
R-Type. Here are links to all the unique PC Engine releases as well (not sure about title name accuracy but they are exactly as listed on the official mini site):
Akumajō Dracula X Chi no Rondo,
Aldynes,
Appare! Gateball,
Bomberman '94,
Bomberman Panic Bomber,
Chō Aniki,
Daimakaimura,
Dragon Spirit,
Fantasy Zone,
Galaga '88,
The Genji and the Heike Clans,
Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire,
Gradius,
Gradius II: Gofer no Yabō,
Jaseiken Necromancer,
The Kung Fu,
The Legend of Valkyrie,
Ninja Ryūkenden,
PC Genjin,
Salamander,
Seirei Senshi Spriggan,
Snatcher,
Spriggan Mark 2,
Star Parodier,
Super Darius,
Super Momotarō Dentetsu II (link is for non-super version as I don't see an entry for the CD release at Mobygames), and
Super Star Soldier.
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