Help me get into PC98 & MSX

[ThatOneLum ThatOneLum]

So, I've missed out on a bunch of the older Japanese home computers, but I see you guys talking about them all the time and It's convinced me that I need to at least try these platforms out.

I've had a brief look around and I'm not worried about finding patched roms or patching my own, but I am entirely unsure of what to play that is going to give me the best impression of what these platforms can do.

Do you guys have any recommended games for my first time with the PC-98 and MSX/MSX2? What games are most likely to make me want to keep playing? For reference, the only game on these platforms I've tried is the PC port of Metal Gear they put on GoG a while back.

NOTE: I'm not against H or H-adjacent games, but I'd prefer that not every game I get recommended be able scantily clad girls being groped by mythical creatures or w/e. I know the rep the 98 has lmao.

 

[Clippy]

NOTE: I'm not against H or H-adjacent games, but I'd prefer that not every game I get recommended be able scantily clad girls being groped by mythical creatures or w/e. I know the rep the 98 has lmao.

Here's a guide along with some recommendations for PC-98. https://gang-fight.com/projects/98faq/

For MSX your best bet is probably gonna be the fantranslated stuff that's in the Repo to get you started.

 

[Moloch]

your first step here: https://www.tofugu.com/learn-japanese

 

[qw90700]

The situation is most of the library of these platforms are Japanese so doesn't even have English fan translation patches so gotta keep it within "English patched games":

- PC-98:

CRW metal jacket

Dead of the Brain

The Screamer

Star Cruiser II: The Odysseus Project

Starfire

Farland Story games

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Skull Leader Complete Pack

- MSX:

Illusion City

SD Snatcher

Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei

Aleste games

Super Cooks

- And here is PC Engine (since I already made a list of it):

Zero4 Champ (English Patched) PCE – RGT Repository

Zero4 Champ (English Patched) PCE Game ID: . Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For TurboGrafx-16 / PC-Engine HuCard.

retrogametalk.com

Bari Bari Densetsu (Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM – RGT Repository

Bari Bari Densetsu (Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM Game ID: . Languages: English. For TurboGrafx-16 / PC-Engine HuCard.

retrogametalk.com

Bubblegum Crash!: Knight Sabers 2034 (J+English Patched) TurboGrafx-16 ROM – RGT Repository

Bubblegum Crash!: Knight Sabers 2034 (J+English Patched) TurboGrafx-16 ROM Game ID: . Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For TurboGrafx-16 / PC-Engine HuCard.

retrogametalk.com

Battle Ace (Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM – RGT Repository

Battle Ace (Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM Game ID: . Languages: Japanese. For TurboGrafx-16 / PC-Engine HuCard.

retrogametalk.com

Victory Run (USA, Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM – RGT Repository

Victory Run (USA, Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM Game ID: . Languages: English, Japanese. For TurboGrafx-16 / PC-Engine HuCard.

retrogametalk.com

Vigilante (USA, Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM – RGT Repository

Vigilante (USA, Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM Game ID: . Languages: English, Japanese. For TurboGrafx-16 / PC-Engine HuCard.

retrogametalk.com

Download (Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM – RGT Repository

Download (Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM Game ID: . Languages: Japanese. For TurboGrafx-16 / PC-Engine HuCard.

retrogametalk.com

Final Soldier (Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM – RGT Repository

Final Soldier (Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM Game ID: . Languages: English. For TurboGrafx-16 / PC-Engine HuCard.

retrogametalk.com

Kattobi! Takuhai-Kun (Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM – RGT Repository

Kattobi! Takuhai-Kun (Japan) TurboGrafx-16 ROM Game ID: . Languages: Japanese. For TurboGrafx-16 / PC-Engine HuCard.

retrogametalk.com

 

[X y b e r - S k u ll]

Just started getting into PC-98 stuff myself recently. Been starting with what most would probably consider the “staple” games for the system; games like Dead of the Brain (and its sequel), The Screamer, Brandish etc. I also got the first 5 Touhou games mostly because I just liked the novelty of playing the original versions over the countless (probably better) re-releases lol.

 

[Eclipse14]

I have two recommendations for the 98: Rusty and Slayers.

Rusty is one of the more famous PC-98 games, being essentially a Castlevania clone that plays pretty well (although controls take some time to figure out and get used to).

Slayers was the first game based on the manga-turned-anime. In fact, it came out before the anime even aired. It's a bit odd by the standards of RPGs, but I've certainly had my fun playing it. However, you're definitely gonna need this if you plan on taking it on, as there's a few parts of the game where things get obtuse.