Analogue Duo Retro Console - TurboGrafx-16 & PC Engine

Analogue’s attractively designed, high-quality retro gaming systems offer a level of authenticity that stands apart from the numerous, lower-cost mini-consoles currently available. The company’s newest project focuses on reviving the TurboGrafx-16, also known as the PC Engine, a system that, despite its merits, didn’t achieve widespread success.

This device from Analogue, called the Duo, takes its name from a later iteration of the TurboGrafx-16 that incorporated a costly CD-ROM attachment—and the new Duo maintains compatibility with both game cartridges and CDs, assuming they remain in playable condition after all these years.

Consistent with Analogue’s other consoles, and in contrast to Nintendo’s popular SNES and NES Classic Editions (and the recent TurboGrafx-16 Mini), the Duo avoids the use of emulation. Instead, it represents a meticulous reconstruction of the original hardware, enhanced with contemporary features such as high-definition video output, wireless controller support, and improved overall dependability.

Image Credits: Analogue

Notably, this recreation is achieved using an FPGA, indicating a unique hardware implementation dedicated to faithfully reproducing the original console experience. Games are intended to function precisely as they did on the original system, including any quirks, glitches, or performance limitations inherent to that generation of consoles.

The game library, while perhaps not as widely recognized as those on Nintendo and Sega platforms in the U.S. – where the TurboGrafx-16 experienced modest sales – boasts a number of excellent titles. Games such as Bonk’s Adventure, Bomberman ’93, Ninja Spirit, Splatterhouse and Devil’s Crush deserve greater attention. Fans of shoot ‘em ups were treated to both original titles and arcade conversions like R-Type and Blazing Lazers. The Ys series also debuted on the PC Engine with the optional CD-ROM add-on. A comprehensive overview can be found here.

I wouldn’t mind having an HDMI port on the back of my SNES. Oh, Analogue makes one…

Analogue’s consoles are designed for collectors who wish to enjoy their games without risking damage to their original hardware, or who desire the convenience of upscaling and wireless connectivity. While I still own my original SNES, the visual quality of 240p resolution doesn’t compare to its appearance on a 15-inch CRT television from the 1990s.

Priced at $199, the Duo represents a higher investment than acquiring an original system at a flea market, though finding one in good condition can be challenging. Considering the original console and its CD-ROM add-on were quite expensive at the time of release, this new version offers considerable value. Analogue indicates that a limited number of units will be available, with shipments beginning in 2021.