If you're like me and grew up loving Bonk, Alien Crush and Splatterhouse, then you're probably excited to get your hands on the upcoming TurboGrafx Mini from Konami. It's a brand-new plug 'n play unit packed with more than 50 games, including a few rarities from Japan. To help celebrate what is almost certainly the most exciting retro console released this year, I wanted to take a look back at what Electronic Gaming Monthly thought of the machine back in the late-1980s and early 90s. This is going to be a comprehensive guide where we chronicle the TurboGrafx-16 and its CD add-on through EGM's four-person reviews, ranked from worst to best. If this doesn't get you excited for the TurboGrafx Mini, then nothing will.


But before we dive into the list, let's crunch the numbers. Electronic Gaming Monthly reviewed a total of 76 games for the TurboGrafx between September 1989 and June 1994. That breaks down to 54 HuCards and 22 CD-ROMs. To put that in perspective, EGM reviewed 340 Genesis games in roughly the same period, and that doesn't include the Sega CD or 32X. When it comes to score, the 76 TurboGrafx games averaged out to a solid 6.52 out of 10, which isn't far off from the Genesis' average of 6.67.

Of the 76 games, a whopping 23 are from the shoot 'em up family, followed by 19 action games and every other genre with six games or fewer. We're only going to talk about one wrestling game, one fighter and one simulator. But crunching the numbers can only get us so far, so let's take a thorough look at all 76 of those classic games.

We're going to start out with the bottom of the barrel, which is where we find side-scrolling shoot 'em up Deep Blue, which averaged an atrocious 3.75 out of 10 and is EGM's worst reviewed TurboGrafx game. They complained about the execution, noting that "the different elements have been thrown together with little thought or planning." This is followed at 75th place by another crummy shooter -- Terraforming. It came out in 1994 and didn't offer anything new or exciting. The same can be said about Crater Maze, though for a completely different genre. "Crater Maze looks bright and flashy, but has next to no gameplay." It's another game made for younger players that gets old quickly.

At number 73 is Might & Magic III: Isles of Terra, which is by far the lowest rated role-playing game on the system. They complained that the first-person action was too choppy and not exciting. Speaking of too choppy and not exciting, have you played Falcon? This early stab at the 3D air combat genre is too hard to play to be fun and comes in at number 72. On the topic of games that are too hard to play and frustrating, we can't forget about China Warrior. The advertisements boasted about the huge character sprites, but none of that matters when the gameplay is this bad. It averaged a score of 4.5 out of 10.

Speaking of which, you'll find the same 4.5 average for the dismal shoot 'em up Ordyne and the memorably titled Veigues Tactical Gladiator. At least, I think that's how you pronounce that. You know, I don't think I've ever heard that name said out loud. On the other hand, one name I do know how to pronounce is Ballistix, which comes in at number 68. "The game concept is good, but somehow it never ends up as a good game when it gets to the player." On the topic of players, our 67th game was all about getting as many people involved as possible. TV Sports Football was touted as the first five-player football game, which would have been a bigger deal if the simulation was more fun. But it's not, and that's why it averaged a score of 4.75 out of 10.

Hey, did somebody mention simulation? What great timing, because number 66 takes us to SimEarth. Y'know, like SimCity, only it's the full Earth and kind of sucks. As much as I hate to say it, Samurai Ghost also sucks. Despite having both samurais and ghosts, this disappointing action game averaged a 5 out of 10 and lands at number 65. Now, when it comes to the 64th game, I'm going to strongly disagree that it sucks. I love Super Air Zonk, even if the criticisms about it being too easy are accurate. It's bright, colorful and full of fun power-ups. But hey, this isn't about my opinion.

On the topic of games I kind of like, Riot Zone lands at number 63. They complained that this brawler wasn't up to the standard of Final Fight and Streets of Rage, which is true, but it did have a pretty cool ending. Double Dungeons sounds like a fellow beat 'em up, but is actually another first-person adventure game. The EGM editors had a problem getting around the maze and found the whole ordeal a lot more frustrating than fun. Double Dungeons averaged a score of 5.25 out of 10, which is the same as the curiously titled Bravoman. "The game is rather uneventful with gameplay not out of the ordinary. It doesn't do anything new."

Although it was the Sega CD that got pegged with having a glut of full-motion video games, the TurboGrafx-CD also had their fair share. The worst of them, at least according to EGM, was It Came from the Desert, which averaged a 5.5 and came in at number 60. The editors liked the B-rate cinemas, but thought the gameplay was lacking. You know, lacking is also the way I would explain the 59th game on our countdown -- Super Buster Bros. . It's not that this port is bad, but rather that the original arcade game from Capcom is only fun in short bursts. That's also how I would explain Time Cruise, the 1993 pinball game that doesn't even come close to matching the quality of Devil's Crush. EGM complained that the playfield is too large and the controls are horrible, giving the game an average of 5.5 and landing it at number 58.

Hey, do you remember when we talked about TV Sports Football a few minutes ago? Well, the franchise is back with TV Sports Basketball, and it managed to fare a bit better. The five-player mode is cool, but NEC needed to spend more time fine-tuning the gameplay. That's not something I would say about the 56th best TurboGrafx game -- Tiger Road. This is a solid port of a long-forgotten arcade game from Capcom. The problem is that the then three-year old arcade game hadn't help up well, especially when you saw what Capcom was doing in 1990. Slightly above average, but nothing special.

The next game on the countdown is Battle Royale, but don't get too excited. No, we're not going to drop you onto a giant island to see who can survive, because this is a button-mashy wrestling game. It really could have been called TV Sports Wrestling, but maybe they were hedging their bets. Either way, here it is at number 55 with an average of 5.75 out of 10.

It's probably worth mentioning that there are two other games that averaged the same exact score. The first is a middling action game starring the great Jackie Chan, while the other is a loving port of the arcade hit Space Harrier. "NEC has a great translation of this fast-moving shooter, but who cares? It's old, everybody has played it already, and its uniqueness has worn off."

The good news is that we're nearly a third of the way through this list of the Best & Worst TurboGrafx-16 games. The even better news is that finally done with the system's clunkers. Everything going forward will average at least a 6 out of 10, just like the next game on our list -- Vigilante. "This is an outstanding translation of the arcade version, with great graphics and sound." The problem? Many editors complained that it was too easy and the Kung Fu-style gameplay was outdated. That's also a problem they had with another arcade port -- Parasol Stars. This is the oft-forgotten third installment in the Bubble Bobble series, and the editors weren't all that impressed. Of course, the same could be said about Godzilla on the TurboGrafx-CD. This was a passable but ultimately middling one-on-one fighting game starring some of cinema's biggest monsters. It averaged a score of 6 and landed at number 50.

Our next game was also on the CD add-on, but featured the world's most popular crime fighter instead of giant monsters. I'm of course talking about Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Volume 2, which was the second FMV game starring the super sleuth. Although EGM liked the original game, they were not as impressed with the full-motion video the second time around and found the cases to be less exciting. It was 1993, and they were ready to move on. Thankfully, they were a bit more generous to Final Lap Twin, which comes in at number 48. Although they weren't blown away by the racing action, they did like the single-player mode, which essentially turned the racer into a traditional role-playing game. Well, they were more baffled by it than anything, but I'm choosing to believe that they landed on being impressed by the creativity.

A few years after trying their luck with the TV Sports series, NEC gave us World Sports Competition, their answer to Track & Field. Noting that it was an above average game, "it has enough variety to keep sports gamers interested for a while, maybe long enough until a new game shows up." Sick burn, bro. World Sports Competition lands at number 47 with an average of 6.25. That's followed with another sports game at number 46 -- Takin' it to the Hoop. The editors complained that the controls take some getting used to, but the long-term enjoyment is undone by repetitive games and a tedious season.

Speaking of sports games that scored a 6.5, that same thing can be said about Hit the Ice from 1992, coming in at number 45. This arcade-style hockey game had a real mix of reviews, with the four editors giving it a 5, 6, 7 and 8. Some considered it one of the best multiplayer games for the TurboGrafx, while others concluded that it was just another average sports game.

If we're talking about games that averaged a 6.5, we also need to talk about two big titles that hit the Turbo-CD. Up first is the cinematic action game Final Zone II, which wowed the critics with "the wild intermissions with real speech." And then we have Dungeon Master at number 43, which is yet another first-person adventure game set in a dungeon. In case it wasn't obvious, those were common in the early 1990s.

The next batch of games all averaged a 6.75 out of 10, which usually means that the editors were split between giving it sixes and sevens. I guess that's why you get a polarizing point and click adventure game like Loom at number 42. Sushi-X complained that he was bored and would rather wait for a sequel. Speaking of games that didn't get a sequel, overhead shoot 'em up Last Alert shows up in 41st place. They were impressed at the potential of CD technology, but as a shooter, Last Alert is only slightly above average.

Up next we have a trio of overhead shoot 'em ups, with Galaga '90 at 40, Soldier Blade at 39 and Dragon Spirit at good old 38. Of those, Dragon Spirit is the only one where you play a dragon that grows multiple heads. It's awesome. Speaking of awesome, that's the word I would use to describe our next game, Devil's Crush. This is way too low on the list, as far as I'm concerned, but Steve Harris was the odd man out and gave it a five. Without his low score, this would have rocketed up to number 20, a much more respectable placement, if you ask me.

Oh hey, Dungeon Explorer is a role-playing game that shows it doesn't have to be through a choppy first-person perspective. Granted, you're still exploring a dungeon, but it's baby steps. The good news is that this first-generation Turbo game was mostly liked. The bad news is that it's the kind of adventure you'll instantly forget about. And on the topic of dungeon crawling, let's talk about Neutopia at number 35 and its sequel, Neutopia II, in 34th place. The EGM editors liked the Neutopia series, but couldn't help but compare it to the much better Legend of Zelda franchise. Solid adventure games that both averaged a score of 7 out of 10.

Up next is one of the most disappointing sequels to ever grace the TurboGrafx-16. I'm of course talking about Legendary Axe II, which ditched most of the things the editors loved about the first game. They still said that it's a competent action game, but this 33rd place showing tells you all you need to know about how disappointed they were in the second (and final) chapter. They also gave mild recommendations to a couple more so-so sequels, including shoot 'em up Super Star Soldier at 32 and CD role-playing game Cosmic Fantasy II at 31. It's not that the editors disliked Cosmic Fantasy II, but getting everybody on board for a role-playing game was tough in 1992.

We also saw a big divide when it came to J.B. Harold Murder Club on the Turbo CD, which enters the list at number 30. This was a full-motion adventure game that split the critics, with two giving it sixes and two giving it eights. You're either into these types of adventure games or you marvel at what CD-ROMs can do. Unfortunately, only Ed Semrad was marveling over what Cyber Core could do, which is why it shows up at number 29 with an average of 7 out of 10. The rest of the editors liked the action, but felt that it was too easy until the very last stage. Fellow shoot 'em up Magical Chase also averaged a 7, with the critics applauding the colorful graphics, but complaining that it doesn't break any new ground. Magical Chase comes in at number 28.

As we near the top of the list, we're starting to see great games and heavy hitters. Our next game is Air Zonk, and it's both of those things. This was the first spin-off for caveman Bonk, and although it swaps out platforming antics for shoot 'em up action, the zany characters and weird levels made it easy to recommend. In some ways, Dead Moon is the exact opposite. Although it's a side-scrolling shooter like Zonk, this 1992 gem was dark and serious. It was also exciting and full of spectacular bosses. With an average of 7.25 out of 10, Dead Moon lands number 26.

Another game to score a 7.25 is Victory Run, which was one of the earliest games covered by Electronic Gaming Monthly. Reviewed in issue 4, this launch game wowed the EGM editors by expertly mimicking the arcade racers that were so popular at the time. Steve was annoyed that it wasn't more realistic, but everybody else agreed that Victory Run was "probably one of the best driving games to come along for any system."

Do you remember when I said that it was hard to get everybody on board with role-playing games back in 1992? Well, it wasn't much easier in 1993, at least according to the reviews of Exile: Wicked Phenomenon. This Working Designs adventure was praised by Ed, but most found the story and gameplay to be too simplistic to sustain a lengthy quest. Fake ninja Sushi-X concluded that Exile "may not be spectacular, but in comparison, it's the best so far this year." It's ranked in 24th place.

Sometimes a great game can come in an unassuming package. That's the case with Somer Assault, which impressed the critics with its inventive concept and gameplay. "What the Turbo needs is some more fresh and innovative injections of pure originality, one of the many elements that Somer Assault succeeds in delivering." It averaged an impressive 7.5 and comes in at number 23. That's the same score they gave Raiden Trad, which is not only one of the Turbo's best shoot 'em ups, but also a legitimately amazing arcade port. And speaking of arcade ports, Bloody Wolf comes in at number 21. It's basically the better version of Last Alert, and the EGM editors were quick to compare it favorably to Contra. Martin Alessi called it the one of the best Turbo games he had played.

If you're looking for the highest-rated sports game on the Turbo, then look no further than John Madden Duo CD Football, which comes in at number 20. Unfortunately, while the editors were excited to finally have a quality football game on the platform, they couldn't help but noticed that this Turbo version was a step down from what was coming out on the Genesis.

John Madden isn't the only high-profile CD to earn a 7.5, because that's the same score EGM gave two ambitious point and click adventure games. The first is Beyond Shadowgate at number 19, which had the editors praising the graphics and style, but moaning about the slow pace and frustrating puzzles. At number 18 is the original Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective, an adventure game so impressive that Sega would later bundle it in with their own CD add-on. The critics were impressed with the video, even if the mouths didn't always match the voices and the low-quality footage couldn't even display 500 colors at once. The sharp writing and clever cases helped to earn the sleuth a 7.5 out of 10.

The next game on the countdown is one of the very few to get a modern remake. I'm talking about Ys III: Wanderers from Ys, the side-scrolling sequel to, spoiler alert, one of the best-reviewed TurboGrafx games of all time. While they enjoyed the quest, the editors were thrown by the change in perspective, which accounts for the lower score. Speaking of CD sequels, Valis II is here to take over the number 16 position. While it didn't break new ground, the critics were impressed by the great graphics, spectacular music, impressive intermissions and tight gameplay.

If there's one name you associate with the TurboGrafx-16, it's probably Bonk. At number 15 is Bonk's Adventure, NEC's first stab at creating an iconic platforming mascot. While it had a hard time living up to the high-water marks of both Mario and Sonic, the editors were largely impressed with this 1990 release. They told their readers to "forget about the Crater Mazes and Final Laps, because this is what the Turbo does best." Trust me, we've already forgotten about Crater Maze, that was 60 games ago. But you know who we haven't forgotten about? Bonk. That's right, Bonk's Revenge managed to pick up the exact same scores, even if the critics liked it a little better than the first game. Sushi-X complained that the "Bonk-spin" isn't as smooth, but the levels are incredible and the improved graphics are bursting with personality. With an average of 7.5 out of 10, Bonk's Revenge headbutts its way to number 14.

As we near the top of the list, we're going to continue seeing a number of high-profile sequels, and the next two games are no exception. When it came to the debate over Valis II and Valis III, it was the third installment that came out on top ... but only slightly. Coming in at number 13, this 1991 sequel concluded Yuko's story and earned an average of 7.75 out of 10. The editors made a big deal out of this Turbo version topping the Genesis port in every possible way, demonstrating one of the many reasons to buy the CD add-on. The same can be said about Bonk 3, which lands at number 12. The critics were impressed by the inventive level designs and two-player mode, saying that this was the best of the trilogy. But even with that high praise, there was a feeling in 1993 that when compared to Mario and Sonic, Bonk was an also-ran.

No expensive accessory was needed for our next game, Blazing Lazers, the first shoot 'em up released on the TurboGrafx-16. Martin and Donn both gave the game nines, saying that it was "definitely the best space shooter available on any system." Ed, on the other hand, gave it a six and called Blazing Lazers a "slightly better than average shooter with nicely detailed backgrounds, intense opponents and more action than most can handle."

And at long last, that brings us to Electronic Gaming Monthly's top ten TurboGrafx-16 games. These are the best of the best, with not a single clunker in the mix. And to prove that, we're going to start out with the influential strategy game classic Military Madness at tenth place. It may not look like much, but this was unlike anything else on the TurboGrafx, or American consoles in general. Steve called it "one of the most unique and addictive games" he's ever played, telling everybody to pick it up immediately, even if you don't normally like war games.

If you're looking for something a bit more exciting, then let me draw your attention to the 9th game on our countdown -- Psychosis. Although it's not well-known as some of the other Turbo action games, this trippy shoot 'em up still has a lot going for it. The editors loved the bizarre backgrounds that are made up of optical illusions. They concluded that if you dig R-Type, then you're going to love Psychosis.

At number 8 is another memorable action game, but for a completely different reason. Horror fans looking for blood and gore didn't have a lot of options in the early 1990s, which is what made Splatterhouse so damn memorable. "From start to finish, Splatterhouse is a visually stunning game," Martin concluded, with Steve praising the vivid blood-reds and puke-greens. I suppose that's one way to put it.

After years of middling sports games, NEC finally gave fans a reason to own the Turbo Tap. Bomberman '93 wasn't just a solid port of the popular party game, it was actually better than the competition, thanks in large part to the five-player fights. The EGM editors couldn't get enough, which is why it lands at number seven with an average score of 8.25.

When it comes to the sixth game on our list, there's one thing you need to know: It was named the Best TurboGrafx-16 Game of 1989. You've probably already figured out that I'm talking about none other than The Legendary Axe, which EGM called the perfect blend of action and adventure. They loved the great graphics and sound, noting that it tops just about everything that came out on the Genesis. Everything except for Ghouls 'N Ghosts, of course.

If you're looking for the best shoot 'em up on the TurboGrafx, then there are really three major contenders. At number 5, it's Aeroblasters, a game so good that "it's hard to believe you're playing a Turbo game." That's Martin's wording, not mine. Sushi-X argued that "you can't ask for much more in a shooter," but I disagree. Why? Because Gate of Thunder proves that a rockin' heavy metal soundtrack pairs perfectly with dodging enemy bullets. This was hailed at the time as one of the best and most intense shoot 'em ups of all time, giving a whole new set of gamers a reason to take the Turbo CD seriously. It's "near-perfect" concluded Martin.

You know what game rocks even harder than Gate of Thunder? Lords of Thunder, of course, at least according to Electronic Gaming Monthly, who named it the Game of the Month in their 44th issue. "Killer tunes? Sharp graphics? Tight gameplay? You want it, you got it!" Ed puts it bluntly: "If you've been thinking about a Duo, this is the game that will make your decision a lot easier." With an average of 8.5 out of 10, Lords of Thunder rockets to the top of the list at number 3.

That just leaves two games to talk about. Or does it? When it comes to Electronic Gaming Monthly's second best-reviewed TurboGrafx-16 game, it's not actually one single game, but rather two-in-one. You've probably already guessed that I'm talking about Ys Book I & II, a CD-ROM so crammed with greatness that it earned a rare perfect 10 from Ed. He called it the perfect game, with perfect voice, a true CD soundtrack and two full-blown RPGs on one incredible disc. And the praise didn't stop there. When it came to the Best & Worst of 1990 Awards, the magazine said it had the Best BGM and Sound in a Video Game and was the Best RPG Video Game of the year. And with an average score of 8.75 out of 10, Ys Book I & II sits in the penultimate spot out of 76 games.

So, if Adol's CD-ROM adventure is number two, then what could possibly be the best-reviewed Turbo game of all time? The answer is Ninja Spirit, the only other TurboGrafx game to earn a 10 from one of the editors. Sushi-X called it "simply the best ninja game ever! The movement of the ninja is unique and the weapons are awesome!" Everybody else agreed, raving about the authentic Japanese background music, great gameplay and killer bosses. After largely being ignored in the arcades, all four critics were excited to see this amazing game get a second life on the home consoles, making it one of the system's first must-own games. And, if you don't mind a little editorializing on my part, I agree. Ninja Spirit still holds up and does things that no other ninja game has done since. I love this game and am delighted to see that Ninja Spirit is Electronic Gaming Monthly's best-reviewed TurboGrafx-16 game of all time.

Huh. Now I really want one of those TurboGrafx Minis.