Manufactured from 1987 to 1993, Sharp's X68000 computer line was a gaming powerhouse virtually unknown to most of the world prior to the rise of the internet. And before emulation there were many barriers to entry for gamers:
I think among game systems released outside of Japan, the closest similarity to the X68000 in terms of content was the Genesis/Mega Drive with the TurboGrafx not far behind.
This video covers a bunch of arcade ports:
Scorpius
Your ship has a 'tail' you can hit enemies with like a scorpion's stinger.
Akumajou Dracula
Re-released with some additions as Castlevania Chronicles on Playstation, and later as a PSOne Classic on PS3 and PSP.
Star Cruiser
This version isn't very playable without Japanese knowledge but thankfully there's now a translated rom of the Mega Drive version. It's not as nice looking but the game design holds up surprisingly well for an FPS/Adventure of that era.
Mad Stalker: Full Metal Force
Early '90s mech melee goodness.
Genocide 2: Master of the Dark Communion
Naious
Cho Ren Sha 68K
Also on PC.
Etoile Princesse
Star Wars: Attack on the Death Star
An original game by M.N.M. Software although very much inspired by the old Atari coin-op.
Buster
Sol-Feace
Better known as a Sega CD pack in title.
Zugya
A free roaming shooter that's very early '80s in feel. Bosconian fans should check it out. It's also on PC.
Geograph Seal
First-person action from Exact. This is the direct predecessor of Jumping Flash on Playstation.
Overtake
Linkages:
https://refuge.tokyo/x68k/x68000.html1
https://nfggames.com/
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sharp+x68000
- It was only released in Japan, and required some Japanese knowledge to operate.
- Unlike with Japanese consoles, I don't recall magazines in the West even mentioning the system back then.
- It was hugely expensive for most people as it launched for around $3000 USD. Factoring in inflation it would be more than double that today.
- Legit copies of the games became collector's items fairly early. Plus, many are on floppy disks which are more fragile than cartridges.
I think among game systems released outside of Japan, the closest similarity to the X68000 in terms of content was the Genesis/Mega Drive with the TurboGrafx not far behind.
- For a computer stuck in Japan, the X680000 still managed to have a solid library of ports of Western games such as Klax, Prince of Persia, Marble Madness, Dungeon Master, Lemmings, Future Wars, SimCity games, Xenon 2, Ultima games, etc…
This video covers a bunch of arcade ports:
- For Capcom arcade fans there was Strider, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Final Fight, Street Fighter II series, etc…
- For Sega arcade fans there was Space Harrier, After Burner II, Fantasy Zone, Thunder Blade, Super Hang On, Alien Syndrome, Columns, etc…
- For Konami arcade fans there was Gradius series, Twinbee, Quarth, Ajax, Parodius, etc…
- For Namco arcade fans there was Super Xevious, Return of Ishtar, Bosconian, Dragon Spirit, Pacman franchise, Libble Rabble, etc…
- For Taito arcade fans there was Bubble Bobble, Arkanoid: revenge of Doh, Cloud Master, Camletry, Fairyland Story, New Zealand Story. Syvalion, etc…
Scorpius
Your ship has a 'tail' you can hit enemies with like a scorpion's stinger.
Akumajou Dracula
Re-released with some additions as Castlevania Chronicles on Playstation, and later as a PSOne Classic on PS3 and PSP.
Star Cruiser
This version isn't very playable without Japanese knowledge but thankfully there's now a translated rom of the Mega Drive version. It's not as nice looking but the game design holds up surprisingly well for an FPS/Adventure of that era.
Mad Stalker: Full Metal Force
Early '90s mech melee goodness.
Genocide 2: Master of the Dark Communion
Naious
Cho Ren Sha 68K
Also on PC.
Etoile Princesse
Star Wars: Attack on the Death Star
An original game by M.N.M. Software although very much inspired by the old Atari coin-op.
Buster
Sol-Feace
Better known as a Sega CD pack in title.
Zugya
A free roaming shooter that's very early '80s in feel. Bosconian fans should check it out. It's also on PC.
Geograph Seal
First-person action from Exact. This is the direct predecessor of Jumping Flash on Playstation.
Overtake
Linkages:
https://refuge.tokyo/x68k/x68000.html1
https://nfggames.com/
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sharp+x68000
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