The classic console comes to the iPhone

TurboGrafx-16 GameBox follows in the footsteps of other emulators, bringing a retro system to iOS, with an integrated game shop.

The TurboGrafx-16 GameBox, also known as the PC Engine was a much loved, but unusual console. Ahead of its time and expensive, it never competed well against Sega and Nintendo. However, many great games existed on the TurboGrafx-16, and this iOS emulator may be many people’s first chance to play them.

Games cost $2.99, although the app is free and has one included game, World Sports Competition. The virtual d-pad controller is as good as we’ve seen, although it’s never quite as good as the real thing. The selection of titles to buy in TurboGrafx-16 GameBox are a good range of 16-bit titles, from shmups to driving and platform games.

Other titles like the Commodore 64 app have better overall interfaces – TurboGrafx-16 GameBox could be better organized and a library of purchased games is lacking.

TurboGrafx-16 GameBox gives lots of forgotten console classics another chance to shine. The emulator works really well, and it’s only really the interface that lets it down.