Who remembers the TurboGrafx 16?
Every once in a blue moon there is a classic game I never got a chance to check out. That is the case with today’s review. City Hunter was originally released back in 1990 from famed developer Sunsoft. It launched on the PC Engine (TurboGrafx 16 in the states) and never made it outside of Japan, which is likely why I never got around to checking it out. I used to rent a TurboGrafx 16 as a kid, but this game was never available. Now in 2026 we get a proper US release alongside some new modes and quality of life updates. So, how does it hold up without any nostalgia? Let’s dive in and find out.
City Hunter is an obscure anime that had its day in the sun in the early 90s. This, as far as I know, is the only video game adaptation of the series, and as I mentioned it was only released in Japan. The story follows the exploits of Ryo Saeba as he tackles three different missions. Each mission can be taken on at any time, and mostly involve navigating frustrating mazes, taking down enemies, and trying to discover which door is the correct one. Fun fact, there is also a live action movie based on the series starring Jackie Chan. I have seen it, it is weird.
MSRP: $24.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $14.99
The missions are what really hold this title back. As mentioned, they are just large mazes with no map that are primed with respawning enemies. It is classic confusing game design. Each area has several levels and the doors are plentiful. There is a reason this title has sat in a vault for nearly 40 years, there just really isn’t anything special about it. I found myself growing bored within minutes of each mission. Even by the standards of the time, this game feels more like an excuse to have a City Hunter game as opposed to making an interesting experience. Not common from the likes of Sunsoft.
This updated version has the standard upgrades we see in these re-releases. We have rewind features, save anywhere, and plenty of screen options. There is also an enhanced mode specific to this version which offers easier and more challenging difficulty levels as well as improved enemy AI. It helps but doesn’t raise it above curiosity. The problem is the Venn diagram for interest in this game requires an obsession with the manga and the patience for mediocre game design.
There are also scans of the manual and HuCard which are neat. The game is available in multiple languages and even changes the name of the character for some of them. A neat touch and definitely showcases the people making this had a lot of love for the series.
Visually the game looks fine and is reminiscent of titles from the early 90s. The TurboGrafx 16 was a weird machine as it was truly 8-bit, but somehow managed to make games look like its rival SNES and Genesis. Truly an underrated machine for its time. The levels are a bit boring though with repeating layouts and reused enemies and assets. The music is fine, nothing revolutionary, which again is something not common for a Sunsoft game. There are a couple bangers, but it is mostly generic fare.
City Hunter is a hard game to recommend unless you specifically fit into that crossover I mentioned earlier. You need to be a massive fan of the franchise and have some sort of nostalgia for this particularly mediocre side-scrolling action title. Otherwise, it just falls flat. I wanted to love it, TurboGrafx 16 games are normally hidden gems, but this one just exists. I am glad it is available, but there is just not enough here to make it a forgotten classic.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
