MSX/MSX2

MSX

MSX2

Homebrew

VRAM:128Kbytes

The MSX2 is the upgraded version of the MSX standard. It maintained full backwards compatibility, and while the CPU remained the same, it provided better video and audio chips and much more RAM. A number of early MSX games were re-released as MSX2-upgraded versions. The standard was followed by the MSX2+ and MSX Turbo R standards, but the market for the MSX was already declining at that point, so these are very rare outside of Japan.

Note: this list is only for games that require an MSX2 computer. Games compatible with the first generation MSX machines go on their own page. Many games have slightly different MSX and MSX2 versions; in such cases, the MSX2 version is usually superior, so add only the MSX2 version here and not the older MSX version.

The list

Cover	Title	Genre	Description	Translation	Screenshot
	Aleste	Shoot 'em Up	Classic compile shooter that defines classic vertical shmups. Very smooth scrolling and nice graphics.	Link
	Aleste 2	Shoot 'em Up	Sequel to the above that vastly improves upon each aspect.
	Aleste Gaiden	Shoot 'em Up	Retelling of the original Aleste with a twist: instead of a spaceship, you control a ninja robot on foot. It's simpler (smaller weapon loadout) and shorter, but still fast and fun as you expect from an Aleste game.
	Ashguine Story II	Shoot 'em Up/Action-Adventure	Ashguine Story II is pretty different. It controls like a shmup and even has vertical shmup-like layouts, but has extra paths and adventure elements to it. Hell, you can't even turn in directions, instead you just strafe while facing forward. Your initial sword attack is pretty limited making it kind of hard early on. While it may be niche amongst niche, it is worth giving a fair shot, even just as a curiostiy, unlike the original Ashguine and the third, Ashguine - Flame of Revenge, which, eh, aren't so much.	Link
	Bubble Bobble	Puzzle	Same as the NES but with slightly downgraded graphics, though they're much more colorful.
	Contra	Platformer	A very interesting take on Konami's run and gun classic. While the first nine levels are based on the arcade, it adds a whole ten original levels afterwards. More info on the Contra wiki.
	Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family	Action-Adventure	If you've played this on the NES, you might know this as Legacy of the Wizard. The two versions play similarly enough, 4 family members and their "dog" with different abilities each, but there's several differences. The MSX map shares a few similar areas, but there's also notable differences and some tools are found in different locations vs from the NES version, and the music is different at times as well. If you don't mind the non-scrolling versus the smoother NES version and are hankering for more Dragon Slayer-an action, look no further. The MSX1 version is also fine, but this one is preferable if you have a choice. Still, for an MSX1 game, it's one of the best. It's just that this one is just a bit better, mostly in aesthetics.
	Dragon Slayer VI: The Legend of Heroes	RPG	The Dragon Slayer series mixes it up again, this entry being more traditional turn-based, almost Dragon Quest-ish, RPG setting and gameplay, though it has some unique aspects to keep things fresh. It scores rather high in all categories and is one of those games that show off just how pimp the MSX2 is. Listen to those jams! Also, it ended up becoming its own series.	Link
	Final Fantasy	RPG	Arguably the better 8-bit version of the original. Has far better graphics and sound, at the cost of choppy scrolling.	Link
	Fire Hawk: Thexder The Second Contact	Platformer	AKA Thexder 2. Much better graphics and more elaborate levels with indoor and outdoor areas. A great game, but it must be said: the music is nowhere near as catchy as the original.
	Ganbare Goemon: Karakuri Douchuu	Action	A somewhat Zelda-ish game where you have to find items to advance as quickly as possible. Better than the Famicom game as it has a password feature and more stages.	Link
	Hai no Majutsushi	Mahjong	Occasionally called "Magician of Tile" or "Mah-Jong 2" in the west, it's a mahjong game starring all your favorite MSX Konami characters, including Pentarou, Simon Belmont, Goemon, Popolon + Aphrodite, Dr. Venom (Nemesis 2 MSX), Moai, and even Snatcher!
	Hi no Tori Hououhen	Shoot 'em up	A bandit accidentally kills his own wife, so he must embark on a quest to atone for his sins. Adapted from Osamu Tezuka's manga masterpiece Phoenix. Gameplay is similar to Knightmare, but the design is a lot more complex: the stages loop and have parallel paths, so you have to play them over, and heed the phoenix's hints to find the right way to progress. Very expensive outside of Japan, and very useful since you can use this to save in King Kong 2. Konami also made a completely different game on the Famicom based on the same source. HG101 article	Link
	King Kong 2: Yomigaeru Densetsu	Action RPG	First off, the movie sucked. This game doesn't. Even though the NES game has a similar name, you play as Mitchel(l) instead of Kong. As expected of a Konami title, especially on MSX, there's lots of tools and items for you to find, a huge world to explore, and lots of traps and enemies to face. Use the fan translation, or just play the Korean release which is full English anyway. Either way, be ready, because this is early Konami, which means HARD. Use the 2xPSG enhancement patch for improved sound.	Link
	King's Valley II	Puzzle-Platformer	60 levels of more puzzle-platforming goodness. Better aesthetics, new tools, and new platform elements (such as ladders) make this a bit less of a hassle than KV1, but don't think for a second the puzzles don't exploit this to come up with more ways to challenge you think even harder. Comes in MSX and MSX2 versions, the difference isn't huge: the MSX2 has prettier graphics but runs a bit slower. Use the enhancement patch to fix that.
	King's Valley II: Edit Contest Version	Puzzle-Platformer/ Rage-Quit	The result of a contest by Konami and four gaming magazines (MSX Fan, Comptiq, Beep, and MSX Magazine). Their readers designed new stages, and each magazine chose the five best. This is likely the rarest MSX game: only twenty gold-painted cartridges were produced and given to the winners. The ROM is out there, but don't even think about starting with it, the challenge level is really made for KV veterans. When you feel experienced, brave, and/or foolish enough: pop it in and enjoy the ride.
	Malaya no Hihou	Action-Adventure	AKA "Malaya's Treasure". A platformer-ish adventure game where you put on your best Indiana Jones imitation and utilize secrets, loot, platforming skills, and various tools in your pursuit of a hidden haul. As expected, there's plenty of opposition from wildlife and monsters, and bigass boss-demons. Like adventure games, talking with people is key, not only to buy things, but also to gain hints and info on the obstacles ahead. Japanese-only, but has an english translation patch.	Link
	Metal Gear	Stealth	Well it's only the first fucking game in the Metal Gear franchise can it really be all that great? Yes, yes it can. It's a lot like Ghost Babel, but less limited due to being on a computer. If you somehow don't know, the NES game is different from this one in a number of areas, though the core gameplay is similar. Re-released with MG2:SS below, both in the special version of MGS3: Subsistence on PS2 with minor differences (one big key difference in those versions is that the character portraits have been altered).	Link
	Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake	Stealth	Amazing sequel to the first that improves upon everything like a good sequel should. A bit more like the later games in that you have more maneuverability and the fact that the story and characters are more fleshed out. If you enjoyed Ghost Babel and the Solid series in general, then this one is closer to those than MG1. Also, be aware than enemies are craftier now, so you can't just swap screens to save your hide anymore! As mentioned above, you can find an altered version of this on Subsistence as well. But who doesn't want to play as Solid Sly Stallone?	Link
	Pennant Race 1 / 2	Sports	Extremely good baseball games by Konami that have lots of personality (like Neo Geo Pocket Color graphics) and are light years ahead of Konami Baseball for the MSX1.	Link
	Quarth	Puzzle / Shoot 'em Up	It's like Tetris and space invaders put together. Also on NES but they're about the same.
	Rastan Saga	Platformer	Play as badass barbarian Conan Rastan and slash apart the competition to get what's good in life. An arcade port based somewhat on the Sega Master System port. Taito worked on this themselves, and made several changes from the original, for the sake of the hardware (such as modifying level designs for the MSX2 and not having the screen scroll) but all in all, it's pretty smooth, especially for the MSX line. You can read a bit more about the game and the changes to the MSX2 port here.
	SD Snatcher	RPG	Yeah, it's FUCKING SNATCHER, only it's an RPG. Also, some plot points are a bit different as well, so you don't think you've played the normal Snatcher with this. A neat element about this is that you can utilize tools and body-part targeting to your advantage. An enemy robot has wheels? Rip it to shreds, and he's a sitting duck! Because Metal Gear got turned into Puchi/Petit-sized, he now serves as an auto-battle, and he'll typically exploit any smart tactics you've used to topple enemies. One of best the games on the system, and probably the best 8-bit graphics you will ever see (at least on MSX). It even takes several floppy disks to play.	Link
	Shin Maou Golvellius	Action-Adventure	A loose remake of the original Golvellius to the upgraded MSX2 hardware. It loosely follows the concepts of the first, but re-imagines it with new life, giving you towns, side-quests, NPCs, and a bit more conversation beyond finding people in caves. As expected, the overworld, dungeons, and even bosses get generally altered, if not removed, added, or remixed. It's definitely a big step up from before, but it retains (and improves) the core triple-gameplay concept from before.	Link
	Snatcher	Adventure	Not the most original version (it's a port of the PC-88 version) but close. This one is different from the console ports, largely due to the PC-centric format (i.e. press "number" to action) and there's some other elements changed as well (example: "Search the House"). Do note that it lacks Act 3 from later versions (though some hate Act 3, so feel free to argue as you will).	Link
	Space Manbow	Shoot 'em Up	Great MSX2 shooter with wonderful visuals and music. Considered to be a spiritual sequel to Thunder Cross. Runs with improved scrolling on MSX2+ machines. (Explaining the name: manbo means sunfish in Japanese.)
	Super Cooks	Action-Adventure/Cook 'em up?	Another variation/remake of Golvellius. Well, sort of. It's a self-parody where now everything is culinary and/or food-based and just plain goofy as hell. The game is structured a little differently than the other games, requiring you to find pretty much every secret possible to proceed. In addition, the vertical-shmup style dungeon corridors have been removed, and the side-scrollers solely remain (save for the overworld and boss fights, naturally). They've been altered though, so now you have to hunt down 4 items per dungeon to reach its boss. As a result of these changes, the game is notably shorter, but sweeter.	Link
	The Treasure of Uşas	Adventure / Platformer	(Pronounced Ushas.) A strange platformer that has two characters with different abilities exploring 5 ruins each with their own 4 stages and a boss fight. The game also considers the current character's emotion into play, as they will become stronger or weaker in different ways depending on the emotion, thus making you consider who to play as for each stage. Use the enhancement patch for SCC sound support and other improvements.
	Vampire Killer (EU) Akumajō Dracula (JP)	Platformer	This is the same as Castlevania on the NES, but it's a lot different. Has superior graphics and sound, but no scrolling. Each "area" is revamped into a sort of semi-non-linear structure, now with the need to find a key to open a locked door to progress to next area. There's a few alternate bosses compared to the NES version and also shops. One key difference is no sub-weapons. Whatever you're using is your only attack, and, again, some work a bit differently compared to the NES, like the Axe acting akin to the NES Cross/Boomerang. Use the 2xPSG enhancement patch for improved sound.
	Ys II	Action RPG	A pretty good version of Ys II, if not one of the best 8-bit versions. It is like a more action-centric Zelda. The emphasis is on combat and fighting massive and tricky bosses over solving puzzles (though there still are some to solve). This is the best game of this series on MSX, because the first one is a bit too basic (don't worry about its story, II fills you in along the way), and Ys III is just too demanding for the system (better play one of the console ports that run much smoother and did get US releases). HG101 article	Link
	Zanac Ex	Shoot 'em up	Save mankind from a mysterious alien biomechanical system. Improved version of Zanac from the original MSX (which you may know from the NES port), and a spiritual spin-off of Aleste. Use the enhancement patch for improved sound and better performance.