If you’re like me, unless you’re into the really retro consoles, you’d probably never heard of MSX before this article. However, amongst retro and classic gamers, MSX 8 bit consoles are highly sought after.
Most notable for popular series like the classic stealth action game Metal Gear, Puyo Puyo, and Bomberman, Dragon Quest (released on NES, later ported to MSX) and Parodius.
MSX: A Brief History
The early days of the personal computer was a long, rough road for consumers. If you think we have too many platforms to choose between now, the 80s would have made you tear your hair out. There were so many different home computer systems, all with their unique cartridges and software, which led to an insane level of competition for an already insanely expensive product, to the point of crowding the market to an insane degree.
The developers behind MSX sought to change all that, and for a relatively short time completely upended the increasingly restrictive personal computer industry. An alliance between computer developer Kazuhiko Nishi and Microsoft’s Bill Gates led to the creation of the MSX, an acronym rumored to have stood for a variety of things, but it is commonly agreed that it’s something like “Machines with Software eXchangeability,” referring to its novel (for the time) compatibility.
Together, this computer whiz duo sought to revolutionize the home computer industry, riding on the marketability of the idea of people being able to run a variety of software, music, apps, and games on any machine of their choice. No longer would they be limited to software only compatible with their hardware. Accomplishing this meant providing a standard that would allow software compatibility on multiple platforms. Kind of like what microUSB cable aimed to be for chargeable devices before the advent of the USB-C cable.
This was done by switching out cartridges, like a plugin that allows instant compatibility, and was meant to level the field and make computers more accessible to the common public by reducing the technical complexity of multiple chips down to one chip.
Rise, Fall, and Resurgence of MSX
The MSX enjoyed popularity throughout several versions (MSX, MSX2, MSX2+, MSX Turbo R, etc.), mostly in Japan, Brazil, parts of Europe and South Korea. Sadly, this popularity was short-lived; the MSX eventually lost out to IBM in 1993, ten years after the announcement of its development. The MSX 3 was announced for 1990, but experienced hardware delays and a blunting by the rapidly flourishing IBM PC Compatible Market, making it no longer viable to invest in.
However, dedicated fans of the MSX have sustained its life beyond its early retirement so that it has not quite gone the way of, say, the 8-track, which has been replaced by CDs, mp3s, and streaming services. Today several emulators are available online for download so players can relive the experience of gaming from over 40 years ago.
Metal Gear, a popular action stealth game franchise, got its start on the MSX, specifically the MSX2 in 1987. The basic objective is to guide a special forces operative through an enemy base to retrieve the titular Metal Gear without being seen or caught. The game was wildly popular in Japan, most notably for its graphics, suspense, and addictive quality. The success of the game jump started what would become a long-running popular franchise, the latest installment of which was released as recently as 2018.
Some of the most beloved and best MSX games are as follows:
- Penguin Adventure – designed in part by Hideo Kojima, the man behind the Metal Gear series, this forward-scroller follows protagonist Pentarou as he bounds and leaps forward, collecting fish to spend on items, and dodging enemies and obstacles. You can even get a power-up that lets you float right over holes on a cloud. Pentarou even gets a cameo in another MSX game, Parodius: The Octopus Saves the Earth.
- Dragon Quest – a straightforward role-playing game in which the player directs the hero on his quest to defeat a Dragon, of course.
- Knightmare – a top down scrolling shooter featuring, what else, a Knight in a castle.
- Aleste – a fast-paced shoot-em up series with a revenge plot at the core, the player navigates a flying aircraft against robotic enemies threatening to take over the human race.
- Eggerland Mystery – a puzzle maze game featuring the egg-shaped blue playable character Lolo, on his way to save a princess by successfully solving maze puzzles.
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Solid Snake – a lot like the original MSX2 release, but enemies have free range to roam around as opposed to being stationed in one place.