1982 · Sharp Corporation · Japan · computer
Sharp X1
Sharp released the X1 in 1982 featuring clean, crisp TV superimposing capabilities and a computer-controlled cassette deck that could find tape tracks…
A curiosity Fiddly Needs a keyboard Awkward on a modern pad ▶ Watch on YouTube ↗
Sharp released the X1 in 1982 featuring clean, crisp TV superimposing capabilities and a computer-controlled cassette deck that could find tape tracks automatically. It became a favorite platform for Hudson Soft.
Hudson Soft developed Mario Bros. Special and Super Mario Bros. Special exclusively for the Sharp X1 and NEC PC-88 under official license from Nintendo.
Under the hood
- CPU
- Sharp Z80A @ 4.0 MHz with 64 KB RAM + 48 KB VRAM
- Sound chip
- General Instrument AY-3-8910 (3 PSG channels) + optional Yamaha FM sound boards
- Graphics
- 320 × 200 / 640 × 200, 8 colors, Hardware Programmable Character Generator (PCG)
- Media
- Computer-controlled Cassette Tape (CZ-800C) & 5¼" / 3½" Floppy Disks
What it cost
about half a month’s pay in 1982 · about $2,015 today
| Japan X1 model C launch price (¥155,000 / ~$620 USD) |
¥155,000 (1982)
Sharp’s Z80 home computer featuring TV overlay and digital video superimposing. |
|---|---|
| Typical street price | — No verified mass-market street price recorded yet. |
| Units sold | ≈500,000 estimate Estimated 500,000 units sold across the X1 series. |
Why it mattered
Hudson Soft developed Mario Bros. Special and Super Mario Bros. Special exclusively for the Sharp X1 and NEC PC-88 under official license from Nintendo.
Emulating it today
| Emulators | Xmillenium, X1 (libretro), MAME |
|---|---|
| Setup effort | Fiddly (7 on this site's scale) |
| Controls | The original software assumes a keyboard. A desktop setup feels natural; on a handheld, map common keys and keep an on-screen keyboard available. |
| Runs on a handheld | No — it needs a real machine |
Uses RetroArch X1 core. Requires Sharp X1 BIOS and Kanji font ROMs in the `x1` system folder. The emulator names above are starting points, not a promise that every title or accessory behaves identically. Computer platforms usually add model selection, disk handling and keyboard setup even when CPU emulation itself is mature.
Sharp X1 IPL & Font ROMs (iplrom.x1, fnt0808.x1)
The Sharp X1 requires an Initial Program Loader (IPL) ROM and character generator font ROMs to boot tape or disk software.
How many files you need: 2. Two files: iplrom.x1 and font files in the x1 bios folder.
Where it stands legally: Copyrighted by Sharp Corporation.
Firmware details checked 2026-08. Emulator requirements change — see MAME Sharp X1 Documentation for the current list.
Where the software is
TOSEC catalogues computer disks and tapes broadly, including many revisions. It is useful for preservation, while a smaller curated selection is usually easier to play.
Copyright: Commercial software remains copyrighted unless its owner explicitly released or relicensed it. Homebrew, public-domain programs and current reissues should be treated separately from abandoned commercial titles.
This site names preservation projects and explains what they are. It does not link to ROM downloads.
Where to start
- Super Mario Bros. Special Platformer
Hudson Soft’s unique, official alternate Super Mario game featuring new powerups and enemies.
- Dragon Slayer / Xanadu Action RPG
Nihon Falcom’s foundational Japanese action RPG series.
- The Black Onyx Turn-based RPG
Henk Rogers’ legendary RPG that introduced Japanese gamers to fantasy role-playing.
- Ys: The Vanished Omens Action RPG
The iconic bump-combat adventure on Sharp hardware.
The verdict
Famous for pioneering "Superimpose" TV video overlay technology. Strong catalog of Hudson Soft and Nihon Falcom Japanese computer games with vibrant programmable character graphics.
The strongest software can be rewarding, but original controls and setup assumptions may matter more than screenshots suggest.
- Worth it if
- Players curious about sharp, fujitsu and msx and willing to learn how the original machine worked.
- Not for
- Anyone who wants a large, instantly accessible library and no model, firmware or control decisions.
Scored 2/5 for fun today and 3/5 for historical importance. Those two scores decide the label at the top — a machine can matter enormously and still be no fun.
Read more & watch
This page is 50% complete against the facts we try to record for every system. Gaps are shown as gaps.