Until I started collecting retro stuff I never even knew Sega had a console before the Genesis. I've been thinking about getting one but before I do given the it's rarity (at least in my area, I've never seen anything SMS related IRL) does it have a fairly decent library of fun games or is it just something more for collectors.
There's quite a few early Sega consoles before the Genesis, the SG-1000, SG-1000 II, SC-3000, Mark III/Master System etc.
I think the Master System games are great! There's not as many as the NES but the ratio of good games to bad games is much better.
Huh. The more you know. Those would probably be 2600 competitors I'm guessing.
Thumbing through some youtube vids I'm actually quite interested in Ninja Gaiden and Double Dragon. I may just invest in a model 1 genesis and Power Base Converter to save space.
Well the SG-1000 was Sega's first home console, it was actually released on the same day as the Famicom in Japan in 1983. A little more beefy than a 2600. The Mark III was released a few years later in 1985 and surpasses the Famicom on a technical level.
Double Dragon is a great port on the Master System, some other games worth checking out are:
Aladdin
The Ninja
Wonderboy series
Sonic Series
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Operation Wolf
Asterix
Shinobi
Mickey Mouse Castle of Illusion
Streets of Rage
Zillion
Laser Ghost
Mortal Kombat
Shinobi
Robocop vs Terminator
To give you an idea of the graphical capabilities, check this picture out, it's of Aladdin, with NES on the left and MS on the right:
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/fjs/smsbetterthannes.jpg)
Getting a Power Base Converter is a good way to go. Less clutter this way as you can just use your Genesis console and cables/controllers.
Yeah, Sonics of course, and Zillion, Alex Kidd, and also some lightgun shooters (cannot remember the name) were fun on SMS!
And also, since I got my japanese SMS I love to watch the bios screen and listen to the beautifull FM music ;D
BTW I have made a sms-to-genesis adapter myself ;)
Quote from: jpx72 on October 01, 2012, 11:31:20 pm
BTW I have made a sms-to-genesis adapter myself ;)
Oh really?
The SMS is my second favourite console after the Famicom. Frank and Jpx already named many of the greats on the system, but a few others worth mentioning include:
Rambo
Rambo III
Penguin Land
R-Type
Space Harrier
Black Belt
Kung Fu Kid
Kenseiden
The Fantasy Zone series
Anyone ever play the brazil exclusive battletoads?
Quote from: ulera on October 02, 2012, 12:16:39 am
Oh really?
Yeah but now that I think of it, it was not worth the hassle. You'll be better off with the original...
what I love about the SMS/Mark III is, that with FM sound the games feel like a half console generation further. I never wanna play Galaxy Force or Ys without it again ;D Too bad we never got the FM sound over here, as the later titles have a huge gap between their graphics (awesome!) and sound (not so much). G-LOC or the Donald Duck games would be even greater with it.
Anyone played Super Racing? It's a nice top down racing game with good controls and great music. It scrolls only in one direction but the steering isn't as oversensitive as Family Circuit's
Yeah, I use an adapter to experience the FM sound on regular MS games on my Japanese MS console. One of my favourite things to do is to rip out some WBIII with FM or play some Space Harrier in 3D - good times!
The games I remember actually playing and really loving are:
- Alex Kidd in Miracle World
- Operation Wolf
- Asterix (one of the best on the system)
- Wonderboy / Dragon's Trap
- The Ninja
- Alien Storm
- Ashura (forget the EU release name)
- California Games
- Hang On & Safari Hunt
- Lucky Dime Caper
- Mickey's Castle of Illusion
these games were great back then but are still good now.
Don't forget these if you're interested, some ports are still good, I like to think of them as demakes :)
- Aleste
- Alien 3
- Cool Spot
- Lion King
- Psycho Fox
- R Type
- Shadow Dancer
- The Terminator
Lastly, Ninja Gaiden is amazzing to play through if you haven't already. I know people mentioned it, but I wwas wowed when I played it all these years after.
Ashura is Secret Command - the western version is a little different to the Japanese version but still the same basic game.
Double Hawk is another good shooting game, very similar to the old Cabal arcade game.
Quote from: jpx72 on October 01, 2012, 11:31:20 pm
Yeah, Sonics of course, and Zillion, Alex Kidd, and also some lightgun shooters (cannot remember the name) were fun on SMS!
And also, since I got my japanese SMS I love to watch the bios screen and listen to the beautifull FM music ;D
BTW I have made a sms-to-genesis adapter myself ;)
I think i know, why Tiido added YM2413 to his MD ???
From what I've seen over the years, Master System is a great, inexpensive system to collect for. 99% of the games can be had for extremely cheap. I think pretty much the only game that's rare is Sonic 1, and even that's just in the box.
Quote from: Epic_Lotus on October 03, 2012, 10:41:25 am
From what I've seen over the years, Master System is a great, inexpensive system to collect for. 99% of the games can be had for extremely cheap. I think pretty much the only game that's rare is Sonic 1, and even that's just in the box.
I think the later European releases of the Master System had that game built-in. ;)
Sonic 1 isn't rare, it's a $5-$10 game. There is one particular version that is rare, it was a re-release in the US, the only difference between it and a standard copy is one little sticker, but purist collectors will pay hundreds for it just for the sake of having a 100% complete collection.
Most games are indeed cheap, but there are a few expensive ones, such as Power Strike II and The Smurfs etc.
Quote from: Epic_Lotus on October 03, 2012, 10:41:25 am
...the only game that's rare is Sonic 1, and even that's just in the box.
People seem to be missing what I already pointed out :upsetroll:
Anyways, from what I understand, it's also the same game as the Game Gear version, so there are multiple options for playing it (including on the Virtual Console ;D).
Personally, I'd love to play Ys, although I'm not sure if I'd like to play the SMS version or one of the later iterations.
I would recommend looking up Golden Axe Warrior. It is a Zelda clone, but really a lot of fun. I believe it was made in 1990.This is a must have game for the SMS if you like The Legend of Zelda. Also the Alex Kidd series. :gamer:
Master System is really cheap here in Sweden. Most games go for about £2-4 regardless if they are complete or not. Very afordable.
I think the god-bad ratio is worse than on the NES, perhaps because most titles seems to be released both here and in Japan. If you compare Master System with Famicom it may be a more even match... Still, I think MS has fewer highlights than Nintendos 8-bit console. Golvellius Valley of Doom is a cool Compile action RPG, and the first Sonic game is a nice plattformer. Fantasy Zone and all of the Wonder Boy games are awesome too. ;D
The master-mega converter PCB scans:
http://cgfm2.emuviews.com/img/master-mega-converter-mb01.jpg
http://cgfm2.emuviews.com/img/master-mega-converter-mb02.jpg
Credits to Charles MacDonald of cgfm2.emuviews.com
regarding the FM sound on sms, you can add it on the EU/US consoles by getting one of these: http://members.iinet.net.au/~stinkyfist/reviletim/smsfm/smsfm.html
Just don't bother with it on a SMS2 console, had to learn it the hard way ;D (always prefer a sms1)
Oh yeah the FM expansion board is a wonderful addon made by the smspower people (hello Bock!), been there when it was born :)
I agree SMS1 is better, it has AV and RF. You can use the same power and AV hookups as a Sega Mega Drive model 1.
I love the Master System, it was my first console so i have a soft spot for it always.
Here's some of my Master System bits.
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d198/GARYPTASZEK/IMG-20121009-00101.jpg)
Master System, Master System II (Sonic 1 built in), Power Base Convertor 1&2.
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d198/GARYPTASZEK/IMG-20121009-00103.jpg)
My favourites being MIckey Mouse in Castle Of Illusion, Alex Kidd in Shinobi World, Wonder Boy and Master of Darkness.
(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d198/GARYPTASZEK/IMG-20121009-00104.jpg)
My Hero on Sega Card
not only it offers an AV port but the overall quality is better too... it's just the sms of choice :gamer:
It also offers RGB. :D
Quote from: keropi on October 09, 2012, 03:53:00 am
not only it offers an AV port but the overall quality is better too... it's just the sms of choice :gamer:
oh for sure, the sound and picture quality is far better on the SMS model 1
We always called the SMS2 "Garbage container" back then^^ My first own SMS was the first Master System Converter. It slowly killed the plug of my Multi Mega's PSU but i had endless hours of fun playing Put & Putter and Donald Duck with it
It's true, no matter how well you mod a sms2 you can't reach the same picture quality as the sms1.
As for the SMSFM, it is plagued with noise and cross-interference, something that does not exist on the sms1. I have wasted my time with 2 sms2 consoles and when I got a sms1 I was banging my head on the wall over that wasted time :crazy:
How does the power base converter for the Genesis stack up?
Quote from: ulera on October 09, 2012, 07:10:07 pm
How does the power base converter for the Genesis stack up?
Just fine. I prefer the original one that can only be used with the original Genesis, as it retains the card slot and 3D games capabilities.
I find the Power Base Converter to look amazing sitting on top of a Genesis, but that's probably just me, haha.
Quote from: Algo Fonix on October 09, 2012, 08:24:23 pm
I find the Power Base Converter to look amazing sitting on top of a Genesis, but that's probably just me, haha.
i agree, it looks like it's meant to be... unlike the model II convertor.