Sega Master System opinions

[ulera]

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.

[Frank_fjs]

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.

[ulera]

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.

[Frank_fjs]

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: 



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.

[jpx72]

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
BTW I have made a sms-to-genesis adapter myself

[ulera]

BTW I have made a sms-to-genesis adapter myself

Oh really?

[Nightstar699]

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

[ulera]

Anyone ever play the brazil exclusive battletoads?

[jpx72]

Oh really?

Yeah but now that I think of it, it was not worth the hassle. You'll be better off with the original...

[DerZocker]

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 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

[Frank_fjs]

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!

[L___E___T]

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.

[Frank_fjs]

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.

[80sFREAK]

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
BTW I have made a sms-to-genesis adapter myself

I think i know, why Tiido added YM2413 to his MD 

[Epic_Lotus]

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.