New Sega Master System owner

[+Cafeman]

I just got acquired my first Sega Master System. Not too many games yet, will need to check the net. The Phaser works well but it didn't come with 3D glasses.

 

I've been searching for discussions about Master System; I had previously ignored it completely. I never owned an NES either - those mid-late-80's years, I wasnt' into games that much.

 

Anyway, I think right from the first couple of minutes, I was pleased by the console's visuals and sounds compared to NES and older consoles. But it isn't much different from NES to my eyes. I use a Genesis 6-button controller, not the original ones.

 

I got 2 Phaser games - Safari Hunt and Gangster Town. Me & my boys found them to be pretty fun. thankfully I still have a CRT for my main gaming.

 

Also got Outrun, Hang On (I love all versions of these games and found it to be a real treat to see the Master System versions), Phantasy Star, Time soldiers, Great Golf (similar but not as good as Genesis Arnold Palmer ,to me), Choplifter (best version I've played), Pro-wrestling , Thunder Blade, and Double Dragon (these last 3 are fun in a dated-80's kind of way).

 

It seems already that I'll be needing to find Brazil or UK games to fill up my library.

 

I like the 2-tone sound when the system turns on, too. That is all.

 

 

Anyway, any suggestions to find non-pricey great games, and where on the net to find them?

[The_Laird]

Not played one in years but I had a few friends with them when I was younger. Games I remember being really good:

 

Golden Axe

Operation Wolf

Sonic The Hedgehog

Wonderboy - All of them!

Zillon 1&2

Shinobi

Pacmania

Super Space Invaders

Columns

Zaxxon

[zombiecraig]

I don't want to hi-jack this thread, but I've been playing my Master System a lot lately.

 

I was curious about import games, though. Will games from around the world work on a U.S. Master System, without any modifications?

 

As for favorite games, I think the Master System has the best version of the original Ghostbusters game. I'm also a big fan of Cyborg Hunter (a little repetitive), Enduro Racer, Kenseiden, Montezuma's Revenge and Quartet (the only home version that I'm aware of). And R-Type. Can't forget R-Type.

 

I was never crazy about the Zillion games.

[mbd30]

"Shinobi" might be worthwhile considering that the original arcade game was never ported to the Genesis. Same with "Rastan".

[Eltigro]

I can mainly only agree with the above. Choplifter is great on the SMS. I think there are different versions of the SMS Shinobi and in one of the earlier one, Spiderman is a boss. I would research to make sure, but I'm too lazy right now...

[the.golden.ax]

Yes, most games from around the world will play on USA SMS, the tempo (or speed) will differ a bit SOMETIMES. You can mod the system if that bothers you.

 

AX

[Greg2600]

Cafeman, I recently got a SMS too. Wound up scoring the 3010-C with Missile Defense 3D built in. Some of the 3D games like that one show up well, others like Maze Hunt not so much. Mine has the glasses, but one of the sides broke off. The problem with the them is they were made for children, and don't fit on adult heads. For cheap, get one of these wired shutter glasses, works perfectly. You'd need to buy the 3d adapter separately, though.

 

As for games, look into the just released Master EverDrive, from the maker of the Genesis EverDrive. If you're just going to play some games, don't bother, but if you want to play a lot, this is a good idea. It's the reason I bought the SMS just now. Mainly because with it I can also play SG-1000 roms.

 

Personally, I have always had admiration for the SMS. It was the forerunner to the Genesis, which I adore, and the graphics are pretty good for 8-bit. At least as good if not better than NES. The sound leaves much to be desired I think. Stunk that No. America didn't get the Yamaha FM that Japan did, and I'm not really gung ho about buying and installing a sound add-on dohickey.

Edited February 5, 2011 by Greg2600

[mbd30]

I can mainly only agree with the above. Choplifter is great on the SMS. I think there are different versions of the SMS Shinobi and in one of the earlier one, Spiderman is a boss. I would research to make sure, but I'm too lazy right now...

 

It's "Revenge of Shinobi" for Genesis that has Spiderman.

[AtariLeaf]

I'd highly recommend Rampage. The SMS version is the best IMO.

[4Ks]

*plug*

[Seob]

Alex the kid is also great.

[zylon]

I don't want to hi-jack this thread, but I've been playing my Master System a lot lately.

 

I was curious about import games, though. Will games from around the world work on a U.S. Master System, without any modifications?

 

As for favorite games, I think the Master System has the best version of the original Ghostbusters game. I'm also a big fan of Cyborg Hunter (a little repetitive), Enduro Racer, Kenseiden, Montezuma's Revenge and Quartet (the only home version that I'm aware of). And R-Type. Can't forget R-Type.

 

I was never crazy about the Zillion games.

I've only found 2 import titles that aren't playable on NTSC systems: Xenon 2, Operation Wolf. Both will play on a Genesis with power base convertor though. There are also about 10 games from the US releases that won't work with a Genesis controller. Original SMS pad required.

[Austin]

To this day, Gangster Town is one of my favorite light gun games for any platform. There's so much going on it never gets old. It's cool to see you got it with your initial bundle.

 

I think a lot of the great US SMS titles have already been named. If you like shoot 'em ups though, definitely track down Power Strike (Aleste in Japan). One of my favorites on the system, for sure!

[Eltigro]

I can mainly only agree with the above. Choplifter is great on the SMS. I think there are different versions of the SMS Shinobi and in one of the earlier one, Spiderman is a boss. I would research to make sure, but I'm too lazy right now...

 

It's "Revenge of Shinobi" for Genesis that has Spiderman.

 

Bah, I knew it was one of them. =)

[Atari_Bill]

I just got acquired my first Sega Master System. Not too many games yet, will need to check the net. The Phaser works well but it didn't come with 3D glasses.

 

I've been searching for discussions about Master System; I had previously ignored it completely. I never owned an NES either - those mid-late-80's years, I wasnt' into games that much.

 

Anyway, I think right from the first couple of minutes, I was pleased by the console's visuals and sounds compared to NES and older consoles. But it isn't much different from NES to my eyes. I use a Genesis 6-button controller, not the original ones.

 

I got 2 Phaser games - Safari Hunt and Gangster Town. Me & my boys found them to be pretty fun. thankfully I still have a CRT for my main gaming.

 

Also got Outrun, Hang On (I love all versions of these games and found it to be a real treat to see the Master System versions), Phantasy Star, Time soldiers, Great Golf (similar but not as good as Genesis Arnold Palmer ,to me), Choplifter (best version I've played), Pro-wrestling , Thunder Blade, and Double Dragon (these last 3 are fun in a dated-80's kind of way).

 

It seems already that I'll be needing to find Brazil or UK games to fill up my library.

 

I like the 2-tone sound when the system turns on, too. That is all.

 

 

Anyway, any suggestions to find non-pricey great games, and where on the net to find them?

 

If you can find a pair, I'd totally recommend the 3-D glasses. To me, they seemed way ahead of their time. I've got 90+% of the US library and the 3-D games are some of my favorites.

[Sonic R]

Sega Master System is one of my all time favorites. The games are fun, and I find myself playing it all the time, even in this days and times…

 

Here are some of my favorite games that I may suggest:

 

Rastan

R-Type

Global Defense (may take time to get used to controls)

Alien Syndrome (requires original SMS controller)

Action Fighter

Time Soldiers

Power Strike

Out Run

After Burner

The Ninja

Bomber Raid (requires original SMS controller)

Wonder Boy franchise (Wonder Boy in Monster Land requires original SMS controller)

Fantasy Zone 1&2

Enduro Racer

Quartet

Zillion 1&2

Golden Axe Warrior

Phantasy Star

Miracle Warriors

Spellcaster

Golvellius

Ys

Alex Kidd in Miracle World

Reggie Jackson Baseball

Walter Payton Football

World Grand Prix

 

For gun games:

Rescue Mission (great concept for gun game)

Gangster Town

Missile Defense 3-D

Rambo III

[Rockin' Kat]

I think you should get yourself an SMS Everdrive as soon as they are added to the Stone Age Gamer store.

 

I'd highly recommend Rampage. The SMS version is the best IMO.

 

Yeah, that version was definitely better than the NES version. It was also the first game I ever played all the way to a finish without cheating.. I always play in Rampage as Ralph and they didn't even include him in the NES version.

[+Cafeman]

Picked up some more games at the Exchange and Game Again ... got Zillion, Penguin Land, Enduro Racer, Global Defense, Alex Kidd & the lost stars, & Shooting Gallery. Have not played any of these yet - maybe tonight after work I'll put 'em thru their paces.

 

And again my orig games 2 days earlier were: Safari Hunt, Gangster Town, Outrun, Hang On, Phantasy Star, Time soldiers, Great Golf, Choplifter, Pro-wrestling , Thunder Blade, and Double Dragon.

 

So I got 17 games, a nice cross-section of NA games to try out for my new Master System. Based on what I've seen, I'll need to hit Ebay to get more variety.

[zylon]

I'd also recommend joining sega8bit. Those guys'll take good care of you.

[Seob]

Just a little reminder on the 3d glasses. They only work when you got the first sms. The later released sms2 doesn't have the gamecard port required for the 3d glasses.

[HatefulGravey]

Just a little reminder on the 3d glasses. They only work when you got the first sms. The later released sms2 doesn't have the gamecard port required for the 3d glasses.

 

While we on on the subject, will the 3D glasses work with the Power Base Converter for the Genesis model 1? Now that I know I can get replacement glasses to work for the SMS that I can actually use I'll have to buy a pair of the orginals for the part that plugs into the system and play the 3D games. I've been waiting for a way, and never knew you could get replacements like that.

[Cebus Capucinis]

Welcome to the SMS club! It's a great little system with tons of quirks that make it a blast to play. I'd never played one at all in my life until around 3 months ago when ax hooked me up with one. I've caught the SMS bug big time since then, and it's been my exclusive collecting priority since! The games all give a little something you can't get anywhere else, even the "bad" ones!

[Rockin' Kat]

While we on on the subject, will the 3D glasses work with the Power Base Converter for the Genesis model 1? Now that I know I can get replacement glasses to work for the SMS that I can actually use I'll have to buy a pair of the orginals for the part that plugs into the system and play the 3D games. I've been waiting for a way, and never knew you could get replacements like that.

Are you saying you can get new 3D glasses? I'm a bit puzzled by your wording here.

[Greg2600]

While we on on the subject, will the 3D glasses work with the Power Base Converter for the Genesis model 1? Now that I know I can get replacement glasses to work for the SMS that I can actually use I'll have to buy a pair of the orginals for the part that plugs into the system and play the 3D games. I've been waiting for a way, and never knew you could get replacements like that.

Are you saying you can get new 3D glasses? I'm a bit puzzled by your wording here.

 

You can. Not official SEGA glasses, of course, but perfect replacements (go here). Any wired 3D shutter glasses should work, plus these are made for adults, whereas adult heads didn't fit the SEGA scope glasses, which is why they always broke.

[the.golden.ax]

...and my head is bigger than most. so just about most of those 3d glasses don't fit me.

 

AX