Sega Master System

[PaCrappa]

I was never interested in the Master System. In fact, I can't recall ever knowing that it existed before I found my way online in about four or five years ago. I just didn't care. Then, a couple weeks ago Joust Williams purchased Penguin Land at the NWCGE Expo. I knew I needed it and a SMS the instant I saw it.

Now I have one along with Golvellius, Ghost House, Power Strike and Alex Kidd in Miracle World. But I have some slight issues that need to be clarified. First and foremost, is there any regional issues with Mark III games? I can see that just like every other Sega console, that there are a few good looking games that got stuck in Japan. Do I need a Mark III or converter of some sort to play these? I also have no AV cable. It connects to the system via your standard 5 pin DIN connector so I immediately tried it out with my Turbo Duo cable. The video looks fine (inasmuch as a composite signal can ever be declared "fine") but I'm getting a horrendous audio hum. Is there an official stereo AV cable for these things? Does the Master System even output stereo audio?

Lastly, as everyone knows I like action games. Here's a list of games I'll be purchasing and trying out:

Air Rescue
Alex Kidd BMX Trial
Alex Kidd in High Tech World
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
Alex kidd the Lost Stars
Asterix
Asterix and the Great Rescue
Asterix and the Secret Mission
Baku Baku Animal
Bomber Raid
Cheese Cat-Astrophe Starring Speedy Gonzales
Danan the Jungle Fighter
Dragon the Bruce Lee Story
Fantasy Zone 2
Fantasy Zone 3 The Maze
Ghost House
Impossible Mission
Kenseiden
Land of Illusion starring Mickey
Legend of Illusion starring Mickey
Line of Fire
Ninja Gaiden
Power Strike 2
Psycho Fox
Psychic World
Rastan
Scramble Spirits
Secret Commando
Solomon's Key
Strider 2
Submarine Attack
Teddy Boy
Tensai Bakabon
Vampire
Wonderboy
Wonderboy in Monsterland
Wonderboy in Monsterworld
Wonderboy 3 The Dragon's Trap


Are there any worthy (preferably Japanese developed) action games that I'm missing here? Don't bother looking at the list and saying "Game X sucks hairy dog ass!" because I don't care. I've seen the screens and I'll need to play them myself.

Thanks in advance for all your kindly help and info.

Pa

[Grave]

I own two SMS systems, and though I love them, I have trouble finding games locally, and am far too lazy for eBay. As for the Mark III games, they won't fit without a converter. I have a Mark III copy of Fantasy Zone II here, and the cart's not even the same shape. And as for the video, I just use any RF switch I have lying around at the time. Not the best solution, no, but it does work passably well.

Penguin Land is awesome, by the way. That was my first SMS game.

[Glass Joe]

Looks like you have a pretty nice list there to start you off. Montezuma's Revenge is a great game. Although I had the Colecovision version I'm sure the SMS version is at least as good.

Also, Wonderboy 3:The Dragon's Trap is the exact same game as Dragon's Curse(what a great game) on the Turbografx. If you played that, there is NO reason to get the SMS version unless you are trying to complete a collection.

[NeoZeedeater]

Out of every console originating from Japan the SMS had the least stranded in Japan. North America got most good games. The European import scene is more important than the Japanese one, even for Japanese-developed games.

I think you'll need a Mark III to play Mark III games as a converter doesn't exist as far as I know. I plan on getting one eventually for paddle games like BMX Trial Alex Kidd and Megumi Rescue. I'm willing to bet an Atari paddle will work with these.

The SMS rocks for gun games so I would add Rescue Mission, Gangster Town, Safari Hunt, Shooting Gallery, Missile Defense 3D(needs 3d glasses), Operation Wolf to the list.

I would also add Choplifter, Kung Fu Kid, Shinobi, Time Soldiers, Sonic series(especially Chaos), Quartet, Enduro Racer, Thunder Blade, Cyborg Hunter, Golden Axe Warrior to the list of games to check out.

Wonder Boy 3 and Kenseiden are on your list already. Those should be high priority.

Looks like you have a pretty nice list there to start you off. Montezuma's Revenge is a great game. Although I had the Colecovision version I'm sure the SMS version is at least as good.

Also, Wonderboy 3:The Dragon's Trap is the exact same game as Dragon's Curse(what a great game) on the Turbografx. If you played that, there is NO reason to get the SMS version unless you are trying to complete a collection.

I hate the SMS version of Montezuma's. The gameplay is fine but the look of the 800/C64/Coleco version is ruined.

I fully disagree on Dragon's Curse. WB3 is superior in art, music and overall feel.

[Dyne]

as far as i know theres an rf and a regular audio/video hookups. i would add Y's, Phantasy Star, Time Soldiers, R-type, Choplifter, Miracle Warriors, Sonic the Hedgehog.

Also you could just use the hookups from a model 1 genesis assuming you have an original model Master System.

i know about 99% of PAL games work on a US NTSC system without modification and in fact most SMS carts are identical from region to region. they only changed the packaging. not quite sure about the Mark III stuff tho. *edit answered above*

if you have a Master System 2 you can get S-video or RGB out of it. http://www.mikeg2.freeserve.co.uk/masterful/rgb.html

hope any of this helps.

[kingoffighters]

I will second (or third) of Kenseiden, that game is really awesome. The first firewheel boss took me awhile to beat! I did beat the game way back when, but it was tough. Golvellius is a great game as well. I always thought they would make a sequel to it, but too bad it will probably never happen.

[sleeve]

I recommend getting a Master Gear Converter for your Sega Genesis.

Saves you the trouble of finding an RGB solution (assuming you've already got your Genny satisfied) and the extra space for a new console.

[Grave]

I think you'll need a Mark III to play Mark III games as a converter doesn't exist as far as I know. I plan on getting one eventually for paddle games like BMX Trial Alex Kidd and Megumi Rescue. I'm willing to bet an Atari paddle will work with these.

I've seen converters for sale at some not-so-shady looking websites, but I can't find the URL of the most recent one. I know I bookmarked it, or so I thought, if I find it I'll get back to you on that.

The SMS rocks for gun games so I would add Rescue Mission, Gangster Town, Safari Hunt, Shooting Gallery, Missile Defense 3D(needs 3d glasses), Operation Wolf to the list.

Hmm. I have the gun, I got it with my second model SMS, but I've never played any games with it. I'm kind of curious about these now.

Also, Dragon's Curse is a great game, one of the first domestic TG16 games I got, and I'm kind of interested in seeing how WB3 differs now. I never knew they were the same game.

[JMET]

I had the NES and SMS and everyone allready knows how I feel about the SMS...

[Glass Joe]

I hate the SMS version of Montezuma's. The gameplay is fine but the look of the 800/C64/Coleco version is ruined.

I fully disagree on Dragon's Curse. WB3 is superior in art, music and overall feel.

I always liked the look of the Colecovision MR too. I never played it on the SMS, I just assumed it was great like the Coleco version.

I didn't know that WB3 and DC differed so much. I was always under the impression that they were the same exact game just with a different name. I also assumed the TG16 version would be better in every way as far as graphics and sound. You clearly are the master of links to pictures. Any chance you can find some of these 2 games so we can compare?