The Sega Master System Games and Appreciation Thread

[Melf]

I remember coming to Puerto Rico to visit my grandparents in 1987, and my brother and I would walk around the town square (Maunabo is a tiny-ass town with nothing to do). Lo and behold, we come across a "cafe" (Puerto Rican for "bar that also sells soda!") and they have video games. They had Wonder Boy, and we must have pumped $5 or so into that machine. I saw that it was made by Sega, and we decided to check if it was on the MS when we got back home. My bro had enjoyed the game so much that he took me to TRU personally and bought the game for me. I played the living shit out of that cart but didn't get the "real" ending, since you needed all the dolls.

[sleeve]

I would have been incredibly psyched to win an SMS in 1987. The SMS had Phantasy Star and all the best ports of my favorite arcade games at the time (Space Harrier, Space Harrier 3D, Fantasy Zone, Shinobi, Quartet) plus a lot of then-obscure exclusive stuff.

It's difficult to overestimate just how mind-blowing it was at the time to have extremely faithful arcade ports, especially of Sega stuff.

[IrishNinja]

They had Wonder Boy, and we must have pumped $5 or so into that machine. I saw that it was made by Sega, and we decided to check if it was on the MS when we got back home. My bro had enjoyed the game so much that he took me to TRU personally and bought the game for me. I played the living shit out of that cart but didn't get the "real" ending, since you needed all the dolls.

this was some upsetting shit right here - as a kid, i was determined to see this ending. one day i got up early & got the doll in every level up to stage 6 or so (took some planning/searching on prior attempts), and had to pause when a friend called for help with something or other. i turned off the TV & everything just so i could finish up that evening, but sure enough, mom was back & shut it down, fussing about wasting electricity...DAMMIT

[GohanX]

Stupid mom, that was important!

[Fe 26]

I just ordered a sega master system from a certain some body that has a certain game store so I can have a new (to me) console to play this Christmas. This thing is region free, right? So I can grab all those sonic game gear ports from the cheapest countries possible and play them, right?

Anymore recommendations? Did they ever put out a everdrive for, uh, playing liscence free indie games?

Also, I guess while I'm buying stuff, can anyone think of any other stuff, nes, gameboy, snes, gen?

(I'm sorry, that is a horrible 1999 esq question. I'm exhausted and about to go to bed. You don't have to seriously answer it.)

(Do we have a master system thread? I couldn't find it. Went three pages deep on the search)

(maybe a mod could make one out of my post, if we don't?)

[Mzo]

It's not 100% region free. Japanese Mk. III games won't fit in the cart slot. I think most imports work with no problems but some have issues, so look it up before making any purchases.

The best games on the system are Phantasy Star and Wonder Boy III, and they are both excellent. Golden Axe Warrior is also very good. I'd recommend Wonder Boy, Super Wonder Boy in Super Monster Land, Kenseiden, and Fantasy Zone 1 and 2.

If you have a CRT TV and a light gun there are better light gun games on the Master System than the NES. Rescue Mission, Wanted, Gangster Town, etc.

[Fe 26]

I have Wonderboy and Ghostbusters coming. And Afterburner.

I have a copy of out run some where that I got for 2 bucks.

(I really should make some kind of online list to link to when I ask this huge vague questions to help people out)

[Mzo]

Ghostbusters is a port of the resource management computer game. The good news is it's a much better port than the NES version and is even fun at times.

Afterburner is a vapid game that is nothing without the smoke and mirrors of the arcade. The MS version looks way better than what the NES could do, but end of the day it's choppy Afterburner.

Never buy Vigilante on the MS, it's broken shit.

[YellerDog]

Was Ghostbusters just a game for 30 year old accountants that was sold to clueless 8 year olds or what? That NES game was the first inkling of undiluted human malice I can remember.

[GohanX]

Most european games (and all of the Sonics) play perfectly fine on a US system. There are a few games that are optimized for 50hz PAL TVs and don't play at the correct speed on a US system, but they are few and I've never personally run into any. And yes, there is a SMS Everdrive and it's awesome.

I've got a few SMS games I was going to put for sale if you want. Golvelius and Kenseiden would be the standout titles that you haven't already bought.