Worthwhile Master System Titles?

[Melf]

Transbot - cool little shmup, and probably the only good Sega Card game

I really like Ghost House and My Hero, and I'm really eager to try out Spy vs. Spy. Interestingly enough, I just found out that these games had cartridge releases as well. Anyone know what the differences are between the two versions?

[TurboGenesis]

ah… I love Sega Master System! I'll post some of my favorites that are worth looking into… of note, I'll keep it to USA games as I only have a few imports and played very few…

Quartet
Global Defense
The Ninja
Enduro Racer
Wonder Boy series
Zillion and Tri-Formation
Alex Kidd series (except High Tech World)
Alien Syndrome
Golvellius
Power Strike
Rastan
R-Type (has a special stage exclusive to SMS)
Time Soldiers

and SMS has great gun games… very unique!
Rescue Mission
Gangster Town
Wanted
Missile Defense 3-D (requires 3D glasses AND light phaser!)

[Ryudo]

[Emuaust]

As im lazy ill point you to this thread instead of reposting, but yeah euro sms has some great titles, although California Games is the best sms game!

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1484

[cyberfluxor]

Are you sure it didn't come with any games?
Most SMS systems have a game or two built-in.

The unit we purchased in the early 90's is model 3010-A, which comes with Hang-On and Safari Hunt. You can read the variations page on Wikipedia to get a broader picture. The common built-in games from different regions were:
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Hang-On
Safari Hunt
Sonic the Hedgehog
Snail Maze

[ubersaurus]

You can't go wrong with Power Strike or Power Strike 2 (if you're willing to shell out for it), any of the Sonic games, the Fantasy Zone trilogy, Zillion, and R-Type. Phantasy Zone is also really good if you're into those 80s console RPGs, and I've heard many good things about Ys as well. Montezuma's Revenge is a great port, too.

I also personally enjoyed Double Dragon for the system, as well as Zillion 2: Triformation. I also own two Brazillian games, Virtua Fighter Animation and Street Fighter II. VF is pretty neat, though SFII is definitely more of a conversation piece than a good game to actually play. Ghost House is also a pretty fun little SMS card game, and there aren't a whole lot of those.

[ShinobiMan]

Something else to consider is that the Sega Master System saw many classic Sega arcade games released for the first time on a home console. Games like After Burner, Out Run, Space Harrier, Fantasy Zone, Alien Syndrome, Thunder Blade, Hang On etc. These were hits in the arcade at the time, and before they were ported anywhere, they saw life on Sega's first (US proper) system.

So while the graphics may not be as up to speed as some of the later Genesis or Arcade perfect ports, remember that the SMS was the little system that could! With such a unique library of Sega arcade hits and SMS exclusives like Alex Kidd in Miracle World and Phantasy Star, it's hard to not want to own and collect for this charming black box.

[Lady Jaye]

My personal favorites on the SMS are Mickey Mouse Castle of Illusion, Wonder Boy 3: Dragon's Trap, Cloud Master, and Montezuma's Revenge. But there's still quite a few more great games on that system.

I recently came close to getting quite a SMS set (my best friend's original console and games that we played back in the late 80s), but since she's quite a heavy smoker, I'm not sure it would have been such a good idea. Besides, I already have quite a backlog... Still, it would have been quite the sentimental purchase.

[Polygon]

I'm thinking about getting an SMS. Still not sure if I want to get the actual console or the power base converter. Anyhow, this thread has been pretty helpful but I'm finding a few games that I'm interested in are tough to find here in the U.S. I've managed to find them in the U.K. I've heard that PAL games work just fine without modification in NTSC systems.

Is this true?

[Lady Jaye]

Yes. Very few PAL SMS games are known to be buggy with a NTSC North American SMS console. You can always do a quick search for those titles that interest you, but the most known games do work fine.

[Polygon]

Awesome, thanks! Do you know if there is any difference between using the actual SMS or the power base converter?

Also, I found this thread in looking for that list of PAL games with issues, and thought it would useful to post it here.

http://petesgameroomforum.com/topic/2398787/1/

[Lady Jaye]

I really couldn't say, as I've never used the Power Base Converter. But I'm sure someone in the forums will be able to answer your question.

[mobiusclimber]

A couple other good games for the system: Ultima IV is the best console version of this game, much better than the NES version, imo. Spell Caster is an interesting mix of point-and-click adventure segments (short ones) with side-scrolling beat-em-up levels.

[Gentlegamer]

I can't believe this thread went this far without anyone suggesting

CHOPLIFTER

[substantial_snake]

I have to second (of third or whatever) Ghoul's and Ghosts.

This was the first console I played it on and for whatever reason its still my favorite, used to scare me so bad watching my brother play it late into the night. :P I also enjoyed Aerial Assault...but probably only because it was one of the few Master System games we ever owned. lol

[fahlim003]

I can't believe this thread went this far without anyone suggesting

CHOPLIFTER

You miss my post, Chief?

I'll drop my two cents in for Wonder Boy 3: The Dragons Trap...

I also quite enjoy Shinobi and Choplifter, which are both cheap and easy to find.

Although I don't mention it as enthusiastically as you do so perhaps that's why it flew under your radar. All the same, Choplifter on SMS is a great version of a classic game. It's not the same as the Sega arcade game but the developers still did a terrific job.

[PresidentLeever]

There's a solid number of quality titles, as with most systems. My favourites in rough order of appreciation:

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap
Land of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse
Power Strike II - EU (this is like the Aleste games, also check out the GG version which is a different game)
Bubble Bobble
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa Opa
R-Type
Kenseiden
Phantasy Star
Sonic the Hedgehog
Shinobi
Ninja Gaiden (completely different to the NES game) - EU
Golvellius: Valley of Doom
Zillion
Solomon’s Key - JP
Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse
Jurassic Park
Wonder Boy
Micro Machines - EU
Road Rash
Fantasy Zone
Wimbledon II
Power Strike
Lucky Dime Caper starring Donald Duck
Outrun 3D
Golden Axe Warrior
Asterix
Space Harrier 3D
The Ninja
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
Master of Darkness (Castlevania clone)
Montezuma's Revenge
Chuck Rock II
Renegade (different from the NES game) - EU
Gangster Town (light gun)

[Polygon]

So, I spent a good part of the day watching videos on Youtube and I've worked up a list of SMS games I want. However, there are a couple that I'm surprised aren't listed here. I grew up with a Game Gear, and as most of us know it's just a somewhat portable Master System. It seems that Bram Stoker's Dracula and T2: Judgment Day look to be the exact same as the Game Gear versions. I really liked those two on my Game Gear. Then again, maybe they are just bad games and I only think they're good because I'm a sucker for nostalgia.

[Gentlegamer]

You miss my post, Chief?

Heh

Although I don't mention it as enthusiastically as you do so perhaps that's why it flew under your radar. All the same, Choplifter on SMS is a great version of a classic game. It's not the same as the Sega arcade game but the developers still did a terrific job.

Coulda sworn I read each post fully, though my eyes must have been zeroed in on lists of games.

Anyway, Choplifter should always been in the first response to these threads.