swlovinist
04-29-2007, 01:10 PM
The Sega Master System
a.k.a. The “SMS”
I would be lying if I said I embraced the Master System as a child. Being that I was a kid easily influenced by corporate advertisement and cartoons, I had no idea of the power behind Sega’s first U.S. system. If someone walked up to me then and said, “What do you think of the ‘SMS’?” I would have said, “I think the Super Mario Super Show is great. Good day, sir.”
I remember going to the local rental store in my small hometown and seeing a small selection of games with boxes that all looked alike. Where’s the fun in that? Space Harrier? Wonderboy? I knew nothing of these games. With over 100 NES games to choose from I didn’t even know why the rental store even carried these bland looking games.
Several years passed between then and my second encounter with the SMS. I went to a local Toy Liquidators where I saw a remodeled Master system and several games. Since I was in my Sega phase, and very happy indeed, I decided to purchase it and the games for a total of roughly 50 bucks. I knew at the time that I’d probably never see any new Master System games and bought 5 of what I thought were the best titles. Again lady luck shone upon me, for those titles were: Phantasy Star, Ghosts and Goblins, Y’s, Shinobi and Lord of the Sword. The first game I ever played was Phantasy Star, even though I never completed it, it is still one of my favorite 8-bit RPG’s. The second game I attempted was Y’s, I racked my brain hour on end to try to figure out the vaious puzzle aspects of the game. I then started to see the awsome power of the system, and its graphic capabilities. After putting some serious time in Shinobi, I was hooked on the thing. Needless to say that I was very happy about the purchase I had made yet upset that I had not discovered the system earlier.
As time went on, I have extended my pursuit of the Sega Master System library, and have discovered many of the fine games that it had to offer. The system to me will always be an example of how something that does not sell commercially well can still be a whole lot of fun to play.
a.k.a. The “SMS”
I would be lying if I said I embraced the Master System as a child. Being that I was a kid easily influenced by corporate advertisement and cartoons, I had no idea of the power behind Sega’s first U.S. system. If someone walked up to me then and said, “What do you think of the ‘SMS’?” I would have said, “I think the Super Mario Super Show is great. Good day, sir.”
I remember going to the local rental store in my small hometown and seeing a small selection of games with boxes that all looked alike. Where’s the fun in that? Space Harrier? Wonderboy? I knew nothing of these games. With over 100 NES games to choose from I didn’t even know why the rental store even carried these bland looking games.
Several years passed between then and my second encounter with the SMS. I went to a local Toy Liquidators where I saw a remodeled Master system and several games. Since I was in my Sega phase, and very happy indeed, I decided to purchase it and the games for a total of roughly 50 bucks. I knew at the time that I’d probably never see any new Master System games and bought 5 of what I thought were the best titles. Again lady luck shone upon me, for those titles were: Phantasy Star, Ghosts and Goblins, Y’s, Shinobi and Lord of the Sword. The first game I ever played was Phantasy Star, even though I never completed it, it is still one of my favorite 8-bit RPG’s. The second game I attempted was Y’s, I racked my brain hour on end to try to figure out the vaious puzzle aspects of the game. I then started to see the awsome power of the system, and its graphic capabilities. After putting some serious time in Shinobi, I was hooked on the thing. Needless to say that I was very happy about the purchase I had made yet upset that I had not discovered the system earlier.
As time went on, I have extended my pursuit of the Sega Master System library, and have discovered many of the fine games that it had to offer. The system to me will always be an example of how something that does not sell commercially well can still be a whole lot of fun to play.