Master System better than the Nes & 7800 [Archive]

8bitdude

06-26-2007, 01:39 AM

Even though in the US, every friend that I know of who had a chance to play Sega Master System in my home as a child, all ways complained about the parents buying them a Nes.

Don't get me wrong I played Nintendo plenty of times at their houses, but I never thought that the Nes was better.

Yes it was harder to find games, but untill I got older I never knew it was hard to find them, because my folks bought many Master System games.

Everygame that you could think of being great for the Nes, the Master System had something greater in my opinion and many of my friends, who owned Nintendo's, thought the same.

They couldn't stop playing these games
Outrun
Space Harrier
Space Harrier 3-D
Action Fighter
After Burner
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Choplifter
Aztec Adventure
R-Type
Zillion (This beats Metroid in my book)
Rambo Pt 2
Phantasy Star
Alien Syndrome
Zaxxon 3-D
Psycho Fox
Maze Hunter 3-D
Hang On
Kings Quest
Kenseiden
Shinobi
Spellcaster
Double Dragon (best out of Nes & 7800 versions)
Wonderboy 3 Dragons Trap
Wonderboy in Monster Land
Altered Beast
Golden Axe
Golden Axe Warrior
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World (beats SMB2)
Sonic the Hedghog (best 8 bit platformer game) (yes even better then SMB3)
Reggie Jackson Baseball
Rocky
Joe Montana Football
MM- Castle of Illusion
YS- Vanished Omens
and many others

and Nes/SMS comparison games

Ghostbusters- Master System wins (nes version is just ugly)
Double Dragon- Master System wins (only way you didn't like it, was you didn't like the arcade version, and you liked the game looking dull.)
California Games- Master System wins
Ninja Gaiden (Nes series), is no where near PAL SMS Ninja Gaiden- Master System wins
Choplifter - MAN MAN- got to be the Master System

also over seas

Battletoads (beats the Nes Version)
Masters of Darkness
Prince of Persia
Sonic 2
Sonic Choas
Newzealand Story
Ninja Gaiden (major improvement over Nes releases)
Donald Duck- Luck Dime Caper
Aladdin- (one of the best looking 8 bit games)
Streets of Rage
Streets of Rage 2
Mortal Kombat
Street Fighter 2 (largest 8-bit cart (8meg)) plays lot better than them Nes Hacks

Theres a lot more but anyway you US guys do not give justice to the Master System it is by far a great console and I have said this from day one 1986.

Is there anybody else in the US that feels that the Master System was the 8 bit system you played more?

Even Safari Hunt , had an edge on Duck Hunt

XYXZYZ

06-26-2007, 02:05 AM

I also feel that the Master System deserves more acknowledgement that it gets. Most people don't know Master System very well in the US because at that time Nintendo had a strong grip on the video game industry, and they far out marketed Sega's platform. They also bullied it right out of the ring by telling retailers not to sell Master System if they wanted to sell Nintendo as well. (Nintendo was where the big money was, so retailers dumped Sega like a rock) And they also forbid the thrid party developers from making Master System games. (Again, Nintendo was where the money was so they happily obliged) It'd be nice to see what the Master System could have been if it had more support.

However, I have to disagree with you on some of those game comparisons. Double Dragon was just an inferior mock-up of the arcade game and the play control was ass. The NES Double Dragon may have had less colors, but the gameplay was nice and solid and they knew they couldn't accurately reproduce the arcade game, so they created something new that was a great game on it's own rather than just an inferior arcade port. And Ninja Gaiden on the SMS was a nice platformer, but forgettable for the most part. The NES Ninja Gaiden's rock-solid play control, great story told through cinema scenes and awsome music made it soar above other incarnations of the game. That was the full meal deal, man.

Anyway, it's nice to see love for the Sega Master System, I need to look into it more myself. (I own one, but hardly any games!)

Emuaust

06-26-2007, 02:11 AM

Well every older Pal gamer knows the SMS was the better console.
Oh and Kamino, he loves his nes but the SMS was his consoles of choice.

diskoboy

06-26-2007, 02:19 AM

As an American gamer - where Sega was nearly a speck of dust, drowning in the ocean that was Nintendo...

I'm gonna hafta agree with that statement.

I really never wanted a 7800. I was done with Atari after the 2600. I owned an SMS and NES. My NES collected dust, while my SMS got all kinds of attention.

The Master System had really unique games. Plus I was a huge fan of their arcade games, at the time. For an 8-bit machine, it pulled off Space Harrier, and a few of Sega's System 16 games off, quite well.

The Segascope 3-D games, and the flawless translation of R-Type had me won over, more than anything else.

Graham Mitchell

06-26-2007, 03:44 AM

kedawa

06-26-2007, 03:59 AM

The SMS was technically superior, there's no doubt about it, but the NES has such a huge library of games that chances are the best game in any given genre would be on NES. It's true that the SMS has a counterpart for pretty much every great NES game, but the NES has at least a dozen for every great SMS game.
The SMS has the breadth of the NES library, but not the depth.

robo3355

06-26-2007, 11:25 AM

I used to agree with your sentiments, 8-bit dude. But my criteria for identifying classic games is how well they stand up over time. In my subjective opinion, the NES library has, for the most part, aged better than the SMS library. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of great SMS games, and the games loooked better in screenshots and stills. But a lot of them look horrible in motion. If I remember, Double Dragon was pretty choppy and controlled poorly. In fact, almost anything after the first slew of SMS games look horrible in motion. Rastan looks particularly ugly these days.

I think the majority of SMS games were also pretty devoid of depth, which keeps them from being interesting today. (World Grand Prix is one of the driest games I can remember ever playing.) There are a few that really do hold up, but for me, nothing on the SMS touches the grandeur that is the Guardian Legend, Legacy of the Wizard, Metroid, Crystalis, Iron Tank, Kid Icarus, Solar Jetman, Maniac Mansion, Princess Tomato and the Salad Kingdom, Deja Vu...the list goes on. SMS only has a small handful of games of this caliber. Just my opinion.

I don't really agree with this, I don't know when you got into SMS gaming, but for most people, their start with the SMS was probably in the late nineties and on from there. You can't really consider something a childhood classic unless you grew up with it. This really isn't a definitive situation as it's all opinion based.

With that said,

I find the SMS to be a graphical powerhouse compared to the nes games of the same time. The music for the most part on the SMS is pretty weak compared to the NES. My gripe with the system is the controllers are definately the weakest factor, the round control pad, and the cord annoyingly coming out of the side instead of the top is questionable, even to an 8 year old. There were variants of the controllers, so I'm mainly ragging on mine. I also remember getting the joysticks for the system, another mistake. They were so top heavy and awkward that you had to vice them with your legs to make the controller somewhat usable. On top of that, the joystick was left handed for some reason...??

With the games, I find the sega arcade ports to be alot better then the NES versions, such as Alien Syndrome. I can't really compare the games that aren't similar though. The Ninja Gaiden debate is like comparing sheet rock to a river, they're entirely different.

Finally,

As a total side by side comparison (at least for me) in 2007 I still own my NES, and I sold my SMS along with 50 games in 2003. What does that tell you?

Neo Rasa

06-26-2007, 11:31 AM

As a US resident I gotta say I feel like I really missed out as a kid. I just got a Master System for the first time about a month ago (during a DP NAVA no less) and I'm very impressed. You can kind of tell though that while the system has more power, the developers didn't have the overall time or skill possessed by the big guys that got roped into developing just for the NES like Konami.

I do agree with the sentiment that the majority of SMS games have less depth than the myriad adventure and RPG titles found on the NES, but that's forgivable. I don't exactly keep my Neo Geo plugged in for its array of turn based strategy games either.

TheRedEye

06-26-2007, 11:35 AM

I'm going to give myself thirty seconds to type as many reasons why the NES is better than the master system as I can. Ready? GO!

Mega Man Castlevania Final Fantasy (and other RPGs for chrissake) Super Mario Tetris Zelda River City Ransom TMNT

Kevincal

06-26-2007, 11:38 AM

Uh...NES is better imo. :) Now...GENESIS is equal or better to NES... ;) SNES vs. Genesis, I call equal. ;)

Graham Mitchell

06-26-2007, 11:55 AM

@ rob3355: I bought an SMS in 1989 after owning a NES for 2 years. At the time I loved the SMS (still do), and really felt it was totally superior. But nowadays I find myself giving many SMS games 5 minutes before switching to something else, while NES games hold my attention better. Strange, but true.

8bitdude

06-26-2007, 01:15 PM

Do be honest the Master Systems library was not small at all and yall need to quit acting like the Master System was a failer. Who cares about just here in the US, where in Europe, Australia, Brazil and others it really blew the Nes out the water.

And as far as longevity, the Master System had it, the Nes games were to easy compared to Master System games.

Does the Nes have alot of quality games like this

Action Fighter
After Burner
Air Rescue
Aladdin
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Alex kidd in Shinobi World
Alien Syndrome
Altered Beast
Assault City
Asterix
Asterix and the Great Rescue
Asterix and the Secret Mission
Astro Warrior
Aztec Adventure
Bank Panic
Battle Outrun
Battlemaniacs (looks and plays better than Nes Version)
Bomber Raid
Bram Stokers Dracula
California Games (again better than the Nes Version)
California Games 2
Captain Silver
Castle of Illusion (looks and plays like a 16 bit game)
Choplifter (kills 7800 & Nes versions)
Cloud Master
Columns
Cyber Shinobi
Daffy Duck in Hollywood
Dead Angle
Desert Strike
Double Dragon
Dragon Crystal
Dynamite Duke
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco the Tides of Time
Enduro Racer
E-SWat
Fantasy Zone
Fantasy Zone 2
Forgotten Worlds
Galaxy Force
Gangster Town ( Oh we had great light phaser games on our 8bit system)
Gauntlet (best 8 bit Gauntlet)
George Foreman's KO Boxing
Ghost House
Ghouls N Ghost ( beats Ghost N Goblins for the Nes)
Golden Axe
Golden Axe Warrior (will not put this over Zelda there a tie, but GAW has better graphics in my opinion and is just as fun)
Golvellius Valley of Doom (another great RPG)
GP Rider
Great Baseball( even though early game, I loved it)
Hang On
James Bond 007 The Duel
Joe Montana Football
Jungle Book
Jurassic Park
Kenseiden ( this is a game, to why I love my Master System)
Kings Quest (classic pc rpg)
Land of Illusion (great graphics, sound , gameplay)
Lord of the Sword
Lucky Dime Caper (great graphics, sound, gameplay)
Master of Darkness ( 16 bit Castlevania)
Masters of Combat
Maze Hunter 3D
Mercs
Micheal Jackson Moonwalker (great graphics and gameplay)
Miracle Warriors
Mortal Kombat (beats Nes Hacks)
Mortal Kombat 2 (beats Nes Hacks)
Newzealand Story
Ninja Gaiden
Out Run
Out Run 3D
Out Run Europa
Parlour Games
Penguin Land
PGA Tour Golf
Phantasy Star (best 8 bit RPG)
Populous
Poseidon Wars 3D
Power Strike 2
Prince of Persia ( Man this game runs like 16 bit) (kills the Nes version)
Psycho Fox ( Another amazing platformer)
Quartet
Rainbow Islands
Rambo First Blood Pt 2
Rambo 3
Rampage (best Rampage out of Nes and 7800)
Rastan
Reggie Jackson Baseball (great graphics, control and gameplay)
Renegade
Rocky
R-Type (plays and looks like a 16 bit game)
Shadow Dancer
Shadow of the Beast
Shanghai
Shinobi
Slap Shot
Sonic the Hedgehog ( I had friends who actualy liked this game better than SMW for the SNES)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 ( not better than the first, but was still a great platformer)
Sonic Chaos (another good Sonic game for our beloved SMS)
Space Harrier (blew my friends away when they saw this running and that digitized sound) Man!!
Space Harrier 3D (also a great game, real 3d games)
Spellcaster
Spider Man (awsome graphics and gameplay)
Spider Man Return of Sinister Six ( also great graphics and gameplay)
Spy Vs Spy (beats the Nes version)
Star Wars (beats the Nes version)
Street Fighter 2 (the largest 8bit cart)
Streets of Rage ( will beat any fighting game you can think of on the Nes)
Streets of Rage 2 ( great but not better than SOR1)
Strider 2 ( the first strider for the SMS, had bad gameplay, but this one fixed all of that, great game)
Summer Games
Super Monaco GP
Super Tennis (used to love this game)
Taito Chase HQ
Taz Mania
Teddy Boy
Thunder Blade
Ulitma IV (another great RPG)
Vigilante
Walter Payton Football
Wanted ( another good light phaser game)
Wimbledon 2
Winter Olyimpics
Wonder Boy
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Wonder Boy 3 Dragons Trap ( Amazing game)
World Cup USA 94'
YS the vanished omens (another great RPG)
Zaxxon 3D (best Zaxxon game)
Zillion ( one of my all time favorite games) Zillion had many differences than Metroid, and to me it will always be better in my book. Great sound and amazing graphics, at that time.
Zillion 2 (different game, but great shooter)

Anyway there are alot more games for the SMS, but can you name a list better than this from the Nes?

I can't lie I will always have its back, because in my opinion the Master System is the greatest 8 bit, I love the 7800, and I love the Nes, but the Master System was the best in my book. The US gamers might never realize this, but I will always promote, just like my house promoted for gamers back in the day, when I was a child.

CosmicMonkey

06-26-2007, 01:49 PM

GameGear > Master System (as long as you're sat next to a power outlet and have an AC adaptor).

Now I've thrown that in there, I'll let you guys carry on...

GG Shinobi FTW

8bitdude

06-26-2007, 02:12 PM

Master System versions were better than the ones on the Game Gear.

Just like Sonic 1 really doesn't have justice, unless its played on the Master System.

Just like Mega Man wasn't as good on Game Boy as it was on the Nes.

All im trying to get to people's heads is that the Master System is clearly a winner to many.

Gentlegamer

06-26-2007, 03:22 PM

Does the Nes have alot of quality games like thisYes . . . and then some.

Graham Mitchell

06-26-2007, 03:26 PM

Hey, man. You asked our opinion and we're giving it to you.

I actually prefer the NES version of Gauntlet because of the new exploration elements, a password feature, and an ending. I get bored with the SMS version pretty fast. It's not much better than 7800 Dark Chambers.

And I don't remember SMS California Games being much to write home about after playing the Rare-developed NES version (which is gorgeous for an NES game. It's developed by Rare, so of course it is.)

That said, I ain't hatin' on the SMS. I love Zillion and Spellcaster and the Dragon's Trap and Phantasy Star and all those games like I always have. I've just noticed that, lately, I like the NES better.

8bitdude

06-26-2007, 03:56 PM

Graham if you experienced the Master System to the fullest, then your opinon is clear.

There are some big Nes fans on this site, and I can see that. Thats good.

Master System will never get the slide up in here.

Well as long as yall don't bash my system, like yall bash the 7800, we cool.

Oh and what are some good 7800 games to get into, being that I really havent played this system.
but I have heard great things about Commando and Desert Falcon.

If anything 8 bit gaming was the best.

TurboGenesis

06-26-2007, 04:20 PM

First and formost I "grew up" with the Sega Master System AND Nintendo Entertainment System - I am 31 years of age and play these game console in 1988+

Second, and I am a big Sega "fanboy", I am feel that the NES is offer more broad gaming experience.

Third I am USA fellow as in I live and grow up in USA.

SMS is fine system and has good titles but is pale in comparison to what the NES is offer. Look beyond graphics and color pallet and look at diverse games that are offer on the NES verses the SMS.

8 bit fellow you are display "fanboy" attitude with your blind love for SMS and continue to slam the NES in every post. I can appreciate SMS I love Power Strike, Miracle Warriors, Aerial Assult, Could Master and many more games and I play them today and I play NES too on these days and times. You are ask for fellows feelings and learn to repsect that and knowing that others are not feel the same passion as you for somethings. Praise of one thing and slander of another thing is not cool and is only start of confilcts think and be consideration when you are reply to fellows posts when they are not feel like you.

Push Upstairs

06-26-2007, 04:30 PM

The 7800 will always have its one true ace in the hole:

NINJA GOLF!

Ruudos

06-26-2007, 05:32 PM

Do be honest the Master Systems library was not small at all and yall need to quit acting like the Master System was a failer. Who cares about just here in the US, where in Europe, Australia, Brazil and others it really blew the Nes out the water.

That's not true for Europe. I belive the SMS was bigger in the UK, but here in Holland the NES was more popular. I believe this was the case in more European countries. I'd like to hear from other Europeans here how the situation was in their country.

It's funny that Europe is always seen as one market, just like the US, while in fact it are many differents ones, which can differ a lot from each other.

8bitdude

06-26-2007, 05:56 PM

sharp

06-26-2007, 06:11 PM

That's not true for Europe. I belive the SMS was bigger in the UK, but here in Holland the NES was more popular. I believe this was the case in more European countries. I'd like to hear from other Europeans here how the situation was in their country.

It's funny that Europe is always seen as one market, just like the US, while in fact it are many differents ones, which can differ a lot from each other.

SMS did very well in the PAL A NES-region. Mattel distribution was poor compared with the distribution in most of the PAL- B regions.

Graham Mitchell

06-26-2007, 06:18 PM

Everyone has there own opinion, and im sorry if I came harsh.

I was just wondering was there anyone that feels the way I do about the Master System.

8 bit gaming by far is the best for me, and I do like the Nes(all my friends had one), but in my childhood and even now, I still love my Master System.

I want to learn more about the 7800 though. I didn't have a friend that had this system.

Are Commando and Desert Falcon its best games?

Actually, I don't hear too much about Commando and Desert Falcon. The most impressive 7800 game I've played is Ballblazer. It was developed by LucasArts, so that's probably why. 7800 games are interesting because the machine allowed for developers to put custom graphics and sound chips in the carts, which allowed for one hell of an Atari game. If you compare 7800 games that do and don't have extra chips, the ones with them look quite impressive.

I also recommend Tower Toppler if you want to be impressed. Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. are probably the best Atari versions, but they pale compared to their NES counterparts. I hear great things about Midgnight Mutants, Xenophobe, Asteroids, and Robotron 2084. Impossible Mission would be cool, but it wasn't properly tested before being released in the states, so the game is literally an impossible mission--several of the items you need to finish the game are absent, leaving you to wander around aimlessly. I guess they fixed this for the Euro release. Karateka is disappointing. Dark Chambers is neat for history's sake if you're into Gauntlet, but it's a pretty boring game. Looks nice, though.

Rob2600

06-26-2007, 08:15 PM

8bitdude

06-26-2007, 09:55 PM

Man the Master System just can't win in here.

Graham Mitchell

06-26-2007, 11:19 PM

Man the Master System just can't win in here.

Aww, don't take it too hard. We're all pretty objective most of the time ;)

You have to take into account that this is a general forum, not a Sega forum, so naturally peoples tastes here are going to reflect the tastes of the general public. In general, people in the 80's preferred the NES for some reason or another (granted, Nintendo had shitty monopolizing sales tactics; regardless, the NES still outsold the SMS despite it's technical superiority) As such, it's more likely that people around here will prefer the NES. But we all seem to agree that there are some great SMS games, and that it's generally underappreciated.

Personally, I've got a big hard-on for the TG-16, but most people prefer Genny or SNES. It's okay, your tastes just aren't mainstream.

Push Upstairs

06-26-2007, 11:26 PM

The Master System isn't winning in a poll over on Sega-16 either.

It;s not a bad system, there are just more games I like on the NES. Games are what matters the most.

cyberfluxor

06-26-2007, 11:29 PM

Games are what matters the most.

When it comes to a gamer you're 100% correct; selection is of the virtue.

/me thinks 8bitdude is trying hard to push SMS love around.

robo3355

06-26-2007, 11:37 PM

I'm down with the master system, it's intricate and neat. But there's just a lot of things about it I don't agree with/don't understand. The pause button is one, that just screams "I'm a different experience, you probably won't like me". I am the same way with the Genesis and Game Gear though, There's something about the way the games are that I can't find alot of replay value in "the classics", and I grew up with a Genny. I just find for the most part, the games aren't as fun, there's something about it. the something however is not neat like most dreamcast games, sleek stylish and way fun.

I think alot of the problem is the lack of developers and the actual games that were released in the US (rocky, that damn falcon fighting card game,haunted house,black belt,) these are common games, and they're not fun. It's almost like watching a director's cut of the film versus a studio cut in terms of presentation and atmosphere. So I think my view might be skewed by never being exposed to non-us games.

exit

06-26-2007, 11:38 PM

One of my brothers had one SMS, he was a minority since my other brother, my sister and I had a Nintendo. We would play it on occasion, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Teddy Boy, and Ghost House were my favorite games, but the NES remained dominant.

My brother found his copy of Teddy Boy in a Shop Right parking lot, so it was a little beat up, but still ran perfectly. This resulted in me looking for games when walking back to the car after grocery shopping, needless to say I never found any.

SMS will always have a place in my heart, but the games haven't aged well control wise, so I really can't play one for long without getting annoyed.

bangtango

06-26-2007, 11:48 PM

Man the Master System just can't win in here.

Sure it can. It depends on what we are comparing. When it comes to playing games, the Master System is a lot more reliable than the original NES.

Let's see. I liked Safari Hunt a lot more than Duck Hunt. Shooting different types of animals in the jungle is more fun. I thought California Games was better on Master System than the NES. Same with Alien Syndrome and Shinobi. I had plenty of the mediocre games, like Cloud Master and Vigilante, but I gradually grew to like those ones. That was all I had to play for a long time when I owned an SMS.

Oh and I am a proud Altered Beast fan 8-) But yeah, I still like the NES better.

8bitdude

06-26-2007, 11:57 PM

I didn't think the control was bad in my opinion, maybe in some games but

the Nes had games where control wasn't as good too. It was the games not the system. Like SMS had games where the the control and gamplay were excellent and the Nes had games where the control was excellent, but they both had games where the control, might not have been as good.

I liked the Nes too, (in someways), but don't think that every game on that system the control and gameplay were perfect.

One thing I want to know is would Street Fighter 2 run better on the Nes than the Master System. In my opinion NO, but SF2 for the SMS isn't all that compared to its 16 bit counterparts, but good compared to all them Nes Hacks.

Hope yall not going to tell me im wrong on this too.

and yes I have been promoting for the SMS since I was a Child, and nothings changed.

TurboGenesis

06-26-2007, 11:57 PM

I had plenty of the mediocre games, like Cloud Master....

:angry:
Cloud Master is one of my most favorite Sega Master System games ^_~
its cool - Cloud Master is not for everyone 8-)
I am looking forward to the new game coming on the Wii ^_^

Personally, I've got a big hard-on for the TG-16, but most people prefer Genny or SNES. It's okay, your tastes just aren't mainstream.

I LOVE Turbo Grafx 16 as well :D

8bitdude

06-27-2007, 12:01 AM

Man, Bangtango you had me going on your reply, I thought you were going SMS all the way, then the end , (but I still like the Nes better). You got me laughing on that one. Well good points though

Wish you would of had more SMS games, then what you had, might of made a little difference, maybe , I don't know.

Quickclaw

06-27-2007, 11:13 AM

Passed on a boxed SMS with several games for $25. Mistake?

bangtango

06-27-2007, 12:12 PM

:angry:
Cloud Master is one of my most favorite Sega Master System games ^_~
its cool - Cloud Master is not for everyone 8-)
I am looking forward to the new game coming on the Wii ^_^

Hey, I think Cloud Master is fun. My mediocre remark is partly based on what most people think about the game. I liked it. So you're saying they are doing a new version of that on the Wii?

Man, Bangtango you had me going on your reply, I thought you were going SMS all the way, then the end , (but I still like the Nes better). You got me laughing on that one. Well good points though

Wish you would of had more SMS games, then what you had, might of made a little difference, maybe , I don't know.

The light gun games are better on the SMS, based on what I've played on the Master System and NES. I played maybe 12-14 games tops on the Master System, that was all I ever owned when I used to have the system. I am itching to get another one so I will probably post a WTB thread in the Buy/Sell forum very soon.

Passed on a boxed SMS with several games for $25. Mistake?

If you saw this locally and not on the internet, then yes. Even if it is a little overpriced for what games are included, how often are you going to find that many Master System games in one fell swoop offline? Once or twice a year, tops, unless you live in an area where SMS stuff is growing on trees. No matter what games were included with the system, if you were to get them on the internet (say Ebay or a sale thread), you'd probably pay that much or more once shipping is involved. The system by itself sometimes sells for $25. In the box, I am sure it does. Better go back and see if you can still get it. Pronto.

Xexyz

06-27-2007, 02:11 PM

No it can't win, well not on a website with a large ratio of North American gamers that is. I 've only recently gotten into the SMS scene, so my opinion isn't valid since I'm heavily biased toward the NES for both nostalgia reasons and gameplay experiences.

Still, I do enjoy a lot of what the SMS offers. But, even if I thought its library was superior, it still falls flat on its face once you whip out that controler. That D-pad is the worst gaming pad experience I've ever had. I dislike Sony D-pads, but this thing is an abomination. So many unexpected deaths can be attributed towards it. Luckily, a lot of SMS games are compatible with a Genesis pad (but not Alien Syndrome!!! :().

Push Upstairs

06-27-2007, 02:20 PM

The Phaser is far superior to the Zapper...it has a quality feel to it and doesn't have that loud clicking sound when firing.

The SMS also has much, much better light gun games.

willowmoon93

06-27-2007, 06:21 PM

Well for me personally I'd give the SMS the edge over the NES. While the NES does have more games overall, many people just aren't as aware of the games released outside of the United States. There's quite a lot out there, especially in the UK. Although I am not a big fan of the controllers either, I definitely play more games on the SMS. And given a choice, I'll take Phantasy Star (SMS) over Final Fantasy (NES) anyday.

Gandhara

06-27-2007, 09:28 PM

I always thought the first Alex Kidd was superior to any NES Mario game. I got a similar reaction when showing friends this game they liked it more than the Mario games.

j_factor

06-27-2007, 11:11 PM

I prefer the SMS to the NES, but not by a lot. I currently own exactly 35 games each for the two systems, but my SMS want list is bigger.

I find a lot of NES games to be pretty overrated. Like, I thought the first Castlevania was kind of crappy (I do like 2 and 3 though); Master of Darkness is much more fun. I found Dragon Warrior 1 to be god-awful, Final Fantasy 1 to be a snoozefest, and I still don't get what people see in the old Mega Man games, which I consider stiff and cheap. Games like Metal Gear and Adventures of Lolo may be interesting for the time, but they just don't play well IMO.

And indeed, the vast majority of games that were on both systems were better on SMS. Shinobi, Alien Syndrome, Choplifter, Bram Stoker's Dracula, California Games, Wonderboy/Adventure Island (they're the same game), Jurassic Park, etc.

As for controls, I agree that the default SMS controller isn't great. But that's why I'm thankful that it uses the Atari 9-pin sockets, so a lot of different controllers are useable on it (Genesis, Atari VCS/7800/XE, Amiga, etc.). And I think Genesis controllers are way more comfortable than NES. Some games are picky about which controller you use, but it's a very small number.

One other thing I like about SMS is how much better the boxes are, and how much easier it is to find all your games complete. On the SMS it's relatively easy to restrict yourself to only buying complete games, but on NES it's not worth trying.

Bottom line, it comes down to the games, and personally, I think SMS had a smidge more of the good stuff.

Policenaut

06-28-2007, 12:21 AM

It depends. I love the SMS. It is my favorite console. It is just that the SMS came short after the Nes for many games here in U.S. Although the SMS is better graphically, game wise the Nes had the biggest library. But not in Europe where the life for the Master System was splendid. A great library with many titles that never had been released here and it really saddens me. That is why I am expanding my Master System library with the PAL titles. There we all can find a new life for the Master System. I have about 117 European titles and just can't get enough.

BydoEmpire

06-28-2007, 10:47 AM

I love the Master System. I probably didn't play it quite as much as the NES, but it was pretty close. It had some fantastic arcade ports (Shinobi, Afterburner, etc), and a lot of quirky original games (Penguin Land, Rambo 2, etc). It also had by far the best light gun games of any system: Rescue Mission, Rambo III, Safari Hunt, Gangster Town, Wanted, etc.

idrougge

06-28-2007, 01:49 PM

As for controls, I agree that the default SMS controller isn't great. But that's why I'm thankful that it uses the Atari 9-pin sockets, so a lot of different controllers are useable on it (Genesis, Atari VCS/7800/XE, Amiga, etc.).

Am I the only one who likes the MS pad? Even after I had sold my Master System, I bought Sega joypads because I needed a two-button joypad for my Amiga (see above), and now those pads are back in use with my new Master System. I find them, if they're in good shape, soft and multidirectional, whereas the NES plus sign is rather stiff, a bit small, and has sharp edges which means your fingers hurt until you get accustomed to it, just like with the PSX pad.

leicamaster

06-28-2007, 02:02 PM

Even though I am a big SEGA fan I prefer the NES than the SMS. SMS had amazing graphics but the NES had a better variety of games!

MarioMania

06-28-2007, 02:48 PM

Even know the Master System was bigger in the UK market..they still didn't get any good NES ports like from Konami, Capcom or even Tecmo...

Even know we saw the SMS winning over there..did SMS owners get Contra, Castlevania or even Mega Man, Nope

s1lence

06-28-2007, 02:58 PM

In my opinion the Sonic SMS games are terrible. I'm a fan of both systems but when it comes down to it I have more NES games that I want to play then SMS. Percentage wise I have more SMS games then NES, but I grew up on the NES so maybe thats why I tend to enjoy it more.

idrougge

06-28-2007, 04:13 PM

In my opinion the Sonic SMS games are terrible.

The first one is a great accomplishment, I think.

j_factor

06-28-2007, 10:20 PM

Am I the only one who likes the MS pad? Even after I had sold my Master System, I bought Sega joypads because I needed a two-button joypad for my Amiga (see above), and now those pads are back in use with my new Master System. I find them, if they're in good shape, soft and multidirectional, whereas the NES plus sign is rather stiff, a bit small, and has sharp edges which means your fingers hurt until you get accustomed to it, just like with the PSX pad.

I'm definitely not a fan of the NES pad either. The d-pad sucks, and it's totally uncomfortable to hold. I remember they used to sell these things that attached to the sides to make it shaped more like a Genesis controller.

Now that I think about it, I guess Master System did have the best controller of its time. Atari 7800's main controller was ridiculous.

Zap!

12-06-2009, 11:12 PM

The SMS was amazing. I always wondered what could have happened with this system.

vivaeljason

12-06-2009, 11:48 PM

Wow...this is an old topic.

While I never owned an SMS, I had a few friends who did. I always really enjoyed the hell out of it and I definitely think it doesn't get enough credit as a system. I may prefer the NES by leaps and bounds, but I definitely liked the Master System. The Alex Kidd games, After Burner, R-Type, and the original Phantasy Star are definite classics.

Breetai

12-06-2009, 11:56 PM

Double Dragon- Master System wins (only way you didn't like it, was you didn't like the arcade version, and you liked the game looking dull.)Of maybe some preferred the NES version because they actually prefer responsive control.

Ninja Gaiden (Nes series), is no where near PAL SMS Ninja Gaiden- Master System winsI think 99% of people who've played both would disagree with you, mostly due to the fact they 1. they are different games, and 2. the NES game is much more fun.

Breetai

12-07-2009, 12:05 AM

Does the Nes have alot of quality games like this

... (long list of SMS games)

Anyway there are alot more games for the SMS, but can you name a list better than this from the Nes?

Three words and a number:

Super Mario Brothers 3.

The debate is over.

grolt

12-07-2009, 12:53 AM

Three words and a number:

Super Mario Brothers 3.

The debate is over.
I'll make this even shorter:

Wonder Boy III

ApolloBoy

12-07-2009, 01:10 AM

Of maybe some preferred the NES version because they actually prefer responsive control.

Agreed. The collision detection in the SMS version was horrible; if it hadn't been for the lousy hit detection, it would've made for an awesome port.

bombman

12-07-2009, 01:51 AM

I like the NES better. However Wonder Boy III and Phantasy Star are the best 8-bit RPGs of all time.

kupomogli

12-07-2009, 01:55 AM

Man the Master System just can't win in here.

It's not really the better system when it comes to games. Graphically it's superior, yes, but when it comes to the games released on it, no.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of good games and there's also games that are superior than the NES versions of the same game. Atleast a half of all the multiconsole titles between the SMS and the NES are actually better on the SMS.

It's also got arcade ports, and while not really accurate in level designs, the gameplay is fairly well done for a lot of them. Namely Golden Axe and Rastan. The music is awful on every arcade port though. Why couldn't they have tried to be less accurate with duplicating the music?

The main thing that sucks about the SMS though. Being that I've never played the SMS until later on, which was when I still had a PSX. It wasn't that great to me. Not because it hasn't aged well, but atleast half of its games are on the Genesis. Why play an inferior version of a game when it's also on a 16bit system with much better music? If it was NES quality and the differences were major, then yeah. But the SMS games look and play almost identical to the Genesis versions just with a little bit less quality and worse music. So that's really what makes the difference of not bothering playing any game that's on the SMS that's also on the Genesis. The reason why NES games are fun to play over the exact same games on that later came out on the Genesis/SNES is because they had to improvise, usually making the gameplay noticeably different.

So yeah. There are "games" I will play on the Sega Master System. Either those are exclusive titles or some multiconsole titles that are better than the NES versions. Not too many on the system that I will play though.

Ed Oscuro

12-07-2009, 01:59 AM

Heya old topic. I like the SMS Ninja Gaiden, probably more than NES, but I haven't played it enough to tell.

SMS has some games that are better on MSX, like Aleste (alright, that's not from experience, but I'm told the MSX version has less slowdown, and the slowdown on SMS is a killer). Other games I like on it I have in a superior format elsewhere (Sega Ninja as a Ninja Princess arcade PCB; Time Soldiers on the SMS is worse than I initially thought). Honestly, the SMS looks more like a joke each time I look at it. There is some good exclusive stuff there (Alex Kidd in Shinobi World, Power Strike II) but not a lot.

The list of games I could name for the SMS (all regions, too) that I care about would be a fraction of the games for NES / FC that I like.

PSony

12-07-2009, 02:47 AM

I started gaming in 1996 with the SNES so I never had an NES or SMS, but I just bought a large lot of SMS games (around 50). Can't wait to experience the 8-bit era. Do the 3D glasses work on LCD tv's?

grolt

12-07-2009, 03:40 AM

The main thing that sucks about the SMS though. Being that I've never played the SMS until later on, which was when I still had a PSX. It wasn't that great to me. Not because it hasn't aged well, but atleast half of its games are on the Genesis. Why play an inferior version of a game when it's also on a 16bit system with much better music? If it was NES quality and the differences were major, then yeah. But the SMS games look and play almost identical to the Genesis versions just with a little bit less quality and worse music. So that's really what makes the difference of not bothering playing any game that's on the SMS that's also on the Genesis. The reason why NES games are fun to play over the exact same games on that later came out on the Genesis/SNES is because they had to improvise, usually making the gameplay noticeably different.

I appreciate the point you're going with here, but it's not necessarily true. The "improvisation" you talk about certainly happened a lot on the SMS, and there are quite a few games on the SMS that are both different than the Genesis port and in ways better. Thunder Blade comes to mind, which is much truer to the arcade and a lot more playable than the abomination that is Super Thunder Blade. It's actually a beautiful port during those top down shooter portions. Enduro Racer adopts a completely different isometric style than the Hang-on-esque arcade, and it's all the better for it. It's probably my favorite racer on the system. Ghouls'n Ghosts adds in some shops and stuff not found in any of the other home ports. James Buster Douglas is a shit game, but at least it's a completely different engine than the Final Blow port that is the Genesis version. Rambo III is a completely different game, a light gun shooter that's really good. And then the best examples are probably the Sonic games, which have completely different levels and design than the 16-bit versions, and by many accounts are both more challenging and overall more enjoyable. I still attest that my favorite Sonic levels on any system are the jungle levels found exclusively in the first SMS game.

So yeah, there are some games like Golden Axe, Altered Beast and Moonwalker where the SMS version is nothing more than a cut down version of the original game, but more often than not there is a lot of creativity behind the ports that helps each game stand on its own compared to its more powerful successor.

grolt

12-07-2009, 03:43 AM

Do the 3D glasses work on LCD tv's?

No. They require interlacing to work, since PAL/NTSC signals oscillate between two staggered images to form a whole image, and that's just what the 3D glasses use to create the perspective effect. They still work great on old CRTs, though. 8-)

Arkhan

12-07-2009, 04:04 AM

posting a lengthy alphabetically sorted, copy pasta'd list is asking for trouble. All we'd have to do is copy pasta an NES list... :)

Zillion being better than Metroid is a stretch. Zillion lacks the same kind of powerupping, action-filled boss battling, and the exploring isnt so much exploring as it is hoping you dont die while traversing the easy map because the games got no password system or anything. ROFL

I do like Zillion though. Thats the first SMS game I ever touched.

I didnt get a master system until recently (2000 or so?), and I don't feel like I have missed out at all. I've played lets see:

astro warrior, zillion 1 and 2, altered beast, double dragon, cyborg hunter, rambo, phantasy star, and some other stuff. Quartet, Alex Kidd, Ecco (omg its bad). They're all fun games, and the graphics clearly are better than the NES in most instances, but, I can't say I feel like I missed out growing up without having had a master system. My glorious childhood full of NES, Genesis, TG-16 and SNES is perfectly fine.

There is no substitute on the master system for the following:

Contra
Battle of Olympus
Faxanadu
Legacy of the Wizard
Blaster Master
Kid Icarus
Castlevania 1, 2, and 3
zelda 1 and 2
Megaman

I could name more I think.

I will say, Quest of the Avatar for SMS definitely trumps the NES one, but its still better in DOS.

All it boils down to is the Master System got hosed in 3rd party game library support. :( If it had got the same kinda love from Square, Enix, and Capcom, oh man. I can only imagine. Megaman on the SMS probably would have been fucking awesome.

(I like double dragon on SMS more than NES!)

tomaitheous

12-07-2009, 07:50 AM

I'm definitely not a fan of the NES pad either. The d-pad sucks, and it's totally uncomfortable to hold. I remember they used to sell these things that attached to the sides to make it shaped more like a Genesis controller.

Why do people complain about the NES d-pad!? Do you guys have *really* sensitive fingers or something? I mean, I *never* had a problem with the NES pad. And I liked it over the over bloated Genesis 3 button pad :P All that room on the sides, and for what? SMS controllers are poor for the very reason that they are lacking start/select or equivalent buttons. I know SMS fans tend to brush this off, just like the Amiga guys with their 1 button joystick and up for jump. Must be a Euro love thing or something >_> Minimal amount of buttons ftw!

The Clonus Horror

12-07-2009, 11:40 AM

8bitdude, are you employed by SEGA? j/k

Chopflifter still rules, though.

XYXZYZ

12-07-2009, 12:07 PM

8bitdude, are you employed by SEGA? j/k

8bitdude's last post on DP was two years ago. I guess he was just a disgruntled SEGA fan with a chip on his shoulder. I liked this thread, it was a heated fanboy nerd argument straight from the past...

And we, the Nintendo fanboys, crushed that SEGA loving twit with our clearly superior taste in video entertainment. Because then, and now, we're playing with POWER. :D

Nature Boy

12-07-2009, 12:39 PM

I liked this thread, it was a heated fanboy nerd argument straight from the past...

There's always something funny about an opinion post coming across as factual that kills me too.

I thought the SMS was pretty cool back in the day. I had a friend across the street who had one, and remembered the baseball game in particular as a blast to play.

I would never have considered buying one over a NES though - Super Mario Bros. was an absolute must have, and the SMS had nothing even close to it in my eyes.

What's cool is that my kids will be starting to make comparisons and pick favourites soon too, although they have a *lot* more to choose from than what I did back in the NES era!

grolt

12-07-2009, 12:43 PM

There is no substitute on the master system for the following:

Contra
Battle of Olympus
Faxanadu
Legacy of the Wizard
Blaster Master
Kid Icarus
Castlevania 1, 2, and 3
zelda 1 and 2
Megaman

You need to play more SMS games, then. :)

Contra
-Robocop vs. Terminator, Rygar

Battle of Olympus
-Alex Kidd: High-Tech World

Faxanadu
-Wonder Boy in Monster Land

Legacy of the Wizard
-Solomon's Key, The Castle

Blaster Master
-Zillion II

Kid Icarus
-The Ninja

Castlevania 1, 2, and 3
-Master of Darkness. Awesome game.

zelda 1 and 2:
-Golden Axe Warrior is definitely better than Zelda in almost every way.
-Lord of the Sword I like better than Zelda II.

Megaman
-Wonder Boy III

guitargary75

12-07-2009, 12:55 PM

No way zillion beats Metroid! It's good, but Metroid owns it!

BetaWolf47

12-07-2009, 01:27 PM

I agree with some of the thread creator's sentiments. SMS was a great system, and it's a damned shame it never reached its potential in the US. Nintendo had some horrible business practices back then.

The SMS port of Bubble Bobble deserves a mention here. There's one game the US could've used! The only home versions we had back then were the GB version and the NES version, so we were forced to sacrifice either color or good jump physics. While either version was decent, the SMS version was definitely the definitive 8-bit version.

7th lutz

12-07-2009, 01:36 PM

I own all 3 systems. I currently own 77 sms, 146 nes games, and 38 Atari 7800 games. I also check out homebrew Atari 7800 games while they are works in progress.

The Atari 7800 can't compare to the Sms and the Nes. The homebrew scene for the Atari 7800 has helped improve its game library, but the system can't be compared to the Sms or the nes. It is better off to compare the Atari 7800 to a pre crash system at this time.

The Atari 7800 homebrew scene has mostly games that were released in the arcades before 1984 like Burgertime, Q*bert, Pac-man Collection, Space Invaders, Space Duel, Asteroids Deluxe, Supe Pac-man, and Jr. Pac-man. Arkanoid is being worked on and it the first homebrew Arcade port for the Atari 7800 that was released in the arcades after 1983.

The Atari 7800 homebrew scene is getting games like a sequel to Countermeasure, and a Boulder Dash clone.

The Atari 7800 could be compared to the Sms and the Nes in a 5 years time, but not now currently for the most part. In a 5 years time, the Atari 7800 could be getting games more that could compare the Nes.

The Sms has a good library and the games have better graphics, but the nes is stronger imo. I not familiar with all the Sms imports at this time. Based on the small amount imports I own, the Sms didn't show all its potential in North America like Xenon 2: Megablast.

I think the Sms was a true threat to the Nes if there wasn't 3rd party restrictions in North America.

Breetai

12-07-2009, 02:17 PM

I'll make this even shorter:

Wonder Boy IIIIt's a wonderful game, I'll give it that... I own it! It's just the arguably the best game ever.

Breetai

12-07-2009, 02:26 PM

8bitdude's last post on DP was two years ago. I guess he was just a disgruntled SEGA fan with a chip on his shoulder. I liked this thread, it was a heated fanboy nerd argument straight from the past...ROFL

I feel like an idiot...

Emuaust

12-07-2009, 02:50 PM

As someone who has 150+ nes games and an almost complete pal sms collection my opinion, for what its worth, is that most North American's views are going to biased against sega's console due to the fact growing up with a nes gives it automatic nostalgic superiority, that coupled with the fact that the greatest games for this system where not released state side with the exception of a small few.

Then the flip side, I grew up in a PAL country that was purely dominated by the Master System, Nintendo where down right (and still are) useless at marketing and distribution in pal territories so that gives all PAL gamers the "Nostalgic superiority" feeling towards the SMS. Yes you're going to have a few people that swing either way but its pretty much been the rule with every debate I've ever seen on the internet regarding this subject.

I love the master system and never cared for the nes growing up, in later years Ive got into the nes and loved it, there are some great games, all with the exception of Uforia have probably been named in this thread. But as much as I get into the Nes I always find myself going back to the master system, I just love it more.

I suppose what Im trying to say is, yes in terms of Visuals and the like, the master system was a slight step above, ie. Road Rash. But due to purely most people's geographic location you are always going to get a different view on what is better out of these two consoles, a lot more then say that of the 16 bit gen.

allyourbase

12-07-2009, 03:02 PM

Yeah... This is an elementary school lunch-table fight topic straight from my childhood for sure. Which I'm actually a converted Nintendo fan. I was a SMS and genesis kid through and through. Until I caved and discovered the beautiful NES and more importantly to me, the SNES library.

Sega did things that Nintendo simply wouldn't do. It was a risky, edgy company. In that respect, I loved Sega. It was a necessary breath of fresh air and I was/am glad to gave been a part of the SMS and Genesis ranks. But, I AM way more into my NES and it's library now-a-day's. It's my opinion that though edgy and really sharp, colorful when it was released, Sega's system has aged poorly especially compared to the NES and it's library.
Sega to me is more nostalgic and loved by me for those reasons. I now prefer NES for 8-bitting around.

I may spend my time with Mega Man, Mario and Kirby... But I'll always have Alex Kidd, Sonic and Altered Beast.