Did you own a Sega Master System back in the day?

[treismac]

I'm wondering how many people out here in Digital Press (other than Sunnyvalle, who doesn't come around these parts much these days) owned a Sega Master System back in the glory days of the NES. I never had one. The closest thing to it was a neighborhood kid I knew for about 6 months before he moved away had one. I saw Master System games at Toys R' Us, but other than that, it was pretty easy to forget it even existed.

What were your childhood memories or lack thereof for the Sega Master System?

[Dr. BaconStein]

I missed the third generation completely so I guess it doesn't really count for me either way, but the only SEGA systems I ever owned were Pico and Genesis. My cousins on the other hand had Genesis, Game Gear, Saturn, and Dreamcast. Now that I remember, I think they did have an NES as well at one point, but no Master System.

[samspade]

I missed the boat on the sms. I started out with the nes. I didn't get anything sega until the genesis came out with Altered Beast and I saw the light.

[Drixxel]

Only one of my friends during my elementary school years had a Master System, and this was well past the prime (if you want to call it that) of the SMS in North America. I was aware of the console's existence before then from the scant coverage it had received in mags like GamePro but, prior to that point in the early-to-mid-'90s, I'd never played this mysterious counterpart to the NES. I remember thinking the console had a really appealing design (in this case, a model 1), and, while the games my friend owned didn't leave much of an impression, my curiosity was ongoing. Not too long after, my brother and I found a model 1 SMS with a bunch of games (commons and junk), priced cheaply as a lot, at a dilapidated small town pawn shop on a family road trip and we couldn't resist. Admittedly, I was rather late to the SMS party, and while that surely contributes to the console never having impressed me, I can appreciate the SMS for its interesting library and place in the history of video gaming.

[StealthLurker]

I had a SMS, NES and famicom back in the day. Got a NES for my birthday, SMS for christmas and a famicom the following birthday. It was fantastic not being limited to sega or nintendo. Also a bonus to play nintendo games way ahead of US releases... even more for titles that never made it to the states.

There was only one other kid in the neighborhood that had a SMS. So it kinda sucked in terms of borrowing games from other people.

Ah the memories playing Black Belt, Zillion II, Golvellius, WonderBoy in Monsterland, Choplifter, Vigilante, Shinobi, Double Dragon.... it was a magical time.

.

[madman77]

Likewise I was a NES guy, a friend of mine had gotten an SMS, but I only remember playing 1 or 2 games on it. We mainly spent time on his NES (or mine). A few years later a neighbor moved in who had an SMS and a Vectrex, which I had never heard of. We mostly spent time playing Minestorm, even though his parents bought him a pretty nice SMS library. I never really lusted after that system, but I did spend hours gazing at Genesis ads and reviews in EGM back in the day.

[YoshiM]

Yes, though I almost didn't have it.

I had borrowed it from a friend with the intent on acquiring it from him and I think it was a trade of some sort, it's been so long. The deal was done but then he tried to back out of it and was a real prick. I told him we made a deal and that he said it was all on the up and up. Then, as many did when young, pulled the "I'll get my Dad [to get you to give it back]" card. Ok...so I explained to my father was had gone on, which he was aware of and then he DID talk to my friend's dad and I think the other father agreed for me to keep the SMS. Needless to say that "friend" never came around anymore.

Didn't have much for it at the time: the built in snail game, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Kenseiden and I think Shinobi. Picked up Phantasy Star for $25 not long after it came out from some kid. It was a nice switch from the NES and was my gateway to a Genesis, which was the first NEW console I purchased with my own money.

[The 1 2 P]

Like 99.9% of every other kid back then I had an Nes and I'm so glad I did. But one time I went to my cousins neighbors house and he had an Sms(his parents must have not liked him) and I got to play it then. I remember playing Rocky and although it was fun it didn't compare to what I had on my Nes. Last year I finally purchased my very first Sms in a lot but I actually sold it before I ever got to play it.

[Aussie2B]

I don't think I had even heard of the Master System until the late 90s, so, yeah, definitely didn't own one. :P I'm happy to have one now, but I'm glad that I grew up with the NES.

[j_factor]

SMS was kind of my first console, though it wasn't really mine, it belonged to my dad. But, I'm a little too young to remember its "glory days", and in any case, we also had a Commodore 64 and it wasn't long before I got another console that was officially mine. I certainly remember playing SMS games; fond memories of Wonder Boy, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Psycho Fox, Shinobi, and Phantasy Star. I don't remember actually getting any new games, we just had the one set of games and that was it; I played the ones that we had, but when it came to getting new games, my mind was elsewhere. This would've been when the SMS was pretty much dead anyway.

[Tanooki]

Didn't you post this at Nintendo Age too? :P

I never had one. I got one around 5 years ago and annoyingly had to let it go. A couple months ago I got another in the similar barely used condition of the first but cost me triple but at least came with cib barely touched 3d glasses so that was awesome. My earliest experience was with a friend around age 12-13 who had nice Sega arcade ports for his and we played it a few times but that was it. To me it's my favorite of the cart based Sega systems while the DC stands for disc based.

[Az]

I bought one at launch (85? 86?) and owned it a while before purchasing a NES.

In the town I lived in the only place that sold video games other than the 2600 was a local Radio Shack, and they only stocked SMS stuff and no NES until the first year or two after they both launched. Several of my friends also owned a SMS, and it wasn't until the local department store opened and carried NES games that anyone owned a NES. I didn't realize I lived in bizzaro world until later on in life when I noticed hardly anyone even knew what a SMS was.

[theMot]

Here in Austrlia the sms out numbered the nes big time. I had a sms as did most the other kids who were gamers. I have only ever played a nes a handfull of times. When the snes came out though most people i knew had that as did i.

[M.Buster2184]

Not sure why, but the master system wasn't very popular in my area growing up. Everyone I knew had a Nintendo. To be honest I wasn't even aware of the Master Systems existence until like 6 years ago.

[buzz_n64]

I played on the SMS in the 80's before I even owned an NES. Glad I got my NES, but SMS was always fun.

[Tanooki]

Not sure why, but the master system wasn't very popular in my area growing up. Everyone I knew had a Nintendo. To be honest I wasn't even aware of the Master Systems existence until like 6 years ago.

It wasn't popular anywhere in the US, it's not you. Nintendo was forcing a monopoly on the market and for like every 10 NES systems maybe 1 SMS or TG16 was sold at the same time. They used ingenius yet disgusting contracts that would cut off a third party cold from future releases if they dared release games on non-Nintendo hardware consoles. That's why it never was popular, it didn't have a chance.

Sad thing is the SMS is a fantastic piece of hardware and more or less beats down the NES as far as capability goes, audio aside, and expansion memory mappers that did amazing stuff later in the game. Sega had it out from like I think late 1986 through early 1991, but by 1990 they gave up as the later stuff was all re-packaged stuff mostly and even a few of those were UK releases like Sonic 1, Strider, Spiderman and Golden Axe Warrior. Sonic being the worst to find, and even now if you can find an american release, the only tell is a UPC sticker on the box itself. I got one free recently on sheer stupid accident and even with like 10% of it gone, and 'dead' mold damage to it, I sold it for $225 up on ebay. I could have held out for more but I got to talking to a buyer all day long and he was so cool I just let him have it as it was all he needed towards a complete US-NTSC set. A non-damaged one of those boxes in amazing shape with the game and inserts that way too can push anywhere from $500(UK overseas buyer) to over $950USD domestically sold on ebay this summer.

I've got around 55 games for mine and a few of mine are PAL. I have Land of Illusion, Streets of Rage, Lucky Dime Caper, Sonic 1, Sonic 2, Sonic Chaos, and Master of Darkness are all PAL stuff, rest of my items like Golden Axe Warrior and the others are US. An interesting thing with some of the 1990+ release PAL games they're Game Gear converts.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

I knew of one person in my neighborhood who had one, and went over and played it once. I thought the graphics were colorful, but nothing about it made me want to go out and buy one. My attitude has changed since then.

[Bloodreign]

My cousin owned one back in the day, she may still have it. Another cousin of mine had one as well, but he got rid of it for a Genesis.

As for myself, I have one these days, great system to collect for even if finding stuff locally has dried up after an initial batch proved fruitful. It's a system I'd never give up, got Bubble Bobble complete for the thing, it absolutely murders the already popular NES version (I possess better versions of the game these days, but the SMS version stands tall as being a quality port).

[Greg2600]

I grew up in densely populated suburbia, and hardly anyone had a SMS, and nobody had the 7800 or admitted they did. I remember SMS in stores, and in fliers in the newspaper. I was slightly enamored with the 3D concept. I was not impressed by the box art, and I rarely would look at the displays in toy stores as a result. When the Genesis came out, I was intrigued to play it's versions of those titles I'd vaguely remembered. Shinobi, Alex Kidd, etc. I finally bought a SMS couple years ago with the coming of the Master Everdrive. It's a nice system, but I am 100% happy I had an NES then and now. Back then, at that age, we were all so into the NES, and didn't care about ANY other system. It was a few years before we actually paid attention to the Genesis after it was released. Giving up on the NES felt like giving up on your sports team.

[Atarileaf]

I had the NES too but did have a family friend who owned the SMS. I really liked the system and games but at that point, as a teenager with little disposable income, I wasn't about to buy a whole new console and I liked the NES too much to sell it to buy a master system.

[Graham Mitchell]

I owned an SMS as well as a NES back then. At the time I felt that while the NES definitely had a larger library and some very interesting games, overall the SMS games were a bit more polished, and the unique ones (ie-not arcade ports) were all amazing. (A few arcade ports, like Choplifter and Rastan, were actually pretty damn good.)

Phantasy Star is the best 8-bit RPG hands down, as long as you're into the futuristic setting. There's nothing on the NES that compares with how epic this game is, both in terms of scope/depth and presentation. It's such an advanced game that with the FM sound enhancement, you'd swear it was a Genesis game. It absolutely blew my mind at the time, and I was obsessed with it for quite a while.

Spellcaster is another classic that really gives the NES a run for its money. It's a combination of Mystic Defender (MD is actually the sequel to it) and iCom Macventures, like Shadowgate. It's a little clunky, but I assure you that at the time it was mindblowing.

The Fantasy Zone games, especially Fantasy Zone 2, were incredible. There is no NES game that looks as good as Fantasy Zone 2.

Zillion is an amazing game. It plays like a cross between Metroid and Impossible Mission with an anime theme. If you own a Master System, you simply must have Zillion and Phantasy Star. Zillioin 2 is a pile, though.

As far as light gun games go, Rescue Mission is my second favorite of all time (Gumshoe is the first). It's reminiscent of those Exidy arcade gun games where you have to protect the on-screen character. It's so fast-paced I remember my fingers being so sore...

Anyway, the SMS was like a well-kept secret when I was in 6th grade. Only me and a few friends had one, but it was awesome and very special. SMS owners in my middle school tended to stick together.

[sheath]

I bought a Master System with lawn mowing money when I was eleven. It was my first major purchase. Even though my family had owned several 2600 consoles and a handful of games and all of my friends had the NES I ended up picking the Master System for Quartet, Space Harrier and After Burner. I can't say I never looked back though, I kept trying to fill the void of popular NES games with Master System purchases. In the place of Zelda I got Golvellius and in the place of Metroid I bought Zillion. Instead of Excite Bike I had Enduro Racer and instead of Spy Hunter I had Action Fighter. After a while I realized that I liked my Master System games better than the NES games I had been craving. With Zillion 2, Shinobi, Space Harrier, Outrun, R-Type and others I began to expect the unique experiences that the Master System offered even in its sequels.

I did pick up an NES about a year and a half later and instead of the original Zelda I enjoyed Adventures of Link more, and I enjoyed Super Mario 2 a lot more than the original. I think the Master System library programmed me to expect completely new game types with each new release, not franchises and sequels. I expected that all the way through to "modern" gaming but since the original Playstation new games have been stamped out more frequently than they are made or bought.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I did.

I specifically remember being bummed out when I got mine that it didn't have Snail Race built in (mine was a later model that had Hang-On).

Having played Ghostbusters on Atari 2600, Commodore 64 and NES I remember that the SMS version was the best all-around home version.

Generally speaking I loved my SMS (still have my original along with a few other base systems I accrued over the years and a pretty big library of games). Great 1st party games, great arcade ports, and all sorts of fun stuff on the system.

[Blitzwing256]

I was a big NES nerd in the 80s, but in highschool I remember in my carpentry class a kid was selling some "sega" games he didn't want, he had about 30 of them (this was right after I bought a genesis) he was selling them sooo cheap that I couldn't pass them up as I had seen them in magazines/stores and was very curious, I absolutely loved Phantasy star 2 on the genesis (had just got it for xmas that year) he didn't have that game, but I had read it was getting a re-release in limited numbers that year. I ended up buying all the sms games for like 1$ for loose games and 2$ for boxed games. I then purchased the power base converter for the genesis, instant library! He had games such as golevious super wonderboy in super monster land, black belt rambo 2 alien syndrome and wonderboy 3 the dragon trap ,the last of which he held onto but let me borrow amazing game! that I just picked up at CGE this year. I eventually purchased the re-issue of Phantasy star (which I hear is tough to find with the sega 90s stickers on it) Although definately not as amazing as the NES, I am glad I was able to try out those great games back then when genesis games were too expensive to buy many of at the time.

[BlastProcessing402]

Got one for Christmas in 1987. Already had an NES, but saw some Sega commercials for upcoming games like Phantasy Star and had to get one. A few months later when PS came out, it was well worth owning the SMS.

No one else I knew had one, so trading games was out. Likewise, out of the many video stores around (wow that was a great time) most only carried NES games, only one had SMS games, and their selection wasn't very big, so it was hard getting to play a lot of games, but I did buy quite a few, and it was nice to have an alternative to Nintendo's monopoly. I was so happy that the Sega version of Double Dragon actually had 2 player!

I don't have the SMS anymore, sadly. I sold it when I got a Power Base Convertor, but really wish I'd just held onto it.

[Greg2600]

That's a good point on the video stores, because I don't remember any having SMS for rent. That would have really cut down on what I could have played.

[Emuaust]

Yes I did, still do, as a pal gamer it was a bit of a no brainer to have the sms, especially where I grew up. It might not have the range of titles the nes has but the expanded pal catalogue make it an excellent choice for those seeking a classic gaming experience that is slightly obscure to American gamers. A+

[Sabz5150]

I got into the SMS just as it was being phased out by way of a Game Gear with the MasterGear. That's when I started collecting video games. Master System games were few and far between at that time, but over a couple of years I picked up a decent selection. I remember seeing several copies of Sonic for SMS in a Kaybee in Jersey. Why oh why did I not buy one :( Anyway, I liked the SMS because there were a number of very good games and I HATED the GG's big sprites... the SMS just felt better (You learn to read the text over time). Even today, I still prefer playing SMS games on the Game Gear.

[DogP]

I did... for a few years. Some of my best video gaming memories are from it. I got it for Christmas ~1987ish... I was born in 1983, so I was around 4 at the time. I played a TON of Hang-On, Shooting Gallery, Gangster Town, Fantasy Zone, Shinobi, and of course the Snail Maze game. I was SO excited when I beat Shinobi... probably one of the first games I ever beat. And still, every time I play Hang-On and get to the night area, I get all nostalgic and think about playing my SMS as a kid.

The only other person I knew with a SMS was my babysitter, who would bring SMS games over. I remember going to a few stores to look for more SMS games, but couldn't find any.

But all my friends had the NES, and I played a LOT of Super Mario Bros at their houses... so I really wanted one, and got one for Christmas around 1989. The buttons on my SMS controllers were wearing out as well, so I ended up selling it, and stuck with my NES, until picking up an SNES 3 or 4 years later. I'm glad I got the NES, but I'm definitely glad I got to enjoy the SMS too.

DogP

[Tanooki]

Awww no love for Golden Axe Warrior? Guess it came out a bit late though to really matter. It out Zelda'd Zelda pretty much. The music was the only crap part, just totally bland and forgettable. That said the level design, overworld map, and gameplay were just total equals and in some little ways superior to what the NES offered but Zelda also was 3 years old by then so it's an homage copycat with upgrades.

[MarioMania]

I think Nintendo was scared of the Master System, He saw it as a real threat

What year did NOA start forcing 3rd Party Comps to sign to make games for the NES only??

[Tanooki]

My guess would be 1986 when the third party stuff started showing up in stores. Those contracts ran up through around 1990 I believe, whenever they lost that lawsuit because then you started to see games slide over to the SMS or the Genesis that the NES had. RC Pro Am, Smash TV, Battletoads, and the list goes on.

[M.Buster2184]

http://www.toplessrobot.com/2012/07/the_11_nerdiest_references_in_regular_show.php


Not sure if anyone watches Regular Show on Cartoon Network. The two main characters are regularly seen playing a Sega Master System. Makes me assume the creator of the show had one as a kid.

[kedawa]

I didn't own an SMS until well into the Genesis years (traded my Power Base Converter for it), but several of my friends owned the Master System when it was new.
In fact, I played far more SMS than NES in those days.

[BydoEmpire]

Yes I did, and it was awesome.

I had an NES and liked it a lot, but one day I went to a friend-of-a-friend's house who had a Master System and we played Alex Kidd all afternoon. I started taking a look at the other quirky, unique games and arcade ports and started really wanting one. I was lucky enough that my parents bought me a Master System set and Afterburner for my birthday one year (I bought the NES with my own money), and it was all SMS for me from that point on.

I loved a lot of the card games - Ghost House, Transbot, etc. They were cheaper and kind of cool, arcadey games. I thought the arcade ports were awesome - Outrun, Space Harrier, Golden Axe, Shinobi, Afterburner. I remember finishing Miracle Warriors after a call to the Sega help line to help me figure out where the final dungeon was, and somewhere I have a photograph of the "The End" screen to prove it. I played a lot of Kenseiden and Penguin Land. I liked that the system was just a little quirky, and that the games were generally high quality. I felt like i was in a cool, exclusive club (well, not that it was *that* cool to be 16 and really excited about a Master System).

I ended up selling my SMS at some point, probably to buy a Genny w/ SMS adapter), but I got another one about ten years ago.

One of my favorite systems.

[kainemaxwell]

Got my NES in '89, step-father had a Genesis when that was released and I later got a SNES. Had never known about the SMS until later.

[jb143]

Growing up in my area, NES was king. I was only vaguely aware of a system called a "Sega". I never saw an actual Sega system until years later when I first saw a Genesis(also referred to as a "Sega") and I just assumed that was the same system I heard about years ago. Wasn't for some time that I was even aware of the SMS's existence. I've owned one for a few years now. It's a fun and cheap little system to collect for and I wish I was at least aware of it back in the day.

[thegamezmaster]

I got one when it first came out and still have to this day. Love the system and games. Great fun. Plus you can play the games on a Game Gear with the Master System convertor for the Game Gear. Still have my huge collection of games.

[Videogamerdaryll]

I totally missed the boat on this system....SMS,GEN and SNES..I was Racing Motocross a lot,I had a big collection of NES at the time.

When I got a break from Racing...
I bought a Genesis and SNES and a bunch of games,..hooked up the Systems to a Living Room Floor Model TV..some game titles were the same game for both systems as I wanted to see what system I liked it better for..(trying to catch up to all I missed)
I made a good amount of money racing so I was spending money on GEN/SNES games like crazy.

Months later when I started racing again..a crafty crack head broke into my house and get this:...Stole all the GEN/SNES games but did not take anything but the game carts out of the cases..he left everything all nice and neat lined up just no games in the cases..I come back from racing go to play and NO GAMES................Almost like a GAG.Trick..I thought a family member was pranking me..

My NES games were actually on shelves in my room..I used to take a NES and a few games with me..(the crack head never went into my room)

I actually had no idea I was robbed..Family asked around and found out who it was,Police report but the games were long sold..
I have to say after all that I was pretty bummed out with gaming...I total haul came to my game playing...The cops didn’t do shit,I had no proof it was him..
With that the guy was in and out of jail,over and over...and over..

Only until years later did I buy a SMS when I started to collect a lot and the spark of gaming came back..

[A.C. Sativa]

I never even saw a SMS until about 1999, and that's the only time I've ever see one outside of a used game store, though I was aware of it long before that. Still have yet to meet anyone (in real life) that had a TG-16 though, and have never played one.

[ultimaweapon]

For the SMS, I spent endless hours on Teddy Boy. It took me nearly a couple decades to flip all 50 levels. I also enjoyed the first Zillion, having to write down the symbols to remember when punching them in the computer. Shanghai was a great puzzle title. Alex Kidd & Wonder boy were great series. Rambo II & III were also epic. Too many to list.

[Lady Jaye]

I didn't own a SMS, but I do have a lot of fond memories of that system from junior high, since my best friend did have it (still does, actually). Friday nights especially were our gaming-and-TGIF TV shows night, in the basement of her parents' house. I spent countless hours sitting in the rocking chair, the old couch or simply the carpet playing Wonder Boy, Wonder Boy III, Cloud Master, or Castle of Illusion (my four favorite games among the many she had).

[ifkz]

I got mine in Christmas of 1988 and put it away in a box along with 33 games in 1991 when I had saved up enough to get a Genesis. I still remember making the decision to get it based on the screenshots from the hanging box art sheets Toys'r'Us used to sell the games back then. Years later, in 1997 I still had everything; I pulled it out one day after a stressful round of college courses, and found myself playing my old favorites most every day. Eventually I started buying games, going to thrift stores and actively collecting the USA library. I was having more fun with it versus the then current 32-bit games that cost $60 each. It was a no-brainer for me.

It was quite different collecting it versus now. Ebay was small, and it was still possible to find stock at thrift stores. I had to get the last few games going through other SMS collectors online. I noticed in the mid 2000's that every thrift store started pulling their game stuff to hold in store auctions, or online auctions. Most of the game stock I saw then was Playstation, the cartridge stock had exhausted itself. But at this time ALL used thrift store games dried up, and collectors moved on to buying cheap games from Funcoland and mom & pop used game stores. This was my experience anyhow.

Owning it back in the day felt like an exclusive club. Almost no one else had one, and I always felt the graphics and games were far superior over the NES when I finally saw SMB, excitebike, etc. The only places that rented games were a local Blockbuster and a grocery store. Remember when grocery stores actually operated their own video rental departments? I think that pretty much died in the early 90's.

I think the experience must have been like owning a Neo Geo in the early 90's and having hardware that was exponentially ahead of the competition.

Without owning the SMS, I would not be a current gamer now. It had a major positive impact on my life, for sure!

[real_18aka]

i remember my dad bought me a sms 2 for my birthday when i was in elementary school got it with double dragon,shinobi, choplifter a cple other games, purchased at canadian tire of all places. one day he got mad at me and sold it to a friend of his, i had roughly 15 games by then. my dad then bought it back from that same guy a year later. paying alot less than he sold it for ,so i got my original system back i was happy i bought a few more games, then my dad sold it on me again to a different guy for 500 but this time i myself bought it back a couple months later for 150 and i have it to this day minus the original box which was lost along the way. ive never had a system sold twice and make its way back to the original owner. needless to say this system isnt being sold anytime soon lol

[Aussie2B]

I think the experience must have been like owning a Neo Geo in the early 90's and having hardware that was exponentially ahead of the competition.

Heh, that's a pretty extreme analogy. I wouldn't say the Master System was "exponentially ahead" of the NES, definitely not like the Neo Geo was to the SNES and Genesis. Although if you've only seen the early black box NES games that came out around launch, like Super Mario Bros. and Excitebike, I could see how you'd get that impression. But try comparing the average Master System game to stuff like Castlevania III, Battletoads, Super Mario Bros. 3, Kirby's Adventure, etc. etc.

[ifkz]

Heh, that's a pretty extreme analogy. I wouldn't say the Master System was "exponentially ahead" of the NES, definitely not like the Neo Geo was to the SNES and Genesis. Although if you've only seen the early black box NES games that came out around launch, like Super Mario Bros. and Excitebike, I could see how you'd get that impression. But try comparing the average Master System game to stuff like Castlevania III, Battletoads, Super Mario Bros. 3, Kirby's Adventure, etc. etc.

That's exactly right, and how my mind worked as a kid. I only saw the early NES games and whatever the Playchoice-10 machine had at the local 7-11 to compare to what I had at home. But to a ten year old kid, it seemed like a huge difference. I also see the flaw in not comparing the card games to most early NES games, to my eyes now, they look very similar despite the newer hardware.

[GizzyGames]

I still have the one I purchased back in the day in my collection. Fairly mint in box with glasses and all! Wish the guns would work on LCD screens =(

[j_factor]

Heh, that's a pretty extreme analogy. I wouldn't say the Master System was "exponentially ahead" of the NES, definitely not like the Neo Geo was to the SNES and Genesis. Although if you've only seen the early black box NES games that came out around launch, like Super Mario Bros. and Excitebike, I could see how you'd get that impression. But try comparing the average Master System game to stuff like Castlevania III, Battletoads, Super Mario Bros. 3, Kirby's Adventure, etc. etc.

When you're talking about the experience at the time, you can't include games like Kirby's Adventure, which came well after the fact. He wasn't talking about 1993. Also, I'm not sure why you'd compare the average game for one system to the top games for another.

I think if you compare contemporary releases, the SMS does come off as a lot more "advanced", but only up to a point. From 1990 on, the difference is much less pronounced, with the 16-bit era underway, the NES having more support, and more advanced mappers taking hold while the SMS has no change in hardware. Circa 1988, the SMS is decidedly "ahead" of the NES, though not necessarily in terms of having good games, of course.

[homerhomer]

Even though I had a NES, I read about the SMS and was overly excited from day one. I could hardly wait to get Outrun and After Burner at home. I can still remember I got the system from Costco after endless begging. It came with a free Double Dragon mail-in coupon that I filled out and used. I can remember thinking this is going to be the REAL arcade port of Double Dragon, I was wrong. I rented every arcade port there was, Alien Syndrome was cool, Quartet was cool, Shinobi was different and so was After Burner.

I then got Phantasy Star for Christmas and I was blown away.

And then then it was onto the Genesis, which I repeatedly rented from the video store.

[Aussie2B]

When you're talking about the experience at the time, you can't include games like Kirby's Adventure, which came well after the fact. He wasn't talking about 1993. Also, I'm not sure why you'd compare the average game for one system to the top games for another.

I think if you compare contemporary releases, the SMS does come off as a lot more "advanced", but only up to a point. From 1990 on, the difference is much less pronounced, with the 16-bit era underway, the NES having more support, and more advanced mappers taking hold while the SMS has no change in hardware. Circa 1988, the SMS is decidedly "ahead" of the NES, though not necessarily in terms of having good games, of course.

Saying "compare the average SMS game to the average NES game" would be a pretty ineffectual point, and it would be pretty tricky to come up with specific "average-looking" NES titles. I chose those games off the top of my head as good-looking NES games that look quite a bit better than the NES launch crop. I don't see how release dates matter in this context. There are plenty of late NES releases that look like garbage as well.

Either way, you're not seeing the forest for the trees here. The point is that the SMS isn't hugely different from the NES, not to the extent of the Neo Geo to its contemporaries. Even Art of Fighting, which was fairly early in the Neo Geo's run, was tremendously more impressive than what the SNES and Genesis could do, and then if you look at the later titles, they're not remotely in the same league (even the 32/64-bit machines couldn't handle its games). For something similar yet opposite, it would be like saying the Neo Geo ISN'T much beyond the SNES and Genesis based on the very early releases like Blue's Journey and Magician Lord, which weren't all that impressive on a technical level. Comparing the SMS to the NES based only on the black box titles isn't a fair assessment of the NES's capabilities.

[j_factor]

Saying "compare the average SMS game to the average NES game" would be a pretty ineffectual point, and it would be pretty tricky to come up with specific "average-looking" NES titles.

It's tricky to come up with average NES titles, but not average SMS titles?


I chose those games off the top of my head as good-looking NES games that look quite a bit better than the NES launch crop. I don't see how release dates matter in this context.

Release dates matter when we're talking about how things were at a certain time. 1993 is not part of that time, in this case. You're basically saying, you should have compared with a game that didn't exist yet.

That's like if I said, "3DO must have seemed really advanced in 1994" and you say to look at games like MDK and Disruptor. It's a non sequitur.


Either way, you're not seeing the forest for the trees here. The point is that the SMS isn't hugely different from the NES, not to the extent of the Neo Geo to its contemporaries.

It was an imperfect analogy, sure. But the difference is in degree.


Comparing the SMS to the NES based only on the black box titles isn't a fair assessment of the NES's capabilities.

I'm not assessing the NES's capabilities. I'm assessing the NES's results, compared to SMS, in a certain timeframe. And I'm not only considering the black box titles.

[fahlim003]

No, but I had a friend who did and he had a boatload of games and peripherals. I got my first SMS in the late 90s at a garage sale with Safari Hunt and Thunder Blade.

[Greg2600]

SMS had the hardware, but didn't have the developers that Nintendo did at that time. The Genesis proved this out. Moreover, SEGA itself wasn't the same company it became in 1989-1991. The arcade ports the Genesis (and SMS) got in those years were tremendous. SMS has a nice library now, but not in 1986-1987 during its initial roll-out. By that time Nintendo had release Punchout, Metroid, and Zelda, in addition to SMB. 3rd party franchises like Mega Man, Contra, Castlevania, etc. were coming out as well. SEGA didn't have the money to spend on big advertising either. Not to mention the absolutely hideous box art the games had, with no label artwork. It looked like a vastly inferior product to the consumer.

[M.Buster2184]

SMS had the hardware, but didn't have the developers that Nintendo did at that time. The Genesis proved this out. Moreover, SEGA itself wasn't the same company it became in 1989-1991. The arcade ports the Genesis (and SMS) got in those years were tremendous. SMS has a nice library now, but not in 1986-1987 during its initial roll-out. By that time Nintendo had release Punchout, Metroid, and Zelda, in addition to SMB. 3rd party franchises like Mega Man, Contra, Castlevania, etc. were coming out as well. SEGA didn't have the money to spend on big advertising either. Not to mention the absolutely hideous box art the games had, with no label artwork. It looked like a vastly inferior product to the consumer.

Correct. To a younger person back in the late 80s, the box art of the SMS games would be a turn off compared to the NES box art.(Judging a book by its cover I know.) Not sure a kid at the time would be aware of or acknowledge the better graphics unless they took time to research it, but what kid does that?

[homerhomer]

Correct. To a younger person back in the late 80s, the box art of the SMS games would be a turn off compared to the NES box art.(Judging a book by its cover I know.) Not sure a kid at the time would be aware of or acknowledge the better graphics unless they took time to research it, but what kid does that?

I did that! well sort of. While the artwork was not inspiring. I didn't care, I wanted Shinobi and After Burner II at home.

Back in the 80's I use to always go to the arcades and Sega kicked some major butt back in. So once I heard that Sega was going to have a home console, I about lost it. Even though I already had a NES, the games looked dated compared to the SEGA arcade games, I figured the SEGA arcade ports to the Master System were going to be close to the arcades.

[Flashback2012]

I did. I want to say we got it for Christmas in 1986 but my memory is fuzzy on that. I know we got a NES first, the ROB set but I cannot remember when we got it. Anyway, both the NES and SMS (as well as the 2600 before them) belonged "to the whole family" but over time, the NES ended up in my little brother's room and I ended up with the SMS in my room. As we got older, I eventually usurped the SMS as my own and in the early 90's I remember frequenting an Electronic Boutique near where I worked and buying up SMS games from them on the cheap when they tried to revitalize the line since the Genesis took off. I remember buying games like Castle of Illusion, Golden Axe Warrior, and I could SWEAR I got Sonic 1 and 2 from there. I've checked my copies but neither have the UPC stickers so I'm wondering if younger me was stupid and peeled the stickers off the cases. @_@

There was one other kid I knew who owned a SMS. I got invited to his house and he showed me the awesomeness of Phantasy Star. He let me borrow it for a bit and my brother and I played the HELL out of that game. We ended up having a falling out later on and I never spoke to him again. :| I do remember just after the Genesis had come out, I was in a Children's Palace store and found a discounted Phantasy Star hanging on a peghook. I wasted no time snatching it up as well as a few other Genesis titles including The Revenge of Shinobi and this quirky looking title with a funny name called Herzog Zwei. :) It's so weird to think about now but back then none of the games were kept behind glass cases and you could pluck them off a shelf just as easily as you could any toy in the store. Not empty cases like how Gamestop does it but shrink wrap intact games hanging on hooks or standing up on shelves.

I have fond memories not only of Phantasy Star but also of Fantasy Zone, Space Harrier, After Burner, Castle of Illusion, and quite a few others. :)

[treismac]

Correct. To a younger person back in the late 80s, the box art of the SMS games would be a turn off compared to the NES box art.(Judging a book by its cover I know.) Not sure a kid at the time would be aware of or acknowledge the better graphics unless they took time to research it, but what kid does that?

:-D I can't help but smile that you made the comment you did in light of the box art that you have for your avatar picture.

[substantial_snake]

My family had one but I don't remember when we got it, only that it just seemed to be there. They must of bought either at or near after my birth considering the time frame and the console policy we had at the time of basically striking when it got cheap enough. lol

I loved the thing though the few games we had were fun and memorable because we had so few games. The console itself seemed really futuristic to me at the time with its overall styling, color, and random diagram on top near the pause button. The whole SMS design really blew me away at the time and I remember we used to play with the light phasers outside all the time, even after we had moved onto the "nextgen" consoles of the day because they just looked so wicked. I think we also had a model with the pack-in game and that always impressed by buddies that would come over. I played plenty of my buddies NES games at the time but I was never too impressed with anything outside of SMB3 and Dunk Hunt..which is inevitably what everyone had at the time. Overall I enjoyed the thing and all the strong memories associated with seeing one nowadays.

On the games front I think we had:
Ghouls and Ghosts
Aerial Assault
Missile Command 3D (but no glasses?)
Shinobi
...maybe something else I can't think of right now

Ghouls and Ghosts scared the crap outta me when I was young. It became the default "watch your older brother play it at night" game and I still prefer it this day due to that association. I think we did make it to the end boss once but I know we never went through the whole game backwards. lol Aerial Assault was a standard if easy SHUMP back in the day, though the thing that made the biggest impression on me was the sunset stage. That feeling of WOW seeing the transition from sunset to night along with the music was just great. Those were the two I remember the best and probably played the most until we got our Genesis.

This thread kinda makes me want to go pick up another Master System simply for nostalgia..though I doubt I would play it much.

[kedawa]

My oddest SMS is memory is when my friend received a letter in response to one he wrote to Sega asking for help with certain games.
Someone at Sega actually took the time to photocopy a few pages of cheats for the games he was struggling with and send them to him.
How cool is that?
I don't remember all of the games, but one of them was R-Type, and we just about flipped when we used the info to find the hidden super stage.

[sheath]

Oh man, Sega of America's responses to customer letters back then were nothing short of awesome. Actually, Sega's customer service through the Genesis' days were nothing short of stellar in my opinion. Here are some responses I got from them back in 1989 and 1990 (http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/content/letters-sega-1989-1990).

[segagamer]

I did and still do...I think it was 1986, and saw the SMS after I got into the NES. Once I played it, I did not want to go back to the NES, so I sold everything I had for the NES, and used the money to buy lots of SMS games. Did not care for the Light Phaser games back then, since I bought the Base System package. But I did get the 3D Glasses and its games. Even though the games were more expensive in general, I really enjoyed playing the SMS. Once the Power Base Converter came out for the Genesis, I sold my SMS system but kept all the games. On eBay, I was able to purchase the Light Phaser and all its games. Plus, I purchased most of the EU games that are compatible with the US SMS, and I repurchased the Sports Pad to complete my SMS collection. I have most of the SMS games released in the US along with most of the EU-only games released before the Mega Drive was released in the EU.

[BydoEmpire]

I also remember rending the 3D glasses from a mom and pop video store, and thought Maze Hunter was pretty awesome. I think I rented Global Defense 3D as well and wasn't too impressed, but Maze Hunter was great. I was never able to buy the 3D glasses (or get them as a gift)>

[AMG]

Yes I did. I remember playing Double Dragon, Zillion, Altered Beast and many other games for hours on that console. At some point I got rid of it, but to this very day I still regret letting that machine go.

[M.Buster2184]

:-D I can't help but smile that you made the comment you did in light of the box art that you have for your avatar picture.

Lol yeah. Mega Man is not a proud example of fine NES box art.

[kedawa]

I love the box art for My Hero.
It never fails to crack me up.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I love the box art for My Hero.
It never fails to crack me up.

That's probably my favorite SMS game! Punching wine bottles and ducking spiked tires!

Once I get the song in my head ... forget it. Total earworm!


http://youtu.be/9i2MHLFPsds

[Melf]

My dad took me to buy a NES on Christmas Eve the year it launched. There were none to be found, and even the display units weren't for sale. After going to around 9 stores, we ended up back at Lionel Playworld (remember those?) where he told me I could get something else. I REALLY wanted a new game console, so I looked at the 2600 Jr. My dad said I could get that with 10 games, since they were so cheap. 10 games!

However, resting on top of the display cases behind the counter was a ton of Master Systems (the one with the built-in snail game and packaged with Hang-On/Safari Hunt). I guess the lack of marketing and Nintendo fever was really killing it. Of course, I had no idea about market share and all that nonsense at the time. I asked to see it and was impressed by the visuals. My dad said I could have the Atari with 10 games or the MS with 1 game. I was leaning towards the Atari when my brother leaned over and said that he'd buy F-16 Fighting Falcon if I took the MS. Well, between the pack-in games and the ones my dad and brother said they'd buy, that gave me 4 games right out of the starting gate! I took the MS with F-16 and The Ninja and never looked back.

Eventually a friend lent me his NES for a few months, and while I loved SMB 2 and The Legend of Zelda, I always preferred my MS. It made me the Sega fan I am today and gave me some awesome memories.

[Emperor Megas]

Absolutely; the Master System was pretty popular in my circle of friends. It was my favorite console that generation. I had an NES as well, but I didn't play it even a third as much as my Master System. The SMS is still one of my all time consoles. The only issues I had were the build quality (I've had a few die on me, I went through 3 in my youth alone), and the fact that there wasn't a pause button on the controller. :^|

[BlastProcessing402]

I love the box art for My Hero.
It never fails to crack me up.

All the more hilarious because it's one of the card games, so it's a pic of someone holding up the card, and then the actual art on the card.

[kedawa]

All the more hilarious because it's one of the card games, so it's a pic of someone holding up the card, and then the actual art on the card.

Exactly! I found a copy years ago for dirt cheap and bought it for a friend. After I gave it to him, he sent me a picture of his hand holding the box.

[treismac]

Exactly! I found a copy years ago for dirt cheap and bought it for a friend. After I gave it to him, he sent me a picture of his hand holding the box.

Sacrebleu! Mise en abyme!

[Guyra]

We had one in the family back then, but only played the built in Alex Kidd in Miracle World. Over, and over, and over again. :P