SMS Sonic the Hedgehog - Is this a US cart or not?

[Kroogah]

I see Sonic the Hedgehog is one of the rarest US SMS releases. However, I have no idea if the cart I have is US or not. It's cart only. Is there any way to tell if it's the US release? The label is the same style as all of my other US release carts. Same shade of red, same size grid, same lettering, all that. So how can I tell?

[imanerd0011]

I'm not familar with Sega Master System games at all, but I would think that if it worked on the U.S. SMS then it would be the U.S. version of Sonic 1.

[Duncan]

Not necessarily -- the US SMS will play most of the import titles as well, regardless of NTSC or PAL compatibility.

I think (not sure) that the red labels were only for the US market, though. So long as it doesn't say TecToy (the Brazilian releasing company), it's probably the US version.

[vision89]

Where did you get the game?

[Kroogah]

Where did you get the game?

Here, actually. Bought a US SMS with that cart and Super Tennis card.

[vision89]

Ah, well then it's hard to say. If you bought it at a local flea market or yard sale, or something like that, I would've said that it was safe to assume it's a U.S. version. Though since you got it on DP, it could go either way, in fact judging by the scarcity of the game and the amount of people outside of the U.S. selling games here, I would say it's likely an import. The U.S. Sega Master System is compatible with nearly every Euro SMS game, and yes it is compatible with the Euro Sonic. As well, the Euro Master System is compatible with the American games, though neither are compatible with the Japanese SMS, I believe. Well, I'd say your best bet is to simply e-mail the person you bought it from. As far as design differences on the labels, I have several imported SMS games, and I don't recall there being any label differences. Though keep in mind that I don't have the games right in front of me to know for sure. Good luck and enjoy the game!

[Chooky]

This SMS Sonic is the same game as the first Sonic for Game Gear, right?

[Jibbajaba]

This SMS Sonic is the same game as the first Sonic for Game Gear, right?

Yeah. The Game Gear game is a direct port AFAIK.

Chris

[Gemini-Phoenix]

I would've actually said Sonic Spinball was the rarest Sonic Master System game...

[SamuraiSmurfette]

Sonic Spinball wasn't released in North America, though.
So It doesn't count. ;)

[Raccoon Lad]

It's esentially the European version, but sold in stores in the US.

[Gapporin]

I think one way to check is to look at the back of the cart. If the screws are like NES and SNES screws (the ones that you can't unscrew with regular screwdrivers, I forget the name of them), then it's a European cart. Regular Phillips screws are American carts. Here's a picture I scanned that should more sense than this paragraph:

Clicky! (http://free.angeltowns.com/gapporin/cart.jpg)

[briguy578]

US late release carts also use the safety screw thing, though [I checked a few of my late release carts], so thats not an indicator. I'm pretty sure that US and European Sonic carts are exactly the same, and the only way to actually tell the difference is to see if your sonic cart's box has a US UPC sticker on the back.

[anagrama]

I would've actually said Sonic Spinball was the rarest Sonic Master System game...

Nonsense. It's rare-ish, but there's at least a dozen or so games that are harder to find.


And as opthers have said, the US Sonic is 100% identical to the European Sonic except for a UPC sticker on the back of the box.

[XxMe2NiKxX]

This SMS Sonic is the same game as the first Sonic for Game Gear, right?

Yeah. The Game Gear game is a direct port AFAIK.

Chris

Wrong. The SMS cart contains a single speed shoe monitor, whereas the gamegear version does not. </Obsessive>

Anyway, Europen carts have an extra safety screw, and have a country code on the header. You should be able to tell from that whether yours is american or not. I'll be bale to tell for sure if you provide me with a picture of some sort.

[anagrama]

Anyway, Europen carts have an extra safety screw, and have a country code on the header. You should be able to tell from that whether yours is american or not. I'll be bale to tell for sure if you provide me with a picture of some sort.

That may be the case with most US/European carts, but US copies of Sonic, Strider & Spider-man are simply European copies with an extra UPC sticker on the back of the box. There is no way of telling the difference from just the cart (since both are 100% identical anyway).