Help me decide what to collect next: Master Sys or TG-16?

[Mason P.]

I don't know which one I should collect for next. I have a near mint Maser System that I got in a deal a while back that came with Phantasy Star (have never turned it on), but I have heard good things about the TG-16/PC Engine. I like all kinds of games, and would try for a complete collection with box & manual. I just don't know which one to pick.

Help a guy decide,
Mason

[Simply Dave]

Personally, I like the TG16 better; however it seems like SMS games on the average are cheaper in price.

[ahamilton0953]

Personally, I think it would be cheaper for the SMS only becuase I see tons of games cheap, especially on ebay and a lot of them are complete. On the flipside, I never tried the TG 16, so I don't know if it would be fun or not.

[chrisbid]

why not both, its not as if either one have very large libraries

[Slimedog]

SMS is way easier to collect complete. Tracking down TG-16 games complete is a nightmare. There are lots of rare games that would fetch over $100 complete for the TG, but SMS probably tops out at around $30 and those are few and far between. Another reason to collect for SMS is the 3D games.

All that being said, I find it emensely satisfying to collect for the TG because of the difficulty and the overall high quality of the games.

[-hellvin-]

They're both gonna have tough titles. TG16 though, is going to have FAR more expensive prices for pretty much anything, and SMS only will have a few hard to find games that will be a bit pricey. I've completed the SMS collection, which was pretty easy, took me about 6 months of constant searching, and a little bit of luck.

The hardest titles for SMS are:

Aerial Assault
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
Castle of Illusion
Dick Tracy
Galaxy Force
Ghouls n Ghosts
Golden Axe Warrior
James Buster Douglas Boxing
Michael Jacksons Moonwalker
Power Strike
Slap Shot
Sonic the Hedgehog
Spiderman
Strider
Super Monaco GP

Those are the hardest games to find on the SMS. I don't actually own "Sonic the Hedgehog" because I don't technically consider it a hard US release. The game apparently was released here with a PAL box, but a US barcode sticker on the back over the Euro one. I've seen one come on ebay, and it had no picture, and that's it. It sold for over 200+ and I've seen some peopele on DP looking for that game and willing to pay that much. I'm not interested in bothering for a stupid UPC sticker, so I gave up and called my collection complete ;D.

Strider and Spiderman also have the US UPC stickers, and are in PAL boxes, but they're infinitely easier to find. The last one you're going to have to worry over is James Buster Douglas Boxing. QUITE rare. Even more so than Alex Kidd in Shinobi World IMHO. About a year ago around Xmas time, the game appeared once or twice on ebay and sold for 150+ each time. All the other games on the list are ones to check for, and are probably gonna be a bit more expensive. Try your luck searching for them in lots. I bought many lots during my SMS search and got rare titles cheap. Yeah, I had to resell a ton of crap a few times, but I always made out well. Good luck!

Oh:

and if you do decide to go for SMS, do yourself a DAMN FAVOR and click US only in the search. Having to sort through tons of damn PAL games is really fucken annoying. Also look out on Galaxy Force! The WHITE BOX one is NOT US. You have to get the silver box, that is a US copy and doesn't appear often. LOTS of auction list the white checkered box as the US copy.

[Ed Oscuro]

The hardest titles for SMS are [snips]:

Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
Galaxy Force
Ghouls n Ghosts
Golden Axe Warrior
Strider
Nobody asked me, but I'll sound off anyway.

Alex Kiddin in Shinobi World is one of the most common Euro titles, go get a copy if you don't care about having an R7. Mine's the US copy, personally, and I'm pretty proud of that.

Galaxy Force is a horrible, horrible port, in my opinion, but I didn't play too far into it. I just didn't see how it could get any better.

Ghouls n Ghosts, on the system, is one of the overlooked classic ports. I like the magical doorways that appear - gives the game something not present in other ports.

Golden Axe Warrior seems somewhat blah so far, but I'm going to give it more time.

Strider, if I recall correctly, is another port that can easily be missed. Go with the Genesis version. Actually, I've got at least one copy of Strider (collectable-grade one sits on my shelf), but hey. I just keep it 'cuz it's Strider, and because I still cry at night thinking about that SMS sale. LOL

Really though, you don't have to collect things in sequence. Get whatever's available. That is the secret to successful game collecting (in my opinion).

[Emuaust]

well as an Aussie id go for the SMS but hey its up to you,
Personally i wouldnt be anal about getting US only, it only limits
the selection that you can get for this great system.

[MrRoboto19XX]

I personally love the SMS, and while If I could find a freaking TG-16 Id collect for that, the SMS is great.

-Boxes look pretty all lined up on a shelf
-Not that hard or Expensive to find a complete US Set
-Card based games are always awesome
-The System just plain looks nice, and to me always seemed to have a nice "polish" to it
-Once you finish a US set, there are tons of unique Brazilian and European games to check out
-Experiance the amazing wonder that is the Snail Maze
-That "Sega" sound that comes up every time you start up the system sounds awesome in 8 Bits
-The early minimalist box art has a certain personality to it

Heh, that about sums it up for me, of course the good ol' power base has a special place in my heart for being the system I first collected for.

Ah, memories.

[FlufflePuff]

If you enjoy collecting games primarily found in the wild, you'll have more satisfaction with the SMS. If you enjoy a library with more quality titles, go TG16. I have both and I rarely buy off Ebay. In my 5 years collecting, I have probably seen 5 unique, reasonably priced, complete TG16 games in the wild. Much better with SMS IMHO.

[Poofta!]

kinda like comparing collecting Genesis games vs Atari 7600.

sms for cheap games, tg16 for games worth playing. graphics wise tg16 is a clear winner, however a bit more rare and costly. there really arent any must own/play sms games.

[FlufflePuff]

kinda like comparing collecting Genesis games vs Atari 7600.

sms for cheap games, tg16 for games worth playing. graphics wise tg16 is a clear winner, however a bit more rare and costly. there really arent any must own/play sms games.

I would challenge this statement. Phantasy Star, Ys, and Zillion are great games and I believe definately worth owning. I would agree the mix of crap to good is much higher with the SMS than with the TG16(very few truly crappy games), but there are a good chunk of games that need to be played.

[Poofta!]

-Boxes look pretty all lined up on a shelf

-Card based games are always awesome

-Once you finish a US set, there are tons of unique Brazilian and European games to check out

-The early minimalist box art has a certain personality to it



heh thats what tg16 is all about. except replace european and brazilian with ridiculous amounts of awesome japanese games.

[scooby105]

all depends how you're looking to collect the games too. are you looking for complete copies of each game or are you looking to just own a copy of every game? if you're looking to just own a copy of every game, go with tg-16 because the games are better and there's only a couple expensive games. but, if you're looking to own a complete boxed/in case set then go with sms because it's a pain to find all the tg-16 games in the cardboard case. hardly anybody saves the cardboard boxes.

[evil_genius]

TG16 if you like a challenge and have deep pockets. SMS is a satisfying system to collect for, complete games are easy to come by and are pretty common.

[Bad Dog]

I would go with TG-16

[Jumpman Jr.]

I'd say the SMS, but thats only because I almost have a complete collection of games for it, and only 2 loose games for the TG16. The TurboGrafx does have its appeal though, I think I'll try to collect for that one day, but not now

[Sparky]

Tg16 i collect and its lonely out there, not alot of places have it and your only friend will be ebay, its a great system but the SMS you may get more satisfaction and some more local finds.

[Mason P.]

I heard that you could get some really good pc engine games that never came out in the states.

So what it seems everybody is saying is master system has an easier collection to get complete, but the TG-16/Pc Engine has better games? Am I right is saying that?

[diskoboy]

Thats a good question.... And even from a die hard Sega junkie, I'd go for the TG-16 simply because finding anything TG related way is more of a challenge. Plus I think it depends on your taste in games.

If you like shooters and/or RPG's, go for the TG - there's just more of 'em
I like the SMS because of the 3-D games and arcade translations. But the good original games are hit and miss. The first wave of SMS games weren't all that great.

And you could never go wrong if you manage to find Phantasy Star.

[Ed Oscuro]

kinda like comparing collecting Genesis games vs Atari 7600.
Some kind of home computer? A mix between a 5600 and a 7800...scary! LOL

For my money, U.S. TG-16 is crap, and I am happy to avoid buying the domestic versions. Most PC-Engine games I'm interested in are English-friendly (think Ninja Spirit), or not released here in the states. Lots of competition, but that's what it takes to get good stuff sometimes.

SMS is good because you can Australian games on it (...I think). Shadow Dancer!

[anagrama]

5600

Oh, the irony... ;)



SMS is good because you can Australian games on it (...I think). Shadow Dancer!

You're not going to do the "SMS Shadow Dancer was only released in Australia" bit again, are ya Ed?


Oh, and for the main topic? Master System, of course :)
And I really wouldn't bother with a TurboGrafx at all - just go the PC Engine route if you fancy some NEC action.

[Lord Contaminous]

To me both systems are a tie, but if you decide to go Turbografx, get a PC Engine Coregrafx instead or a Duo/Duo-R if you can afford those.

The Japanese side of Turbografx is where the action's at. That's my gaming philosophy, never support a system that has a smaller library than its overseas counterpart.