How to ID loose Sega Master System Games?

[atarikurt]

The Master System is great but it can be really confusing. Buying games online is an adventure as most sellers don't have a clue what version of the game they are selling. Most pictures of the game are just the cover of the box which in most cases is identical to the international release.

I was just going through my Master System collection and discovered that I have 5 international release games mixed in. It is pretty easy to tell the difference if the games are boxed and in hand but is there any way to tell the difference between an international release game and a US released cart only game? Is there any difference?

From what I have read a game like Choplifter (released in both markets) will run in NTSC or PAL depending on what system it is played in. Is this correct? If it is then there is no difference at all between the carts themselves right?

[theclaw]

Several games use identical data chips between regions even if labeled different. As you know from Genesis and 32X, one can save BIG money for the exact exact same gameplay by figuring out what variant costs less.

Plus some PAL only Master System releases seemingly run perfect in NTSC. So we may never know which speed was their original intent.

Sometimes also US or PAL Master System cartridges were in fact alike. With those special ones once the box has been opened and all that, no one can ever again be entirely certain whether the cartridge's origin matches its apparent box! Who's to say how many Master System games are today paired to "incorrect" packaging?

[Parodius Duh!]

Back to the Future III, Jungle Book, and one other I forget are the only European titles that will NOT work in a US system.


Chances are if you are buying loose games from a US seller, then you will be receiving US released games. I highly doubt your common ebay videogame seller even knows about the plethora of European exclusive titles.....

[atarikurt]

Is it safe to say carts released in both regions are identical inside?

[tom]

Back to the Future III, Jungle Book, and one other I forget are the only European titles that will NOT work in a US system.


Chances are if you are buying loose games from a US seller, then you will be receiving US released games. I highly doubt your common ebay videogame seller even knows about the plethora of European exclusive titles.....

Ah I send many European SMS games to sellers in the mid 90s in exchange for VCS games. Sort of a trade. So there might be a few flying around.

But why does it bother you? (OP)

[o.pwuaioc]

Several games use identical data chips between regions even if labeled different. As you know from Genesis and 32X, one can save BIG money for the exact exact same gameplay by figuring out what variant costs less.

Is there a pre-compiled list of these games, at least some? All I know off the top of my head is the Master System Sonic NTSC v. Sonic PAL. I'm more than happy with my PAL copy!

[theclaw]

Is there a pre-compiled list of these games, at least some? All I know off the top of my head is the Master System Sonic NTSC v. Sonic PAL. I'm more than happy with my PAL copy!

Rampage apparently. US carts have Activision added to their cart label, instead of Sega alone for PAL.

[o.pwuaioc]

At least with Rampage there's no major price difference...

[atarikurt]

Ah I send many European SMS games to sellers in the mid 90s in exchange for VCS games. Sort of a trade. So there might be a few flying around.

But why does it bother you? (OP)

I find the Master System very confusing but interesting at the same time. It is confusing because the carts themselves are indistinguishable from one another worldwide. It is interesting because if some of them play differently but look the same it makes me want to find a way to ID them somehow.

[theclaw]

At least with Rampage there's no major price difference...

True. Excluding the obvious Neo Geo you don't get much worse for same gameplay content than: PAL Primal Rage 32X, PAL T-Mek, JPN The Ooze, several of Acclaim's later Japan Mega Drive games...

[sloan]

I only recently began purchasing European and Australian PAL games to play in my USA NTSC Master System. So far, I bought Moonwalker and Spider Man from sellers in UK. Is this risky, in that some games from overseas will not play in my NTSC console? I was under the impression that PAL games will play fine in NTSC Master System consoles.

[Scissors]

Back to the Future III, Jungle Book, and one other I forget are the only European titles that will NOT work in a US system.

My European Jungle Book works on my US system.

I only recently began purchasing European and Australian PAL games to play in my USA NTSC Master System. So far, I bought Moonwalker and Spider Man from sellers in UK. Is this risky, in that some games from overseas will not play in my NTSC console? I was under the impression that PAL games will play fine in NTSC Master System consoles.

Most will work fine. Although I haven't come across any that don't work, I've heard there are a few European games that won't work on an American System. If I recall correctly, Back to the Future III and James Bond are among the ones that don't work. There's probably a few more.

There are also some games that will play, but not without some glitches. Bart Vs The Space Mutants and California Games II come to mind.

[Atarian75]

Someone may have to do some more research on this, but the answer may lie in the screws. Most US games that I have seen have phillips head screws holding them together where as imports do not. Obviously games like Strider Sonic and Spiderman do not have phillips head screws since they are basically imports with a US UPC added to the box so you cant really tell on those. I have no idea if this rule holds true to every game as I only pulled out a few games at random to check.

-Atarian75

[CRV]

E-SWAT could prove a problem loose. There are two versions with major differences, and nobody's figured out what version was released where.

[theclaw]

E-SWAT could prove a problem loose. There are two versions with major differences, and nobody's figured out what version was released where.

Doesn't Captain Silver also have differences yet US and PAL cartridges look very similar?

[CRV]

Doesn't Captain Silver also have differences yet US and PAL cartridges look very similar?

The US version is only half the game.

[thegamezmaster]

The US version is only half the game.

So does this mean the Pal version is longer?

[CRV]

So does this mean the Pal version is longer?

Yes, it is.

[atarikurt]

Someone may have to do some more research on this, but the answer may lie in the screws. Most US games that I have seen have phillips head screws holding them together where as imports do not. Obviously games like Strider Sonic and Spiderman do not have phillips head screws since they are basically imports with a US UPC added to the box so you cant really tell on those. I have no idea if this rule holds true to every game as I only pulled out a few games at random to check.

-Atarian75

I have a couple games I know are PAL and they both have phillips head screws. I have to take a known US game apart to see if anything is different on the board like SEGA USA or something like that.