Sega Master System Thread

[ryosnk]

Welcome, to you all SMS fans. I was always a huge sega fan. When all of my friends and school buddies were talking about the NES I was enjoying space harrier, ghost house, and alex the kidd. From everybody only two other people I knew had the SMS and it felt good, kinda of a underground video game group. I roughly have like sixty games and if I had some money I would try hard to complete that collection but till I see a complete collection on ebay I guess I can wait.
I would like to hear and chat with all the SMS people on about their stories on the system and games. Maybe we can also trade/buy certain games from each other.

Here are some cool link:
http://www.brooklynboysgames.com/sms/SMS.htm (Nice site with pics of games)
http://alexkidd.com/list_games.php3?country=ALL (List of all the games released on all territories)
Here are some SMS commercials (thanks for the link Jack)
http://gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/specials/page2.pl?spec=adspecial2&pagenum=2&pages=7&title=F lashback:%20Video%20Game%20Advertising%20Part%202

Yeah :D 800

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/ryosnk/sega_hot_summer_ad1.jpg

[evilmax17]

My older brother had a SMS and I had a Nes, so we had the best of both worlds. I loved me that SMS, favorite game probably being Wonder Boy in Moster World/Land (i think it was world).

[LV-426RS]

I never had one as a kid, but months ago I bought one with a lot of 14 games. I think I must have gotten all the bad ones.

[ryosnk]

Yeah that was a fun game. I wanted to get the NES but mostly all my friends had it and I would usually go to their home and play. Has anyone played a game with the 3dglasses (they rock) :).

[LV-426RS]

What games support the glasses? I've got Zaxxon 3D and Missile Defense 3D, any others worth getting?

[gdw3877]

Finally, some one else! I had the Master System when I was in elementary school. I was the only besides this girl named Ethel. Her and I used to trade games all the time. All my friends had a NES and they used to come over to my house to play the master system.

I have about:

Master System-40 games
Sega CD-5 games
32x-20 games
Genesis-40 games
DreamCast-100 games

When I was little, I used to write letters to Sega and Sandy Rao used to write me back. You have to be hardcore Sega to know who she is. I even have a collection of the Sega Visions magazine Sega used to publish. I have a site with pics of my collection, but it is currently down (damn verizon). Once it's up, I'll post the link. PM me ryosnk and we can talk Sega.

[evilmax17]

Oh man, I totally forgot about Sega Visions! I have a stack in some box somewhere in my house.

[wingeddragon]

I had a SMS when it was first was released and then sold it long ago. I have just recently picked up 2 more SMS's. One has the built in Hangon/Safari Hunt and the other has the built in maze game. To games that are really worth picking up if you dont have them are Phantasy Star and Govellius.

[bmulligan]

I'm curious to know how well the 3-D glasses really work, and how they work. Is the effect convincing or just annoying ?

[gdw3877]

Oh man, I totally forgot about Sega Visions! I have a stack in some box somewhere in my house.

Yup, Sega Visions. Sega trying to compete with Nintendo Power.

[pdat2003]

Great topic; I don't think the SMS gets as much love as it should. Don't forget about Phantasy Star. I loved Ghost House and would play it for hours at a time (I lost it though and could never get another copy).

I still love the boxes they came in; a little like primitive DVD/game boxes of today.

[punqsux]

strange question, is the ms light gun compatable with the genesis?

can i play sms light gun games on genny with the base convertor?

can i play genny light gun games with the sms gun?

[Snake2715]

I'm curious to know how well the 3-D glasses really work, and how they work. Is the effect convincing or just annoying ?

I recently bought one of the SMS systems up with 14 games or so and the glasses. It works pretty well.

Its basically a shutter over each eye and they alternate opening and closing really fast.

It looks pretty good but can cause strain.

[evilmax17]

strange question, is the ms light gun compatable with the genesis?

can i play sms light gun games on genny with the base convertor?

can i play genny light gun games with the sms gun?

Don't have an answer for you punq, but you just reminded me of how FREAKING COOL the gun looked. I love how the gun in Zillion was the actual SMS gun. I miss the 80's :cry:

[punqsux]

i picked up a gun a couple weeks ago for $1 but i dont have any genny or sms gun games, and would rather not waste my money if i dont have to

[punqsux]

also, if you cannot use the gun on genny (since i have no need/desire to own an actual sms) im going to gut the gun, and gut an nes zapper. get an actual two gun holster and wear it with my nintendo belt buckle

nerd to the maaaaaax XoD

[bmulligan]

strange question, is the ms light gun compatable with the genesis?

can i play sms light gun games on genny with the base convertor?

can i play genny light gun games with the sms gun?

I just happen to have one of each, I'll try it in a minute and give you a definitive answer.

[punqsux]

awesome! thanks mulligan

[bmulligan]

Nope, doesn't work. at least not with Justifier light gun games. I'd have to go digging to find out about menacer games since that's burried in a clost somewhere. There's no start button on the SMS gun either and the SMS gun only uses 4 of the 9 pins, while the Justifier appears to use all 9.

[punqsux]

good to know, thanks!

does anyone have the stuff to test the sms gun on a genny with the sms base and an sms gun game?

what gun games are there for sms?

[evilmax17]

good to know, thanks!

does anyone have the stuff to test the sms gun on a genny with the sms base and an sms gun game?

what gun games are there for sms?

I'd argue that Gangster Town was the best. Its also the only one I can remember at this point.

[LV-426RS]

While looking for an answer to if the sms gun works for genny gun games I came across a page that said all sms accessories are compatible on the genny with the sms base. However, I didn't save the links.

[ryosnk]

Here are some games that use the gun.
I hope you all enjoy these posters. :)

Rescue Mission
Missile defense 3d
Hang On & Safari Hunt
Ganster Town

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/ryosnk/sega_insert1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/ryosnk/sega_insert_back1.jpg

[Senaz28]

I too was a SEGA kid at first. I gave in to peer pressure and got the NES at the exchange of my SMS. Shouldn't have done that.

7 years later I bought a SMS 2 console when they were brand new 29.99 was it? It had the built-in Alexx the Kid game. I traded in my NES for the $$ for it.

Then I traded the SMS 2 in for the $$ for a SEGA Genesis and never looked back...until now. I want a Power Base Converter so bad! SMS games were awesome, they had so many arcade ports (shoddy as they were) and NES just didn't. I also enjoyed the willingess on the part of SEGA to port some of the successful Genesis games to the SMS. Mickey Mouse Castle of Illusion and Sonic the Hedgehog were cool Genesis games to play on the SMS.

-Brian P

[flybrione]

Sega Master System is the goods! I had it when I was a kid and can not get enough of it. Black Belt, Rastan, Space Harrier, Ghost House, Alex Kidd, Wonder Boy and so many more. Nice Thread Ryosnk.

I still play some roms on the Dreamcast, I sold my SMS to upgrade to SNES and Genesis back in the day. I would really like to get another one in the future.

I know that Videogame etc on Harlem and Montrose still carries systems.

Someday :idea:

[drsuper23]

The memories. I loved My Hero for such a long time until I realized that it had no ending... Sad!

[ryosnk]

I would like to see some classic SMS commercial! Would anyone know where I can view some?

Also hey flybrione, you should check yardsales, thrift stores, and pawnshops because I have been able to get some games for cheap. The village thrift store had a bunch of sms games with box and manuals and they sold them to me at $2 each. I got alter beast and rescue mission that way :).

[PSTwoGamer]

I remember when I was little I would play the SMS at my cousin's house. R-type, Alex Kidd, Shinobi, Space Harrier, Altered Beast.. those were great plays for hours.. Eventually, I bought my first system which was the Genesis when it first came out..

[Jack]

I still play SMS every now and then. I actually have a bunch of games on my trade list (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21553). I'd trade them for other SMS games.

It seemed that whenever a game was released for both SMS and NES, the SMS usually got the superior version. Rampage, Wonder Boy (Adventure Island on NES), and Ghostbusters were all better on SMS.

While I liked the 3D effect the glasses gave, most games that supported it were not very good.

Here are some SMS commercials:

http://gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/specials/page2.pl?spec=adspecial2&pagenum=2&pages=7&title=F lashback:%20Video%20Game%20Advertising%20Part%202

[ryosnk]

Has anyone played nightmare basketball or alex the kidd in shinobi world and if so, are they any good? Interested in purchasing them but expensive.

[GizmoGC]

I remember as a kid I had a NES and one of my friends had a SMS. I remember all we did was play Alex Kidd's and the gun game with ghosts. I too own a SMS with all the Alex Kidds and a bunch of other random games. Good ol' Alex kidd, I wish we would see a GBA Collection released.

[jeugder]

I love the SMS! I had one when they were first released, sold it around '90 to get a Genesis, then purchased a new/sealed one in December 2000 for $100 (or maybe it was $200...whatever it was, it was worth it).

One game I haven't seen mentioned that is one of my favorites is Zillion. I consider it one of the SMS's best games (aside from Phantasy Star, Wonderboy III, etc...).

Any of you guys Zillion fans?

jeug

[ryosnk]

If you a Sega fan check out this site:http://www.sega-16.com/

[nygfan]

Ahh the Master System, my first system. I can still remember the time I celebrated beating Rescue Mission for the first time and accidently stepped on my 3D glasses. Luckily it only cracked instead of a full break so I could keep playing Space Harrier 3D.

[Gameboy415]

I still have my Master System right alongside my CDX, Saturn, Japanese Saturn, and Dreamcast, all hooked up and ready to play!

I've got around 22 games, all but 5 of 'em complete (I got these 5 for free).

Actually I have another SMS tucked away on my shelf! Ha, I wonder what games are built in......I should check it out one of these days....

Anywho, has anyone here played Sonic 1 or 2 on SMS? I've always wanted to pick them up (I'm kinda a fanatical Sonic Team collector) but I just haven't gotten around to it.

[zman73]

Never has the SMS system (got a power base converter free when I picked up my Genesis), this was such an overlooked system though

They actually released a 2 player Double Dragon game

Phantasy Star and Psycho Fox were awesome games at the time... ahh memories

[Strider Turbulence]

Quartet rocks.

I have two Master Systems, one of them has some kind of mini-analog (?) controller merged with the D-pad.

[ryosnk]

Quartet rocks.

I have two Master Systems, one of them has some kind of mini-analog (?) controller merged with the D-pad.


Can you post a pic of the mimi-analog?

[Strider Turbulence]

Don't have a web cam so I can't do that. It's this...thing (I just call it a mini-analog) that is placed in the middle of the D-pad. On the other controllers I've seen, it was just a hole on the d-pad.

[peloquin17]

ahhh quartet.

i totally forgot about that game.

SMS was my 2nd system i owned (atari 2600 being the first)

zillion was my favorite. quartet was a close second.

i have a bunch of games, but my last system exploded...yes, thats right...exploded. i plugged it in and there was a bang, and lots of grey smoke. it sucked.

i have to buy a new one.

[ryosnk]

Their was a store in Chicago (windy city games or deals) that had a mint never opened SMS with the 3d glasses pack-in. I already had one but I just had to have it :). I purchased the system with alex the kidd in miracle world for $120. Overall everything was nice and the items were all in plastic with no marks or finger prints in the system.

[FOnewearl]

I still have my SMS & about 50 different games & always was a big fan as I got one for Xmas back when they 1st came out.

Afew of my favorites that I didn't see anyone else mention

Kensiden
Aztec Adventure
My Hero (Probably my personal favorite out of all the card games)
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Fantasy Zone
The Ninja

Most of the Master System games were really hard compared to Nintendo games IMO

Also I don't think I saw anyone mention anything about the music on the SMS I still to this day can remember some of the music to alot of the master system games even if I haven't played them in years like the music in Alex Kidd in Miracle World for example :D

[daroga]

Hi Guys,

I just got (or will get when it ships to me) a Master System. I had no idea it even exisited until a few years ago (well, maybe many years ago now), as all the people I knew had NESs. Anywho, I', fairly ignorant about them and had a few questions.

Are there region lockouts for the systems? That is, can I play a PAL game on my NTSC Master System? If there are lockouts, is there an easy way to tell on eBay the difference between the two versions. Both US sellers and UK sellers look to have neraly identical items up for auction. If it doesn't matter either way, though, I won't worry about it.

I enjoy reading the game suggestions. Keep them coming! And if anyone has any SMS games they'd like to sell or trade to a n00b in this system, let me know.

daroga

[epobirs]

I'm curious to know how well the 3-D glasses really work, and how they work. Is the effect convincing or just annoying ?

This version for PC use goes into more detail:
http://www.stereo3d.com/60gx.htm

It was a technique developed by Tektronix. Each eye looked through a simple B&W LECD display. Effectively just one pixel that would either let you see through or blocked the view. This was synchronized with the monitor displayed flipping between two slightly offset images of the same image. By having each eye only see one of the two versions of the image the illusion of depth was created.

[Jack]

Are there region lockouts for the systems? That is, can I play a PAL game on my NTSC Master System? If there are lockouts, is there an easy way to tell on eBay the difference between the two versions. Both US sellers and UK sellers look to have neraly identical items up for auction. If it doesn't matter either way, though, I won't worry about it.

You should be able to play most, if not all PAL games on your NTSC system. I think I recall reading that there are a few PAL games that don't work on NTSC systems, but I'm not sure. I wouldn't worry about it too much. I have quite a few PAL games and haven't had any problems.

[daroga]

You should be able to play most, if not all PAL games on your NTSC system. I think I recall reading that there are a few PAL games that don't work on NTSC systems, but I'm not sure. I wouldn't worry about it too much. I have quite a few PAL games and haven't had any problems.

Awesome! Thanks for the reply. Now I just have to hold back on buying a ton of games. Is there a decent, somewhat comprehensive review site out there for SMS stuff? Even more modern reviews would be cool. I'd just like to read up on some games suggested here and elsewhere that I know little about. I'm planning on trying to pick up the games I know (AfterBurner, Out Run, Sonic, and other SEGA classics), but would love to know about hidden gems (yet hopefully not rare and cost me an arm and a leg! :shock: )

Thanks!
daroga

[Lina]

Is this system rare, and/or worth anything? I read it was fairly popular in Australia, but not at all in the US.

I have the older bigger console... with at least 50+ games. Plus, I got the adapter where you can play the games on Genesis, as well. And some crappy peripherals like the 3D glasses, guns and some joysticks.

Just wondering.

[sblymnlcrymnl]

I have never seen one of those before, not even in a picture. :oops:

[alonzomourning23]

I need one of the older consoles. I picked up one years ago from the "want ad" and it had like 60 games and the original system for 100. It was a great deal, esepcially since it came with phantasy star (which sold for about 100 at the time, since that was the only way to play it). The system didn't work, but since the games were well worth it I didn't care that much. I ended up buying the second model, which kb was clearancing at the time. The problem is, the second model doesn't play the card games (I was to call them hucard, but that's just was the tg16 ones are called).

Also, a used. complete set of 3d glasses sells for like 50. No idea what anew one would fetch.

[Lina]

Damn... 50 bucks for the glasses?

I think I got 2 of them, too.

[LV-426RS]

I got the glasses and the effect is very good for it's time IMO. I remember reading some time ago that the glasses are easily broken around the hinges. I've had no problems from mine but if you are looking for a pair be sure to check that area out.

[Lina]

Yes, the effects were pretty cool... I especially used to like playing Maze Hunter with them.

The rest was very cheap though, like you say. It wouldn't take much to bust the hinges.

[ryosnk]

Well I just a copy of golden axe warrior in the mail. Its a zelda rip but a good one on that though.

[jam3582]

Man good old SMS only had like 3 games for it. My bro got it for when i was like 7 or 8 I cant remember . Favorite game was astro warriors wow that shooter had me hooked for years I never beat the game but it was fun anyway.

Oh I have a question what was the name of the game that was built into the system it was like a game were u guide a mouse or something through a maze and how do u enable it ?

[Snake2715]

oooh a game built in eh?

I have one witht he glasses and aabout 8 games maricale warrios being one of them.

I had it up for sale and no one ever bit...

the glasses were good for their time. Its funny to think that maybe the Gamecube will be talked about like the SMS is talked about in 15 years.... I mean everyone growing up has the PS2 and most are missing the Cube...

I still cant believe I missed the SMS for the NES. I prefer the NES but the SMS is no joke.

[Jack]

Oh I have a question what was the name of the game that was built into the system it was like a game were u guide a mouse or something through a maze and how do u enable it ?

I don't think it ever had an official name, but it is commonly refered to as the "snail maze" game. To access it, press and hold buttons 1, 2, and up when you turn the console on.

[evilmax17]

Are there any "rare" games for the system? What are the big money getters?

[Heyricochet]

Are there any "rare" games for the system? What are the big money getters?

There isn't a very high demand for the system from what I understand. I know one of the rarer games is Alex Kidd in Shinobi World. I'd look at digitpress for the rare ones if you're wondering.

[antichameleon]

My roommate had one of these back in 90-91.

He liked R-Type and we both had fun playing Great Baseball.

[Darkside Hazuki]

I got the glasses and the effect is very good for it's time IMO. I remember reading some time ago that the glasses are easily broken around the hinges. I've had no problems from mine but if you are looking for a pair be sure to check that area out.

Indeed, I had to hold my original pair on with a shoestring (!) after the earpieces broke off.

And Space Harrier 3D was a hoot.

[jam3582]

I don't think it ever had an official name, but it is commonly refered to as the "snail maze" game. To access it, press and hold buttons 1, 2, and up when you turn the console on.

thanks u sir.

[asianxcore]

loved this system. many hours were spent playing Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Shinobi and Space Harrier.

[zman73]

I am still hoping to find that complete copy of Psycho Fox, one of the most overlooked games on the system...

Since I just picked up a SMS a month or so ago, Ive missed out on 2 or 3 ebay auctions, unfortunately estarland wants toooooo much for a loose cart, which I wont buy anyway

[IkilledLassic]

Loved SMS....I was one of 3 kids to have it in elementary school. First game we got for it was Black Belt and it kicked ass. Then we got Alex Kidd which was so much better then Mario. Tried to tell my friends that but they didnt listen.

You know what game was impossible? Fantasy Zone. Could never beat it.

Cool shooter to pick up:
Bomber Raid by Activison.

I could never spell Rumplestiltskin right (still dont know if I can) in Kings Quest for SMS

[ryosnk]

Are their any rare games for this system?

Also Bomber raid rocked!

[Jack]

As far as US releases go, I believe Buster Douglas Boxing and Sonic the Hedghog are the rarest. Phantasy Star can sell for quite a bit too, but it's much more common than the other 2.

Aerial Assault, Alex Kidd in Shinobi World, Castle of Illusion, Dick Tracy, E Swat, Ghouls and Ghosts, Golden Axe Warrior, King's Quest, Montezuma's Revenge, Power Strike, RC Grand Prix, and Super Monico GP are pretty hard to find too.

The PAL versions of many of these seem to be more common.