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The Sega master system appreciation thread of SegaScope 3D!
- Thread starter catmincer
- Start date
IrishNinja
Member
awesome! yeah, that's totally the same guy who did Alex Kidd in Miracle World & others, too
sixteen-bit
Member
Pretty snazzy., Are those straight scans or vector traced?
Just scans, but at super high resolution and that extracted from it. Or finding scans and cleaning them up as much as possible.
Like this guy from Golden Axe Warrior:
IrishNinja
Member
that dude looks rough!
and, you know, ganon-like
and, you know, ganon-like
sixteen-bit
Member
any likeness unintentional, surely
sixteen-bit
Member
Neat Rocky toy inspired by the SMS game at SDCC
IrishNinja
Member
nice! somewhat related: the SHMUPs twitter keeps showing awesome R-type/etc figures from there too
Polioliolio
Member
So.. I find myself getting into Master System... and it's so weird, because I barely heard of it as a kid, and even now, I know virtually nothing about it.
I went through most of this thread and saw a ton of lovely looking games I've never even known were on the system.
I have but one game, and a couple more pending in a trade, and I can feel myself needing a system soon...
Judging from this thread, it seems there are a lot of hardware releases, and I'm wondering with which I should jump into the scene.
Recommendations?
Also, I'm looking for game recommendations. I can't believe there's a freaking ALF game.
Right now, all I have is Rampage w/ Space Harrier, Choplifter, and Double Dragon on the way.
It's pretty exciting to learn the Master System wasn't just a failed NES competitor and that there's a whole library of sweet looking games!
I went through most of this thread and saw a ton of lovely looking games I've never even known were on the system.
I have but one game, and a couple more pending in a trade, and I can feel myself needing a system soon...
Judging from this thread, it seems there are a lot of hardware releases, and I'm wondering with which I should jump into the scene.
Recommendations?
Also, I'm looking for game recommendations. I can't believe there's a freaking ALF game.
Right now, all I have is Rampage w/ Space Harrier, Choplifter, and Double Dragon on the way.
It's pretty exciting to learn the Master System wasn't just a failed NES competitor and that there's a whole library of sweet looking games!
People seem to have memories of Double Dragon on the SMS from when they were kids, and in their heads it seems like an acceptable game and hey, it's better than the NES version because it has co-op, right?
The gameplay is so beyond busted. It's the worst version of DD, possibly ever.
For SMS NEEDS I'd say Phantasy Star and the Wonder Boy series. There are plenty of good to great games like Fantasy Zone, Golvellius, Kenseiden, shameless Zelda clone Golden Axe Warrior, Rastan, etc.
Light gun SMS games are pretty good, too. Rescue Mission, Gangster Town, etc.
The gameplay is so beyond busted. It's the worst version of DD, possibly ever.
For SMS NEEDS I'd say Phantasy Star and the Wonder Boy series. There are plenty of good to great games like Fantasy Zone, Golvellius, Kenseiden, shameless Zelda clone Golden Axe Warrior, Rastan, etc.
Light gun SMS games are pretty good, too. Rescue Mission, Gangster Town, etc.
One thing worth noting about the MS is that, although it looks like it shares a lot of its library, a lot if the games are completely different: All of the MS sonic games were completely individual, for example, and the likes of of Shadow Dancer and ESWAT are much closer to the original arcade games.
My recommendation is Asterix: it's a nifty Mario clone based on a French comic. It's gimmick is to offer a different level depending on whether you play as the hero or his side kick.
IrishNinja
Member
Zillion is high on my personal list too, Rampage as well. finally played Cyborg Hunter recently and that was kinda promising.
was the SMS Double Dragon really worse than the Genesis one? the latter looks great but even CGR made it sound broken.
was the SMS Double Dragon really worse than the Genesis one? the latter looks great but even CGR made it sound broken.
SeventhSon
Member
Master System Double Dragon looks great in screen shots, but it is really terrible. I got a loose copy with my console last fall, and whoa is it bad. Flickery, terrible hit detection.
It completely destroyed the NES here. I didn't even know about NES until 2002 when I visited a friend who had one sitting in the wardrobe that we got out and played for the day.
Recommendations from me (in no particular order):
Mickey Mouse: Castle of Illusion
Mickey Mouse: Land of Illusion
Alex Kidd in Miracle World (if you don't have it built in)
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
Sonic 1
Sonic 2
Sonic Chaos
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (my personal favourite and also first game I ever played)
Batman Returns (I think this is a really underrated Batman game)
Daffy Duck in Hollywood
Wonder Boy
All I can think of off the top of my head, so I might add more later.
IrishNinja
Member
always so crazy hearing from others whose childhoods weren't dominated by the NES, again seeing SMS games in a rental shop alone would've blown my mind
yet another late release for the system i didn't know about - YT videos look great, and Koshiro too? onto the list this one goes
yet another late release for the system i didn't know about - YT videos look great, and Koshiro too? onto the list this one goes
Polioliolio
Member
Crazy. My only exposure to Master System was once in my neighbor's garage. I had no idea what it was, but I think we may have played a game on it one time or something. Never heard of it the rest of my childhood.
Where are you from Peagles? England?
Anyway, I'm extremely intrigued by there being even more classic Sonic games I've never played. Awesome.
And if someone could explain to me Alex Kidd and Wonder Boy... is there a link between them? How many games are in those series? Is Monster World a spinoff?
This is literally the first time I've ever heard of Mickey Mouse's Land of Illusion and so many others. I'm getting excited.. wallet am cry.
I don't remember ever seeing NES games in our video shop. I remember seeing maybe 10 (max) SNES games later on and thinking the Starwing box looked funny
People always rave about Batman on NES but I think people are missing out on the Master System game. It's a nice platformer; you can choose between easy or hard routes for each level and you don't have to spam punch all the time like in the NES one. In fact you don't even punch, you just use your batarang. You collect upgrades and keep them until you die, so there's a huge incentive not to get hit. The boss battles are a little simple but overall I really like the game.
New Zealand.
Alex Kidd and Wonder Boy are separate series. I'm not aware of any link though that's not to say there isn't one. Monster World is part of the Wonder Boy series I believe.
I prefer the Master System Mickey games over the Mega Drive ones. I still need to rebuy them though, they're some of the only games I've ever sold.
Then again in the NES version you can max out your stats by simply beating up enemies that don't actually exist. (Did that when I was a kid. I know there's a play through of the game demonstrating the technique.)
Infernal Monkey
Member
Oh yeah, Master System was huge in New Zealand. Nintendo/Mattel priced themselves out of the country, basically. That and awful distribution.
These are amazing, thanks! Would you happen to have any SMS game manuals around that feature 'Professor Playor'? The internet is lacking a proper high resolution scan of that old dude. He was my favourite thing about flipping through the instructions for various Sega games.
"Collecting fruit will give you points!"
"Watch out for enemies, they're no good!"
"Press button 1 to advance past the title screen!"
I think this is the best image of him around currently:
These are amazing, thanks! Would you happen to have any SMS game manuals around that feature 'Professor Playor'? The internet is lacking a proper high resolution scan of that old dude. He was my favourite thing about flipping through the instructions for various Sega games.
"Collecting fruit will give you points!"
"Watch out for enemies, they're no good!"
"Press button 1 to advance past the title screen!"
I think this is the best image of him around currently:
Nintendo distribution has always been awful here (and continues to be awful). I think we were the only country in the world where PS3 and Wii console sales charts were backwards, lol!
IrishNinja
Member
man, some of the SMS scene went up a bit, huh? like, i did okay with Golden Axe Warrior & recently with Alex Kidd in Shinobi World, but stuff i thought i'd replace on the cheap - Fantasy Zone, Wonder Boy, Alex Kidd in Miracle World - people want like $25-30 for these now? @$%^
BIN prices are most always bullshit. I was surprised how difficult it was to find Wonder Boy, it being an early popular game I thought it would fare like Action Fighter and The Ninja. But I had it on my list since the beginning and it's one of the last game I snatched. I got it complete for 7 without shipping back in May.
Fantasy Zone isn't really expensive / rare here, I bought mine for 3.70£ plus shipping (shipping was more expensive than the game lol). FZ2 is much more difficult to find at a correct price, I had to fork 27 and I think it was a bargain.
My motto for Master System collecting was to get nothing more than 10, except for the usual few. Generally the games with 15 to 25 BIN (cart only lol) can be had for under 10 complete, but I had to be very patient and monitor them closely.
Fantasy Zone isn't really expensive / rare here, I bought mine for 3.70£ plus shipping (shipping was more expensive than the game lol). FZ2 is much more difficult to find at a correct price, I had to fork 27 and I think it was a bargain.
My motto for Master System collecting was to get nothing more than 10, except for the usual few. Generally the games with 15 to 25 BIN (cart only lol) can be had for under 10 complete, but I had to be very patient and monitor them closely.
sixteen-bit
Member
I copped FZ2 at goodwill for $3 about 10 years ago. No manual tho.
IrishNinja
Member
think you mean F-16 Fighting Falcon my dude!
Polioliolio
Member
So I ended up putting the lowest possible bid for some CIB games I was considering doing a trade for. The trade doesn't include CIB games, but for the low prices they were on ebay, I ended up throwing up the min. bid on a couple games for the heck of it... But then went ahead with the trade anyhow.
And well crap, I won them all.
So I'm going to have two extra Double Dragons and one extra Space Harrier.
And well crap, I won them all.
So I'm going to have two extra Double Dragons and one extra Space Harrier.
sixteen-bit
Member
just consider it trade bait i guess
Good list but you're missing 4 essential action games:
Kung-Fu Kid
The Ninja
Quartet
Blackbelt
.....these are must haves.
Polioliolio
Member
Thanks for the tips guys. How about system revisions. Is there a specific system model I ought to be looking for?
I did some minimum bids, and did a trade.. ended up with some duplicates.
Would anyone be interested in trading some Sega Master System games of similar value for:
Double Dragon CIB in Good-ish condition
Choplifter CIB in Okay condition
Space Harrier w/ Box in Acceptable condition
?
I did some minimum bids, and did a trade.. ended up with some duplicates.
Would anyone be interested in trading some Sega Master System games of similar value for:
Double Dragon CIB in Good-ish condition
Choplifter CIB in Okay condition
Space Harrier w/ Box in Acceptable condition
?
Both revisions are different enough they are both worthy of owning imho.
Export (non-japanese) SMS1 is the original, iconic version. It also has the card slot for the 3D glasses. Don't bother with card games, they were all reprinted as cartridges. It also has RGB out. It's easier to mod for FM sound (fewer stuff to solder).
Export SMS2 lacks the card slot. But it come with a BIOS including Sonic or a revised version of Alex Kidd in Miracle World (the only changes are the buttons are inverted to follow the Super Mario pattern, and Alex Kidd eats an hamburger instead of a rice ball). RGB out is only for the French version of the console, which also lacks composite/rf out but adds a really easy 50/60Hz mod. RGB can be modded back in for other export versions. Imho Alex Kidd alone makes this version worth it.
Japanese SMS has FM sound integrated, as well as a 3D glasses connector. Its expansion port means export games are easy to play with an adapter. It can't play Light Phaser games but it can play Paddle games (the opposite is true for export consoles). It can also play SG-1000 games, An export model (SMS1 or 2) can be modded to reinstate all the missing features, but this is some heavy work.
SG-1000 Mark III is the previous Japanese model, and lacks the integrated FM module (can be bought separately) and the 3D output.
IrishNinja
Member
i spent a fortune on it all the same; early beat-em-ups don't age well but they were such hot shit. i'd trade poliolio but i don't think he anyone wants global defense.
A Black Falcon
Member
It was an okay game before better things like Golden Axe or Ninja Turtles released, but by the late '80s, yeah, it was hopelessly dated. I have the SMS version; it's okay, for the like 20 minutes it takes to beat, but after finishing it once I have had little interest in playing it again... it has definitely aged poorly. It's too simplistic, even for a beat 'em up.
Is there an internal lockout in the US/EU models keeping Japanese games from working through a basic cartridge adapter, or is there some other reason why playing Japanese games on a US system seems to be so difficult?
The region lock is three things. The shape of the cartridge, which can't fit, several connexions are missing / different, and the Japanese console doesn't require its software to be signed (to keep compatibility with earlier SG-1000 games.)
It has been shown that many Japanese software are signed nonetheless and would have no problem running on an export console. There could always be the odd exception but no list was compiled with this information yet.
I think an adapter could be made but I never heard of one ever manufactured.
Something like this maybe? http://www.aliexpress.com/item/SMS2...K-II-Japanese-Version-Adapter/1161566569.html
That's the opposite one, to play export games on a Japanese console. But yeah, same idea. You can see it doesn't contain any fancy electronics, just rewiring of the socket.
I'd encourage you to buy such adapter directly from the smspower.org guys, they made one that uses the expansion port instead of making a tower of doom and, well it's homemade by fans so it should be encouraged.
Yeh I know, but if it's all there is, it might be easier to get a JP system.
I wanted to wait until I had a working Master System to make this post, i order to show further proof, but since you seem so interested, here it is anyway.
Hey guys, I finally got After Burner! I'm so excited this game is just ACE!
Wait, what's this on the cartridge?
It looks like a connector of some sort?
What a dirty mess of wires! Someone clearly hacked into that cartridge.
They couldn't even bother to link all the connector! what a crap job
Oh hey, it's working! Well, you'll have to take my word for that, this specific Master System is broken so I'll add screenshots at a later time.
In addition, this Japanese copy of Phantasy Star received a programmed eeprom containing the translation by smspower.org . I was also able to test my three other Japanese games, which played very nicely except for the part that they are all Paddle games and the Paddle controller isn't usable natively on an export system. It's just a matter of modding the console to fake Japanese mode, but I have yet to do it. The console was NOT Bios modded, it was running the stock Export Alex Kidd Bios. All my four games were correctly played nonetheless.
I used After Burner because
I made this hack of a hack a few weeks ago, but my console broke a few days later (for unrelated reasons
I think
This next mod will kickstart my SG-1000 collection.
If someone could make me a nice sticker, with instructions how to print (I'm so bad at this), I'll be very grateful!
aquatarkusone
Neo Member
Alex Kidd: High-Tech World almost ruined gaming for me.
Master System was our first console and our only game besides Hang On was the hated Alex Kidd. Me and my brothers had played a Alex Kidd game in the video games store and it was better than mario. We had to have sega. I later found out that the game in the store was Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, on Mega Drive. We ended up with totally different experience. (neither me or my brothers could read english at the time)
If you haven't played the game, here's my recollection. First stage was a puzzler too hard and boring. Second stage was platformer where you could throw ninja stars so it was cooler than mario. At some point you had to pray 100 times to get a passport (?) We played that game like infinite monkeys on infinite typewriters. It was counter-intuitive no-fun.
I made a friend in school because he had a sega as well. It turned out his mom worked at the company that distributed sega in to Finland at the time and he had, like, all the games i wanted to lend. I ended up with more fond memories of sega than nindendo.
Master System was our first console and our only game besides Hang On was the hated Alex Kidd. Me and my brothers had played a Alex Kidd game in the video games store and it was better than mario. We had to have sega. I later found out that the game in the store was Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, on Mega Drive. We ended up with totally different experience. (neither me or my brothers could read english at the time)
If you haven't played the game, here's my recollection. First stage was a puzzler too hard and boring. Second stage was platformer where you could throw ninja stars so it was cooler than mario. At some point you had to pray 100 times to get a passport (?) We played that game like infinite monkeys on infinite typewriters. It was counter-intuitive no-fun.
I made a friend in school because he had a sega as well. It turned out his mom worked at the company that distributed sega in to Finland at the time and he had, like, all the games i wanted to lend. I ended up with more fond memories of sega than nindendo.
You put on some armour and it's too heavy now you can't move again ever GAME OVER!
You touched a piece of burnt paper it turned to ash GAME OVER!
You turned on a computer and it shocked you and you died GAME OVER!
OMG it's 5 o clock GAME OVER!
The stairs are too rickety to climb.
Actually half the stairs are missing.
IrishNinja
Member
ah, never actually saw how it worked...that's awesome, thanks khaz!
haha i know everyone hates it but again, i was really interested in point & click type games as a kid and didn't have a PC, so i got all into it & still halfway defend it to this day...really, the biggest bullshit part is how you get the legit pass in the town: that was one of the few times in my life i had to call the sega help line because what the fuck
haha i know everyone hates it but again, i was really interested in point & click type games as a kid and didn't have a PC, so i got all into it & still halfway defend it to this day...really, the biggest bullshit part is how you get the legit pass in the town: that was one of the few times in my life i had to call the sega help line because what the fuck
It's one of the biggest bullshit games of all time, lol.
Ah what am I saying, I'm secretly in love with it hehe
smbu2000
Member
Well I've never owned a Master Sysem before and I finally got my hands on one. Bought this the other day from Yahoo Auctions JP:
Along with my first game from a local store, Zillion:
I was thinking about getting a mega adaptor (power base converter), but I got a pretty good deal on the JP Master System so I went for it. It was a barebones system (no accessories included), but I've just been using my Mega Drive stuff with it.
The only problem I've had so far is that it seems my Mega Drive RGB cable was put together to utilize the stereo sound from the headphones port and it doesn't output any sound otherwise. That's all fine and dandy for my MD, but it means I get no sound from the SMS if I use RGB. The sound works fine if I use my MD composite cable w/mono sound, but the picture quality isn't so hot.
At the moment I'm thinking about trying to get another RGB cable or doing the Audio mod on it, which doesn't seem very difficult.
Anyway, I should be picking up some more games for it this weekend when I get a chance to re-visit a store that's near my gf's place. I stopped by there a few weeks ago, but I didn't have the SMS at that time.
Along with my first game from a local store, Zillion:
I was thinking about getting a mega adaptor (power base converter), but I got a pretty good deal on the JP Master System so I went for it. It was a barebones system (no accessories included), but I've just been using my Mega Drive stuff with it.
The only problem I've had so far is that it seems my Mega Drive RGB cable was put together to utilize the stereo sound from the headphones port and it doesn't output any sound otherwise. That's all fine and dandy for my MD, but it means I get no sound from the SMS if I use RGB. The sound works fine if I use my MD composite cable w/mono sound, but the picture quality isn't so hot.
At the moment I'm thinking about trying to get another RGB cable or doing the Audio mod on it, which doesn't seem very difficult.
Anyway, I should be picking up some more games for it this weekend when I get a chance to re-visit a store that's near my gf's place. I stopped by there a few weeks ago, but I didn't have the SMS at that time.
That's awesome man!
Make sure to get the Gender Adapter from the guys of smspower.org, so you can play all the export exclusives too.
You've got the superior/easy version, no need to mod it for 60Hz, Region, RGB, FM, BIOS, or make an adapter yourself. The only thing that won't work are the Light Phaser games, but on the other hand you can play all the paddle games. Make sure to play Megumi Rescue (め組レスキュー
, It's one of my favourites.
Make sure to get the Gender Adapter from the guys of smspower.org, so you can play all the export exclusives too.
You've got the superior/easy version, no need to mod it for 60Hz, Region, RGB, FM, BIOS, or make an adapter yourself. The only thing that won't work are the Light Phaser games, but on the other hand you can play all the paddle games. Make sure to play Megumi Rescue (め組レスキュー
, It's one of my favourites.Would you like to start a business of exporting cheap SMS and SG1000 games?
IrishNinja
Member
haha my man khaz asks what we're all thinkin
for real though, congrats!
for real though, congrats!
smbu2000
Member
That gender adapter looks pretty handy. I think I'll pick one up even though I don't have any other SMS games yet.
I haven't really seen any cheap SMS games locally. Yahoo Auctions JP looks a bit better although paying the bank transfer fee/shipping increases costs some. I'm still not too sure about pricing on games though as I hadn't really looked too much into SMS stuff beforehand.
I had been just looking at the adapter for my Mega Drive to try a few games out, but I was able to pick this up for relatively cheap(under 5000 yen shipped) which is less than what the power base converters go for so I said why not? Since it also has the bonus of FM sound built in.
That's why right now I'm just looking into getting a few games I'm interested in like Aleste and some others.
I haven't really seen any cheap SMS games locally. Yahoo Auctions JP looks a bit better although paying the bank transfer fee/shipping increases costs some. I'm still not too sure about pricing on games though as I hadn't really looked too much into SMS stuff beforehand.
I had been just looking at the adapter for my Mega Drive to try a few games out, but I was able to pick this up for relatively cheap(under 5000 yen shipped) which is less than what the power base converters go for so I said why not? Since it also has the bonus of FM sound built in.
That's why right now I'm just looking into getting a few games I'm interested in like Aleste and some others.
Dammit I want Solomon's Key 
It's amongst the Japanese-only games I want, with Satellite 7, Super Racing and Woody Pop. And Hanmistu Hime (Alex Kidd in high tech world) if someone ever releases a translation, but I probably won't play it anyway ^^
Pretty good pick up anyway. I never really got into Opa Opa but it feels like Pac-Man in a spaceship with guns, which can't be a bad thing. You'll get a blast with Aleste and Kenseiden but be prepared as they are both quite difficult.
It's amongst the Japanese-only games I want, with Satellite 7, Super Racing and Woody Pop. And Hanmistu Hime (Alex Kidd in high tech world) if someone ever releases a translation, but I probably won't play it anyway ^^
Pretty good pick up anyway. I never really got into Opa Opa but it feels like Pac-Man in a spaceship with guns, which can't be a bad thing. You'll get a blast with Aleste and Kenseiden but be prepared as they are both quite difficult.
I have a possibly silly question for you folks.
I have some games with damaged cases but otherwise complete and in good condition, and I have duplicates of some games where where different components are in different condition.
Is is considered OK to mix and match parts from different games and create a copy that is as good as possible? I would like the games to look as nice as they can, and I'm unlikely to ever sell them so that wouldn't be an issue, but I know that it would still bother me if this was something that was frowned upon.
I have some games with damaged cases but otherwise complete and in good condition, and I have duplicates of some games where where different components are in different condition.
Is is considered OK to mix and match parts from different games and create a copy that is as good as possible? I would like the games to look as nice as they can, and I'm unlikely to ever sell them so that wouldn't be an issue, but I know that it would still bother me if this was something that was frowned upon.