DCEmu Asks - Master System a History & Whats the greatest Master System Game Ever ?

[wraggster]

Continuing our network wide feature for just about every console thats emulated and that we own, in time it can be used as a reference point for people to look at what games are the very best on each system

Firstly heres a look at each system and a description to remind you of the history of the console.

http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemumastersystem.jpg


Sega Mark III / Master System
To compete with the Nintendo Famicom in Japan, Sega released the successor to the Mark I/II and called it Sega Mark III in 1984.

The Mark III could produce great 8 bit graphics with specs superior to the Famicom. The console had two game formats which were cartridges and a Sega "Game Card" format. The cards held only 256K of data (cartridges held over 4 times that amount), but the advantage to both Sega and the consumer was the fact that the cards were cheaper to manufacture, and sold for less then the carts did. Sega also introduced 3D glasses that could be used in some of their games. The Mark III was also backwards compatible with SG-1000 / Mark I & II software.

When Nintendo released the Famicom to America in 1986, Sega had no intentions of letting their rival get all the market share. They redesigned the Mark III, and changed the name to the Sega Master System (SMS). They approached Tonka Toy Distribution to market the SMS, and the console was released three months after the Nintendo NES in 1986.

Although the SMS was an impressive machine, it did not reach the level of success that the NES gained in America. The two reasons for this were poor marketing by Tonka Toys, and software restrictions implemented by Nintendo to third party developers. Third party developers were contractually prohibited from making games for any rival company. This meant that once a company had made a game for the obviously popular NES, they weren?t allowed to make any games at all for the SMS. As a result, the only outside developers for the SMS were Activision and Parker Brothers (though Sega did receive permission to "reprogram" / port numerous games developed by other companies). Sega developed the rest of the games themselves.

Some of Sega's best games started this way. The Popular RPG series "Phantasy Star" made it's first appearance on the Sega Master System. The SMS may not have been as successful as the NES in America, but overseas was another story. The SMS was extremely popular in the UK and Brazil where games were released into the the late 90's. The SMS succeeded overseas because it was much cheaper than the pricey NES, and by that time the second generation of games had been released which really showed of the SMS superior specs.

The SMS was re-released as the Sega Master System II in 1990 with a reduction in features to save money. The card port was cut, as was the power light and Sega logo and music upon starting the machine.

FACT: The Sega Master System featured a built in secret game. Turn the system on without a cartridge inserted, when the instructions pop up hold the D-pad up and push buttons 1 and 2. In the game your goal is to guide a small snail through a series of different maze levels. Not much play value, but it's a nice extra to have.

Sega Master System II was another story. Sega included Alex Kidd in Miracle World as a built-in freebie.

As mentioned, the Master System / Mark III was backwards compatible, but the games appeared with a darker color palette then the original Mark I & II systems.


Thanks again to Dark Watcher for his info above.

Now heres our question to you - Whats the greatest Sega Master System Game Ever ?


For those interested in Master System Games theres a Portable Console with 20 Built in Commercial Games

http://image1.play-asia.com/170/55/pa.92922.2.jpg

features
Plug & play portable video game system
TV out connection
20 built-in 8-bit SEGA licensed games
Built-in speakers
Function key: start / pause
Direction key: A, B, up, down, left, right
2.4" LCD TFT color screen
Requires 3xAAA size batteries. (battery not included)
Official product, containing games authorized by SEGA

description
The PlayPal Portable is a video game player, which is pre-loaded with 20 classic games from SEGA Master System and Game Gear games. There is no need to buy game cartridges. The high quality 2.4” TFT LCD and built-in speakers allows arcade like playing experience in the palm of your hand. The PlayPal Portable game player has an A/V connector and with the included cable the player can be connected to any TV. The built-in SEGA games provide action adventure while testing your intelligence and skill. Enjoy playing classic SEGA games anytime, anywhere with the new PlayPal Portable video game Player.

Includes :
- Super Columns
- Astro Warrior
- Kung Fu Kid
- Quartet
- Bomber Raid
- Sonic Triple Trouble
- Columns
- Sonic Drift 2
- Alex Kidd in High Tech World
- Alex Kidd in Miracle World
- Altered Beast
- Assault City
- Aztec Adventure
- Global Defense
- Fantasy Zone
- Fantasy Zone the Maze
- Penguin Land
- ECCO Tides of Time
- Snail Maze
- The Ninja

On sale at Play Asia for US$ 29.90 (~15.25 GBP)

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-2pz-71-8y-49-en-15-playpal-84-j-70-1zp6.html


More DCEmu Console History Can Be Found Here (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/)

Previous History Topics:

3DO a History & Whats the greatest 3DO Game Ever ? (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemu-asks-3do-a-history-amp-whats-the-greatest-3do-game-ever--83557.html)
PC Engine a History & Whats the greatest PC Engine Game Ever ? (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemu-asks-pc-engine-a-history-amp-whats-the-greatest-pc-engine-game-ever--83475.html)
Atari2600 a History & Whats the greatest Atari2600 Game Ever ? (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemu-asks-atari2600-a-history-amp-whats-the-greatest-atari2600-game-ever--83210.html)
Playstation2 a History & Whats the greatest PS2 Game Ever ? (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemu-asks-playstation2-a-history-amp-whats-the-greatest-ps2-game-ever--83125.html)
Nintendo 64 a History & Whats the greatest Nintendo 64 Game Ever ? (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemu-asks-nintendo-64-a-history-amp-whats-the-greatest-nintendo-64-game-ever--83028.html)
Nintendo Gamecube a History & Whats the greatest Gamecube Game Ever ? (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemu-asks-nintendo-gamecube-a-history-amp-whats-the-greatest-gamecube-game-ever--82866.html)
Sega Genesis/Megadrive a History & Whats the greatest Game Ever ? (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemu-asks-sega-genesis-megadrive-a-history-amp-whats-the-greatest-game-ever--82817.html)
Sony Playstation a History & Whats the greatest PSone Game Ever ? (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemu-asks-sony-playstation-a-history-amp-whats-the-greatest-psone-game-ever--82560.html)
Sega Dreamcast a History & Whats the greatest Dreamcast Game Ever ? (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemu-asks-sega-dreamcast-a-history-amp-whats-the-greatest-dreamcast-game-ever--81958.html)
Nintendo NES / Famicom a History & Whats the greatest NES Game Ever ? (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemu-asks-nintendo-nes-famicom-a-history-amp-whats-the-greatest-nes-game-ever--81428.html)
Snes a History & Whats the greatest Snes Game Ever ? (http://console-history.dcemu.co.uk/dcemu-asks-snes-a-history-amp-whats-the-greatest-snes-game-ever--80855.html)

[wraggster]

The master system holds such great memories for me and the game i count as my number 1 game is Pro Wrestling, i just loved the game and once you find out how to win easily i became champ very quickly :)

[WhizzBang]

I prefer the Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog to the Mega Drive one. The Master System one seems to have more variety and inventiveness and the graphics and speed are not too far off the Mega Drive one.

R-Type and Asterix (but not its sequals) were very good on the Master System too.

[bah]

Wonder Boy 3 - The Dragon's Trap.

[markbarkins]

Phantasy Star was a great game

[mikebeaver]

Safari Hunt was a cool game on the SMS as as the original Wonder Boy.

Mike..

[eb49273]

Phantasy Star. Duhh!

[Hawq]

Snail Maze! though to be more serious the Mortal Kombat on it was fun as were Sonic & Alien 3

[JKKDARK]

Phantasy Star

[adibakemono]

Wonder boy III : The Dragon's trap

[titch.ryan]

the alex the kidd game built in to the console is quite fun.

[YourStillWithMe]

Stop wasting our/my time with stupid polls wragster.

[M Dash]

My vote:

Sonic Chaos (a.k.a. Sonic & Tails)

[JKKDARK]

the alex the kidd game built in to the console is quite fun.
Alex Kidd in Miracle World ;)


Stop wasting our/my time with stupid polls wragster.
Then what are you doing here? You don't have to click on this thread.

[The_Ultimate_Eggman]

LOL must be struugling for news on the psp front with all the best game topics..

[dejkirkby]

California Games!!

[Dull Blade]

never really got to play much sms. Dynamite dux was fun, its not as good as the arcade version.

[osgeld]

phantasy star

oh yea i love how you couldnt be bothered to put a image of the master system on the article but yet made room for a 1 page play asia ad

[booradley1212]

Zillion was the best game for the system, hands down.

Astro Warrior was pretty damn good, too.

[Dull Blade]

phantasy star

oh yea i love how you couldnt be bothered to put a image of the master system on the article but yet made room for a 1 page play asia ad

What are you talking about? there's a pic of the Master System, how could you not see it...

[10shu]

alex kidd in miracle world

kenseden(not totally sure of the title but it was a samurai game)

vigilante

sonic the hedgehog

zillion (best master system game ever!!!)

[osgeld]

What are you talking about? there's a pic of the Master System, how could you not see it...

no all i see is some crappy handheld with built in games from play asia

[JKKDARK]

no all i see is some crappy handheld with built in games from play asia

I NOTICED IT'S IN A HARD LOCATION FOR YOU

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/8429/smsma1.png

[osgeld]

i see nothing

http://cheesefactory.us/bull.jpg

man im about getting tired of this funky acting site

[YourStillWithMe]

LOL must be struugling for news on the psp front with all the best game topics..


yup

[SSaxdude]

I never played many SMS games, but I did like Ninja Gaiden. I love the NES version, but the SMS one has better graphics and completely different gameplay.

[jamotto]

golvellius

[Zourn]

There was also the version of the SMS that came with 2 controllers and a gun in the same box, had Hang-On and Safari Hunt, TWO built in games!

[drock82]

double dragon and zillion hands down

[mcdougall57]

gotta be the game that was built in, i think it was called alex the kid

[sausage dog]

Wonderboy 3: The Dragons Trap was by far the best game ever on the Master system. Instead of the usual left to right, A to B, level design you had a huge sprawling landscape to explore. I remember the old WE5T ONE cheat to this day.

Other than that I would say:

-R-TYPE

[VampDude]

Phantasy Star! :)

[Oktober]

I loved the built-in Sonic on the Master System II, that truly was awesome. I personally prefer it to the Mega Drive and anything after it. All the spinning round made me feel drunk!

[Eviltaco64]

The original Phantasy Star, I suppose.

[Christuserloeser]

Many great games, but yeah, Phantasy Star it is.

[Triv1um]

Wonder Boy III

No doubt, the best game to EVER to this day.

[Eviltaco64]

I kinda liked the port of Golden Axe to the Master System.