it's funny, you didn't actually try out Fighting falcon....if you did you'd see its not compatible with the pbc. it only works on a sega master system.
"So basically you're screwed, but you're not." haha I remember fondly watching this review. It's still great. I sort of wanted one of these when I saw the review in '08 but I never did get one.
I liked the Sega master system for a couple of reasons. 1. The black and burgundy color scheme. 2. The 80s trapper keeper design 3. The clamshell cases for the master system games.
I had all those stuff when I was a kid....powerbase...MEga CD, 32X....great review!! Great memories!! And a great way to end it with a nice cold beer!!
Great video :) Btw, sorry for my english. But did you know that the Genesis already has a chip, that manages some sound effects on genesis, but that chip "was ment" to play these mastersystem games... So that adapter it's really just an adapter, i know it's sounds obvious now :P But u get my point!
I had one of these as a kid and I could kick myself for getting rid of it. At the time, I was having a lot of trouble finding stuff for Master System. Over the last several years, I've lived in places with lots of used game stores full of SMS games but no Power Converters!
One game that wasn't mentioned is the original Phantasy Star. The first Phantasy Star game was on the Master System, with entries 2 through 4 being on the Genesis plus the Phantasy Star Online stuff years later. And though many consider the 4th one to be the best in the series if you want to start from the beginning and experience the series in order, then I'd recommend grabbing a power base converter. Then I'd grab a Retron 5 with the best stable firmware patch, and use the power base converter with that since it's compatible with the Retron 5. I've personally tested a game or two on it with the converter and indeed it does work, and the colors are very bright and vibrant with the HD emulation that you wouldn't ever get from composite cables. Applies to the Genesis Phantasy Star games as well. :) Text will look pixelated on a larger screen, but on older consoles text has always had that pixelation, even games from the PS1/N64/Saturn era. Playing PS1 games on the PS3 I have with that emulation in HD, fonts are still generally pixelated (which may be for one reason or another from hardware limitations).
F-16 Fighting Falcon doesnt work with the PBC. Its a different mode then other games. The converter cant show F-16 FF's mode for some reason. It'll load the sound and the title screen but not anything else.
awesome review.. i never knew there was such a contraption for the genesis. and i agree, Sega needs to make another console. all of my fondest memories with video games as a kid involved the genesis and then a dreamcast when i was in high school. keep on rocking these reviews! i love them all! :]
Did the base converter have the pause button on the system like the original Master System? I was one of those weird kids who owned an original Master System, and it was so damned good. Wonderboy 3 : The Dragon's Trap still remains one of the best games ever made.
+lampini No. The Screen stays black. Thats all. There is no real hardware in this thing. The Mega Drive/ Genesis is already completely compatible to a Master System. (Most SG1000 Games won't work due to missing display modes)
+Hubert Hans Pretty much. The convertor is known as one of the few add-ons that doesn't need its own power supply, because all it *actually* does is provide an edge conector compatible with the SMS carts and wires it to the Genesis pinout.
@TheMeleeMaster21 1) Master System cartridges and Genesis cartridges have different shapes, so you'd have to remove the power base converter if you wanted to play a Genesis game 2) It looks like there's a pause button on the converter, so you could press that, but I don't know if the remote's start button will work.
Now that you mention it, I completely agree. When I first started watching his videos, I could have sworn that I was listening to Egon from Ghostbusters--not that it's a bad thing! Now, I just recognize him as an awesome reviewer, very original and funny.
2 questions about this, 1 Can the Converteritself also use standart genesis games so you don't have to take it off your genesis? (just asking) 2 And is you are playing a master system game on it with a regular genesis controller, does the startbutton on that controller work too? Or do you still have to walk to your console to pause the game?
Hello Mr. Karnage.. This holiday season you should get your hands on Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. Its a fantastic IPA that only comes out once a year and also my favorite beer of all time... and no no ... sierra nevada did not pay me to say this.. its just that damn good.
@RocketRaccoon99 nope. Unfortunately it's not fully compatible with the Genesis 2 so you would have to either import the Master System II Converter (it's a different model designed to work with the model 2) for the model 2, buy a model 1 and then the power base converter, or buy a master system.
You know what I really wish? I wish the Master System Converter had a Mega Drive slot in the top and a Master System Cartridge slot on the side at 90°. That way we could insert the 32X up top and never have to remove it whenever we want to play Master System games.
It's because all the thing does is rewire the pins to the cartridges so they fit (there are no active components in the adapter at all). It's just a pass-through device, the Genesis\Mega Drive is backwards compatible with the Master System and when the power base converter is inserted it just goes into Master System mode.
I have a question as I never owned the Power Base Converter. I had a Master System and Sega Genesis. My question is, will the Power Base Converter play Master System games through FM? The Genesis has FM sound...and you can play Mark 3 games with FM sound with an attachment.
Yeah... The power base converter is just a pin adaptor. There is a master system in the mega drive but the pins are different so that's why you need the power base converter.
Well the thing is, the power base takes advantage of the fact that the Genesis also contains a Zilog Z80 which is used in part for sound on Genesis games.
+Mr. Shades (KryptojackJr) Had to do with it being a rushed product onto the market too soon and too late! Plus, the system was already a dead ant since the Saturn had already been out in Japan a month prior to the 32x's release! The Saturn would be released about 5 to 6 months later in NA and 7 to 8 months in the PAL territories! So buying the 32x wouldn't have been a wise investment.
+Mr. Shades (KryptojackJr) Because the 32X has a lot of electronics inide it, including its own CPU and audio chips. The converter...basically just provides a connector for the cart and passes it through. The Genesis already has the hardware in it to handle the SMS software.
ROTFL "Insert card, out comes fun" !!! Ahhhh... the memories. 8) I had F-16 Fighting Falcon. (and Shinobi and Revenge of Shinobi). I really liked Fighting Falcon, and I still think it would be great if Nintendo put it on the Virtual Console. And I am impressed with how well he takes care of his games.
@fungstupid Sadly no, the 32x doesn't pass on the signal to the genesis that tells it to switch over to master system mode. So you'd have to switch them over.
No, both the Mark III and Japanese SMS play both cartridges and cards. The main difference between the two (aside from the obvious cosmetic differences) is that the Japanese SMS has a few built-in add-ons like an FM sound chip, rapid fire, and a 3-D glasses jack.
It will work from a technical standpoint. However, the way it is molded covers the power and A/V ports on the Model 2. If you don't mind trimming some plastic, it can be used on a Model 2. There was a version designed for the model 2, but it was only released in Europe, and can be quite pricier than the one in the video. And the second version removed the card slot. And that's just wrong.
Placing liquid beverages near electronic equipment is not a good idea, if that glass was knocked over, you'd have wine all over your MegaDrive. This would most likely destory your MegaDrive, and the powerbase converter. Does the powerbase converter have any built in games?
@DVD2409 i think there's just some unjointed pins in controller's port back, it's really easy to fix, you didn't have to replace/mod anything. Find someone that can handle a solderer and get it back fixed :)
@ClassicGamer88 There is, its called a Super 8. There's also something for N64 called the Tristar 64 which allowed you to play NES and SNES games. Just wanted to let you know.
No. The second version of the Mega Drive/Genesis had its own Master System convertor. It's very rare, and fetches a high price whenever one appears on eBay. (Also, I can't recall it having a 'Sega Card' slot either.)
You know, as a kid I had a Genesis. Of course I liked SNES better like pretty much everyone else, but I had Genesis too. As both a Nintendo and a Sega fan I had a Game Boy and Game Gear too. (And Lynx. I was spoiled. I know.) But a lot of kids didn't have a Game Gear and I always thought that if they released this they should have a GG adapter too. The converter is a passthrough. It's essentially a pin converter. I knew that as a kid too. I also knew GG was more or less a handheld Master System. They could have easily made that. That's why I love the idea of Vita TV. Make all the software available for all the customers.
Haruhi Suzumiya Because most Mega Drive/Genesis games run in proper resolution of 320x224 which is 4:3-like which was the TV format back then while 99,99% SNES games run in 256x224 & 90% PC Engine games run in 256x224 or 256x239 meaning the latters, especially the SNES, mostly have games with stretched graphics & therefore less sharp. The lower resolution of some SNES/PC Engine games can also affects the gameplay, Earthworm Jim or Zool for example.
Parallax Craze so? its 224p? 3DS is 240p with the 3D effect its 480p, high definition means 720-1080p -1440p and UHD (2160p 4K) and even then, there is 8K and 16K is in Protoyping right now...
It is compatible with models 1 and 2 technically, but not physically. You need to modify the casing of the power base converter to get it to fit correctly. The Genesis 3 doesn't support any addons at all, and ONLY plays Genesis games.
It was called the "Master System Converter" outside of North America. Also, you'll need a different Master System Converter for Megadrive 2 (which tend to be rarer, and more expensive).
@StickPeopleAndPuff I see what you mean, but *technically* various add-ons are needed, you know, you it's not out-of-the box compatibility like with the GBA, for example.
The Power Base Converter is pretty much a piece of plastic that allows the MS Cart to fit in the Genesis. The Genesis had all the components of the MS built right in. Surprisingly a lot of people don't know that.
this might be a stupid question but are there versions of the power base converter for the mega drive? cause i dont want to find out they were only in places like america and not in england
Sega cards were made because they were cheaper to produce, so budget games were usually put on cards instead of cartridges. Although, the format was pretty much considered a failure.
"Insert card and out comes fun"
One of the reasons why I love Classic Game Room
+Billy Rigney similar to the Nintendo 3/DS family designonly I bet those cards lacked 4-8GB space.
I especially like how it's more expensive than a master system
Same
But it does have an improved picture on the power base converter
a trick: you can watch series on Flixzone. Been using it for watching loads of movies recently.
@Darwin Luciano definitely, I've been using Flixzone for since december myself :)
@Darwin Luciano Definitely, been watching on flixzone for since november myself :D
it's funny, you didn't actually try out Fighting falcon....if you did you'd see its not compatible with the pbc. it only works on a sega master system.
mattnova18 it will boot up but you won't be able to control it without the Master System controller
Is this the sole game that used that weird graphics mode that the Mega Drive took out because pretty much nothing else used it?
But I was going to the Tosche Station to pick up A SEGA Power base converter!
You can waste time with your friends when your chores are done
"So basically you're screwed, but you're not."
haha I remember fondly watching this review. It's still great. I sort of wanted one of these when I saw the review in '08 but I never did get one.
Why is this still entertaining in 2022
I liked the Sega master system for a couple of reasons.
1. The black and burgundy color scheme.
2. The 80s trapper keeper design
3. The clamshell cases for the master system games.
With that add-on the Genesis looks like a tank
It sure does, which is really cool.
At least it's estetically presenteble, (I'm looking at you 32x)
TheSimsBrothers Yup, I also like that it doesn't use another fucking power adapter in order to use it.
Sega needs to get back in the console race again.
Agreed
I had all those stuff when I was a kid....powerbase...MEga CD, 32X....great review!! Great memories!! And a great way to end it with a nice cold beer!!
Nice, informative, amusing. I especially enjoyed the pairing recommendation of the Hefeweizen with Astro Warrior.
I really enjoy watching your reviews each day!
Keep it up Mark
Great video :)
Btw, sorry for my english. But did you know that the Genesis already has a chip, that manages some sound effects on genesis, but that chip "was ment" to play these mastersystem games... So that adapter it's really just an adapter, i know it's sounds obvious now :P But u get my point!
I meant "really just a cartridge adapter", cause it has no chip, chip was already in the Genesis. That's better :P
I had one of these as a kid and I could kick myself for getting rid of it. At the time, I was having a lot of trouble finding stuff for Master System. Over the last several years, I've lived in places with lots of used game stores full of SMS games but no Power Converters!
One game that wasn't mentioned is the original Phantasy Star. The first Phantasy Star game was on the Master System, with entries 2 through 4 being on the Genesis plus the Phantasy Star Online stuff years later. And though many consider the 4th one to be the best in the series if you want to start from the beginning and experience the series in order, then I'd recommend grabbing a power base converter. Then I'd grab a Retron 5 with the best stable firmware patch, and use the power base converter with that since it's compatible with the Retron 5. I've personally tested a game or two on it with the converter and indeed it does work, and the colors are very bright and vibrant with the HD emulation that you wouldn't ever get from composite cables. Applies to the Genesis Phantasy Star games as well. :) Text will look pixelated on a larger screen, but on older consoles text has always had that pixelation, even games from the PS1/N64/Saturn era. Playing PS1 games on the PS3 I have with that emulation in HD, fonts are still generally pixelated (which may be for one reason or another from hardware limitations).
F-16 Fighting Falcon doesnt work with the PBC. Its a different mode then other games. The converter cant show F-16 FF's mode for some reason. It'll load the sound and the title screen but not anything else.
Mode? What the hell are you saying?
google!
I think the fact that it doesn't work is the joke of the video.
6:43 always brings a tear to my eyes.
The last bit with the Hefeweizen was ingenious.
awesome review.. i never knew there was such a contraption for the genesis. and i agree, Sega needs to make another console. all of my fondest memories with video games as a kid involved the genesis and then a dreamcast when i was in high school.
keep on rocking these reviews! i love them all! :]
It is amazing the add on's the genensis had. What an age!!
This actually has a really good design in the way it fits on top, unlike the 32x.
Did the base converter have the pause button on the system like the original Master System?
I was one of those weird kids who owned an original Master System, and it was so damned good. Wonderboy 3 : The Dragon's Trap still remains one of the best games ever made.
what if you put the power converter on your 32X? would the world just explode
+lampini I like your style!
Yeti Rocket My "style" might get me killed.
+lampini No. The Screen stays black. Thats all. There is no real hardware in this thing. The Mega Drive/ Genesis is already completely compatible to a Master System. (Most SG1000 Games won't work due to missing display modes)
+lampini Nope the world is still here.
+Hubert Hans Pretty much. The convertor is known as one of the few add-ons that doesn't need its own power supply, because all it *actually* does is provide an edge conector compatible with the SMS carts and wires it to the Genesis pinout.
@TheMeleeMaster21 1) Master System cartridges and Genesis cartridges have different shapes, so you'd have to remove the power base converter if you wanted to play a Genesis game
2) It looks like there's a pause button on the converter, so you could press that, but I don't know if the remote's start button will work.
"It's like you're going to a atm. Insert card and out comes fun."
Mark is a freaking word smith! Brilliant!
This is what the NintenDON'T
Glad to see that I am not the only one who "cheers" his Sega consoles
Now that you mention it, I completely agree. When I first started watching his videos, I could have sworn that I was listening to Egon from Ghostbusters--not that it's a bad thing! Now, I just recognize him as an awesome reviewer, very original and funny.
What would happen if you put a master system game in the power base converter on top of Sonic & Knuckles in the Genesis?
What happens when you put a 32X on Sonic and Knuckles, then place this on top of the 32X?
I actually like the Master System cartridges because they're just that simple, a game cartridge
2 questions about this,
1 Can the Converteritself also use standart genesis games so you don't have to take it off your genesis? (just asking)
2 And is you are playing a master system game on it with a regular genesis controller, does the startbutton on that controller work too? Or do you still have to walk to your console to pause the game?
@Ryan Simmons Umm... Nope, the snes was a 16-bit system, and have you never heard of the CD-i?
I never knew that was even possible until I saw this video. That's great!
The ending is awesome!
Hello Mr. Karnage.. This holiday season you should get your hands on Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. Its a fantastic IPA that only comes out once a year and also my favorite beer of all time... and no no ... sierra nevada did not pay me to say this.. its just that damn good.
@RocketRaccoon99 nope. Unfortunately it's not fully compatible with the Genesis 2 so you would have to either import the Master System II Converter (it's a different model designed to work with the model 2) for the model 2, buy a model 1 and then the power base converter, or buy a master system.
You know what I really wish? I wish the Master System Converter had a Mega Drive slot in the top and a Master System Cartridge slot on the side at 90°. That way we could insert the 32X up top and never have to remove it whenever we want to play Master System games.
Insert card and out comes fun.
Damn, you should have been an advertising wizard for video games!
Gotta be honest, love watching this guy's videos, I'd probably keep watching even if he reviewed frozen dinners.
Cool, Mark is a Hefeweizen fan like me! The SEGA Power Base Converter review was very good as well. Keep up the good work.
It's because all the thing does is rewire the pins to the cartridges so they fit (there are no active components in the adapter at all). It's just a pass-through device, the Genesis\Mega Drive is backwards compatible with the Master System and when the power base converter is inserted it just goes into Master System mode.
CGR 2008: Sega Game Card. How bizarre....
Nintendo Switch 2017: Hold my beer
This was brilliant of sega for the power base add-on.
I have a question as I never owned the Power Base Converter. I had a Master System and Sega Genesis. My question is, will the Power Base Converter play Master System games through FM? The Genesis has FM sound...and you can play Mark 3 games with FM sound with an attachment.
Yeah... The power base converter is just a pin adaptor. There is a master system in the mega drive but the pins are different so that's why you need the power base converter.
Just imagine a Genesis with the Sega CD, 32X, Sonic & Knuckles, and Power Base on top
Does the 3D glasses still work with this system?
Well the thing is, the power base takes advantage of the fact that the Genesis also contains a Zilog Z80 which is used in part for sound on Genesis games.
@TheMeleeMaster21 the start button will probably not work, since the master system games were not programmed to use a controller with a pause button.
Now why couldn't the 32X power up the same why? Instead it had it's OWN power plug.
+Mr. Shades (KryptojackJr) Had to do with it being a rushed product onto the market too soon and too late! Plus, the system was already a dead ant since the Saturn had already been out in Japan a month prior to the 32x's release! The Saturn would be released about 5 to 6 months later in NA and 7 to 8 months in the PAL territories! So buying the 32x wouldn't have been a wise investment.
+Mr. Shades (KryptojackJr) Because the 32X has a lot of electronics inide it, including its own CPU and audio chips. The converter...basically just provides a connector for the cart and passes it through. The Genesis already has the hardware in it to handle the SMS software.
Impressive that you used as a demonstration the only Master System game NOT compatible with the Power Base Converter - F16 Fighting Falcon!
Yes, it was released in europe too. I had one for my Mega Drive.
I still have it 🙂
There was actually 3 genesis models respetctively named model 1, 2, and 3
CGR has reviews for all of them!
this guy's a sega maniac!!
the Cards were popular to the precursor of the western Master System, Mark.
ROTFL "Insert card, out comes fun" !!! Ahhhh... the memories. 8) I had F-16 Fighting Falcon. (and Shinobi and Revenge of Shinobi). I really liked Fighting Falcon, and I still think it would be great if Nintendo put it on the Virtual Console.
And I am impressed with how well he takes care of his games.
@TheGameMagician you will get use to it he is one of my favorite classic game reviewrs now
You have to buy a power base converter that fits the model 2. I recommend a flash cart like Everdrive.
6:27-7:13 Stole the SHOW!!!!
Yehaa I love these semi oldschool reviews. just before Mark hired the rest of the crew =)
What a freaking lifesaver!!! I wanted to buy a sega master system but now I don't have too!!! Amazing
yes, but you would either have to cut away some plastic to make it fit, or stick it on top of a game genie
God, this is one of my favorite reviews.
@fungstupid Sadly no, the 32x doesn't pass on the signal to the genesis that tells it to switch over to master system mode. So you'd have to switch them over.
No, both the Mark III and Japanese SMS play both cartridges and cards. The main difference between the two (aside from the obvious cosmetic differences) is that the Japanese SMS has a few built-in add-ons like an FM sound chip, rapid fire, and a 3-D glasses jack.
Actually, the Power Base converter will work on a Genesis 2, but you have to trim off the plastic on the back of the converter.
there is a power base converter for the model 2, but it`s only in Europe and it`s rare, so good luck finding it.
It will work from a technical standpoint. However, the way it is molded covers the power and A/V ports on the Model 2. If you don't mind trimming some plastic, it can be used on a Model 2. There was a version designed for the model 2, but it was only released in Europe, and can be quite pricier than the one in the video. And the second version removed the card slot. And that's just wrong.
Placing liquid beverages near electronic equipment is not a good idea, if that glass was knocked over, you'd have wine all over your MegaDrive. This would most likely destory your MegaDrive, and the powerbase converter. Does the powerbase converter have any built in games?
He has great one-liners like that!
Cgr should make their own beer brand. I would buy... when I'm older
Holy shit,this is the best add on ever created.
@DVD2409
i think there's just some unjointed pins in controller's port back, it's really easy to fix, you didn't have to replace/mod anything. Find someone that can handle a solderer and get it back fixed :)
@ClassicGamer88 There is, its called a Super 8. There's also something for N64 called the Tristar 64 which allowed you to play NES and SNES games. Just wanted to let you know.
It also makes your genesis look absolutely badass. Will it work on a model 2?
They made an updated version that's compatible with both the model 1 and model 2, but doesn't have a slot for card=based games.
Game cartridges were so awesome. There was like a mistery about them...
With DVD's and Blu Rays, it's just a boring disc that looks like any Music CD
Does it work on Retron 3, Sega CDX and Sega Genesis Model 3?
No. The second version of the Mega Drive/Genesis had its own Master System convertor.
It's very rare, and fetches a high price whenever one appears on eBay.
(Also, I can't recall it having a 'Sega Card' slot either.)
You know, as a kid I had a Genesis. Of course I liked SNES better like pretty much everyone else, but I had Genesis too. As both a Nintendo and a Sega fan I had a Game Boy and Game Gear too. (And Lynx. I was spoiled. I know.) But a lot of kids didn't have a Game Gear and I always thought that if they released this they should have a GG adapter too. The converter is a passthrough. It's essentially a pin converter. I knew that as a kid too. I also knew GG was more or less a handheld Master System. They could have easily made that. That's why I love the idea of Vita TV. Make all the software available for all the customers.
F-16 Fighting Falcon will not work om the Power Base Converter because the Genesis can't handle a certan chip that the Master System can handle
Yep, they still make games for both systems there :), licensed titles too!
Mega Drive / Genesis such an incredible multi-poles gaming center.
+Parallax Craze why does it say High Definition graphics?its not 720, 900, or 1080???
Haruhi Suzumiya Because most Mega Drive/Genesis games run in proper resolution of 320x224 which is 4:3-like which was the TV format back then while 99,99% SNES games run in 256x224 & 90% PC Engine games run in 256x224 or 256x239 meaning the latters, especially the SNES, mostly have games with stretched graphics & therefore less sharp. The lower resolution of some SNES/PC Engine games can also affects the gameplay, Earthworm Jim or Zool for example.
Parallax Craze so? its 224p? 3DS is 240p
with the 3D effect its 480p,
high definition means 720-1080p -1440p and UHD (2160p 4K) and even then, there is 8K and 16K is in Protoyping right now...
@ClassicGamer88 That would be cool but for the N64 it is Tristar by the way
It is compatible with models 1 and 2 technically, but not physically. You need to modify the casing of the power base converter to get it to fit correctly. The Genesis 3 doesn't support any addons at all, and ONLY plays Genesis games.
I own the power base converter. Never used it that much...until I got my hands on Ninja Gaiden for the Master System ^^
It is an awesome device.
It was called the "Master System Converter" outside of North America. Also, you'll need a different Master System Converter for Megadrive 2 (which tend to be rarer, and more expensive).
This review makes me want to buy a Master System to join my Genesis, Dreamcast, and Game Gear.
Time to grab a beer and play some Genesis.
@StickPeopleAndPuff
I see what you mean, but *technically* various add-ons are needed, you know, you it's not out-of-the box compatibility like with the GBA, for example.
The Power Base Converter is pretty much a piece of plastic that allows the MS Cart to fit in the Genesis. The Genesis had all the components of the MS built right in. Surprisingly a lot of people don't know that.
All you need is beer to make perfection even more perfect.
@JoostRevo
wow! do you have the tv tunner for the sega nomad?
@TheKainshizo they are. they made computers in japan called the ring edge and the ring wide.
how many games of master system did used the card input slot?
this might be a stupid question but are there versions of the power base converter for the mega drive? cause i dont want to find out they were only in places like america and not in england
there is, it kinda looks like the second version of the power base converter that came out for the model 2 genesis
You know what would truly be awesome. An add on for the Sega Genesis that let you play NES games. lol
It probably exists somewhere. there are devices like the retrogen that let you play genesis games on super nintendo.
theres a super retro advance... I thought it wouldn't be possible
Sega cards were made because they were cheaper to produce, so budget games were usually put on cards instead of cartridges.
Although, the format was pretty much considered a failure.
The Mega Drive / Genesis is probably the best looking console ever designed. It still looks badass today almost 30 years later...
can itt work on the retron3
Stick this thing on a Sega Nomad for sheer awesomeness!! :D