I was in grade 4, when I met my new best friend Steven. He invited me over to his house one weekend, and I saw the Sega Master System for the first time (the first game I played was Space Harrier). I grew up playing video games, and owned a C64, but the SMS blew my mind. He got a Sega Genesis before it was released in Canada (I remember going to the United States with him and his folks to pick one up at Toys R Us). I got a SMS shortly after he got his Genesis, and he would lend me games. I often wonder if he watches this channel. We had a blast back then. Steven if you watch this channel, let me know LOL :)
A bit of a surprise to me that Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap was not mentioned at all, as for me that could have been #1 in more than one category. In any case it was a nice trip down memory lane.
yeah how could you leave that out when discussing master system? for shame. And alex kidd in a miracle world is far better than alex kid in shinobi world.
@@jimwalton8973 Sega Lord claimed more than once that they aren't a fan of classic Alex Kidd, so Miracle World might never even have been considered for the list.
I didn't grow up with a Master System, but in recent years I've enjoyed several of its games. My favorite is Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap. So good!
You introduced me to Road Rash and Sonic on the Master System in the last several months. This is crazy as I'm in my mind 40s so I very much grew up during this time period. Every time I see these gems I'm just blown away at their quality.
Growing up in Mexico in the nineties, I only ever knew one person who owned a Master System. It was a Chinese kid that went to my school and would invite me to his house to play sometimes. I remember enjoying the wrestling game he had. I've always thought that the Master System is a great looking console. To this day, I think the hardware looks really clean and timeless.
What is it with Pro-Wresting? 😄 I WAS the ONLY person that I knew at my school who had the Master System, and the only other SMS brother called me and was like "Do you wanna come to my house and play Pro Wrestling and ride bikes?!" 😄 Gosh I loved the 80's!!!
That's a similar, but opposite story to me. In New Zealand, everyone had Master System early 90's, and the one kid I knew with an NES was this kid from the Phillipines in the building across from us, and I'd go there to play NES, and he'd come to my place to play Sega 😁
We played the hell outta our master systems here in brazil. I really wished Kenseiden had made into any category because it's definitely my favorite on the master system.
I would have put it in best FM sound, as that game is the reason I eventually got a Japanese Master System. Most games I can do without FM, but with Kenseiden I feel it's necessary for the best experience.
I just found one today in a thrift store, I bought it. I just need to plug it in and see if it still works. It's complete with two controllers, the lazer gun and 7 games. That's why I'm out here looking for videos on this system. Cool video, thanks for sharing.
For someone that has been a Nintendo player from basically always, I had a great friend that was a die-hard sega fan and had the Genesis when I had the SNES and we traded systems and games for a week on occasion. One other friend of mine had a Master System. We played *a lot* of Buggy Run. Thanks, SLX for this refreshing take on gaming, as most content creators aim towards Nintendo. This year, I started getting Sega systems, honoring my friend that has passed a few years ago. Got a Master System, Mega Drive 2 and Mega CD. looking at Saturn and the DreamCast next. Sega is indeed a great publisher and was a go-to case of bad management/communication between offices. If all else, we all drooled for some games Nintendo didn't have, like Shinobi (I prefer Shadow dancer, sorry), Streets of Rage and other that Sega's marketing machine made amazing. It was a great way of having arcade games at home, sometimes. Keep these coming, as we late joiners appreciate it.
I am very blessed to still have my original Master System that I've had since I was 7 (in 1987). Have several games still CIB, including Power Strike, Golvellius, R-Type, Shinobi, Double Dragon, After Burner, Zillion and Zillion 2, Rastan, Space Harrier, etc. Space Harrier is my favorite game of all time though. The one game that I would get up in the middle of the night to play before school, and then play several hours after school. #MEMORIES :)
space harrier for sms seemed so epic back then it may have choppy motion, but the tech they used allowed for a ton of stuff onscreen playing on a smaller crt back then, it didn't seem like an issue nail-biting tension by the last few levels
I had a desktop computer that used similar sound hardware, the Tandy 1000. The difference is that it also had a DAC that allowed for digitized sample playback.
It was one of the very first video games I ever owned. I still remember the day I got the egg all the way down to the bottom of the level and then I was like, “well what do I do now?? If the egg drops any lower it will crack!” So eventually after not seeing any other way out I gave in and chipped the last ice block dropping my egg down. Then to my surprise other penguins came and tossed the egg as a sign that I had completed the level. I was 7 years old at the time and I still remember that day like it was yesterday.
Choplifter was a near perfect arcade port from what I recall. You should include an honorable mentions category regardless of genre, Mine would include - Space harrier, Action fighter, Lord of the sword, psycho fox, the ninja, kenseiden, choplifter, Wonderboy 3 the dragons trap, Golden axe warrior. I agree with your picks - Rastan, Phantasy Star, miracle warriors, Alex Kidd in Shinobi world, Golvellius, master of darkness, double dragon, outrun. 👍
Shout out to the obscure, but extremely amazing Psycho Fox. And I ended up practicing speed runs on Ninja Gaiden during lockdown for nostalgia and something to do !
That game was fantastic. I'd say the best platform game on the Master System. I beat it one time and said "never again!" The last level and dragon were brutal. Bouncing off those steps that lower when you land on them!
Great list! This was fun. Master System is my all time favorite. Here's my list. Puzzle = Shanghai Sports = Great Baseball. I liked it way better than Reggie Jackson BB. Racing = Outrun (hang on almost a tie) RPG = Phantasy Star, tie, Ys. Shooter = Fantasy Zone 1 and 2. Platform = Wonder Boy Monster Land. Run N Gun = Rambo Beat em up, Black Belt with Kung Fu Kid and The Ninja as follow ups Best Arcade Port = Space Harrier Port wasn't very close but its still Space Harrier and a great game with awesome sound track. Best Exclusive = Alex Kidd Miracle World Best Sound = Ys, Golvellius, Miracle Warriors, and Space Harrier. Best Graphics = Fantasy Zone 2, Phantasy Star.. Best Light Gun = Rambo 3 Toughest game = Alien Syndrome Best 3D game= Maze Hunter 3D
I was watching old videos of this channel and then this gem appears! I'm so happy to see this great video about a console that has so many great titles that guarantee hours of fun, thanks!
I love that you still talk about the Sega Master System. I had one back in the day. Loved Alex Kidd in Miracle World and Shinobi World, R-Type, and others. We had one called Global Defense that was tough as nails.
@@skycloud4802 mine was very special for me too, not only was it my first console ever, but because my late grandmother made sure that i got it for my birthday, even if she had to drag my late grandfather by the ear to every store that might sell it. XD
To me, it plays so much better than the 16-bit version. I mean, what's point of blinding speed, if the game punishes you for indulging in it? And don't get me started on how the 16-bit game handles the Chaos Emeralds. In the SMS game, you can find them by exploring the levels.
I'm sad Spellcaster never makes these lists. I can never decide if it's the best, or second best Master system game. Good graphics, amazing soundtrack, good difficulty. Nice side scroll action RPG, with a sprinkling of Shadowgate style scenes, and a really cool art direction. Maybe too hard for some, but it deserves love.
@@ZorakTheGreat Definitely like 2 different genre games entirely. Spell caster is more like an action rpg in a way I don't know how to describe it. Mystic Defender can get brutal towards the end and they should make a part 3 but leave elements from both games but lean more towards the 1st games cinematic feel!
Great video the Master System model II was my first ever games console that I got for my 7th birthday in yes as late as 1997. Alex Kidd, Wonder Boy 3 and Prince of Persia being my most played games.
Huh... can't see Ys over Phantasy Star, but variety is the spice of life. When you set up the broader RPG parameters I was all but certain it was to get Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap into the conversation. Great work as always!
Great choices. Your content on the 8-bit systems has inspired many of my Game Gear purchases for which I've been collecting for about six months now. I grew up in Australia where the Master System was a big deal. Many of my friends had it, and it inspired my foray into console gaming with the Mega Drive. I love hearing about your Sega journey, it's among the best Sega content on TH-cam. Thanks!
Another great video, as usual, my lord. I never had an actual Master System but I love my Power Base Converter. Had to get it "modded" by a carpenter so I could properly attach it to my model 2 Genesis and it allowed me to enjoy Phantasy Star and OG Shinobi...one of my favorite video game accessories/add-ons of all-time.
I'm watching a lot of your Master System videos lately. I've always been much more of an NES fan but you just can't ignore the quality of graphics on Master System. The colours it has are gorgeous. Way better than what Nintendo had at the time.
Golvellius has my own favorite MS PSG score. It's funny that the sound font is so similar to The Guardian Legend's that you could probably swap tunes between them seamlessly.
I feel that the FM soundtrack to Golvellius also has its merits. The PSG soundtrack may be slightly better overall - and I never ran into the FM soundtrack until much later - but certain tracks (such as the ending) sound better to me, plus it has something that the PSG lacks - bass.
Excellent management of expectations throughout the video. I was hooked each time you hyped the runner up of each category and thought to myself "really, what could be better than this?". Great stuff as usual 👌
Definitely a solid list. The Master System was the first console I hunted down as a young adult since I missed out on it as a kid. Then the first Master Everdrive came out, and I went crazy with the roms, finding new games to enjoy that I've nvr played. So many fun platformers, Asterix and the Secret Mission(super fun double jump mechanic), Deep Duck Trouble, Lucky Dime Caper(the better of the two duck games), Running Battle, Ninja Gaiden, and of course the Illusion games. Land of Illusion really stands out to me as the best, it's unique and always showing you something new and unexpected. Castle and Legend are both really fun, but Land of Illusion feels like if it came out on NES, it would be one of those games ppl still talk about, the quality, graphics, fun factor, ingenuity, it's got it all. Even it's Ghouls n Ghosts port is totally unique and fun.
The SMS had such a great library of games, I quickly remembered Desert Strike, the Wonder Boy series, Choplifter, Kenseiden and many more awesome ones...
always wanted a SMS growing up...like many I was an NES kid. Didn't know many w/ a SMS but would always read the reviews and ads in magazines. The lil cards looked so futuristic to me
Love seeing Master System stuff. I was one of the few in the 80's who got one over the NES because of Shinobi and the SEGA arcade games. Great lists, but I would have wonder boy III in there somewhere and Phantasy Star is def my favorite game ever made so it gets the nod for top RPG :)
This was dope. I love the attention to detail and the way he relates his own experience with the viewing audience. I think back to my childhood and even though i missed out on owning my own MS i know and recognize the games. Great video my dude. SLX has been putting out grade A material lately. A job well done.
Thanks for making this video. It brings back the nostalgia for me when I grew up with these consoles to. I was 12 years old when they launched the NINTENDO NES (US VERSION) in 1985. Then, I was blown away, when the SEGA MASTER SYSTEM 8-BIT CONSOLE. The graphics were so crisp like After Burner, Outrun, Rambo…😂
100% agree on the Best Sound choices. I couldn't believe it when you chose Miracle Warriors for FM: that game has a great sound track and even though I have fond memories of (hearing hundreds of hours of) the PSG sound, the FM is fantastic!
Was very much an NES fanatic as a kid but my next door neighbor owned a Master System and I'm forever grateful to how much that expanded my gaming tastes. Countless afternoons spent playing two player Rampage or Double Dragon, checking out various arcade ports that weren't quite there (Golden Axe being an early disappointment). About a decade later in middle school became good friends with someone whose family bonded over shared evenings of Phantasy Star, to the point they had a ton of graph paper for hand drawn dungeon maps and a notebook to write down current progress.
As someone who had (& still has one) a mighty master system growing up, I can say that its sound chip is recognisable to the ear & is such a happy sound. I purchased the other year a cartridge from AliExpress simply called The master cartridge, which came with approximately 600 master system and SG 1000 games on it (save state for games which support the option). Such a nice addition to my official gaming collection, definitely worth looking into.
This channel has been therapeutic for me, it brings me back to good times, I think we are around the same age and I remember playing the Master System at a buddy's house.
Just recently bought a restored Master System, and despite already owning a handful of games I'm anxious to build a solid library fairly quickly. Your videos are an invaluable resource in this. Thanks so much!
I love this system, my father got this Xmas 1987, I remember him being excited about the 3D glasses that came with it, such a great memory , I still have that Sega master till this day lol 😆
Growing up in the late 80's-90's, I was a total Nintendo kid. I still am to this day. Until I was an older teenager, I couldn't afford more than one company's console. Because of that, I never owned the Master System or Genesis. The Dreamcast was the first Sega console I owned. That being said, I thought the Genesis was neat, and loved playing it when over at friends houses. I have so many fond memories of the Genesis. I don't have much experience with the Master System or the Saturn. Thanks to your channel, I get to experience those games through your memories. Thanks for the top notch work.
Thanks for Pinguin Land and Master of Darkness discovery ! It seems so good. Almost forgotten Masters of Combat which is so great also. Happy you put Double Dragon on this I love the SMS version. I would have inverted Phantasy Star and Ys but hey, great ranking you nailed it ! My prefered platformer is Psycho Fox but Castle of Illusion is so solid. For Golvellius, I had this game and played it without the music but listening to a Bon Jovi CD instead. This was such lame as the music was really good ^^;
I got a Retroid and this video has made me want to revisit the Master System. We had one when i was really young but i got a Mega Drive for my 9th birthday and today happens to be my 36th.
Sega Lord, you really took me back with this list. For a minute I was back in 1990 listening to this good music and having fun. Everybody had a Nintendo and it was good. But I personally had more fun with the Master System. The colors seemed brighter. The console was black and futuristic. I will never forget the Christmas I got it. I sure feel sorry for kids these days. Thise games had a lot of magic in them
Nice to see Califonia Games made it! The most radical of all Master System games, gotta try playing it with the FM-soundtrack! Too bad they removed the FM soundtrack when Phantasy Star was localized...
Fantastic list. The sms being my first system I owned as a kid I'm (45) many games here I agree. Mirical Warriors I died possibly 50 times trying to beat the end boss.
Fantastic attention to detail, using the master system SoR fanfare for each title card instead of the usual Genesis version. I can't be the only one who noticed lol... It's that kind of love and care for the source material, that made me love your channel, and keeps me coming back. Awesome video as always. I never had a master system, but was a Genesis kid through and through. Didn't get an SNES until the killer instinct set in 95... Just played it at friends houses. Your videos are a host of nostalgia, so thank you.
The Master System was our first home console when I was young. Many good memories with it, Hang- on, Out Run, Ghostbusters and Astro Warrior were the ones we played the most. Played it for the longest time until it died one day. Luckily my parents had packed it away and I found it about 3 years ago. One $0.07 voltage regulator later it was working again. It still impresses me to this day and most people don't even know about it!
The Master System was HUGE here in Brazil, it was the first console officially released here, that's why there were games release exclusively here. Even Street Fighter II had a Brazilian Master System version, and it was awesome. We also had a reskin of Wonder Boy using characters from a famous Brazilian comic book ("Turma da Mônica"). I believe the cartridges for these games are somewhat rare due to the limited market they were sold.
Are they common in Brazil? I checked eBay for Masters of Combat and only two copies are listed, both in the US, I am in Europe. The lowest price was $499.00 plus shipping. No manual.
Double Dragon on the NES was my childhood favorite! I like how the SMS's version looks so similar to it graphically. Hopefully it will give me a nostalgic rush! I'm going to try it.
You're definitely my favourite Sega TH-camr! I tend to only really play action, RPG or platformers on these older consoles though. My personal top 5 would be 5 - Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Alex Kidd in Shinobi World 3 - Land of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse 2 - Phantasy Star 1 - Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
I still love to play my Master System. Choplifter and Maze Hunter 3D are my favorite 2 games. These games I played so much. I only found out as an adult that there were card based games that went into that slot that I had my 3D glasses in. I recently got the card of Ghost House and absolutely love it. Fun still finding new games for my old consoles all these years later.
Rampart, Spiderman, Ghost Busters, Cool Spot, Daffy Duck in Hollywood, Ninja, Sonic, Sonic 2, Shinobi, Streets of Rage, Jurrasic Park ........ Just so many we had well over 50 games between our house and my grandma's across the street hahaha. Always wanted the 3D glasses though.
Rambo was definitely a favorite and was one of the first co op games that me and my sister would sink hours into. Agree with Black Belt also being on this list. Choplifter and Space Harrier were favorites too.
I was lucky enough to play a lot of the games mentioned there BITD, thanks to lending them between friends. Special mentions for Wonderboy III in the adventure category and Aladdin in the graphics one.
Great list, but with some very notable omissions. Land Of Illusion is a superior sequel to the great Castle Of Illusion (and it is also my favorite game on the system. I still own the cartridge complete in box, and refuse to sell it). You just can’t pick Black Belt over Kenseiden. That should be illegal. At least here in Brazil (I’m emailing my congressman asap). You can’t have a conversation about the Master System without including Wonder Boy III The Dragon’s Trap. Still, a great list. Glad to see Masters Of Combat getting some recognition, among other hidden gems.
Good choices! I never got the chance to play an actual Master System as a kid, but a childhood friend of mine had a Game Gear and I played a few of these games on it: Sonic 1, Columns, Castle of Illusion and Lucky Dime Caper. They were all really fun and kept me playing for hours! I actually plan to go back to revisit some of the games I missed on the Master System. They seem like great games to just pick up and play!
I haven’t seen or played many of these games for over 25 years. Thanks for bringing the old nostalgia back in droves SLX. Sega surely need to release a Master System mini. The Donald Duck game was amazing, I remember having Black Belt, Sonic and Road Rash. I can’t remember the name of it but there was a hockey game that only had international teams that was an absolute blast!
As a kid in the later 90's i went to a dentist and i was familiar with the nes only. The waiting room had a tv and gaming system plugged in. I didn't know it was a sms and it had sonic. I tried it for a few minutes and it seemed like a demo or something because all you could do is run from one side of screen to the other. I couldn't understand how to progress and i told my siblings about it afterwards. Years and years later when i was an adult i remembered that and realized it was a sms
Loved seeing Ys get the praise it deserves! I had suspected it was gonna be at least runner up when I heard the field theme playing in the video intro.
I am quite impressed and pleased with these listings - of course, the elephant in the room is Wonder Boy Three Dragons Trap (come on!) - I am also surprised that PSYCHO FOX was not mentioned (and also, somewhat any of the FANTASY ZONES) - that said, loved, loved, loved the mention of Golvellius and 100% agreed that Rampage was super good on the SMS Great video - well done!
the master system was the first console I ever saw myself, I had a C64 and mainly loaded from tape (UK) so the master system's ability to start games instantly gave it an eerie and powerful quality in my mind
My favorite for this console was Aztec Adventure. I had made my own maps for all the levels on which I had even marked the hidden items (if any) where they could be found. No one seemed to think to look for them or just didn't know them
Nice choices. I own at least half of these. I also was the NES kid who had a friend nearby who had a Master System and we too played the Hell out of Double Dragon as well as Rambo. I have awesome childhood memories playing those two back in the 80s over Summer vacation. Funny part about your list is at least half way through I kept thinking "It's going to be THIS game." and it was your runner up every time. At least I was close. Only one I'm unsure of is the RPG one, because I too would have it come down to YS and Phantasy Star, but I feel like my head is going to explode like the guy from Scanners trying to decide which one I would put before the other. I don't know how you do it sometimes. It's so hard to choose among video game Titans like that. You make it look easy.
It's incredible, but I agree with every single choice you made! 😲 When I was a little kid, after I got my NES Clone stop working I became a Master System kid, which was a gift from my cousin: love to see Master of Darkness as a top game on this list. I paid 19.000 lire (old italian currency) for it, a price that was ridicously low even if compared to the typical price of a Master System game at that time. Now it costs more than 100€...damn! That's my favourite MS games along with Rampage, Castle of Illusion and Sonic 2. Thanks for covering even Master System's material.
I got my master system along with Ghouls n Ghosts, G Loc, castle of illusion and Chuck Rock. And I loved it. Especially later when I got Robocop vs Terminator. What a system.
Great to see Masters of Combat being remembered and finally regarded as one of the best games of the SMS when it comes with fighting games, 2MB only and still surpassing easily the conversions of the big fighting games of the day, namely Street Fighter II (done here in Brazil by Tec Toy) and Mortal Kombat! Masters of Combat is a finely crafted work for the system and should really be deserving recognition. For beat'em-up, I would pick Renegade, though.
In my group of friends, I was that guy with the Master System. My NES-owning friends liked the system and the variety it provided due to games they either didn't have available on the NES, or that were better on the SMS. I had a bunch of these games and many were favorites of mine and my friends. California Games was popular with everyone. I didn't know you were saving it for a different category, but I was thinking for "action" my picks would be Shinobi and Rastan. Rastan really held up quite nicely in my opinion after revisiting it a few times. I need to go back and revisit Master of Darkness and see if I think it measures up. Also, when I revisited Rambo, I came away impressed. A lot of those early top-down run-and-gun games are pretty rough, but Rambo feels a lot more modern to me than something like Commando. When you consider Rambo was made in 1986, the game feels a bit ahead of its time in how it plays. I had the game as a kid, but was not sure it would hold up, but I walked away impressed.
I found a Master System II console for $10 at my local Kay-Bee in 1995, and was able to get most of my games dirt cheap from a local video store, 3 for $10 (a minty CIB Buster Douglas Boxing was one of those acquisitions). Had such a good time exploring that console's library, so many gems like R-Type, Time Soldiers, Ys, Golvellius, King's Quest... Even some stinkers like ALF and Alex Kidd the Lost Stars had their quirky charms. Took me a few years (and much more money) to finally get a copy of Phantasy Star though, but it was worth it! The EU import of Ultima IV was pretty exceptional too!
My dad was a car salesman in the 90s and a car he took in a trade and the people left a game gear with 7 games and a cigarette outlet power cord. It was cool that my Genesis power plug also worked on it because that thing ate batteries. Really enjoyed the Phantom 2040, sonic 1, 2 and chaos, and Shinobi games.
Props for mentioning/showcasing some of the better FM tunes on SMS. 👍 One of the perks of the (good) FM SMS soundtracks, besides the clear, rich lead instruments, was having synth drums, versus the limp farts or non-existent drums on the non-FM versions.
Yeah, the FM drums on the SMS often sounded better than FM drums composers used on the Genesis. Of course, that's excluding Technosoft who did FM drums on the Genesis like no other.
I still play mine to this date.
Got it in 1986, and still works.
Amazing I wish I would have kept mine.
You're a legend!!!!
I live in Tokyo now.
Just started to visit gaming stores, and the gems that I’m seeing are ridiculous
Back then when things were made to last.
@@ultimategamer2669
So true.
I was in grade 4, when I met my new best friend Steven. He invited me over to his house one weekend, and I saw the Sega Master System for the first time (the first game I played was Space Harrier). I grew up playing video games, and owned a C64, but the SMS blew my mind. He got a Sega Genesis before it was released in Canada (I remember going to the United States with him and his folks to pick one up at Toys R Us). I got a SMS shortly after he got his Genesis, and he would lend me games. I often wonder if he watches this channel. We had a blast back then. Steven if you watch this channel, let me know LOL :)
Friends made the old days so special. That comradery was so important to the experience of gaming.
A bit of a surprise to me that Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap was not mentioned at all, as for me that could have been #1 in more than one category. In any case it was a nice trip down memory lane.
The Master System color palette is just beautiful.
NES sms 7800 all unique colors
Its not the color palet, its the fact that SMS could display 4x the colors the NES could.
@@Paultimate7 No, it is also the choice of each color. Look at the 70´s style "beige, brownish" color palette of the C64
Good list, despite missing my favorite game on the Master System: Wonder Boy III the Dragon's Trap.
Dragon's Trap actually nearly made the list in two categories. It's a fine game for sure.
yeah how could you leave that out when discussing master system? for shame. And alex kidd in a miracle world is far better than alex kid in shinobi world.
@@jimwalton8973 Sega Lord claimed more than once that they aren't a fan of classic Alex Kidd, so Miracle World might never even have been considered for the list.
@@ultralowspekken scratching my head as to why?
Easily the best game on the master system
I didn't grow up with a Master System, but in recent years I've enjoyed several of its games. My favorite is Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap. So good!
It is most "people who grew up with the SMS" favorite game too.
You introduced me to Road Rash and Sonic on the Master System in the last several months. This is crazy as I'm in my mind 40s so I very much grew up during this time period. Every time I see these gems I'm just blown away at their quality.
RR: converted entirely by ONE (super talented) guy, incredible achievement!
Growing up in Mexico in the nineties, I only ever knew one person who owned a Master System. It was a Chinese kid that went to my school and would invite me to his house to play sometimes. I remember enjoying the wrestling game he had.
I've always thought that the Master System is a great looking console. To this day, I think the hardware looks really clean and timeless.
What is it with Pro-Wresting? 😄 I WAS the ONLY person that I knew at my school who had the Master System, and the only other SMS brother called me and was like "Do you wanna come to my house and play Pro Wrestling and ride bikes?!" 😄 Gosh I loved the 80's!!!
That's a similar, but opposite story to me. In New Zealand, everyone had Master System early 90's, and the one kid I knew with an NES was this kid from the Phillipines in the building across from us, and I'd go there to play NES, and he'd come to my place to play Sega 😁
I'd say Sega had the best looking console hardware for every generation. I think the American Sega Saturn is the best looking console of all time.
We played the hell outta our master systems here in brazil. I really wished Kenseiden had made into any category because it's definitely my favorite on the master system.
I would have put it in best FM sound, as that game is the reason I eventually got a Japanese Master System. Most games I can do without FM, but with Kenseiden I feel it's necessary for the best experience.
Wherever I see videos of master system i always see comments of brazillians 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@truepatriot6657 because Master System is a huge classic here in Brasil, and we love Sega!
@true patriot yeah bro it was their nes.
@@truepatriot6657 yeah that’s right it was loved over in Brazil and also here in Australia I grew up with and always love my Sega Master System too 🕹👍
I just found one today in a thrift store, I bought it. I just need to plug it in and see if it still works. It's complete with two controllers, the lazer gun and 7 games. That's why I'm out here looking for videos on this system. Cool video, thanks for sharing.
Congrats!!!!!
For someone that has been a Nintendo player from basically always, I had a great friend that was a die-hard sega fan and had the Genesis when I had the SNES and we traded systems and games for a week on occasion. One other friend of mine had a Master System. We played *a lot* of Buggy Run.
Thanks, SLX for this refreshing take on gaming, as most content creators aim towards Nintendo.
This year, I started getting Sega systems, honoring my friend that has passed a few years ago. Got a Master System, Mega Drive 2 and Mega CD. looking at Saturn and the DreamCast next. Sega is indeed a great publisher and was a go-to case of bad management/communication between offices.
If all else, we all drooled for some games Nintendo didn't have, like Shinobi (I prefer Shadow dancer, sorry), Streets of Rage and other that Sega's marketing machine made amazing. It was a great way of having arcade games at home, sometimes.
Keep these coming, as we late joiners appreciate it.
I am very blessed to still have my original Master System that I've had since I was 7 (in 1987). Have several games still CIB, including Power Strike, Golvellius, R-Type, Shinobi, Double Dragon, After Burner, Zillion and Zillion 2, Rastan, Space Harrier, etc. Space Harrier is my favorite game of all time though. The one game that I would get up in the middle of the night to play before school, and then play several hours after school. #MEMORIES :)
space harrier for sms seemed so epic back then
it may have choppy motion, but the tech they used allowed for a ton of stuff onscreen
playing on a smaller crt back then, it didn't seem like an issue
nail-biting tension by the last few levels
wot no Snail Maze? ah probably for the best, that tunes still stuck in my head to this day & shows no sign of ever leaving
Alex Kidd In Shinobi World is such an amazing game. It’s short and sweet. Absolutely love it.
It really is!
Really too short and easy. It could have been a true masterpiece had it been longer
I still have my SMS from Christmas 1988.
The blips and pongs the Master System produces as music is so distinctive. It takes me back to my childhood every time I hear any game on the system.
I had a desktop computer that used similar sound hardware, the Tandy 1000. The difference is that it also had a DAC that allowed for digitized sample playback.
I love master system music. I feel same as you.
The MSX computer also has the PSG chip music so it's not really distinctive for Master System.
@Benjamin Jagun people don’t like the Genesis/Mega Drive sound chip? It’s godlike, why would anyone dislike it 🤔
@@honkmii459 god like? God farts maybe lol
I love that Penguin Land got a shot out for a puzzle game. Such an amazing game.
It really is. Very overlooked.
Criminally underrated!
It was one of the very first video games I ever owned. I still remember the day I got the egg all the way down to the bottom of the level and then I was like, “well what do I do now?? If the egg drops any lower it will crack!” So eventually after not seeing any other way out I gave in and chipped the last ice block dropping my egg down. Then to my surprise other penguins came and tossed the egg as a sign that I had completed the level. I was 7 years old at the time and I still remember that day like it was yesterday.
It's also on the NES and Game Boy.
Choplifter was a near perfect arcade port from what I recall.
You should include an honorable mentions category regardless of genre,
Mine would include -
Space harrier, Action fighter, Lord of the sword, psycho fox, the ninja, kenseiden, choplifter, Wonderboy 3 the dragons trap, Golden axe warrior.
I agree with your picks - Rastan, Phantasy Star, miracle warriors, Alex Kidd in Shinobi world, Golvellius, master of darkness, double dragon, outrun. 👍
Shout out to the obscure, but extremely amazing Psycho Fox.
And I ended up practicing speed runs on Ninja Gaiden during lockdown for nostalgia and something to do !
Wonderboy in monsterland was my favorite sega master system game of all time. I remember as a kid borrowing this game from my cousin countless times.
another great game SLX missed off his list!
That game was fantastic. I'd say the best platform game on the Master System. I beat it one time and said "never again!" The last level and dragon were brutal. Bouncing off those steps that lower when you land on them!
Great list! This was fun. Master System is my all time favorite.
Here's my list.
Puzzle = Shanghai
Sports = Great Baseball. I liked it way better than Reggie Jackson BB.
Racing = Outrun (hang on almost a tie)
RPG = Phantasy Star, tie, Ys.
Shooter = Fantasy Zone 1 and 2.
Platform = Wonder Boy Monster Land.
Run N Gun = Rambo
Beat em up, Black Belt with Kung Fu Kid and The Ninja as follow ups
Best Arcade Port = Space Harrier
Port wasn't very close but its still Space Harrier and a great game with awesome sound track.
Best Exclusive = Alex Kidd Miracle World
Best Sound = Ys, Golvellius, Miracle Warriors, and Space Harrier.
Best Graphics = Fantasy Zone 2, Phantasy Star..
Best Light Gun = Rambo 3
Toughest game = Alien Syndrome
Best 3D game= Maze Hunter 3D
I was watching old videos of this channel and then this gem appears! I'm so happy to see this great video about a console that has so many great titles that guarantee hours of fun, thanks!
Glad you enjoy it!
I love that you still talk about the Sega Master System. I had one back in the day. Loved Alex Kidd in Miracle World and Shinobi World, R-Type, and others. We had one called Global Defense that was tough as nails.
Master System was a great system. Many sleep on its library.
Love hearing you talk about the master system. The console I first fell in love with.
yup, that's where my gaming adventures began as well, i had 15 games in total, and 13 of them were fun as hell.
It was very special to me. One of my very first video game experiences. And I played it even more than the NES which I also really loved.
@@skycloud4802 mine was very special for me too, not only was it my first console ever, but because my late grandmother made sure that i got it for my birthday, even if she had to drag my late grandfather by the ear to every store that might sell it. XD
Sonic 1 on the Master System was the first Master System game I bought. To this day, it remains my third favourite Sonic game of all time.
What are your first two? If you dint mind me asking
@@kingty2550 No worries. No.2 is Sonic 2 (16-Bit) and No.1 is Sonic 3 & Knuckles.
I had it too, it was good indeed.
I loved sonic 2 on the master system, don’t think it was released in the US though
🇬🇧
To me, it plays so much better than the 16-bit version. I mean, what's point of blinding speed, if the game punishes you for indulging in it? And don't get me started on how the 16-bit game handles the Chaos Emeralds. In the SMS game, you can find them by exploring the levels.
I'm sad Spellcaster never makes these lists. I can never decide if it's the best, or second best Master system game. Good graphics, amazing soundtrack, good difficulty. Nice side scroll action RPG, with a sprinkling of Shadowgate style scenes, and a really cool art direction. Maybe too hard for some, but it deserves love.
Play its sequel on the Genesis good ending credit
@@joemaze9156 Beat Mystic Defender like 30 years ago. Fun game too, but no Spellcaster.
@@ZorakTheGreat Definitely like 2 different genre games entirely. Spell caster is more like an action rpg in a way I don't know how to describe it. Mystic Defender can get brutal towards the end and they should make a part 3 but leave elements from both games but lean more towards the 1st games cinematic feel!
Great video the Master System model II was my first ever games console that I got for my 7th birthday in yes as late as 1997. Alex Kidd, Wonder Boy 3 and Prince of Persia being my most played games.
Huh... can't see Ys over Phantasy Star, but variety is the spice of life. When you set up the broader RPG parameters I was all but certain it was to get Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap into the conversation.
Great work as always!
Great choices. Your content on the 8-bit systems has inspired many of my Game Gear purchases for which I've been collecting for about six months now. I grew up in Australia where the Master System was a big deal. Many of my friends had it, and it inspired my foray into console gaming with the Mega Drive. I love hearing about your Sega journey, it's among the best Sega content on TH-cam. Thanks!
Another great video, as usual, my lord. I never had an actual Master System but I love my Power Base Converter. Had to get it "modded" by a carpenter so I could properly attach it to my model 2 Genesis and it allowed me to enjoy Phantasy Star and OG Shinobi...one of my favorite video game accessories/add-ons of all-time.
Awesome format! Sorta like an "Academy Awards" with different categories.
Glad you liked it!
I'm watching a lot of your Master System videos lately. I've always been much more of an NES fan but you just can't ignore the quality of graphics on Master System. The colours it has are gorgeous. Way better than what Nintendo had at the time.
The PSG sound was pretty wimpy though. If it was available in the US with FM synth I would've taken it much more seriously at the time.
@@kevinmarshall6449 maybe.. The master system was really popular in the UK..
@@kevinmarshall6449 I think that the FM Synth add-on made it worse, sounded like farts especially on sound effects.
@@ronaldzamora8850 Could be. I'm in the states so I've never heard the FM firsthand, only PSG :)
Golvellius has my own favorite MS PSG score. It's funny that the sound font is so similar to The Guardian Legend's that you could probably swap tunes between them seamlessly.
Because both are done by Compile, who also did Power Strike, M.U.S.H.A., Zanac, Blazing Lazers, etc. Their composers were fantastic! :)
I feel that the FM soundtrack to Golvellius also has its merits. The PSG soundtrack may be slightly better overall - and I never ran into the FM soundtrack until much later - but certain tracks (such as the ending) sound better to me, plus it has something that the PSG lacks - bass.
Loved zillion, rampage and choplifter
Excellent management of expectations throughout the video. I was hooked each time you hyped the runner up of each category and thought to myself "really, what could be better than this?". Great stuff as usual 👌
California Games on the SMS was programmed by Mark Cerny, the creator of Marble Madness.
He was also the lead architect for the PlayStation 5
Definitely a solid list.
The Master System was the first console I hunted down as a young adult since I missed out on it as a kid. Then the first Master Everdrive came out, and I went crazy with the roms, finding new games to enjoy that I've nvr played.
So many fun platformers, Asterix and the Secret Mission(super fun double jump mechanic), Deep Duck Trouble, Lucky Dime Caper(the better of the two duck games), Running Battle, Ninja Gaiden, and of course the Illusion games. Land of Illusion really stands out to me as the best, it's unique and always showing you something new and unexpected. Castle and Legend are both really fun, but Land of Illusion feels like if it came out on NES, it would be one of those games ppl still talk about, the quality, graphics, fun factor, ingenuity, it's got it all. Even it's Ghouls n Ghosts port is totally unique and fun.
Nice list! Here in Brasil, we played these games a lot! Like a true Brazilian, I love Master System and Mega drive.
The SMS had such a great library of games, I quickly remembered Desert Strike, the Wonder Boy series, Choplifter, Kenseiden and many more awesome ones...
always wanted a SMS growing up...like many I was an NES kid. Didn't know many w/ a SMS but would always read the reviews and ads in magazines. The lil cards looked so futuristic to me
Not only was I lucky enough to have a friend that had a SMS, but he also got games regularly. I really lucked out.
Love seeing Master System stuff. I was one of the few in the 80's who got one over the NES because of Shinobi and the SEGA arcade games. Great lists, but I would have wonder boy III in there somewhere and Phantasy Star is def my favorite game ever made so it gets the nod for top RPG :)
This was dope. I love the attention to detail and the way he relates his own experience with the viewing audience. I think back to my childhood and even though i missed out on owning my own MS i know and recognize the games. Great video my dude. SLX has been putting out grade A material lately. A job well done.
Your list would be great on a Sega Master System Mini. The only game missing is Golden Axe Warrior. Maybe ghost house too.
Thanks for making this video. It brings back the nostalgia for me when I grew up with these consoles to. I was 12 years old when they launched the NINTENDO NES (US VERSION) in 1985. Then, I was blown away, when the SEGA MASTER SYSTEM 8-BIT CONSOLE. The graphics were so crisp like After Burner, Outrun, Rambo…😂
100% agree on the Best Sound choices. I couldn't believe it when you chose Miracle Warriors for FM: that game has a great sound track and even though I have fond memories of (hearing hundreds of hours of) the PSG sound, the FM is fantastic!
Was very much an NES fanatic as a kid but my next door neighbor owned a Master System and I'm forever grateful to how much that expanded my gaming tastes. Countless afternoons spent playing two player Rampage or Double Dragon, checking out various arcade ports that weren't quite there (Golden Axe being an early disappointment). About a decade later in middle school became good friends with someone whose family bonded over shared evenings of Phantasy Star, to the point they had a ton of graph paper for hand drawn dungeon maps and a notebook to write down current progress.
As someone who had (& still has one) a mighty master system growing up, I can say that its sound chip is recognisable to the ear & is such a happy sound.
I purchased the other year a cartridge from AliExpress simply called The master cartridge, which came with approximately 600 master system and SG 1000 games on it (save state for games which support the option).
Such a nice addition to my official gaming collection, definitely worth looking into.
This channel has been therapeutic for me, it brings me back to good times, I think we are around the same age and I remember playing the Master System at a buddy's house.
Great video, dude. I read your interview in Sega Mania. Glad to see you're getting some of the recognition you deserve.
Good list, indeed. In my list I would have Wonder Boy 3: The dragon's trap, Ghouls and Ghosts or Sagaia for sure, but a great list anyway.
I loved Asterix on the master system. Also Gain Ground was a great game
Just recently bought a restored Master System, and despite already owning a handful of games I'm anxious to build a solid library fairly quickly. Your videos are an invaluable resource in this. Thanks so much!
I love this system, my father got this Xmas 1987, I remember him being excited about the 3D glasses that came with it, such a great memory , I still have that Sega master till this day lol 😆
Growing up in the late 80's-90's, I was a total Nintendo kid. I still am to this day. Until I was an older teenager, I couldn't afford more than one company's console. Because of that, I never owned the Master System or Genesis. The Dreamcast was the first Sega console I owned. That being said, I thought the Genesis was neat, and loved playing it when over at friends houses. I have so many fond memories of the Genesis. I don't have much experience with the Master System or the Saturn. Thanks to your channel, I get to experience those games through your memories. Thanks for the top notch work.
Thanks for Pinguin Land and Master of Darkness discovery ! It seems so good. Almost forgotten Masters of Combat which is so great also. Happy you put Double Dragon on this I love the SMS version. I would have inverted Phantasy Star and Ys but hey, great ranking you nailed it ! My prefered platformer is Psycho Fox but Castle of Illusion is so solid.
For Golvellius, I had this game and played it without the music but listening to a Bon Jovi CD instead. This was such lame as the music was really good ^^;
Never knew anyone with a master system, but got to enjoy a few of its games on the game gear. Edit: Donald duck and the lucky dime caper was so good!
*Never knew anyone with a Master System..*
Yeah, us Sega kids during that 8-bit era were something akin to the Lost Tribes of Israel LOL
Two words "Wonder Boy"
I got a Retroid and this video has made me want to revisit the Master System. We had one when i was really young but i got a Mega Drive for my 9th birthday and today happens to be my 36th.
Happy Birthday man.
Hope you're enjoying some SMS
@@EddieJorgeDrummer Shinobi will be the first i have a go at this weekend
Sega Lord, you really took me back with this list.
For a minute I was back in 1990 listening to this good music and having fun. Everybody had a Nintendo and it was good. But I personally had more fun with the Master System. The colors seemed brighter. The console was black and futuristic. I will never forget the Christmas I got it.
I sure feel sorry for kids these days. Thise games had a lot of magic in them
Nice to see Califonia Games made it! The most radical of all Master System games, gotta try playing it with the FM-soundtrack! Too bad they removed the FM soundtrack when Phantasy Star was localized...
Other than exclusion of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap, I think this is a solid list! :)
Fantastic list. The sms being my first system I owned as a kid I'm (45) many games here I agree. Mirical Warriors I died possibly 50 times trying to beat the end boss.
Where’s Wonder Boy 3 dragons trap….
Fantastic attention to detail, using the master system SoR fanfare for each title card instead of the usual Genesis version. I can't be the only one who noticed lol...
It's that kind of love and care for the source material, that made me love your channel, and keeps me coming back.
Awesome video as always. I never had a master system, but was a Genesis kid through and through. Didn't get an SNES until the killer instinct set in 95... Just played it at friends houses. Your videos are a host of nostalgia, so thank you.
The Master System was our first home console when I was young. Many good memories with it, Hang- on, Out Run, Ghostbusters and Astro Warrior were the ones we played the most.
Played it for the longest time until it died one day. Luckily my parents had packed it away and I found it about 3 years ago. One $0.07 voltage regulator later it was working again.
It still impresses me to this day and most people don't even know about it!
I loved Ghostbusters. I think people hate on it because they don't know how to play it.
The Master System was HUGE here in Brazil, it was the first console officially released here, that's why there were games release exclusively here. Even Street Fighter II had a Brazilian Master System version, and it was awesome. We also had a reskin of Wonder Boy using characters from a famous Brazilian comic book ("Turma da Mônica"). I believe the cartridges for these games are somewhat rare due to the limited market they were sold.
Are they common in Brazil? I checked eBay for Masters of Combat and only two copies are listed, both in the US, I am in Europe.
The lowest price was $499.00 plus shipping. No manual.
That Power Strike/Aleste was a fun game but it was super hard.
Double Dragon on the NES was my childhood favorite! I like how the SMS's version looks so similar to it graphically. Hopefully it will give me a nostalgic rush! I'm going to try it.
I really enjoy the PSG sound. I don't know which I prefer between FM and PSG. I think it really comes down to the creativity of the composer.
Phantasy Star is all I need to see
It was a hard choice. Great game there.
You're definitely my favourite Sega TH-camr!
I tend to only really play action, RPG or platformers on these older consoles though.
My personal top 5 would be
5 - Sonic the Hedgehog
4 - Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
3 - Land of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
2 - Phantasy Star
1 - Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
I still love to play my Master System. Choplifter and Maze Hunter 3D are my favorite 2 games. These games I played so much. I only found out as an adult that there were card based games that went into that slot that I had my 3D glasses in. I recently got the card of Ghost House and absolutely love it. Fun still finding new games for my old consoles all these years later.
It's so appreciable how much you imply and take time to make such videos. A pleasure to watch every time, thank you for all your content, dude 🙏🏽
Rampart, Spiderman, Ghost Busters, Cool Spot, Daffy Duck in Hollywood, Ninja, Sonic, Sonic 2, Shinobi, Streets of Rage, Jurrasic Park
........ Just so many we had well over 50 games between our house and my grandma's across the street hahaha. Always wanted the 3D glasses though.
SLX never disappoints. Thanks again !
My pleasure! Thanks for watching.
Most of your choices were very solid games and i had most of them growing up and had a great time with them.
Glad you enjoyed!
Master system was my first- and to this day I still emulate it playing the likes of choplifter , Teddy boy, etc.
Hands down best SEGA channel I've seen on youtube
Rambo was definitely a favorite and was one of the first co op games that me and my sister would sink hours into. Agree with Black Belt also being on this list. Choplifter and Space Harrier were favorites too.
I was lucky enough to play a lot of the games mentioned there BITD, thanks to lending them between friends.
Special mentions for Wonderboy III in the adventure category and Aladdin in the graphics one.
Great list, but with some very notable omissions.
Land Of Illusion is a superior sequel to the great Castle Of Illusion (and it is also my favorite game on the system. I still own the cartridge complete in box, and refuse to sell it).
You just can’t pick Black Belt over Kenseiden. That should be illegal. At least here in Brazil (I’m emailing my congressman asap).
You can’t have a conversation about the Master System without including Wonder Boy III The Dragon’s Trap.
Still, a great list. Glad to see Masters Of Combat getting some recognition, among other hidden gems.
Good choices! I never got the chance to play an actual Master System as a kid, but a childhood friend of mine had a Game Gear and I played a few of these games on it: Sonic 1, Columns, Castle of Illusion and Lucky Dime Caper. They were all really fun and kept me playing for hours!
I actually plan to go back to revisit some of the games I missed on the Master System. They seem like great games to just pick up and play!
I haven’t seen or played many of these games for over 25 years. Thanks for bringing the old nostalgia back in droves SLX. Sega surely need to release a
Master System mini. The Donald Duck game was amazing, I remember having Black Belt, Sonic and Road Rash. I can’t remember the name of it but there was a hockey game that only had international teams that was an absolute blast!
As a kid in the later 90's i went to a dentist and i was familiar with the nes only. The waiting room had a tv and gaming system plugged in. I didn't know it was a sms and it had sonic. I tried it for a few minutes and it seemed like a demo or something because all you could do is run from one side of screen to the other. I couldn't understand how to progress and i told my siblings about it afterwards. Years and years later when i was an adult i remembered that and realized it was a sms
Loved seeing Ys get the praise it deserves! I had suspected it was gonna be at least runner up when I heard the field theme playing in the video intro.
Golvellius was a great pick for best sound, i occasionally go back and listen to the Opening and Cinematic.
Rampage really whips ass on the Master System, it was the game I showed off to all my friends back in the day. It still plays well.
I am quite impressed and pleased with these listings - of course, the elephant in the room is Wonder Boy Three Dragons Trap (come on!) - I am also surprised that PSYCHO FOX was not mentioned (and also, somewhat any of the FANTASY ZONES) - that said, loved, loved, loved the mention of Golvellius and 100% agreed that Rampage was super good on the SMS
Great video - well done!
the master system was the first console I ever saw myself, I had a C64 and mainly loaded from tape (UK) so the master system's ability to start games instantly gave it an eerie and powerful quality in my mind
My favorite for this console was Aztec Adventure. I had made my own maps for all the levels on which I had even marked the hidden items (if any) where they could be found. No one seemed to think to look for them or just didn't know them
Nice choices. I own at least half of these. I also was the NES kid who had a friend nearby who had a Master System and we too played the Hell out of Double Dragon as well as Rambo. I have awesome childhood memories playing those two back in the 80s over Summer vacation. Funny part about your list is at least half way through I kept thinking "It's going to be THIS game." and it was your runner up every time. At least I was close. Only one I'm unsure of is the RPG one, because I too would have it come down to YS and Phantasy Star, but I feel like my head is going to explode like the guy from Scanners trying to decide which one I would put before the other. I don't know how you do it sometimes. It's so hard to choose among video game Titans like that. You make it look easy.
It's incredible, but I agree with every single choice you made! 😲 When I was a little kid, after I got my NES Clone stop working I became a Master System kid, which was a gift from my cousin: love to see Master of Darkness as a top game on this list.
I paid 19.000 lire (old italian currency) for it, a price that was ridicously low even if compared to the typical price of a Master System game at that time. Now it costs more than 100€...damn!
That's my favourite MS games along with Rampage, Castle of Illusion and Sonic 2.
Thanks for covering even Master System's material.
I got my master system along with Ghouls n Ghosts, G Loc, castle of illusion and Chuck Rock. And I loved it. Especially later when I got Robocop vs Terminator. What a system.
Lots of retro love to the Master System. Even watched this video on a CRT for max effect!
Thanks for all your videos SLX!
An interesting video, although I owned a Master System, my favourite was the NES, it had the more memorable titles.
Great to see Masters of Combat being remembered and finally regarded as one of the best games of the SMS when it comes with fighting games, 2MB only and still surpassing easily the conversions of the big fighting games of the day, namely Street Fighter II (done here in Brazil by Tec Toy) and Mortal Kombat! Masters of Combat is a finely crafted work for the system and should really be deserving recognition.
For beat'em-up, I would pick Renegade, though.
In my group of friends, I was that guy with the Master System. My NES-owning friends liked the system and the variety it provided due to games they either didn't have available on the NES, or that were better on the SMS. I had a bunch of these games and many were favorites of mine and my friends. California Games was popular with everyone. I didn't know you were saving it for a different category, but I was thinking for "action" my picks would be Shinobi and Rastan. Rastan really held up quite nicely in my opinion after revisiting it a few times. I need to go back and revisit Master of Darkness and see if I think it measures up. Also, when I revisited Rambo, I came away impressed. A lot of those early top-down run-and-gun games are pretty rough, but Rambo feels a lot more modern to me than something like Commando. When you consider Rambo was made in 1986, the game feels a bit ahead of its time in how it plays. I had the game as a kid, but was not sure it would hold up, but I walked away impressed.
I found a Master System II console for $10 at my local Kay-Bee in 1995, and was able to get most of my games dirt cheap from a local video store, 3 for $10 (a minty CIB Buster Douglas Boxing was one of those acquisitions). Had such a good time exploring that console's library, so many gems like R-Type, Time Soldiers, Ys, Golvellius, King's Quest... Even some stinkers like ALF and Alex Kidd the Lost Stars had their quirky charms.
Took me a few years (and much more money) to finally get a copy of Phantasy Star though, but it was worth it! The EU import of Ultima IV was pretty exceptional too!
Master System was my first system with Double Dragon. Glad I rebought it with classics from here too.
My dad was a car salesman in the 90s and a car he took in a trade and the people left a game gear with 7 games and a cigarette outlet power cord. It was cool that my Genesis power plug also worked on it because that thing ate batteries. Really enjoyed the Phantom 2040, sonic 1, 2 and chaos, and Shinobi games.
Props for mentioning/showcasing some of the better FM tunes on SMS. 👍
One of the perks of the (good) FM SMS soundtracks, besides the clear, rich lead instruments, was having synth drums, versus the limp farts or non-existent drums on the non-FM versions.
Yeah, the FM drums on the SMS often sounded better than FM drums composers used on the Genesis. Of course, that's excluding Technosoft who did FM drums on the Genesis like no other.