Master System Just bought a Master System! What are some games you’d recommend?

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

I posted my own desires with SEGA at one point, and my ambitions change all the time. I’ve given flowers to the Genesis, fallen in deep love with the Saturn, enjoyed and come to an understanding with Dreamcast, and now I’ve been looking at the 8-Bit market of SEGA. That’s actually what made me talk about the Famicom Disk System, because I was looking at 8-bit hardware so much.

I finally knew what I wanted after a few days of searching, and getting a discount. The system I’ll be getting comes with all you see here, and I’ll probably post my experiences with it when I get it later this week.

In terms of games, I’ll post the four I’ve had my eyes on for the system.

There are several others I’ve been eyeing too, but I want to ask the forum what games you think are fun? Any good light gun games? Anything good for multiplayer? Perhaps something that would justify me getting the 3-D Glasses? And, of course, anything that is just plain fun?

All responses are welcome! Good or ill, I want to give SEGA’s 8-bit legacy a real go, unlike many of the people in the U.S. back in the day.

 

[Clippy]

If you like Castlevania then Master of Darkness is an easy recommendation.

 

[Stookymalarkey]

I'd recommend Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Curse. It's kind of a proto-Metroidvania where you get access to different forms over the course of the game to access previous unexplored areas and it has some solid boss fights.

 

[Yuki Senoue]

Enduro Racer is pretty fun. Sonic 1 MS is a must. Sonic & Tails 1 (Sonic Chaos) is another great game. (Stupid Tectoy didn't release Sonic & Tails 2 for Master System, instead they released the crappy G-Sonic).

 

[Swagmata]

I'd recommend Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Curse. It's kind of a proto-Metroidvania where you get access to different forms over the course of the game to access previous unexplored areas and it has some solid boss fights.

Second this this game rules, the remake is pretty cool too.

 

[mlastes1987]

Shining in the Darkness and Shining Force I + II

 

[Required Username]

Gotta recommend the Alex Kidd games, even the first one, although it gets shit on alot.

 

[ciro64]

I did like playing Sonic on the Master System once. Don't expect Genesis Sonic: it has different levels, it's slower, linear and is more platforming oriented.

 

[TruxtonTatsujin]

Phantasy Star 1 is SO good. One of my all time favourite RPGs.
Here's a few others, most of these are fairly cheap.
- Spellcaster
- Lord of Sword
- Rastan
- Cyborg Hunter
Golden Axe Warrior is also good but is one of the more expensive games on the console.

 

[Yuki Senoue]

Shining in the Darkness and Shining Force I + II

Those are Mega Drive games, they aren't Master System...

 

[Bakuma1997]

If you can find it cheap (Or at all), YS the vanished omen is good, it has the infamous Bump attack mechanic, but is still good, i prefer the Famicom's OST

 

[bjork]

- Zillion is pretty good. Not enough people talk about Zillion. Avoid the sequel, though.
- I forget the name, but there's a light gun game where you're protecting a guy on a little train car that's pretty good, provided the light gun you get is reliable.
- Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
- another vote for Wonder Boy III, if Phantasy Star isn't the best game on the system, it's this instead.
- if you like baseball at all, Reggie Jackson Baseball/American Baseball is solid.

Also, your money and do what you want, but there is a 0% chance I'd ever buy the near-40 year old 3D glasses secondhand without first confirming if they still work, especially at present secondhand prices. The gimmick is neat but it's a thing that can give some people headaches before long. That said, seeing stuff like Missile Defense and Maze Hunter is a cool but shallow experience.

 

[prnzo x BOOZE-o ka-BEER-o]

Golvellius: Valley of Doom was n stiLL is meh fav SMS game ever - and I've played literally every last one of them n owned physical copies of most of them. I 2nd Zillion n Alex Kidd in Miracle World n Phantasy Star n Alex Kidd in Shinobi World is great but quite sbort n easy, Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap was preceded by the also great not-metroidvania but quest elements anyway Wonder Boy in Monster Land kicks ass n while the successor to Dragon's Trap (Wonder Boy in Monster WORLD) was much better on Genesis - the SMS one is worth a go (even if it's missing entire areas n also otherwise feels unfinished)... Shadow Dancer looks great for 8-bit but playwise is clunky n OG Shinobi doesn't live up to the arcade but omg...

...avoid AVOID A-to-the-VOID 'The Cyber Shinobi'. it is one of the worst games of aLL-time. PERIOD. don't walk from a copy if you see it RUN LIKE HELL

I'll followup with more tomorrow hopefuLLeh I'm just... discombobulated atm so I cut this off here

 

[Frickinfrik]

All I can really think about is the Sonic Games. Get Sonic 1, 2, Chaos, and Triple Trouble. Avoid Spinball and Blast though.

 

[Evil Pope]

Enduro Racer and Alex kid , and rambo 3 as you have the gun

 

[Tonyz95]

Sonic 1 and Alex Kidd in Miracle World are great games, but I think one of them is preinstalled in the BIOS. I also used to play Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

 

[NotReallyHere]

Some of the Yu Suzuki arcade classics have pretty fun 8-bit SMS ports:

Hang-On (Which you already got! Nice!)
OutRun
Space Harrier

Then again, if you have a Genesis, you might as well just play them on that, instead

 

[Moreno909]

Master of Darkness (SEGA Castlevania)
Pig Icarus (homebrew shmup)
Aladdin (the SMS version is completelly different, again)
Power Strike II

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

I’d like to take a second to thank everyone here! I’ve been jotting down every recommendation I see and will look up footage of them/emulate them to see if they’re for me.
Of note, I have a SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis, so I agree about the SuperScaler ports… except for their price where I live. The Master System version of Outrun and Genesis version of Outrun are in the same store, last I checked, and the Genesis version is $20 more. $20 more on a system that ALSO doesn’t have dedicated scaling hardware.

I should ask: are there three or four Alex Kidd games for the Master System? Same goes for Monster Boy.

 

[bjork]

I’d like to take a second to thank everyone here! I’ve been jotting down every recommendation I see and will look up footage of them/emulate them to see if they’re for me.
Of note, I have a SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis, so I agree about the SuperScaler ports… except for their price where I live. The Master System version of Outrun and Genesis version of Outrun are in the same store, last I checked, and the Genesis version is $20 more. $20 more on a system that ALSO doesn’t have dedicated scaling hardware.

I should ask: are there three or four Alex Kidd games for the Master System? Same goes for Monster Boy.

Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Alex Kidd Lost Stars
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
There's also Alex Kidd BMX Trial, but it uses a special controller and I think it remained in Japan only.

Wonderboy (this is SG-1000 but it might be compatible with a US SMS unit? Not sure)
Wonderboy in Monster Land
Wonderboy III Dragon's Trap
Wonder Boy in Monster World (port of the Genesis game)

 

[ThatOneLum]

Golden Axe adventure is a solid title, if a little expensive.

For my money, I'd recommend:

Taz-Mania - smooth and simple platformer that you can run through in 1 sitting.

Jurassic Park - Action Game based on the movie with 4 areas/bosses, great variety and light rpg elements.

Sonic 1/2 8 bit + Sonic Chaos - should be a must have.

Phantasy Zone - side scrolling, free roaming shooter, also with light RPG elements. A bit expensive for physical copies.


Honestly, I highly recommend a flash cart. That way you can try games out on your hardware before you sink your life savings into a copy of James Buster Douglas' Knockout Boxing

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's iconTamagotchiTamaHero24]

Golden Axe adventure is a solid title, if a little expensive.

For my money, I'd recommend:

Taz-Mania - smooth and simple platformer that you can run through in 1 sitting.

Jurassic Park - Action Game based on the movie with 4 areas/bosses, great variety and light rpg elements.

Sonic 1/2 8 bit + Sonic Chaos - should be a must have.

Phantasy Zone - side scrolling, free roaming shooter, also with light RPG elements. A bit expensive for physical copies.


Honestly, I highly recommend a flash cart. That way you can try games out on your hardware before you sink your life savings into a copy of James Buster Douglas' Knockout Boxing

For try before you buy, I have the library of the Master System on my Wii. That’s actually my preferred use for emulation: allowing me to try titles that may interest me, then compare them with their price tags, so I can make a good decision.