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.
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.
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.
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.
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 😁
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.
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.
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.
@@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
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!
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 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 :)
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.
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'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!
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 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.
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. 👍
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 RUclips. Thanks!
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.
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.
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.
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
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 👌
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…😂
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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 !
California Games seems to go under appreciated as a SMS gem, but also as one of the very best versions of the game. Definitely smokes the Mega Drive version. Good to see it getting some love.
I spent a lot of time playing this one. I remember each of the games took some learning, but once you got the hang of it they were a lot of fun. Also, I remember playing hakee sack and hitting the seagull that would fly above your head sometimes. I was 7 years old , but it seems like yesterday.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Here in new zealand the master system was far more popular than nes I had no idea it was the other way around elsewhere aah alot of nostalgia watching some of these the 80s and early 90s were awesome times growing up i would put wonder boy 2 and 3 in my list of best platformers I do agree that sonic 1 on the master system was better on than the mega drive "Genesis" tho
@@wizzgamer Ninja Gaiden looks amazing on that first level, then various degrees of mediocre on all of the middle levels until the last, which is also good looking.
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.
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.
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!
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 😆
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...
You're definitely my favourite Sega RUclipsr! 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
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!
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.
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
I never had a Master System, but I LOVED my Game Gear. I had Shinobi, Dragon Crystal, Columns, Ecco the Dolphin, Sonic the Hedgehog, Lucky Dime Caper, Mortal Kombat, and Castle of Illusion. Great memories.
Growing up, every kid I knew had an NES, so when my mom finally broke down and said I could have a video game console for Christmas '87, of course I asked for a Master System, because I always had to be different for the sake of being different. Never regretted it, though. Great console. Kung Fu Kid, Action Fighter, Enduro Racer, Choplifter, Astro Warrior and Cyborg Hunter were some of the games I remember playing. Oh, and Y's, for sure. Never could figure out what the hell I was supposed to do or where I was supposed to go, but I loved it anyway. And when my mom hosted my cousin's wedding shower, my buddy and I sequestered ourselves in my room playing Double Dragon all night.
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.
In my neighborhood 14 kids had a Master System and only one had an NES and going to the Mega Drive generation everyone got the MD and no one got an SNES. It was awesome being able to swap games with so many other kids.
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.
LOVE THIS VIDEO, Bro!!! It really brought me back and reminded me of the game Miracle Warriors!! I forgot it until now and thank you so much for that!!
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
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
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 had a SMS in Jr high and had only one other friend with it. The lack of 3rd party suppliers like Nintendo was a problem but I found that the better graphics, joysticks with the basic controllers, and the card media options made it a win for me. Great memories for me….
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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 🕹👍
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 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.
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 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
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!
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
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.
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 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.
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 :)
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'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!
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
Nice list! Here in Brasil, we played these games a lot! Like a true Brazilian, I love Master System and Mega drive.
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 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.
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. 👍
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 RUclips. Thanks!
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.
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.
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.
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.
SLX never disappoints. Thanks again !
My pleasure! Thanks for watching.
I loved Asterix on the master system. Also Gain Ground was a great game
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.
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 👌
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…😂
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.
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.
Loved zillion, rampage and choplifter
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
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.
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.
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
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!
Road Rash on Master System FTW!
Yup. Awesome game.
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 !
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!
California Games seems to go under appreciated as a SMS gem, but also as one of the very best versions of the game. Definitely smokes the Mega Drive version. Good to see it getting some love.
The Lynx version was fun. Nice pack-in game.
I spent a lot of time playing this one. I remember each of the games took some learning, but once you got the hang of it they were a lot of fun. Also, I remember playing hakee sack and hitting the seagull that would fly above your head sometimes. I was 7 years old , but it seems like yesterday.
I had the NES port. It was alright I suppose
Yes, the master system version was the best 1. If i remember correctly, i dont think the mega drive had flying disk! The music for flying disk rocks!
graphics are really good
The Sega Master System is very underrated. I really like mine and I still play games on it to this day.
Why underrated?
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.
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 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.
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.
Lots of retro love to the Master System. Even watched this video on a CRT for max effect!
Thanks for all your videos SLX!
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.
Wonderboy 3 -The Dragon's Trap. That is the best game I ever played on the Master System.
Thank you for showing the black belt game some love. I love that game.
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 🙏🏽
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
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.
I love Fantasy Zone on Master System.
Cheers from Brazil! Master System ruled in Brazil for decades!
Adding some of these games to my wishlist now ... thanks for putting these multiple game compilations together, @SegaLordX !
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!
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.
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.
Here in new zealand the master system was far more popular than nes I had no idea it was the other way around elsewhere aah alot of nostalgia watching some of these the 80s and early 90s were awesome times growing up i would put wonder boy 2 and 3 in my list of best platformers I do agree that sonic 1 on the master system was better on than the mega drive "Genesis" tho
yeah in the U.S/Canada The NES was much more popular. I think the Famicom was more popular in Japan as well.
These are all phenomenal choices man. I wouldn’t change a thing.
I'd argue that Jang Pung 3 is the best 1v1 fighter on the SMS, but the rest are excellent picks.
You wouldn't change Ninja Gaiden when games like Shadow Dancer looked far better graphically.
@@wizzgamer Ninja Gaiden looks amazing on that first level, then various degrees of mediocre on all of the middle levels until the last, which is also good looking.
Oof. Shadow Dancer? No way. Not to me. That's an absolute eyesore of choppiness.
Hands down best SEGA channel I've seen on youtube
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.
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.
Great video, dude. I read your interview in Sega Mania. Glad to see you're getting some of the recognition you deserve.
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!
Master System was my first system with Double Dragon. Glad I rebought it with classics from here too.
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 😆
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...
You're definitely my favourite Sega RUclipsr!
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
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!
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.
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
I never had a Master System, but I LOVED my Game Gear. I had Shinobi, Dragon Crystal, Columns, Ecco the Dolphin, Sonic the Hedgehog, Lucky Dime Caper, Mortal Kombat, and Castle of Illusion.
Great memories.
Heck yeah! I've got around 180 SGG games! Love that thing
Castle of Illusion is my personal fave game for the MS
One of the best.
I absolutely loved the Master System Sega Dreamcast is my number 1 system but I do miss Sega making new systems
"first cave" music is so good
i even own an msx and flash cart to play those versions
I am very impressed that how much they’re good library of games the Master System have. The graphics itself looks better than the NES.
Growing up, every kid I knew had an NES, so when my mom finally broke down and said I could have a video game console for Christmas '87, of course I asked for a Master System, because I always had to be different for the sake of being different. Never regretted it, though. Great console. Kung Fu Kid, Action Fighter, Enduro Racer, Choplifter, Astro Warrior and Cyborg Hunter were some of the games I remember playing. Oh, and Y's, for sure. Never could figure out what the hell I was supposed to do or where I was supposed to go, but I loved it anyway. And when my mom hosted my cousin's wedding shower, my buddy and I sequestered ourselves in my room playing Double Dragon all night.
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.
In my neighborhood 14 kids had a Master System and only one had an NES and going to the Mega Drive generation everyone got the MD and no one got an SNES. It was awesome being able to swap games with so many other kids.
Your list would be great on a Sega Master System Mini. The only game missing is Golden Axe Warrior. Maybe ghost house too.
Populous never gets a mention. Excellent conversion!!!!
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.
LOVE THIS VIDEO, Bro!!! It really brought me back and reminded me of the game Miracle Warriors!! I forgot it until now and thank you so much for that!!
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
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
So many bangers...Phantasy Star, Black Belt, Alex Kidd in Shinobi world...great times
Wonder Boy III: The Dragons' Trap Was my favorite game on the system. Such a great game that would've deserved a mention.
Other than exclusion of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap, I think this is a solid list! :)
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 had a SMS in Jr high and had only one other friend with it. The lack of 3rd party suppliers like Nintendo was a problem but I found that the better graphics, joysticks with the basic controllers, and the card media options made it a win for me. Great memories for me….
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.
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.
Phantasy Star is all I need to see
It was a hard choice. Great game there.