The Master System Appreciation Thread

[Ziggy]

The Master System has always been a huge curiosity for me. I've never owned one. I've never really played any games for it either. Just Sonic 1. I got it on the Wii VC some years back. I played the first few acts and thought it was just a simple 8-bit version of Sonic. The Genesis version is much superior, why would I wanna play the SMS version? Then I peaked into this thread a few days ago and read this...

I've only experienced the SMS in emulated glory but I can say this:

Sonic the Hedgehog SMS > Sonic the Hedgehog GEN

Try the actual SMS Sonic (emulate or Wii VC) and it's an incredible 8 bit platformer.

I just recently beat Sonic 1 on Genesis for the first time ever. I never cared for Sonic 1 much, compared to 2, 3 and Knuckles. So after finally beating it, and not being fully satisfied with it, this comment about the SMS Sonic 1 got me interested.

When I first played Sonic for SMS, I didn't really give it a fair chance. I was comparing an 8-bit game to a 16-bit game. That's not fair. Would it be fair to compare Castlevania 1 on the NES to Castlevania 4 on the SNES? No, and I actually like the first game more. So I thought I should try out Sonic 1 on SMS again, with a new attitude. It's an 8-bit game, not a Genesis game.

Now that I can appreciate the game for what it actually is, and not unfairly compare it to a game on a superior system, I actually kinda like it. On my first playthrough, I made it pretty far into the game. I liked it enough that I think I actually wanna try and beat it. And, I might actually like it better than Sonic 1 on Genesis.

So this got me thinking... I never really gave the SMS a chance, so what else am I missing? I need another console with games in my collection like I need a hole in the head. But, I've been wanting to get an Everdrive MD (Genesis flash cart) for a while now. The Everdrive MD has the capability of playing SMS games on a Genesis, it even has a pause button. So I'm thinking, I'll experience the SMS this way. I wont have to have another console in my collection to worry about, and I wont have to worry about spending money on more games and finding shelf space for them. I'll even grab a SMS controller for an authentic experience.

[Gunstar Green]

8-bit Sonic 1 is a really solid platformer that did a good job of trying to be a good game first and a Sonic game second. It's clear Ancient put a lot of effort into it and some of the new tunes by Yuzo Koshiro are very catchy. Even the re-used songs are remixed quite well.

For me it's not a classic in the same sense as the 16-bit original but they did a great job of making a slower paced, more traditional platformer. It's one of the best of its entire genre on the Master System. It's also a really interesting game from a historical standpoint since its oddities aren't only explained by it being made for inferior hardware, but because it was only the second Sonic game ever made meaning the Sonic tropes we know so well weren't set in stone yet.

Unfortunately it's the only 8-bit Sonic they did as Aspect's Sonic games try too hard to emulate the Genesis and didn't work as well for me.

[Ziggy]

One thing I really like about the SMS Sonic 1 is that the Chaos Emeralds are hidden in the stages. In my opinion, this makes them much easier to obtain.

I'm hoping to beat the first one then move onto the other Sonic games on the SMS. From there, hopefully I'll get the Everdrive sooner or later and start to explore the SMS a bit more.

[Ziggy]

Thanks for the list, I'll make use of it for sure. That is, once I get an Everdrive MD.

Why should I avoid Sonic 2? I'm very curious to know why you say that, because I actually "peeked" at it the other day. I booted it up in an emulator and played the first few levels. My immediate reaction was that it wasn't as good as the first one, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

I don't think I was aware that there was a port of Ninja Gaiden on the SMS. I knew there was a TG116 version. I'd be interested to hear the pros on cons to the SMS versions versus the NES version.

[Sload Soap]

The SMS Sonic 2 is okay, there just some annoying gimmicky things like rail carts and poorly controlling hang gliders early on that sort of put a blemish on it. (Amusingly there is a level called Gimmick Mountain). It's not my favourite of the SMS trilogy but it's worth a play.

Ninja Gaiden is pretty damn good. Not as good as the NES games mind, but still very fluid. This what I wrote in the games beaten thread:

This is a really solid game for the master system. It is very responsive and quick and the pace is kept up across the games quite lengthy seven levels. It looks great I think, a real showcase for the SMS with some really lush backdrops on some stages. It's also a fair challenge, it took me about four attempts to get through but each time I had that feeling that I really understood the game more and more. There are some super cheap enemies but mostly it's a fair game. Some of the bosses are a bit lame though, one sits in a chair and lets you pummel him to death. The tit.

Just as a side note, it's not really a port of the NES game as it was licensed from Tecmo and reprogrammed by SIMS. It's basically its own game but borrows some story elements and iconography from the main Gaiden series.

[Ziggy]

Ah. I played the TG16 version once in an emulator and noticed the first level was the same as the NES version. I just assumed that the SMS version was another port of the same game. But all the levels are different? If so, that makes me want to play it more.

[Sload Soap]

Ah. I played the TG16 version once in an emulator and noticed the first level was the same as the NES version. I just assumed that the SMS version was another port of the same game. But all the levels are different? If so, that makes me want to play it more.

Sorry, I've not played the NES game very far so I don't know for sure but I think so. HG101 have an article about the whole series which might help.

[Purkeynator]

Ah. I played the TG16 version once in an emulator and noticed the first level was the same as the NES version. I just assumed that the SMS version was another port of the same game. But all the levels are different? If so, that makes me want to play it more.

I beat it a couple years back and really enjoyed it. It wasn't nearly as hard as the Ninja Gaiden games on NES, plus the sound is very good and the colors really stand out when comparing the NES version. You can definitely tell Ryu has a bit more color depth than his NES sprites. Highly recommended

[Mad_Hatter]

I've got the whole rom set downloaded for the SMS. And I am ready to put it in my everdrive once I get the sd card. Reading though this thread, and I got some 8 bit games in ready to try.

Never really tried 8bit games other than Mario on emulator.

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[theclaw]

Ah. I played the TG16 version once in an emulator and noticed the first level was the same as the NES version. I just assumed that the SMS version was another port of the same game. But all the levels are different? If so, that makes me want to play it more.

Separate developers. The SMS game is barely related to the series.
Game Gear game even less.