10 Hidden Gems For The Sega Master System

[@CSLucasEpic]

Nowhere was the Master System more popular than in Brazil. Brazilians loved the Master System, they still do, as consoles are still being manufactured and sold over there. Games were translated locally in Portuguese, and even some original games of "Monica's Gang" were released over there.

[@OldAussieAds]

At least Brazil gets recognised. Internet lore states that the Sega Master System was only popular in Brazil and Europe. But it was HUGE in Australia and New Zealand too. It just goes to show that the Internet is an echo chamber. Don't know something? Look it up online and repeat the same old "facts".

[@TimKapow]

​@@OldAussieAds yup! As a South African I very much agree with this! The world isn't just America😂😂

[@dragonseye00]

Golvellius is a great game. One of the few I really felt motivated to go back to until I played it through twice. Spellcaster was quite neat too

[@briangreen597]

One of my favorite games of all time.

[@DerekSlatonHorrorAuthor]

Wonder Boy III - The Dragon's Trap is one of the absolute best games of the 8-bit era. Doesn't get nearly enough love

[@OzymandiasWasRight]

Yes. One of the greatest games ever made. Seriously.

[@markmorris7123]

Is it worth playing today??

[@OldAussieAds]

@@markmorris7123 Yes it is. It holds up very well.

[@kolpik3708]

I prefer Wonderboy in Monsterland, but they're both fun.

[@donnawharton8132]

Best game I ever had for my master system was golden axe warrior. A blatent zelda clone and was utterly awesome.

[@grimedoc8180]

I second this!

[@fanglespangle110]

Oh wow! Didn't expect to see any channel giving the master system any love. Much respect. It's my favourite wee beastie.

[@aaronworthing1023]

Here’s an idea for a video series… Go through each year and find what you guys consider the best hidden gems of the year. You know after you’re done going through the best game of every year. No need for critical rankings and all that just the games you liked the best that count as hidden gems, across every system

[@SmyD87_]

Have such fond memories of my mom introducing me to bomber raid as a child! Such an underrated game.

[@Crimzen2000]

Is it just me who’s still baffled that they can make a new video everyday

[@goatbone]

They have writers and they steal footage from other channels. Not that baffling.

[@ytjaymz-x]

@@goatbone is that true? They steal footage?

[@Crimzen2000]

@@goatbone I know but just the consistency. It’s kinda hard to upload every day without messing up or missing a day…

[@Austin-gj7zj]

@@ytjaymz-x they credit each source in the top right corner of the video with a little bit of text. They don't link to sources but it's better than putting nothing at all.

[@Hessed3712]

It’s impressive.

[@TheLouzer_]

YES! Spellcaster is my favorite Master System game of all time! Also, maybe it's not a "hidden gem", but I wouldn't know because I owned a SMS and played almost all of its library, but what about "Quartet"? Still one of my favorite games of all time!

[@PlasticCogLiquid]

Fuck yeah buddy

[@ArcaneAzmadi]

I'm constantly staggered at how amazing the graphics of the Master System were for an 8-bit console. I've always thought of 8-bit graphics as looking like the NES, but the Master System just blows the NES away, and arguably almost looks as good as the Mega Drive/Genesis in some cases (try comparing the first 2 Phantasy Star games and realise that the Master System original actually looks better than the Genesis sequel). It's such a forgotten console too. Also yes, the original cover art for Miracle Warriors: Seal of the Dark Lord really did have shapely bare demon titties on it. Japanese gaming has always pushed the envelope a bit, hasn't it?

[@leadbones]

Sure, it had more colors. Some would say a better color pallete. But, Master of Darkness, for instance, is not an adequate replacement for Castlevania. It isn't even close. Same with Golvellius Vs. Zelda, and most other attempts by SEGA to mimic Nintendo's success. The NES just had better games.

[@ArcaneAzmadi]

@@leadbones Well yes, graphics aren't everything.

[@GorGob]

SMS is amazing just beated mickey mouse land of illusion.

[@nfernandes2254]

​@@leadbones Well, this goes both ways, you know. I could say there's no NES release that beats Phantasy Star, Outrun, Spellcaster, Kenseiden, Disney's Illusion series, R-Type, Sonic... NES had bigger library, sure. But better? No. That depends on taste. Both sides missed epic titles, that's what is objectively true.

[@shona-sof]

Aztec Adventure is one of my favorite games on the Master System! Apparently it's based on a south American cartoon series if i remember correctly.

[@TheThird1977]

A nice list. One I hoped would make an appearance (but didn't) is Zillion II: The Tri-Formation Cycle. It's a really great platformer / vehicular shooter / side-scrolling shooter / mech-shooter that had a great difficulty curve and responsive controls to boot.

[@moregamemusic]

I don't know if you would call it a hidden gem or not but my personal favorite Master System game is GOLDEN AXE WARRIOR.

[@WebstersYouTube]

Well, this made me feel incredibly old. Might I suggest Kenseiden for a potential follow up video? Think Shinobi meets Dark Souls on the Master System and you're not too far off.

[@fanglespangle110]

I never gave that game a look, but I saw some people playing it for the master system challenge and it looked really interesting. I'll have to get round to it soon.

[@Koexistence13]

@@fanglespangle110 Kenseiden is a favorite. Re spawning enemies, chose your path lay out, hard as balls until you know challenge stages and rewarding power ups that make things more enjoyable. Great sound track, fm compatible and the characters techniques with the katana look pretty authentic for an 8 bit game

[@Bofner]

Sagaia, or Darius II on the SMS is an absolutely incredible port of the 2 screen arcade game. It wasn't until the Sega Saturn that a near arcade perfect port came to home consoles, but the SMS version plays really well and has incredible dynamic parallax backgrounds and an incredible soundtrack. If you like shoot 'em ups, it's highly recommended

[@Koexistence13]

Better than R Type?

[@Bofner]

@@Koexistence13 I enjoy it more, but its definitely a little more obscure than R-type is

[@Koexistence13]

@@Bofner watched a vid on it. Looks and sounds great.

[@Bofner]

@@Koexistence13 It has a lot of REALLY cool faux parallax effects going on, eecially on that first level, and the bosses all are HUGE! Its a really fun time

[@DanResanti]

I remember playing a few of those games as a kid, mainly Aztec Adventure. Good times...

[@chaospoet]

Master System got the first console port of the original YS game YS: Vanished Omens from Falcom and was the West's introduction to a series that's still going strong today. I know it's not obscure but a good number of people think the first version in the West was the Turbografx version but the Master System version beat it by 3 years I think. Also Master of Darkness is, as they say, the sh*t! I love that game.

[@megaben99]

Out of all the master system games my favorite, by all means, has to be master of darkness. I even had an idea for a symphony of the night styled sequel. It would be set during the cold war and would involve Dracula and his minions attempting to start world war III.

[@Blas4ublasphemy]

I'd play it.

[@megaben99]

@@Blas4ublasphemy i wish sega would make my game idea into reality. Also, unfortunately, i do not know how to make video games. Which is a shame because i have some great ideas for games.

[@Blas4ublasphemy]

@@megaben99 I have an idea for a open world Mario game set in New Donk City in which he a Luigi run a plumbing business...

[@megaben99]

@@Blas4ublasphemy That actually sounds interesting.

[@gfear24]

I still wish Sega had come out with a Master System Mini before coming out with 2 Genesis (or Mega Drive if you want to get all European about it) minis. There was a lot of bangers on the Master System. Wonder Boy, Outrun, Choplifter, Shinobi are just 4 absolute gems.

[@markianclark9645]

Ahh..that's more like it...I don't remember seeing hardly any of the featured games but we had all 4 of those you mention...also Aztec Adventure..Mortal Kombat..M Jackson's Moonwalker..Sonic..and if course the built in Alex Kidd..Ghouls n Ghosts I think..Altered Beast? Double Dragon..Operation Wolf light gun game..maybe a couple more...all good games...still have the console 30 years on..how many can say that?

[@kevindavis6121]

Psychic World and Aztec Adventure are still some of my all-time favourites. Great list.

[@Astrotrain99]

Nice list! I owned Aztek Adventure, Bomber Raid, and Gangster Town as a kid. Still great games today.

[@Crazy_Gamer_OG]

Dunno if it's a gem, but Choplifter on the Master System is such a good game. It's probably better than the arcade version.

[@kcollier2192]

I actually have several of these games AND my Sega Master System. The only difficulty would be finding an old standard def TV to hook up the system to.

[@danbauer3669]

I have 2 CRT's. They are super common, actually.

[@thehumbleone1983]

Great list as I grew up with and love the Master System 👍

[@Bubbabyte99]

As someone who just went on a month-long journey of exploring everything the Fantasy Zone series has to offer, I'm glad that at least one of those games made the list. Every game in the series is an absolute masterpiece with maybe the exception of the "just okay" Japan-exclusive Galactic Protector, which i'd argue is a bit too simple to have any real substance to it (and I'm saying that as someone who has played and enjoyed a hefty amount of Atari 2600 games).

[@pixelsandpinfalls5700]

Absolutely loved Aztec Adventure!

[@MichaelJBrar]

You're the man, Ben! ♥️

[@DreamcastQ]

Cool video I had never seen some of these games

[@TheBigDaddyDReviews1]

Cheers for this, got a few more games to add to my wish list. Will you be doing similar videos for some of Sega's other consoles??

[@PhoenixGRL21]

I loved Alex Kidd in Miracle world. It has since been remastered as Alex Kidd on Miracle World DX in the latest consoles.

[@TiNRiB]

I sold my NES for a Master System 2... 2 games drove me to Sega, Mortal Kombat and Golden Axe. NES had nothing on these home ports.

[@dmann1982]

I had Alex Kidd in Shinobi world on Master System as a built-in game...

[@specific78]

i still have my sega genesis and a really big stack of games (and it still works).

[@TimKapow]

I am South African, I had the NES(famicom for us) and then got a Master System with Sonic built in. Little did I or my folks know that it wasn't an upgrade! Luckily my best friend had the Mega Drive to tide me over until we both got PlayStations

[@the1ucidone]

This is a really great list of games.

[@DeaDGoD_XIV]

I miss my SMS, I had way more fun with it than with the NES

[@1whu965]

Sega kicked nes ass in England no one had Nintendo until TMNT came out

[@ARIXANDRE]

Still huge in Brazil. That's why we love Alexx Kidd.

[@eddiehimself]

Psychic World basically sounds like the spiritual prequel to Control lol.

[@gregd3344]

SMS was so much better than Nes.

[@goatbone]

Hardly

[@gregd3344]

@@goatbone deffo

[@JamieJoseph88]

Not a chance dude, it had terrible box art and no start button on the controller

[@fanglespangle110]

The specs decked the NES in any way you can imagine. The controller was an odd choice... pause button on the console itself?! It certainly lacked the library the NES had... but I still prefer it so... I agree:P

[@igable82]

I definitely agree.

[@tonythesuperperson]

I am the person you talk about in the intro, yay

[@jonathanross149]

Miracle Warriors was the 1st JRPG I ever played. It took forever to beat.

[@Mineturw]

Best gaming channel on KZbin !!

[@Nbflowers1989]

Great list!

[@renatodalmo]

these games are only obscure for those who haven't played master systrn, the library is tight and these are the best games on the console

[@OzymandiasWasRight]

Miracle Warriors almost looks like Shining Force in a weird way. Looks like one I def need to check out.

[@jamesmincks6720]

The Sega Master System was huge in South America especially Brazil.

[@MatheusCarvalho-ev9hw]

Really? Nobody knew it.

[@Sinn0100]

Released in 1985? I know the Nes was released in 1985 but the Master System's first foray into the West I thought was in 1986 in the US. I got my Nes and Master System on Christmas of 1986 here in the US. My Master System was actually a last minute gift from my father not wanting me to be left out when I was at his house (divorced parents). We're talking Christmas Eve here and while he set out to buy me a second Nintendo console for his house they were sold out. What's funny is this defining moment dictated a very large portion of my life. My dad and I became huge Sega fans together. Yes, we wound up getting an Nes and having fun with it...but it still wasn't Sega. My father and I even purchased import Master System consoles and games.

[@wyterabitt2149]

The NES was released in 1983, at the same time as Sega's first console the SG-1000. The Master System was an update to the first consoles, and was released in 1985.

[@Sinn0100]

@@wyterabitt2149 Well no...the Famicom was released in 1983. The Nes was built specifically for an American audience after the video game crash of 1983-1984 and released in 1985. It was made to look like a VCR so people wouldn't automatically associate it with a games console.

[@wyterabitt2149]

@@Sinn0100 The NES is just the Famicom it doesn't really matter what you call it - it's a different variant of the same console, that's all. The same for the Master System, which was the Mark III when released in Japan and then the name was changed for western markets - it doesn't really matter, but if it bothered you then you should have mentioned the Mark III as well.

[@Sinn0100]

@@wyterabitt2149 Bothers me? Did I say it bothered me? No, I would say it bothers you greatly. Honestly, a simple yes or no would suffice. As I am not a 3rd generation collector or historian (I was to young) I don't know the other regions the Nes or Master System were released in. That would make it possible for the Master System (for example) to see a release in 1985 and why I formulated it as a question. Further, since it is bothering you shouldn't you then say the Japanese version of the Mark III was rebranded the Sega Master System in Japan as well because that is what happened. One more thing, the Famicom and Nes share the same internals yes, but there design is completely different. I mean they come from fundamental polar opposite schools of design. One is of Eastern origin and the other is Western...you can't possibly find more opposing groups on how to do things. This is why these machines have different versions and are referred to by said names. They should never be used interchangeably especially considering their age.

[@rootyrootyson2175]

Both of you clearly have love for the good old days of console gaming, irrespective of the specifics. Only played the Master System on a handful of occasions, but knowing what was made for it and what those games have meant for people makes me want to try and find a way to experience more of them, so thanks 👍

[@sergiodbd]

Bomber Raid is an absolute banger, my mum still pulls out the actual hardware for this one from time to time 😅 I’ve also had Master of Darkness for years. Can’t remember where I got it from and I’ve also never completed it 🤦🏾‍♂️😅

[@deathofkings5633]

Damn I want a master system mini

[@petesmart1983]

Gangster is only one I played brilliant game. Biggest problem I had with SMS game was the awful boxes with little graphics espically the checker board ones

[@dominickgaramella6431]

What about Fantasy Star, Time Warriors, or Psycho Fox??

[@jackreacher1083]

Omg psych fox! That brings back memories

[@fanglespangle110]

I wouldn't class them as hidden gems. Time warriors at a push but the other 2 are 2 of the best known games on the system.

[@dominickgaramella6431]

@@fanglespangle110 you have a good point. I forget that other people know the system. I live in the US and that was the poor kid system 🤣

[@Koexistence13]

Spellcaster looks good. Reminds me of Kenseiden

[@rasherbasher8203]

The master system the first console I was really proud to own.

[@RedParsley]

The MS is probably my favourite console of all-time so the slightly disrespectful attitude at the beginning of the video is a little upsetting 🙁 Great list though, I'm particularly happy to see someone recognise Fantasy Zone: The Maze's virtues, it's a great game to play with a friend.

[@JTCin2025]

I'm just wondering what type of attack the "Sacred Nut" is.

[@tommccarthy5066]

Hook it to my veins, I got a master system II with Alex Kidd preloaded and a copy of sonic. I'd put forward Ninja Gaiden as an absolute classic for the sms. I'm going to go ahead and assume it's not on this list because it's far too good to be considered a hidden gem 😜

[@BlastedMaster]

'Aztec Adventure' is strikingly similar to 'RoboWarrior' for the NES.

[@qwaH]

0:20 Alex Kid hah, surely you mean Snail Maze the original built in game

[@MrNightshade2010]

actually i had 3 diffrent sms's over the years 1 with the maze game 1 with alex kidd and 1 that had hang on/safari hunt built in .....You know safari hunt wouldn't fly today ..........

[@alexnichols86]

Dynamite dux. The ninja. Teddy boy. Bonanza bros. A few other hidden gems I grew up with.

[@mocmonster]

One of the best games has to be Shinobi hands down (so make sure you give that a try too! 👌🏻🎮)

[@colm4303]

Still have my Master System 👍🏻

[@petesmart1983]

I still have a sms2 what I got for my 5th or something birthday

[@RyanCoomer]

I am a Zookeeper in Atlanta and I regularly feed the Hippos day old Sausages so they have a taste of their home. I put strings on the sausages and swing them around the Hippos they get so Mad at me and Scream but it's an obsession sometimes the hippos try and Break out of their Cages but I keep swinging those hotdogs in Wide Circles over their heads. Luckily my Boss doesn't know I do this

[@jonasolofsson4128]

The graphics on the master system is quite tasty, even compared to the NES.

[@phillipcentorbi5728]

Surprised Phantsy Star didn't make this list but oh well. It was a good and challenging rpg

[@fanglespangle110]

Eh, I wouldn't class it as a hidden gem. Outstanding game though.

[@Marc_Araujo]

Power Base Converter for the "W"!!

[@NinusMaximus]

Just a minor correction. It was (and still is) a huge success in america, just not the northern one. :)

[@emerje0]

Ben: "Sega Mega Drive" Me: (Simon voice) "Or Sega Genesis if you want to get North American about it."

[@TMV420]

I'm new to your channel and I love your content but would you KINDLY CHANGE THE BACKGROUND MUSIC?!?! please and thank you! great video as always

[@Austin-gj7zj]

As someone who used to watch [REDACTED], and still watches Cultaholic/Triple Jump, I can tell you with absolute certainty they won't.

[@TMV420]

@@Austin-gj7zj I don't understand what you mean but I trust you

[@GLockStarlinerNumber1]

That first game (number 10) story and setting I watched the remake on Netflix. It a show call stranger things

[@defgui]

Talk about Tectoy please 🙌

[@igable82]

Didn't expect Miracle Warriors here. Ah, first nude lady I saw in a video game (end boss was top less). Fun game but grindy.

[@Rockysbeats]

how are those psychic abilities?

[@retro_hedgehog2495]

What no golden axe warrior or the ninja??

[@Cuzjudd]

You sound a lot like David Mitchell and have a similar sense of humour

[@greenblooded395]

Hello all have a wonderful day/night

[@danbauer3669]

I got a rad Master System collection that includes a brand new Phaser in the box and... well, that's it really. Anybody need a phaser?

[@kalasatwater2224]

No time stamps -_-

[@aliensweathands]

👽

[@Tyway]

7:31 uh nice try sweaty, try again. It's Hylian ffs. Unsubbed, unbell icon'd, and unsucked.

[@abbasshachem3383]

The list just shows how weak the library of the master system

[@wyterabitt2149]

Which I think helps to demonstrate how being a fanboy causes brain damage and lowers a persons IQ.

[@howardmalone3]

Love playing master system lightgun games especially gangster town on my Oculus quest works perfect