Master of Darkness (Master System) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

[@NintendoComplete]

Sure, you could dismiss Master of Darkness as being a mere Castlevania-clone, but by ignoring it, you'd be passing up one of the best action platformers to ever grace the Master System and Game Gear. For fans of the Belmont clan, this is a truly a hidden gem.

[@Invidente7]

NintendoComplete That last level was too linear for being a "complex labyrinth"

[@MrOrthopedia]

Castlevania clone is an understatement. XD

[@NintendoComplete]

+Invidente7 Yeah, I don't think complex is quite right. It is annoying though until you figure out the right way through. There are a lot of wrong paths that will send you back to the beginning

[@tollban]

Pure gold. Not just a Castlevania clone... Has its own ambience & personality... Very dark... very XIXth Century... Very very Sega.

[@WhatsHisName26]

My favorite game on the Master System for sure!

[@sammyyo461]

AWESOME!! Mine is "Phantasy Star"!!^^

[@tollban]

Well man... Both if 'el are Gorgeousss!!!!

[@tollban]

Well man... Both of 'em are Gorgeoussss!......

[@mariusamber3237]

Mine would best Wonder Boy III for sure, though this one is definitely in Top 5 at the very least!

[@1985dossantos]

One of best Castlevania clones. I watch it and I think how Castlevania could have been in the Master System.

[@jasonleveck8546]

It's definitely got a very castlevania-esque vibe. I really think this game could be brought back out and updated for the modern consoles. Keep the heart of what makes it cool. I like the aspect adding the ripper in, and that the hero is a paranormal investigator, without any actual super powers. Master of Darkness for the 2020's could be a really great game!

[@TenFeetDown]

Loved this game in its time, the biggest enemy in this game was the weapon pick ups !

[@RodrigoGeraldo]

Um dos melhores jogos para Master System, épico!!! Até me arrepiei de lembrar, ótimo vídeo

[@mariusamber3237]

One of the top 10 SMS games for me for sure, in spite of some small issues. I played through it a couple months ago again and it still holds up decently well, especially seeing that it's not 'that' difficult. Really nice treat, considering that there weren't many games with the horror esthetic on the system (even less so - Castlevania clones).

[@CasulPants]

Thanks for sharing this obscure gem!

[@richardslotboom9250]

Usually i dont really dig the music in master system games but this sounds awesome! Great graphips as well! Played the whole game and enjoyed it a lot!

[@pixelgoat7317]

The thing that gets my spine tingling with this game isn't just the soundtrack, but they just had to have wax dolls in the bestiary. Man, do wax dolls creep me the hell out.

[@tollban]

Man... the Master System was and IS such an underrated console... It may has less games than the great NES... but got its own flavour and identity... It was the Real Sega Genesis, as Genesis means Origins... Don' t know... there' s something about the sound, graphs and moves that makes me feel real good... The good ol' Master System. The queen of the losers.

[@sammyyo461]

"SEGA" is quite the ambitious game developer.. .... next to developing some pretty AWESOME, innovative, and stylish original titles, they also sometimes develop their own interesting-looking "IP" as an answer to what was HOT in the gaming industry at the time!!

[@tollban]

True!!! I mean... Picasso used to say "Artist do copy... Genious just STEAL". Sega made great personal versions.

[@AdamSticksNTricks]

Interesting!!! Very! Segavania

[@angelriverasantana7755]

Hey, Alex. You should try out Coca Cola Kid on Game Gear since it's a neat 8 bit Sega platformer

[@blodguizer]

I have the game gear version of this on my 3DS.

[@Omniblade_Gaming]

How come me some play throughs have the theme to stage 1 slow ? Weird

[@NintendoComplete]

Probably depends on how they are running the game. The Master System version ran at 50hz, but if someone plays it at NTSC's 60hz rate, it will make the whole game run much faster.

[@Omniblade_Gaming]

I played this on a online emulator and the music for stage 1 is mad slow

[@mustangmckraken1150]

PAL regions play at 50 hz and NTSC regions play at 60 hz

[@tiofrajola7452]

SMS the best!

[@amso7169]

It’s looks like a PC Engine game!

[@CarozQH]

This game just doesn't feel right in 60 Hz... Even the music is much more appropriate in PAL speed.

[@lennonvilelamoraes1355]

💯👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@hanchiman]

So this was the surprise :O

[@NintendoComplete]

Hanferd I've got a couple more up my sleeve :) but this one is pretty awesome

[@hanchiman]

Heh, it does look Castlevania, you know as a kid I never saw the difference between Sega and NES, just realized Sega graphically is way superior... Just noticed the pattern that Nintendo always have a console that is way underpowered to this day but they what they lack in technique is alot of games with good quality. Any plans for Kiki Kai Kai (aka Pocky and Rocky)? :D or Mayuuoh for the SNES

[@NintendoComplete]

+Hanferd I'll upload those at some point :) and yeah, the Master System owned the NES for graphics. But vice versa for the sound. Most of the SMS games sound awful with that cheap ass rinkydink synthesis it does. Even the best sounding ones can't touch the average NES soundtrack for quality of sound

[@mustangmckraken1150]

The Japanese system had a better sound chip in it but it never released outside JP because sales didn't merit a hardware revision. Interesting fact that the NTSC and EU carts are compatible with it if you do a hardware mod to add the FM Synth card, though lol.

[@erlingcypriansen]

👌

[@mikedierickx6405]

You think the people who made this had played Castlevania on the NES?

[@mariusamber3237]

100%, this game is from 1992... years after Castlevania III had been released. There's no way they wouldn't know. Even so, it's still a fun, competently made game, but it sure wears its influences on its sleeve!

[@mustangmckraken1150]

That and Nintendo had a bunch of illegal business practices like hoarding lockout chips from developers that released games on competing consoles, so Konami couldn't have made a game for another system even if they wanted to.

[@marioortiz8682]

Looks good and interesting. Some of the music is absolutely atrocious though.

[@mariusamber3237]

This is sadly the main issue with most SMS games. As much as I like many of them, music and sounds have always been its weak points.

[@solarflare9078]

@@mariusamber3237 Unless you have the FM sound chip

[@TheAndrew808]

Is it worth 80 bucks??

[@NintendoComplete]

Why not try it on an emulator before you buy it?

[@epicboomshine6595]

A cane > a sword?

[@NintendoComplete]

Epic Boomshine I think it's a hammer

[@Love-Sensibility]

I thought it was more of a Tecmo-ish game tbh