The Sega Master System - Review - Game Sack

Episode 83 - The Master System was Sega's first attempt at a home console in the US. This video explores many of the games on that system and the system itself.
All games played on a real Master System.
Interested in the FM sound expansion? Go here:
etim.net.au/shop/shop.php?crn=202
Check out the Game Sack Episode Guide!
www.gamesack.net

[@GustavoPLima]

Im from Brazil!!! WE LOVE the MASTER!!!

[@QuarioQuario54321]

So much you can buy in today!

[@betodefreitas7631]

+QuarioQuario54321 Alex Kidd is the answer! Super hard and super addictive!

[@ethanlaborde]

So I've heard. Isn't it still being made/sold over there?

[@betodefreitas7631]

Ethan LaBorde Yep, but not with cartridge slot. All the games already comes in memory and the main board isn't the classic one anymore.

[@BraLoD]

I'm Brazillian and I had one of those :D It was really popular here indeed, I loved it, and man, TEC TOY still sells the master system with like 200 built-in games and redesigned here :P

[@marilenalima8046]

Eu ia comentar isso, kkkkk... TECTOY still aliveee

[@ben-officialmassive7982]

I just found the Master System 3! :o It was only released in Brazil in 2008. Has like around 150 built games with no cart slot. Crazy! I might have to see if theres a vid on it.

[@daveruda]

I would accually like to have one of those :))

[@thisisnotachannel]

That's fucking incredible! Y'all can still buy Sega Genesis off the shelf over there too, right? And new(ish) games?

[@FIXTREME]

@@thisisnotachannel Yeah, but you can also still buy a Sega Genesis at any Walgreens/CVS in the states brand new come Christmas time

[@dudewhyfi]

'Dave is my only friend and I don't like him anyway'

[@QuarioQuario54321]

That didn’t age well

[@themacetrace3794]

Another underrated Sega system. I can’t be the only one who likes the white grid box art... right? Uhhh... I hope...

[@Redfoot138]

In the late 1980's I was always jealous of this friend who got the Master System while I "only" had the NES. Conversely, he loved coming over to my place to play certain NES games. By the time I seriously thought about getting a Master System the Genesis and Turbo Grafx 16 arrived. The Master System was starting to not look quite as awesome.

[@vinnykster]

Love my Turbo Grafx Mini 👾😎

[@zillagodwh]

I'm a lot like Joe. I grew up a Sega fanboy you could say, and I bought every generation of console they released. Heck, even the Sega CD and 32x. Great video on the SMS.

[@shadow479]

Master System II: My first console, with Alex Kidd included in it's memory. Oh wow such nostalgia.

[@BladeBlur]

I don't know if someone told you this before, but I always prefer listen to you guys talk over the montage segment. It just seem to be more effective when you give a single to two sentences on what you think of a game. :)

[@roboyle]

+1

[@michaelsmith8107]

I actually got a master system 2 in 1995 (when i was 5), presumably cos it was cheap and my mum thought I might not be able to tell the difference with the mega drive (which I did). Still loved it for the time I had it and us Brits gave Sega alotta love. Nintendo not even with the Snes managed to get a huge foothold in Europe. Wasn't until the Wii that it finally happened with a home console, so that's what 23 years to finally get control. Just too bad Sony took Sega's Euro power.

[@HollowRick]

I got a master system 2 in 1996 when I was 4 played my cousins model 1 with Castle of illusion and Sonic 1 and was blown away being able to control a character on screen haha ahh simpler times

[@PhilosopherGaming]

It's probably really sad, but I spent new years watching this episode of gamesack. You must be really, really good lol. This coming from a Nintendo fanboy :D.

[@Redrally]

*sigh* My first ever console. We have the Sega Master System II in fact. Despite the fact I was a 90s kid and we got it about 1995. Games this episode featured that we had: Galaxy Force The Ninja Action Fighter (that was a bizarre game! Levels didn't seem to exist) Double Dragon Mickey Mouse: Castle of Illusion Sonic the Hedgehog - my first Sonic game, memories! It's a shame our games kept crashing, since the console and the cartridges had not been treated very well. It taught me to take damn good care of my electronic products at a young age. There was also something else about our SMS2 that impressed me: I have a vivid memory of being happy at my progress in Sonic, but then Dad came in and announced we needed to go to Church. I refused to switch off the console and start over later, so Dad suggested I pause the game, then switch off just the TV. 2 hours later, the game was still paused in the exact same place! I was blown away.

[@TNVGAMING]

To be fair, SEGA wasn't capable of making a dent in Nintendo's market share because of the way Nintendo attempted to monopolize the market, forcing 3rd parties via contract to ONLY develop for the NES. But it's in the past now, great video guys!

[@ruediix]

Yeah, so I guess when Sony started pulling the same thing on Nintendo a few years back, it was karmic retribution. However, one must point out that it is the gamers that lose in a market like that, because it's no longer two moderately priced systems you have to buy to be able to play all the console games, but three very expensive systems.

[@Ukk1eB]

***** Actually, the Mega Drive was the market leader in Europe :P

[@muiscnight]

now their 3rd party support is lacking..karma!

[@jeremym9011]

I wish Nintendo never monopolized the market back then- then both the Master System and the NES would succeed.

[@BuChan89]

Mr Eighty The irony, Sega is one of their biggest 3rd party partners.

[@godzilla7391]

First system that I could call my own also. We had a Atari, but I was never really fond of it, and Sega got me hooked the their Master System. Became a Sega Fanboy since. Genesis, Sega CD, 32x, Saturn, and Dreamcast. Had them, well still have them all. Wish Sega would've never left the hardware side of the business, but I understand why. Had some late nights with my brother playing Rastan, Shinobi, Rocky, Reggie Jackson Baseball, R Type, etc., the list can go on!

[@mattafaak]

The SMS was such a powerful system that had the potential to blow the NES out of the water. If only Capcom, Sunsoft, and Konami were able to get more of their games onto the system. Can you imagine the original Blaster Master on the SMS with FM music and no slowdown?

[@davidschlueter7205]

Why would there be "no slowdown"? I mean, not to be a shit, but do you actually own an SMS? There's plenty of slowdown, and some of the games have so much sprite flicker that they're almost impossible to play. I love mine, really do, but it's not without it's own major flaws.

[@mattafaak]

+David Schlueter eh, maybe not "no slowdown", but considerably less than the NES had. I grew up with NES and SNES, and owned a few SMS over the years. I'm always fascinated about the "what ifs" of older systems like this.

[@HollowRick]

​@@mattafaak7 years late but I completely agree like most sega hardware besides the mega drive/genesis "what could have been" could be added to any other sega hardware 🙂

[@iPlaySEGA]

This was my childhood... My very first game system... made me a SEGA fan!! ^_^

[@mrbubbles6336]

The master system was the first console I ever got. I've still got it and play it. Line of fire is the best game on the system hands down!

[@MrSnapy1]

Graphically the master system was superior to the NES.Some games looked 16 bit in comparison to the Nes.

[@notkj017]

The system itself used 16-bit graphics hardware and its normally 8-bit processor was also 16-bit capable.

[@xxxBURSTANGELxxx]

MrSnapy1 Totally agree! And tons of less flickerin' and stuff

[@Bigbudd0045]

It should. The Famicom was originally on the market in 1983 in Japan, the Mark III came out 2 years later. Super Nintendo had a slightly slower co-processesor than the Genesis, but had a better color palette, a faster processor, a better sound chip, and other advances...and came out 2 years later than the Megadrive. Its actually been rare that the best selling console of its gen is the hardware leader. Atari outsold Intellivsion (intellivision was stronger), NES outsold SMS (SMS was stronger), the SNES outsold the Gen/MD and PCengine (it was close in the US but SNES pulled ahead, it was never close in Japan), PS1 outsold the saturn...which in 3d terms it was superior to, but N64 was a stronger system (held back by lack of a disc drive forcing compression onto cartridges), ps2 was weaker than both GCN and Xbox (again GCN was a stronger system...but lack of full dvd held it back), Wii outsold both 360 and ps3, and between 360 and ps3...it was only at the tail end of the cycle that ps3 pulled even, despite being a stronger system. Ill count this gen as ps4...xb1x might be stronger...but im not really counting the mid gen console upgrades...its a weird cycle. Gameboy crushed its stronger competitors: Lynx, GameGear, Wonderswan, NEOGEO Pocket. DS outsold PSP (and evey system ever other than ps2), 3ds outsold vita.

[@Ginormousaurus]

Graphics aren't everything when it comes to how well a video game system sells. Games on the Sega Master System usually looked better than on the NES, but the NES had other advantages. The NES entered the market earlier and had better distribution in North America. The NES had a better marketing campaign than the Master System. Remember the early Master System games' bad box art? The Sega Master System was more expensive than the NES at launch. Nintendo's practice of requiring exclusivity deals from third parties resulted in the NES having a much larger game library than the Master System. The Sega Master System had some good games, but it didn't have the NES' massive hit franchises Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.

[@davidmckean955]

@@Bigbudd0045 The Genesis and SNES ended up tying in the US (Nintendo and Sega both sold 23 million consoles) but Nintendo didn't catch up until after the Sega Saturn and Sony Playstation were already released.

[@luiscanamarvega]

Game Sack has beautifully done camera work when showcasing consoles and games, I love it!

[@16BitBrothers]

Master system is an amazing system and like you the first system I got. We live in England and it was a great country to own a master system ! Cheers Guys ! :-)

[@kentishmale1969]

Really nice to see some Sega Master System games rather than the never ending stream of NES & SNES that so many people feature in their videos over in North America - which is all rather boring to watch time after time after time - particularly as I've never had either system, nor intend getting them, but did have a Master System and Mega Drive (this side of the Atlantic in the UK, we by far mainly bought Sega not Nintendo back in the 8 & 16 bit eras, Nintendo owners were few & far between) I'm 45 and lived & gamed all through those eras

[@brianedward9119]

Very interesting.

[@MrBossyful]

+keith last SMS was mostly popular in Western Europe/Brazil, wasn't it? In Eastern Europe it is virtually unknown. NES/SNES was, and still is, definitely more popular here, both the original and a huge smattering of unlicensed copies/hacks (and that's what I owned back in the 90s). It is fascinating how much the console distribution policies can vary all over the world, and how they are influenced by regional rules and regulations. Personally I prefer NES/SNES, but as they say, different strokes for different folks.

[@Jayce_Alexander]

Mostly in the UK and Southern Europe. Northern Europe (the Nordic countries, Germany, Netherlands) were NES territory. The SMS had just a small presence here.

[@Metal-Possum]

I hear you buddy, coming from New Zealand myself. Nintendo wasn't a household name here until the N64, and even then still came second place to the PlayStation. I never intended on getting an NES or SNES, but I ended up with both eventually. They each have their charm, but I'd rather be a Sega fanboy than a Nintendo fanboy. Nintendo saved me from what video game crash exactly? ...Exactly.

[@RAKtheUndead]

+Jayce: To be fair, though, Germany was more Commodore 64 territory than it was NES territory. The NES was an also-ran pretty much everywhere in Europe compared to the home computer market.

[@RicardoCAnanias]

That was indeed a very popular system in Brazil. It was cheap and the cartridges could be rent at a fair price.

[@Mr.Atari2600]

The Sega Master System was actually more powerful than the NES. Though the NES has better sound chip.

[@mspenrice]

Debateable, other than the fact of it having built in sample replay (which pretty much halts any other processing whilst it's in progress). They each have their various positive and negative points. The NES is very slightly more sophisticated overall, but has a harsher, nastier basic timbre and is actually a bit limited in some comparitive regards, IE only has two channels with the same type of waveform so you can't have proper 3-note polyphony for certain types of complex chords and so-on...

[@Mr.Atari2600]

***** Actually the NES had several sound expansions in Japan like the Konami VRC6 & the VRC7 which they both blew away the Sega Master system's YM2413 sound espansion. Also The Atari 7800 came out a year later & has inferior hardware & sound.

[@mspenrice]

Tyler: Yes, thanks to Nintendo's crazy licensing restrictions, which I think we've discussed before, and would probably have companies running to a monopolies ombudsman crying foul these days. It's not that they wouldn't have developed awesome games for the SMS as well (after all, it's a whole extra market segment for your product), but by the time it came along they were already signed up with Big N and thus forbidden from releasing on any other system for at least a couple years more. You can see that once Square managed to free themselves from that yoke they ran, not walked, to Sony instead, for instance. Capcom et al spread themselves over a vast swath of different systems once their restriction period was up (instead of having to rely on releasing things on the sly via US Gold, like all of the contemporary Street Fighter 2 ports). Etc, etc. Heck, if USG had cared enough, the SMS would have had SF2 as a killer app vs the poor NES one. OK, they both had poor playability, but the SMS graphics were better (and that's pretty much the most important thing about SF2 ports, regardless of what you say), and the responsiveness / rubbish AI could have been fixed if they'd cared to. Bit easier to do that with 3.4MHz and 8KB RAM to play with instead of ~1.7MHz and 2KB...

[@Lucky_9705]

The NES’s sound chip is better at producing faster beats and tempos, but the Master System has a richer sound note and echo when producing music.

[@joeb2588]

To each their own, but I think the SMS had better tunes.

[@gtrzdaddy]

I'm watching this episode for the third time, in 2 years. This is one of my favorite episodes of all. Thanks!

[@rodrigonascimento4868]

SMS was my second console after Atari 2600 and is one of my favorites of all time. It was a huge success here in Brazil. I didn't even know the NES existed until about five years ago. Master System and Mega Drive are still being sold here in exclusive models that sell about 150.000 units every year. Congratulations to you guys, especially to who edited the video. It looks fantastic.

[@MrTechnoSqueek]

Guys I want to thank you I was and will always be a sega fan but I never grew up with a Master System the first sega console I had was the almighty Genesis but after watching this like millions of times I have picked up a model 1 master system and the model 1 Power Base Converter for the genesis and picked up Wonder boy 3 The Dragon's Trap and Deep Duck Trouble (which I picked that up just because of this video) and a few others. I am really enjoying it but now I wanna put the FM chip in my master system.

[@matiasd.7755]

I think there's a mod for the Power Base converter for adding FM sound to it too...

[@alexandreandrade5365]

SMS is still sold here on Brazil as Master System Evolution, with 132 games on memory: www.walmart.com.br/produto/Games/Consoles-Master-System/TecToy/320471-Console-Master-System-Evolution-Blue---132-Jogos People here tend to ridicularize this pratice, by I support it. It's an excelent entry system for little kids (3-6 yrs). they can experience true old school plataforming mechanics, and not be just 3D dumbs exploding things and unlocking achievements.

[@d0x360]

Zillion! When I was 8 years old we went on vacation to England. My cousin who lived there had a master system. I had never seen or heard of it before then seeing as it was very small in America. When I said I owned a nes he freaked and wished he had one. Anyways...while I was there I fell in love with a game and for the longest time I haven't known what it was. Thanks to you guys the mystery is solved. Its been 23 years and finally I can beat that game now. Thank you!

[@bruceparrett8805]

Gosh, these videos sparks nostalgia in a major way. I worked 6 days per week seeking newspaper subscriptions to spend all my money on Saturdays at the mall. Going to Toys R Us and getting the newest master system game out of the cage was the highlight. I would read the instructions from front to back and over again on the long bus ride home to then get home and play the most awesome system until the cows came home. I always loved the Sega games way more than the NES. I remember getting the very first edition of the Sega Newsletter Outrunner. Damn those were great times!!! Great video guys

[@MrTacticalDevil]

The system was famous in Brazil because the console was legally sold by a local company called Tec Toy. At the time, the only NES systems available in the country were the unofficial clones, like Gradiente's Phantom System and CCE's Turbo Game. Back then, Brazil had an extreme close market, way worse than today.

[@GameSack]

Snail Maze came built in to the system. But a real game on cartridge (with the box and manual) was also included. In my case it was Hang On and Safari Hunt (which I agree is awesome). Others got Hang-On and Astro Warrior.

[@MaxAbramson3]

Yeah, I had the Base System, though. We got Snail Maze, Hang On, and Astro Warrior. Imagine getting THREE games with one purchase of $79.99. Why SEGA didn't bring out more of their best work for the Master System early on is beyond me. Castle of Illusion, Aladdin, Chuck Rock, James Pond, Road Rash, and Outrun proved what the SMS was capable of in capable hands. Phantasy Star II had been all but finished in 1989 for the SMS when the Japanese game maker decided to erase all of their hard work and redraw everything for the Megadrive.

[@cidewerk9069]

This was the very 1st Game Sack vid I ever watched -- ever since then I've been hooked. Keep it coming!

[@godzilla7391]

They do a great job. Seems like I can relate. Getting few and far between in new episodes lately . Must be busy

[@michaelgiliojr.5214]

Love the Master System. I still have my system from when it first came out. My controllers have the wire coming out the front instead of the side and it also has a removable stick on the D pad. Lots of great memories. Thanks guys

[@ProtosMerkabah]

I have to say, I love the sound of the Master System's sound chips.

[@sstrong42]

The Original Phantasy Star was my favorite RPG.

[@AlanAraujoMarujo]

I'm from Brazil and still have my Master System 2. Many memories :')

[@slobodanlang7135]

It's great you guys are on here. It's great to have a community of retro gamers, but even more so, people that actually were around back when these systems came out. I got a NES in '87, but my best friend had the Master System and Hang-On, which is why I've collected on the system.

[@awooga07]

My first ever console, good memories :D

[@monkeyballs512]

You guys should’ve featured Phantasy Star. It was by far the best console RPG of the 8 bit era

[@nickolasecker9596]

I recently purchased a master system and absolutely love it so far! I got Space Harrier and Choplifter in the mail today so I basically re-lived Joe's childhood.

[@chads.4161]

Great video; brought back lots of memories. Got my Master System for Christmas in 1987 and loved it.

[@dero1975]

Totally underrated system !!! SEGA 4 Lyfe !! FTW Joe !!

[@GameSack]

We use a Canon 5D Mark II. Editing is done in both Final Cut Pro X but mostly in FCP 7 because it handles game footage soooo much better. Capturing is done with a Sony DSR-25 and a Blackmagic Intensity Pro PCIe card. FCP X cannot capture without timecode so gotta use FCP 7 for that.

[@blackjackrobby]

Just purchased this system! Thanks Gamesack

[@numberedeyes]

Great video guys a much needed in depth look at the system and its games.

[@OtakuFREEMAN]

man i watched this with tears in my eyes! the SMS was also my very first console. i had hang on (card) rocky & california games. since then im a hardcore SEGA fan and NEVER regret that! golvellius is AWESOME and i LOVE miracle warriors. one of the BEST soundtracks on the system. the FM soundtrack is just beautiful. i also liked games like: laser ghost or aerial assault. good times, really good times. im almost done with my SMS collection. thanks for this video!

[@dmac7344]

My ghost: "Graphics that will kill you?"

[@VirtualRobotsRevolt]

LOL i loved that Great sports segment at the end. That was amazing.

[@vinnykster]

3:27I know the feeling man! I had that same feeling when I bought the Atari 5200 with my own paper route money back in 83! 👾

[@1300l]

Hey game Sack seeing this master of darkness on the montage that clear is a castlevania clone, why not a clones episode?

[@cireza_]

Very nice seeing this video 9 years later :) I am from France and the Master System was the first SEGA console I owned. I can definitely confirm how great this console was. It had a long lifespan here with fantastic support from SEGA. It had great port from the MegaDrive, like Sonic, Desert Strike, Mortal Kombat (I played 2 a ton), Alien 3 or Monster World III. It also had its own Disney games (all were great, Mickey, Donald, Lion King, Aladdin etc...). Asterix also had great platformers on the system, Batman Returns, Power Strike 2 was amazing, there was a Road Runner game that was super fun as well. Definitely worth owning and a great solution for people who could not afford the MegaDrive.

[@HollowRick]

From the UK here I got a master system in 96 when I was 4 blew my mind being Able to control Micky mouse on screen in castle of illusion simpler times :) Batman returns was great too 😁

[@sega8bit]

Awesome episode guys. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

[@rodrigomolinsky]

Master System was my first console. It had support of Tec Toy, a brazilian company, and had lots of games and ports with brazilian characters. Add that to Alex Kidd games, Wonder Boy games, Castle/Land of Illusion, Vigilante, Sonic Chaos, Phantasy Star, California Games, World Cup '90 ... was really cool.

[@mylifeingaming]

[Coury] Never realized how similar a lot of the enemy sprites in Golvellius were to the Monster World games.

[@vanceleon6829]

you probably dont care at all but does anyone know of a method to get back into an instagram account..? I was dumb forgot the account password. I would appreciate any tricks you can give me.

[@skylarboston8630]

@Vance Leon instablaster =)

[@xALK1984x]

El review que andaba buscando! Genial su canal y trabajo! Saludos!!

[@FFXIvoorhees]

Can't believe I wasn't subscribed to you guys. Been finding 2-3 of your videos per month while browsing and could have swore I hit subscribe a long time ago! I love the quality and content in each video, keep up the good work!

[@vesavius]

Golden Axe being choppy... Not sure if criticism or compliment...

[@MrVolksbeetle]

Plot twist: It's a pun!

[@Gurki]

yeahh my first console 1991 and i love alex kidd in miracle world. my first game was the ninja :D cool video. i love your channel :D

[@kingstonlj]

A really good showcase of what the Master System has to offer... You guys do an excellent job. Thanks!

[@dogeymon83]

Beautifully made videos you guys! Hats off, very cool.

[@leannetrachy2210]

Sega is awesome! I love the Master System!

[@SumeaBizarro]

I recently got an european master system but without games, all I even have is RF modulator out from it but thanks to this episode, I came to think "Hey maybe mine has a built in game too so I can just test does the system function" and sure enough wiring it up and doing automatic tuning on my TV I was playing Hang On in no time... Wait, Hang On? Yeah, my unit apparently has that as the built in game, cool! BTW, does anyone know about region protection systems in Master System? Do NTSC J carts fit into US/PAL systems at all? etc. You do not need to tell me PAL will run slower, I kinda know that, I had to deal with obtaining a japanese Genesis that was owned by someone since the 90's here in europe, it was modded to be a PAL system just to work on TV set they probably had at the time and I had to rather crudely undo that modification to get some NTSC 60hz goodness out of Sonic the Hedghehog.

[@supahdupahguy81]

If you've got the version 1 Master System (the one in this vid), then you *should* also have the snail game built-in as well.....I think to access it you have to hold down the 2 buttons & up on the D-pad or sometsing when the Sega logo appears after you turn it on....tho i'm not 100% sure about what d-pad button you hold, if any - as i'm recalling from memory...

[@SumeaBizarro]

***** Hey indeed! Tested this on my own model and pressing Up and both buttons on control pad launch into snail maze instead built in hang-on. If you lose the game though it resets back to the sega logo which would then go into Hang on if you do not press dpad up and 2 buttons again.

[@wakkafozzie]

I've got 2 games built into mine. Hang On and Safari Hunt, which is like Duck Hunt. Unfortunately I can't play it because I have a flatscreen TV.

[@stryder99]

Just came across this video, and wow! So many games I had forgotten I even owned. Glad to see R-Type toward the end. That game was the business! So many good memories, and not so good ones--my cousins made fun of me constantly for having Fantasy Zone.

[@robbert-janmerk6783]

I had completely forgotten about Scramble Spirits! Loved to play that one with my older brother. That and Golden Axes, Alexx Kid in Shinobi World and Castle of Illusion were my favourite childhood games!

[@AlexeyFilippenkoPlummet]

Donald Duck game looks so animated, colorful and smooth that people would probably mistake the console with SNES by footage. And still fanboying for Nintendo was so strong in the US that SMS owners were basically considered as freaks (at least it seems so after AVGNs stories) and they always speak about how "Nintendo was better".

[@davidschlueter7205]

It's not really "fanboying". SMS owners were generally considered odd because NOBODY OWNED ONE here. Sega gave the marketing to frickin' Tonka. What's a toy truck company know about video games? There's also the fact that while technically superior, most of the games didn't utilize it well, and the third party support was very, very poor. Yes, Master of Darkness looks and sounds tons better than Castlevania. But Castlevania is still a better game. I mean, don't get me wrong - I still have (and love) my SMS, and I've got over 150 titles for it (Yes, I know only 117 were released in the US. I import. You'd be crazy not to, the system has pretty much NO region lock between Europe and the US. The only real "lock" is with Japan, as the cartridges have a different form factor.) Yes, the cross-platform games tend to be better looking and sounding on the SMS, but they tend to play better on the NES. For instance, Star Wars looks SO much better on SMS - but the controls are loose and sloppy compared to NES. Double Dragon has co-op, looks MUCH better on SMS - controls and hit detection are sloppy compared to NES. Bubble Bobble is the same way. Better looking on SMS, better playing on NES. Though, I can say right off the top of my head, some are straight-up superior. Marble Madness, Addams Family, Paperboy, some others. Again, I love the machine, and it has SO MANY quality titles on it. But there's a reason people perceive the NES as better. Wouldn't be the first (or least) time a technically superior console got the short end of the stick.

[@Jayce_Alexander]

You think Master of Darkness SOUNDS better than Castlevania on the NES? Really? D: I'll agree with you that it looks better than Castlevania on the NES. Lots of SMS games do, but the sound in general was just awful on the SMS. I'll agree with you that the gameplay was generally a bit lacking on the SMS in general as well. The controls tend not to be as precise as those of the best NES games, and the rather iffy d-pad on the SMS controller definitely doesn't help. I tend to just use Genesis controllers when I'm playing with my SMS nowadays.

[@Metal-Possum]

Meanwhile in PAL land, Nintendo gave the marketing for the NES to Mattel, a company that previous failed at video games with the Intellivision, and later gained infamy by successfully lead-painting barbie.

[@DNAsGhostzHouze]

This console was miles ahead of the NES. Alas, another Sega system that was ahead of it's time...

[@JSchaffer214]

NES (famicom) released in 1983 SMS released in 1985 I should hope it were ahead of the NES.

[@bfriesen75]

The SMS was my first game console as well. I have such fond memories of this console! Great video, it was like a trip down memory lane!

[@Phobos_Anomaly]

Ya know, I'm always surprised and how much work and time consuming editing goes into making your videos. You guys really go out of your way to make quality content.

[@GetToThePointAlready]

Game Sack is the meaning of life basically.

[@TheNintendochannel64]

What are you doing here?

[@yfdchjddssgbbklo]

Why is Google Plus here? It's probably a fake one but still.

[@AlexOjideagu2]

The master system was way more popular than the NES in Europe and Brazil. Such a shame America was so NES blinkered

[@FallicIdol]

ojideagu such a shame that Brazilians have to live in Brazil.

[@robbierupac9442]

ojideagu Couldn't agree More

[@Jayce_Alexander]

It may have differed from country to country but Nintendo was definitely hugely succesful in Europe during the 3rd and 4th generation. Both the NES and SNES both enjoyed a VERY healthy install base in most of Europe. The SMS dominated the third generation console market in the UK and Southern Europe, but the NES reigned supreme in Northern Europe. The continent was pretty much split down the middle in the console wars. I'll agree with you that Nintendo and Sega were far from being the only players on the market though. Europe had a VERY strong PC gaming scene at the time. The ZX Spectrum, although it was getting a bit long in the tooth by that time, had strong sales throughout the 80s (especially in the UK), the Amstrad CPC line was highly succesful, and the Commodore 64 actually outsold the NES and the SMS in Europe. But yeah, I don't feel the SMS is very underrated at all. Sure, it had pretty graphics for the time, but apart from a small handful of games, like you said, the game library is pretty weak. I actually think the Turbografx-16 is a far more criminally underrated system than the SMS.

[@AlexOjideagu2]

Jayce the Master System sold twice as many consoles as the NES in Europe and was still sold until 1996, this is a statistical fact, look it up.

[@Jayce_Alexander]

ojideagu Try commenting again after you've actually read my reply.

[@DukeJaywalker22]

One of your very best videos to date. Superb editing throughout. I was a NES boy growing up, but I have come to respect the SMS.

[@tetrisdave]

Thanks. Glad you stuck it out to the end. Game Sack is naturally cool with no filler.

[@meliathemuffin7416]

The nes flopped here in Britain

[@robbierupac9442]

MeliaTheSquid Good! 😂 SEGA Master System 4-Life!!👌💯💯🎮🎮🎮🎮🎮🎮

[@HsienKoMeiLingFormerYANG]

What you joked on about? NES didn’t flopped in Europe.

[@L2Nuku]

They said Britain, not Europe lol

[@jbfarley]

@@HsienKoMeiLingFormerYANG try again, but in English

[@eratic0311]

This Video Is The Best Video Ever Guys!!! The Sega Master System Is Better Than The NES!!!

[@FallicIdol]

Segadude 23 excluding game variety and quality

[@JBird401]

FallicIdol Lets not forget the NES also had a better controller too

[@jbfarley]

When you capitalize the first letter of every word you look really stupid

[@aboutexactly]

You guys are the best. Made my night again!

[@henrydave6603]

A friend of mine when I was a kid had this wonderful system. I had an NES so seeing that the other guys had was really cool. Plus some of my favourite early games are on it! When I started collecting, this was one of the ones I needed. I also love the fact the boxes are all hard plastic. This has, more often then not, saved the instructions from being lost or destroyed.

[@stradlemonkey444]

Does everybody know all you have to is keep your jet pointed Up/Left? You'll finish it quick but worth it!

[@GameSack]

That's only good for the first 8 stages I think. You also can't defeat the flying fortresses that way.

[@stradlemonkey444]

+Game Sack you're right, it's been so long!

[@robbierupac9442]

Game Sack This alone is EPIC for us SEGA Master System fanboys here in the States!! Some see it as a cult classic now but here in Boston I was 1 of 3 kids in my whole school that had this instead of Nintendont!!! Rock on!! The"pause" button was kinda icky but whatever it's the coolest system ever! Btw have you guys heard about a company from Brazil tec toy releasing a Genesis form of the Nintendont mini??😂😂💯💯👌👌🎮🎮🎮🎮🎮

[@jolyonwatts863]

IN YOUR SHOW YOU HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT GRAND THEFT AUTO MUCH DO YOU NOT LIKE IT OR SOMETHING

[@Metal-Possum]

+jolyon watts Is it a crime to not like GTA?

[@retrovideogamejunkie]

just a detail: brazil love sega master system just coz it was made down there , so it was much more cheap buy one rather a import nes...taxes for import consoles is expense as hell...

[@Redhotsmasher]

Ah, that probably explains why both the Master System and Mega Drive sold tons over there back in the day.

[@retrovideogamejunkie]

obrigado for the enlightment, it is hard obtain a source from brazil. i am from chile and we had the nes-clones (99 in 1) and not the famiclon. but the snes was more popular just coz club nintendo magazine (mexican version of nintendo power) was edited in chile for sudamerica audience. obviously people jump to ps1 and then ps2 for the same reason i guess...

[@retrovideogamejunkie]

jaja i know what you mean, here it is called creation or something like that, it is just the console it is a knock off of the nes and no a knock off of the famicom (cartrigde inclued) , it just that...

[@SuperMarioGuy12345]

Filipe Andrade I have a famiclone which has built in games.... Which fucking sucks. But It has a top loader so probably it could load NES carts but Ii don't think Philippines have NES carts.

[@LeoVaderBR]

Filipe Andrade I'm brazilian and that's pretty accurate.

[@bianodias2000]

I get really impressed seeing you guys placing the cartridge so softly in the MS slot. Mine (brazilian tec toy version) was very sturdy and had a hard time pushing in and even harder to put out.

[@vinisasso]

Finally you made a truly enjoyable video! When you talk about a system you personaly owned, cared about and had a real involvement with, it's an entirely different level. Very good.

[@jbfarley]

they personally own every console they talk about, dingus

[@Ice-Climber]

Weird my Master System 1 had Alex Kidd built into it.

[@Redhotsmasher]

I'm pretty sure ther are various different editions of the SMS with various different built-in games.

[@petervenkman8835]

How do you guys not have a Genesis specific video yet? Being that Joe loves SEGA as much as one should lol

[@StockRoom209]

joe is too busy analyzing parallax scrolling in real life lol

[@retrosoul8770]

Seems like he's saving it for last and maybe wants to get it perfect. I'm willing to wait for quality, it's such a classic system.

[@Randhrick]

Went back to this episode because I ordered the Analogue Mega SG which should arrive in a few months and have never really played a lot of Master System back in the days (except for Ys and few other titles). I decided to get some Master system games but I am still looking for some good recommendations. I also realized that this video date back from 2013! Damn guys, you have been rocking the retro gaming scene for a while now :) Love you guys!

[@AzureSymbiote]

Thanks! I've been waiting for a new episode for a while.

[@KAILOONE]

WAIT WHAT? YOU ACTUALLY BEAT SPACE HARRIER WITHOUT CHEATS???????? WTFFFFFFF? THAT GAME WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

[@computerboy56]

Apparently not

[@Hellwyck]

KAILOONE no, it wasn't and there were no cheats without a card or utility peripheral.

[@KAILOONE]

Hellwyck I beat it many years later, a couple of years ago on sega emulator but I used cheats and even then it was hard...

[@Hellwyck]

The only cheats on the SMS version is to change Harrier to a space ship (really cool as you're smaller and it's easier to dodge enemy fire).

[@KAILOONE]

Hellwyck Um no, I used infinite lives cheat

[@FullFledged2010]

No moonwalker? Really?

[@KWKBOX]

I never knew of this system's existence till much later. I always thought the Sega Genesis was the first system for a long time. By the looks of this video I do not feel I missed out on much. Well live and learn.

[@tolust]

wow !!! what a fantasic episode. SMS was my first system and it holds dearly in my heart today. thank you for allowing me to go back in time and be a kd again for 28 mintues :).. you guys the BEST thing going on youtube today

[@B3Band]

If Joe and Jen are married, then her name would be Jennifer Redifer.

[@serge2cool]

Bloodbath and Beyond Well noted, lol!

[@captainkarnage9874]

Bloodbath and Beyond some women keep their last name. it's not the 50's anymore dude

[@B3Band]

Captain Karnage Never has a joke gone so far over someone's head...

[@captainkarnage9874]

Bloodbath and Beyond I guess I didn't catch that.

[@gen2ex]

Wow! now I see what system I should of had growing up, The Master System from Sega. Just from this review is see so many good games, that look fun to play with a great color pallet and great graphics. This system is far superior to the Nintendo. Upon seeing the game play it looks like Sega actually had quality control for its games. Which is a lot more than what I can say for Nintendo. Don't get me wrong the Nintendo had great games, the sad thing is its only a hand full. While the rest of the Nintendo library is full of poorly designed ugly games. Most of the games were next to impossible to beat, not because they were challenging, but because they were so poorly designed not to mention all the glitches. In conclusion, I would much rather have had a Sega Master System than a Nintendo.

[@Jayce_Alexander]

Clearly you've never owned a Master System. :P It has a terribly weak game lineup, and if you think Nintendo had poor quality control...well, Sega wasn't even capable of producing a decent controller at the time. There's a small handful of SMS games worth owning, but even the best SMS games don't hold a candle to the top 30-40 games in the NES library. The SMS is a great console for people who enjoy poor controls, and terrible collision detection though. :P

[@TheBeaver50]

Derfel Cadarn 1st , I grew up on sega master system and sega genesis . my best friend growing up and my next door neighbor had a Nintendo. I had the pleasure of playing both systems . sonic the hedgehog never came out on the master system . both systems are great both systems have tons a great games . yes I do think master system was better than the nes .

[@joedoe1096]

Derfel Cadarn all Ive ever owned is Nintendo systems up until a few years ago I picked up a used PS3, and as a life long Nintendo lover I can tell you.. the NES library had a lot of good games, but also an enormous load of crap in it. I remember as a kid wondering why Nintendo put their "seal of quality" on glitchy, ugly, unbalanced, unfun pieces of crap, but they regularly did. I think the SNES library was better in that regard.

[@maxxdahl6062]

@@TheBeaver50 Yes it did. The first one came out here. Europe got more of them.

[@davidmckean955]

The SMS had an enormous amount of junk (like bad ports of Colecovision and TRS-80 games).

[@gtrzdaddy]

Awesome you guys showed the hidden stage in R-Type! Keep up the great work!

[@agentj007gaming9]

A Little League Baseball teammate of mine had an SMS. We mostly played Ghost House, lol. Good times.

[@shortbus1127]

alot of the graphics are far superior than the Nes and can even compete with the super and genesis

[@davidmckean955]

They're more evenly matched than you think they are, I have coded for both. The VDP in the SMS though displays way more colors the NES but the NES hardware is full of kludges that get more colors than it's supposed to on screen at once. Just not always the ones you want.

[@TheYzeman]

I owned both the Master System and NES back in the day. I liked the Master System and had about 12 games for it, all of which are mentioned in this video. It had really good graphics for the time but the sound sucked and so did the controllers. I also hated the pause button on the system. It all comes down to games though. The Super Mario games, Metroid, Zelda, Contra, Castelvania, Mega Man, Ninja Gaiden, Dragon Warrior. Sega had nothing to match that line of games.

[@bluesteel8376]

Wonderboy 3 is better than every game you listed.

[@TheYzeman]

max pain LOL. Okay. Whatever.

[@GranieNaSpontanie1994]

Sound isn't sucks ;)

[@MrInterVention149]

Same here about the NES and Master System. I started off with the Master System, and loved the games like Fantasy Zone, Choplifter, Hang-On, Action Fighter and such. It was one system that I could find now a days and still enjoy playing it.

[@gentarofourze]

The problem there is that most games were either hard to come by or expensive, I only saw Zelda 2 once in my life and was lucky to buy it cheap, anything not big name or cheap and nasty was hard to come by i.e the budget games like Ninja on MS went for about £10 new even close to release, I did see Contra and Castlevania just once on demo machines, Mario 1 was so easy to come by, 2 and 3 quite easy, Metroid no one knew what it was, Megaman, Dragon Warrior and Ninja Gaiden I never saw though I knew what they were.

[@llcoolray3000]

I've been binge-watching a lot of episodes over the last couple of weeks, and I've gained a real appreciation for the SMS. One of my friends had one growing up, but I didn't go to his house much, and I played Double Dragon on it once for an hour or so. I didn't understand then like I do now what an underrated game console it really was. I wish it had seen more support from consumers and software developers.

[@phlaelym]

Great Video. I had a Master System back in the day, and the game I played the most was probably the arcade port of Quartet.

[@AiOinc1]

Nintendo Sucks.

[@qualli13]

Your videos rock my old serious collectors heart.

[@Wimmle]

Decade later still great episodes

[@kalythgaming]

Wow, SMS + Space Harrier was also my first real console at 6 YO. I had only played some Space Invaders on the Atari 2600 prior to that moment and I fell in love with so deeply I was a SEGA fan for life. Some tunes in this video were so great...

[@TheAmishGamer]

Great work on the animation/skit at the end, guys!