News Article

Master System games hit the Japanese VC

Posted Tue, 26 Feb 2008 by Darren Calvert

Ker-pow! It's the western release of Fist of the North Star!

Ker-pow! It's the western release of Fist of the North Star!

Japanese Wii owners will no doubt be rubbing their hands with glee as the first Sega Master System game is released in their region today.

Sadly its not the greatest game to grace Sega's 8-bit wonder, Fist of the North Star (Black Belt to you!) wouldn't have been my first choice for the system!

In celebration of this monumental occasion why don't you have a look at the Wikipedia list of Master System games and share with the world what Master System games YOU want to see on the VC?

Dibs on Psycho Fox ok? :p

Tags: Virtual Console, Japanese releases, Master System.

User Comments

wedge554

1. wedge554 United Kingdom 26 Feb 2008, 22:03 GMT

Lucky Dime Caper Starring Donald Duck

Brilliant game, i loved it! definately one to get when they release it... Probably in 10 years time or so lol.

GameGod3008

2. GameGod3008 United Kingdom 26 Feb 2008, 22:13 GMT

Alex Kidd in Miracle World

dark moogle

3. dark moogle Australia 26 Feb 2008, 22:18 GMT

I guess an anime title would be a decent choice for a Japanese launch. I wonder what the first game(s) US and PAL owners will be getting.

djshep1973

4. djshep1973 United Kingdom 26 Feb 2008, 22:29 GMT

I'd love to see Outrun appear on VC for Master System... I remember seeing a really cool review of it at the time, and it just looked awesome!

Damo

5. Damo United Kingdom 26 Feb 2008, 22:43 GMT

The Alex Kidd titles are sure to come to the VC, and that is something we all should be very happy about!

That Guy from Faxanadu

6. That Guy from Faxanadu Sweden 26 Feb 2008, 22:45 GMT

I already have most of the cheaper good games so Golden Axe Warrior would be my choice! And since we still haven´t Y´s 1&2 for Turbo Graf-X Y´s would be just fine as well!

Starwolf_UK

7. Starwolf_UK United Kingdom 26 Feb 2008, 22:50 GMT

I would say the Sonic titles as they are very different compared to the Mega Drive versions but i'm worried they won't hold up as well (I can't see the 8-bit master system managing such a speed experiance).

I don't know why I can see Wonder Boy III coming out in a filling the numbers move (plus people will buy it due to being chepaer than the TG-16 version; Dragons Curse).

Kelvin

8. Kelvin United Kingdom 26 Feb 2008, 22:54 GMT

Starwolf_UK, the MS Sonic games still hold up today, and you'd be surprised a how fast they seem.

My biggest hope is probably for Phantasy Star, but there are so many great games for the system.

Kawaiipikachu

9. Kawaiipikachu Australia 26 Feb 2008, 23:13 GMT

Can't wait for the Master System (as well as commodore 64) .
Virtual Console turning out to be great .

Boredom v2.2

10. Boredom v2.2 United States 26 Feb 2008, 23:17 GMT

I checked out the list and i'm surprised i never knew anything about these games. Even though i'm a Nintendo fan, i like to keep in mind some names of old systems that were made before i was born
Ex: Atari, Odysee (spelled wrong i know), Cilikovision, and the Apple II (not sure if it was a game system).

Boredom v2.2

11. Boredom v2.2 United States 26 Feb 2008, 23:19 GMT

So when do you guys get the list of Japan's March VC games?

Sharecrow

12. Sharecrow United States 26 Feb 2008, 23:43 GMT

I would have to say I would be most excited about getting Zillion, Rastan, and Shinobi. I think I would have a hard time not downloading Phantasy Star, though, even though I have it on GBA (my GBA screen is an awful lot smaller than my TV!!!)

Dathcha

13. Dathcha Netherlands 26 Feb 2008, 23:48 GMT

Xenon 2 Megablast for me please and a side-order of fries... Although I am not sure if I should be wanting the SMS version or the SMD version...
I miss having 1-2 great vertical scrolling shooters like Xenon 2 Megablast or Raptor: Call Of The Shadows... PLEASEEEE :D

7th lutz

14. 7th lutz United States 27 Feb 2008, 00:15 GMT

The list of March vc games should be up on this Friday.

Bass X0

15. Bass X0 United Kingdom 27 Feb 2008, 00:45 GMT

only played the first sonic MS game but its cool.

Matt Thorndark

16. Matt Thorndark United States 27 Feb 2008, 03:57 GMT

Considering I have access to a few of the Master System games on my GameTap program, I'm able to withstand the wait for these to hit the VC.

Hey, the MS version of Sonic is basically the same as the GG version, right? I'm hoping that I'll have a better time with the former than I did with the latter.

J.K.

17. J.K. United States 27 Feb 2008, 04:41 GMT

I have a Master System that I just recently bought as a Christmas gift to myself from a local who basically had it new in box w/7 games for $40. A real hell of a deal and since then spent around maybe $75~ to get a library of around 30 games. I'm happy to see this come to the VC as the system has some insanely quality titles for sure and is just fun to use. I know some will say I should have waited, but while the VC is nice it's digital...no hard copy, and Wii won't last forever.

I'd hope for you guys they release stuff like: Phantasy Star, Alex Kidd in Miracle World (or Shinobi Land), Ghouls n Ghosts, Fantasy Zone 1/2/The Maze, any of their old arcade ports (Shinobi, Afterburner, etc), Zillion, Ys Book 1, Columns, and many others.

And to Matt on #16... Sonic 1 on the SMS is Sonic 1 Genesis in very fine form. Sonic 2 though is from my memory when I had a Gamegear Sonic 2 from that.

west72

18. west72 United Kingdom 27 Feb 2008, 06:03 GMT

Games i'm looking forward to have to be the Sonic games, Space Harrior and Rocky, which was a great looking boxing game for it's time.

E-dawg

19. E-dawg Australia 27 Feb 2008, 06:16 GMT

Never realy played the MS that much, but maybe the 8-bit Sonic the Hedgehog would be fun to try out, is it similair to the 16-bit?

Viral

20. Viral United Kingdom 27 Feb 2008, 07:07 GMT

GameGear Sonic was hell-a-hard. Goodluck everyone that doesn't play platformers religiously. I'm still hoping for Resident Evil 2 and Goldeneye for the N64...although we'll probably never see them. RE UC for the win.

King wiL

21. King wiL United Kingdom 27 Feb 2008, 08:59 GMT

Miracle Warriors! The first RPG i ever saw, my eldest bro used to play it when i was bout 7, spent ever since tryin to rememberin what it was called, only rememberin what the in game play was like until i accidentally discovered it when browsing randomly through roms on an emulator on my mates pc, the name rang a bell, as soon as the title screen was up i knew it! Pure class of a game! Yeah! We'll prob never get it tho. Although the japs do love there RPGs so you never know...

Kelvin

22. Kelvin United Kingdom 27 Feb 2008, 12:40 GMT

E-dawg, the MS/GG Sonic games were quite different to the Megadrive versions, but just as good in their own way.

vader75

23. vader75 United States 27 Feb 2008, 13:51 GMT

I would like to see Wonder Boy, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, and Kung Fu Kid all released on Virtual Console.

Starwolf_UK

24. Starwolf_UK United Kingdom 27 Feb 2008, 14:01 GMT

"Hey, the MS version of Sonic is basically the same as the GG version, right? I'm hoping that I'll have a better time with the former than I did with the latter."
The MS version has a larger screen which hopfully means you don't have the problem of falling into pits you cannot see far enough in advance or being hit by enemy projectiles doing a similar trick. I think Sonic in Triple Trouble was the first one to make sdure those kind of things don't happen (well, it was GG exclusive).

Also the MS physics are slightly different to the GG ones.

Adamant

25. Adamant Norway 27 Feb 2008, 17:40 GMT

^Plus the Chaos Emeralds were moved to new locations

DDR Paladin356

26. DDR Paladin356 United States 27 Feb 2008, 18:19 GMT

Zillions is my pick for title that I want on VC. I would say Phantasy Star, but I already have it on GBA.

What other gems are there on MS...how bout Shinobi, the MS one, and both the GG versions. I also wouldnt mind seeing the Alex Kidd games either. They were pretty cool. Can't wait to see the possibilities.

Manicfatty

27. Manicfatty United States 27 Feb 2008, 18:22 GMT

I can't for the life of me figure out why they would kick things off with this game. It's vanilla...and not even vanilla bean...artificial vanilla flavouring. Why not Zillion, or Phantasy Star? Even Sonic, Psycho Fox (heh...sounds like a Metal Gear Boss) or Alex Kidd would have been preferable. Oh well. Maybe for the western launches. :)

Bulbasaurus Rex

28. Bulbasaurus Rex United States 27 Feb 2008, 18:42 GMT

Forget the Master System. I want to see the Sega 32X come to VC. My 32X broke, so I want a way to play my old 32X games again.

Tony

29. Tony United States 27 Feb 2008, 18:53 GMT

I want to play Shinobi, Out Run, Golden Axe Warrior, and Double Dragon. I also wish the 32x would be on the VC. It would not take long to release its small library.

Manicfatty

30. Manicfatty United States 27 Feb 2008, 19:42 GMT

Metal Head, Shadow Squadron and Virtua Racing would be cool, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. 32X was a novelty, and a marketing debacle. I doubt they view interest in the system as being high enough to warrant the cost of emulation. Oooo...and Star Wars Arcade...incredibly short as it was.

Serpent

31. Serpent United States 28 Feb 2008, 04:02 GMT

Great, i missed out on the Master System back then.

E-dawg

32. E-dawg Australia 28 Feb 2008, 06:15 GMT

@ kelvingreen
Cheers man, they might be worth buying the games 'again' then I suppose...

Roo

33. Roo United Kingdom 28 Feb 2008, 10:53 GMT

Youse are wanting Pac-Mania for the Master System, it's mint!

Anything but Cyber Shinobi! Anyone remember that?!

Dazza

34. Dazza United Kingdom 28 Feb 2008, 12:44 GMT

Urgh, Cyber Shinobi. You can see my comments on this at the Mean Machines Archive if you follow the link!

If it comes out on VC I might just copy & paste those comments and use them for the VC:R review! :p

For anyone who is interested all the Master System reviews from Mean Machines magazine (UK mag 90-92) are online. They actually covered a fair old chunk of the MS's library so its a pretty neat resource.

StarSoldier1

35. StarSoldier1 Canada 28 Feb 2008, 18:17 GMT

We definitely need a RPG like Phantasy Star since Square isn't on board yet.

ircoops

36. ircoops United Kingdom 28 Feb 2008, 18:37 GMT

I used to have gangster town with the light gun and Mickey Mouse in castle of illusions - they were ace, but due to lack of zapper support and Disney licences they prob won't make an appearance. The original prince of Persia & populous were great ms games too.

retrospekt_au

37. retrospekt_au Australia 28 Feb 2008, 22:59 GMT

Hey hey folks, first time poster on here, but this intrigued me (this section that is), and having been a long time master system fan, I can safely say that I want these to come out for the VC:

  • BasketBall Nightmare (awesome music, but the game was too ****ing hard!)
  • Alex Kidd in shinobi world (I love how you guys love the alex kidd games, but in particular this is epic win)
  • Bank Panic (simple but addictive)
  • Wonderboy 2 and 3 are a must (since Adventure Island is already out on the VC :P rubs salt in the wounds)
  • Alien 3 (although I rather see that come out on the SNES VC instead.. unlikely i guess :( )
  • Dynamite Dux (come on, tell me you folks HAVE NOT played this classic beatemup!?) :)
  • Enduro Racer
  • Impossible Mission
  • Castlevani... err I mean Master of Darkness :P
  • My Hero
  • Speedball 2
  • and of course Zillion 1 & 2 (Tri-Formation)

Also a fair few titles that you folks have already mentioned too :)
Good times ahead for us methinks

Morbid

38. Morbid United Kingdom 29 Feb 2008, 00:58 GMT

I loved Psycho Fox on the master system. Twas a great platform game at the time!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psycho_Fox

Psydswipe

39. Psydswipe United States 03 Mar 2008, 17:44 GMT

I actually like(d) Black Belt quite a bit. There isn't a whole lot to it, just some basic side-scrolling combat. When you defeat a boss your character continues to go insane on them with some super hyper kicking or punching -- nothing you actually control though. For some reason I thought that was great when I was a kid. I'd imagine it really isn't worth playing today though since there is nothing really unique about it.

Kafei2006

40. Kafei2006 Belgium 04 Mar 2008, 14:33 GMT

Plenty of good shooters to choose from on this system :

  • Aleste (aka Power Strike)
  • Power Strike 2
  • Fantasy Zone (great pick but the PC-Engine version looks and sounds better, so if they release the NEC version on the VC, the SMS version would become useless, unless you're some kind of SMS ultimate fan !)
  • Fantasy Zone 2 (here, out of the three ports that are the SMS, NES and MSX versions, the SMS one is the best. I sure hope it comes out on the VC someday)
  • Aerial Assault
  • Scramble Spirits (good 2 player mode simultaneously)

There's a lot more of them but for most, they weren't exclusive to the SMS and had counterparts, mostly on PC-Engine, that were better overall, so it wouldn't be so interesting to get those.

For example, I'd also have cited Master System's R-Type version, which is the first version of R-Type i ever tried, but considering we already have the PC-Engine version which is easily superior, i wouldn't see much reasons to bring one more version (a less good one at that) to the VC.

Also there's "Golvellius : Valley of Doom" which is a kind of Zelda clone and that i'd like to try someday.

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