Unfortunately, only 116 games were released in the United States. Quite a few of those games are pretty decent, but there is a lot of crap and uninspired games for the system. There are also quite a few decent games that only came out in Europe. However, for the US only releases, I can still cull 30 games worth playing from the library. Usually I list every game in a series because the gameplay is usually consistent and you can know what to expect, but I will exclude a dud game.
I am not including any SMS games that were ports of Genesis games or which have a Genesis version unless the SMS game offers something special. The Genesis is an extremely common system and the first two models have backwards compatiblity with SMS games with an adapter.
| Title | Notes |
| Action Fighter | |
| Alex Kidd in Miracle World | |
| Alex Kidd in Shinobi World | |
| Alex Kidd: High-Tech World | |
| Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars | FM Synthesis Support |
| Alien Syndrome | FM Synthesis Support |
| Bubble Bobble | |
| California Games | FM Synthesis Support |
| Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse | Not a Port of the Genesis Game |
| Choplifter! | |
| Fantasy Zone | |
| Fantasy Zone II | FM Synthesis Support |
| Gangster Town | Light Phaser Required |
| Golden Axe Warrior | |
| Golvellius: Valley of Doom | FM Synthesis Support |
| Master of Darkness Maze Hunter 3-D Missile Defense 3-D |
FM Synthesis Support, 3-D Glasses Required Light Phaser & 3-D Glasses Required |
| Penguin Land | Battery Backup; FM Synthesis Support |
| Phantasy Star | Battery Backup; FM Synthesis Support* |
| Power Strike II | |
| Psycho Fox | |
| R-Type | FM Synthesis Support |
| Rampart | |
| Shinobi | FM Synthesis Support |
| Sonic The Hedgehog Sonic The Hedgehog 2 |
Not a Port of the Genesis Game Not a Port of the Genesis Game |
| Space Harrier 3D | 3-D Glasses Required; FM Synthesis Support |
| Wonder Boy | |
| Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap | FM Synthesis Support* |
| Wonder Boy in Monster Land | FM Synthesis Support |
| Zillion | |
| Zillion 2: Tri Formation | FM Synthesis Support |
I tried to include Light Phaser and 3-D Glasses games since these were significant (Light Phaser) or unique (3-D Glasses) peripherals. I also have noted which games have battery backup save RAM, which is a rarity for 8-bit Sega cartridges. Finally, I have also noted which games have an optional FM Synthesis soundtrack. For the games with an asterisk, you will need a hack to play them in anything other than a Japanese system.
If you buy a SMS, you will have a built-in game. Early consoles will have a simple snail maze game, later consoles may come with Hang On and Safari Hunt, just Hang On or Missile Defense 3-D. Master System IIs should come with Alex Kidd in Miracle World.
There are a couple of games that almost made the list. Ys: The Vanished Omen has FM Synthesis but the game is too slow and difficult compared to the Turbo CD version. King's Quest is interesting but not nearly as good as its PC original. Miracle Warriors: Seal of the Dark Lord is the only other RPG released for the system, but it has nothing to really distinguish itself from a typical JRPG before they became good.
Europe got more games than the US did, and some of them are pretty good and will run in a 60Hz NTSC System. Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar is a superb port of the PC game, much more faithful to the PC source than the NES version and has FM Synthesis music. Ninja Gaiden is a passable game if you need an 8-bit Ninja Gaiden fix, but it is not near the NES games. Despite what SMS Power! may contend, Sonic 2 runs without any real issue in an NTSC machine.
There are a couple of games that almost made the list. Ys: The Vanished Omen has FM Synthesis but the game is too slow and difficult compared to the Turbo CD version. King's Quest is interesting but not nearly as good as its PC original. Miracle Warriors: Seal of the Dark Lord is the only other RPG released for the system, but it has nothing to really distinguish itself from a typical JRPG before they became good.
Europe got more games than the US did, and some of them are pretty good and will run in a 60Hz NTSC System. Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar is a superb port of the PC game, much more faithful to the PC source than the NES version and has FM Synthesis music. Ninja Gaiden is a passable game if you need an 8-bit Ninja Gaiden fix, but it is not near the NES games. Despite what SMS Power! may contend, Sonic 2 runs without any real issue in an NTSC machine.
I might add that the SME has the best version of Montezuma's Revenge of any computer / console and the SMS ver of Marble Madness is second only to the incredible Amiga version. (NES version looks ridiculous by comparison.)
ReplyDeleteSome Master System IIs had Sonic 1 built-in.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of Kenseiden?
ReplyDeleteI'd argue that the Master System port of the first Space Harrier is a better game than Space Harrier 3-D despite both of these having identical gameplay. The choppier visuals in 3-D, a consequence of halving the framerate for the 3-D Glasses, just makes it a lot harder to dodge incoming obstacles (although the soundtrack is really nice, especially in FM).
ReplyDelete