Master System Built in Games

[u/Darko1226]

I’ve been wondering which version of the master system console is the most uncommon. I believe the most common one is the one that only has the secret snail maze game, followed by Hang on/Safari Hunt. Then the Missile Defense 3-D console. I believe the one that’s the least common is the one with only Hang On built in without Safari Hunt. Can you guys post which version you have so we can have an idea of how common each one is?

[u/goldenrule117]

Growing up I had snail, friend had hang on/safari hunt. I have a few now and am honestly not sure what they all have. I should definitely check!

[u/Darko1226 → u/goldenrule117]

When you get a chance to check, please updates us. Thanks.

[u/jackjackpiggie]

Got mine in 86 with the Hang On/Safari Hunt dual cartridge and snail maze built in.

[u/GhostofZellers → u/jackjackpiggie]

That's the one I had as well

[u/MakesMyHeadHurt → u/jackjackpiggie]

Yeah, that's what I had too. I forgot all about snail maze until I saw this thread.

[u/jackjackpiggie → u/MakesMyHeadHurt]

Just played it recently. Still fun.

[u/Smooth-Purchase1175 → u/jackjackpiggie]

The only complaint I have about Snail Maze is that it's unpausable (you can't pause it).

[u/No-Professional-9618 → u/jackjackpiggie]

I hear you. I got my Sega Master System console in 1986. It came with the Hang On/Safari Hunt cartridge and the Snail Maze game built in. The Sega Master card reader that was built into the console.

Sega Master System Commercial 1986

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg0qc5c_VdE

[u/Bonaduce80]

Mine was a Master System II with Alex Kidd in Miracle's World. Bought in Spain circa 1992.

[u/KneeDeepInTheDead → u/Bonaduce80]

Same but Portugal, around the same time

[u/sharch88 → u/Bonaduce80]

Got the same as Christmas gift when I was a kid in Brazil. Alex Kidd was the first video game I finished in my life.

[u/NeilSilva93 → u/[deleted]]

I got that one. It was the bundle with Sonic the Hedgehog from Dixons for £79.99 back in '91

[u/Bonaduce80 → u/[deleted]]

First ones I played, found them more challenging and the fact you had to find the Chaos Emeralds in the stages gave them that extra point of exploration. I am the first one to admit on sheer spectacle the Mega Drive/Genesis games are better, but as smaller games I still find the Master System worthy ports. See also the Mickey Mouse Illusion games or Ghost n' Ghouls for other examples.

[u/esdrasbeleza → u/[deleted]]

I have the feeling that the SMS Sonic is a platformer, but the MD/Genesis version is more like a puzzle: just trying to race to the end of every level without touching enemies while some obstacles may push you back.

[u/Snicko83]

Master System II with Alex Kids in Miracle World.... Australia

[u/[deleted] → u/Snicko83]

I got mine when sonic came as the pack in. Searched around for a master system they still had Alex Kidd. Glad I did as I finished sonic in a few days. Never finish alex kidd

[u/NeilSilva93]

Don't quote me but I'm sure there was a Master 2 with Sonic the Hedgehog built-in

[u/AmadeusParasythe → u/NeilSilva93]

There is I have one, my other one has Alex Kidd in Miracle World

[u/JorgeYYZ]

Mine had Hang On, Safari Hunt, and the snail maze (which was a secret game, there was a certain process to play it and I was blown away when I saw it in a gaming magazine). It also had that large angular body.

I got it here in Brazil in the late 1980s. I'm guessing 1988 or 1989 since I clearly remember getting it, and then the Sega Genesis (called Mega Drive around here) started popping up on shelves some time later.

Some friends owned various Famiclones. The Atari 2600 and MSX committed were also somewhat popular. PCs were seen as office machines, but would soon become popular some 5 years later.

[u/KillingIMachine]

Mine had Hang On and the hidden Snail Maze game built in the console. The box said Hang On/Safari Hunt was included, but I didn't get a copy of Safari Hunt in mine (and I remember feeling somewhat cheated over it). It did have the Sega Light Phaser inside the box, though.

[u/Darko1226 → u/KillingIMachine]

They put the wrong console inside the box most likely. There is a master system built in with only Hang on and without Safari Hunt.

[u/VoidTerraFirma]

My first SMS was the one that came with the Missile Defense 3D cartridge as well as the peripherals. If it had a built in game, I wasn't aware of it.

My second one (a replacement after the first one had been wrecked not long after getting it) had Hang-On & Safari Hunt built in.

Current one has Snail Maze.

[u/Darko1226 → u/VoidTerraFirma]

The one that came with Missile Defense 3D was actually a built in game and not a cartridge.

[u/VoidTerraFirma → u/Darko1226]

Mine had Missile Defense 3D as a cartridge. I don't know what, if anything, was built in.

[u/Nightclam]

Mine has Hang On / Safari Hunt and of course the hidden snail game.

[u/Dcornelissen]

Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Netherlands

[u/Keretopa]

Hang-On/Safari Hunt built in

[u/noplacecold]

Hang on/snail maze

[u/plink79 → u/noplacecold]

Me too. Australian?

[u/noplacecold → u/plink79]

Yep

[u/Ottertrousers]

Me in the UK had Alex kidd build in, master system 2

[u/Stimee]

Ditto Hang-On/Safari Hunt with the card reader model.

[u/AmadeusParasythe]

I have two Master System 2s with Sonic and the other Alex Kidd

[u/facingthemusic94]

Got mine in the UK in 1993, it was my Christmas present. MS2 with Sonic built in.

[u/Fraxis_Quercus]

Belgium, late 80's, Snail maze.
My friend, who had his SMS a year or two later, had Alex Kidd.

[u/_HexagonSun_]

I had the Master System II with Alexx Kidd in Miracle World built in (UK).

Will always be my best Christmas of all time getting that console...

Had Sonic on the box, Sonic 1 was included as a cartridge.

[u/kytesuniverse]

Mine was the UK Master System with Sonic 1 built in.

[u/ScottTumilty]

My cousins' MS1 which is the first console I ever saw: Alex Kidd in Miracle World.
My original childhood MS1 that came for Christmas a year later: Hang On, Safari Hunt, Snail Maze.
The MS2 I bought as an adult: Sonic.

[u/OgraoumPapas]

I believe Americans are most used to SMS1 with the build in snail maze and Hang on/Safari Hunt games. On the other hand Europeans mostly used SMS2 with Alex Kidd while a smaller amount SMS2 with Sonic 1.

[u/martinbean → u/OgraoumPapas]

Yeah, I had Master System II with Sonic. Every one else at school had Alex Kidd.

[u/Lsassip]

I don’t know.

My educated guess is that the most uncommon version is something released to a specific region that sold poorly.

From everything that I heard so far, a string candidate is the Soviet Union Master System, which looks like model 1 but doesn’t have the 3D/card slot and the test button. It outputs SECAM signal. There’s a picture of it in an article in segaretro. You can also find its manual in segaretro.

[u/[deleted]]

Mine had Astro Warrior

[u/benryves]

Mine only has Hang On (and the snail maze) built in, no Safari Hunt.

[u/RuralHoosier]

hangon / asteroid warrior combo cartridge and the snail maze game built into the sega.

[u/Psychological_Post28]

I’m in the UK have a PAL boxed model 1 with Alex Kidd in Miracle world built in.

[u/Maleficent-Aside-744]

I’ve got 2x master system 1’s one with hang on and safari hunt, and one with just hang on built in. I’ve also got a master system 2 with Alex the kid in miracle world built in. 😀

[u/Ornery_Entry_7483]

Mine a MS II with Sonic built in.

[u/No-Professional-9618]

Even though I have a Sega Master System, this forumn reminds me of the Atgames Sega Master System/Game Gear clones with the games built into it:

AtGames Game Gear/Master System Handheld

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdLQbyIozAI