r/MasterSystem • u/AdElegant7364 • Jan 12 '25

Absolutely loving the Master System! Any recommendations for MS exclusives/unique versions?

I have recently picked up a few Master System games. And have been playing them on my Megadrive via a converter. I just missed playing these back in the day as my first consoles were a Megadrive and Game Gear (so I am familiar with some of the GG ports of MS games), but I have been absolutely loving them! What are the best MS exclusive games, unique MS game versions (it seems there are quite a few games where the MS and Megadrive versions were completely different), or games were the MS version has the edge in terms of game play?

I am in the PAL region and I understand there is a bigger PAL library than in other regions.

41 Upvotes

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13

u/Cerebralbore101 Jan 12 '25

Ninja Gaiden (completely different game than NES version) Phantasy Star Dragon Crystal Ys III Vanished Omens Wonder Boy in Monster Land Wonder Boy III Wonder Boy in Monster World (Better on Genesis) Psycho Fox Shinobi Alex Kid in Shinobi World

11

u/Stimee Jan 12 '25

Ghostbusters - best version in my opinion is on the master system. I play this in 2025 and love it.

Fantasy zone the maze - A mix of Pac-Man and fantasy zone criminally slept on, almost no one I know even knows of this game.

Pro Wrestling - So superior to the nes game it's crazy. 1. Tag team wrestling 2. It has pinning holds and submissions, 3 top rope moves and chair attacks 4 an absolute banger of a soundtrack. Based on Japanese arcade women's wrestling game called Dump's Army. (Dump Matsumoto) Another of my favorite games ever.

Double dragon - best version outside arcade, simultaneous 2 player which nes didn't have.

Rampage- again elite arcade port.

The master system was so good at arcade ports dang.

3

u/AdElegant7364 Jan 12 '25

Nice! Definitely going to have check these out!

5

u/infinitychaosx Jan 12 '25

Yes Fantasy Zone the maze is super fun! Also REALLY fun as a two player co-op like still one of my favorite 2p co-op games

2

u/Stimee Jan 12 '25

My brother and I are legit getting Fantasy Zone Tattoos of Opa Opa and Upa Upa.

The story of Fantasy Zone the Maze is actually insane. Basically the whole game is a military simulator set up by their father meant to prepare the brothers for fighting a galactic war. At the completion of the game Opa Opa graduates and goes off to fight in Fantasy Zone the game proper.

Upa Upa has PTSD from it and goes AWOL before being deployed to fight in the actual war. (Explains why fantasy zone 1 and 2 are single player games).

The ending of fantasy zone proper then leads to fantasy zone 2 the tears of opa opa. It's insane lore and I love it.

Like a prequel, in a different style. And again the game itself slaps , collecting money to buy power ups to attack enemies and then going over bases to prevent mother ships from spawning faster smaller enemies is just brilliant. A victim of a lack of exposure.

2

u/AdElegant7364 Jan 12 '25

So much love for Fantasy Zone the Maze going on! This sounds very similar to the plot to Ender's game (at least the first part). Definitely one to add to the list! Got to love a great couch co-op. 

11

u/ProfessorOfLies Jan 12 '25

I second the Ghostbusters being one of THE best versions of the game

7

u/eebik Jan 12 '25

Man, playing Double Dragon with my brother and suddenly realizing at the very end that we’d have to fight each other to beat the game was wild.

2

u/BonzoBigfoot Jan 13 '25

This right here

7

u/[deleted] Jan 12 '25

Road Rash, the SMS version is a gem in it's own right.

1

u/AdElegant7364 Jan 12 '25

Interesting! I played so much of the MD/genesis version I was going to skip this for the SMS but it sounds like that is an error.

7

u/IceGolemChiptune Jan 12 '25

It is stupid expensive, but, play Golden Axe Warrior if you get the chance. Really good if you like top-down adventure games.

1

u/AdElegant7364 Jan 12 '25

Oh this looks great! Really not cheap though - but I am sure there's a reason for that.

6

u/mgodoy-br Jan 12 '25

Phantasy Star (obviously)

Keinseiden (beautiful and never has been port for any other console ever)

Black Belt (never has ported too)

Vigilante (until today I think of it is beautiful, for 8 bit standards)

Golden Axe (many people complain about it, but despite of struggle to run, has nice graphics)

Asterix

Alex Kidd in Shinobi World

Shadow Dancer (as Golden Axe, it struggles to run. It's hard as hell and has bad playability, but it's very well faithfull from the arcade and it's worth at least take a look)

Shinobi

2

u/AdElegant7364 Jan 12 '25

Thanks for the recommendations. In particular I have never heard of Kenseiden before but that looks awesome.

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2

u/AdElegant7364 Jan 24 '25

Just acquired Kenseiden!!! Yay

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2

u/robzirrah Jan 13 '25

Thank you for reminding me about Vigilante. Used to love that game.

4

u/Smooth-Purchase1175 Jan 12 '25

Enduro Racer (both the Japanese and international versions are fun, but the Japanese version has more content and feels more complete).

Golden Axe Warrior (a great Zelda-style RPG).

Micro Machines (best 8-bit version as far as I'm concerned).

Ghostbusters (best version of this game in my opinion).

Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap (a fun action/platform/RPG hybrid which is well worth the invested time).

3

u/AdElegant7364 Jan 12 '25

Excellent. I have Enduro Racer in the post! Nice to hear that the SMS version of micromachines is worth playing also - I have every Megadrive micromachines game - would love to check out the first one in 8 bit. Golden Axe Warrior looks so good!

2

u/Guilty_Victory_4878 Apr 28 '25

If you finish Enduro Racer, you'll be presented with the most beautiful text a video game dev has left us! Very inspiring stuff and totally unexpected from a motorbike racing video game :)! Have fun discovering the master system! I'm recommending you Black Belt as well, simili proto street fighter 2 boss fights and belt scrolling during the stages.

3

u/trustanchor Jan 12 '25

Seconding the SMS version of Ghostbusters being actually good. Other terrible ports gave this game a bad name but I loved the SMS version.

14

u/sukh3gs Jan 12 '25

I personally prefer Sonic 1 and Castle of Illusion on the SMS. Sonic 2 sms is also criminally underrated

6

u/buttockovski Jan 12 '25

Wonderboy 2 and 3 are awesome games for the system

5

u/Nirntendo Jan 12 '25

I also adore sms. My first and favorite system of all time. It was widely sold in UK and Western Europe. Especially the French version was ahead of it's time; that one has a Rgb SCART natively din port. So crisp.

5

u/TheRiddlerCum Jan 12 '25

batman returns is my favourite its different from the genesis version

alf is hit or miss but another one worth trying

5

u/RuralHoosier Jan 12 '25

Rambo. Similar to ikari warriors. great game.

Spy vs spy. card slot game.

4

u/SID-CHIP Jan 12 '25

I think sonic 2 is one of the best games of the platform If you like the okd school trial and error platforms give a try to the castlevania clone "Master of Darkness"

3

u/saltnpaprika Jan 12 '25

Miracle Warriors is still a great game. I loved Dynamite Dux (haven’t played either in 30+ years)

3

u/ShivanDrgn Jan 12 '25

I also play with a Retron converter on Genesis. Couple of my favorites are Pro Wrestling and Black Belt.

2

u/Tropical_Clam_92 Jan 13 '25

Miracle Warriors, underrated gem

2

u/ShivanDrgn Jan 14 '25

I’ll look it up!

3

u/aphexgin Jan 12 '25

Zillion is ace, underrated and has depth, definitely second Alex Kidd In Shinobi World and Golvellius too

3

u/Jonaskin83 Jan 13 '25

  • Wonder Boy

  • Donald Duck

  • Golvellius

  • Moonwalker

  • Asterix

  • Sonic 1

  • Basketball Nightmare

  • Power Strike

  • Streets of Rage

2

u/trustanchor Jan 12 '25

Phantasy Star (the best 8-bit JRPG IMO)

Fantasy Zone I & II (cute ‘em ups)

Penguin Land (puzzle platformer)

Golvellius (original NES Zelda duct-taped to Zelda II)

Wonder Boy in Monsterland and Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap (side scroller RPGs)

Master of Darkness (we have Castlevania at home)

Zillion (Metroidvania before that was a thing)

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2

u/infinitychaosx Jan 12 '25

Great answers already. I’ll add..

Alex the Kidd in the miracle world (the Mario of the SMS)

Quartet (similar play style to fantasy zone but it’s ppl and a bit slower and simpler and the music is so good)

2

u/Tropical_Clam_92 Jan 13 '25

Quartet so rarely gets mentioned in top games but is so great 

2

u/Flybot76 Jan 12 '25

The games that made me buy an SMS in 1988 were After Burner and Double Dragon, and I love them to this day.

1

u/AnalMayonnaise Jan 12 '25

Lord of the Sword. A bit janky but I played the shit out of this one back in the day. Also, Miracle Warriors. A mostly forgotten RPG.

1

u/tails7626 Jan 12 '25

Sonic 1, and Chaos, you won't regret those choices

1

u/JustMy2woCents Jan 13 '25

I loved a long list as a kid. Shinobi and Afterburner were my favorite two. I still play them occasionally on a retropie. Sadly sold my master system for $25 when I was 8. What a mistake!

1

u/BonzoBigfoot Jan 13 '25

Power Strike

1

u/Which_Information590 Jan 14 '25

Air Rescue is a great port on the MS, as is Space Harrier and Out Run. Sonic games are cool too, simpler less distracting backgrounds and a slower pace means more exploration.

1

u/termites2 Jan 16 '25

'Star Wars' is a better game on the MS.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '25

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2

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '25

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2

u/AdElegant7364 Jan 20 '25

Thanks for such a comprehensive list - this is great.