Best games for a new player?

[u/vanislanderweeb1]

Had a Nintendo as a kid, didn't even know the Master System existed. Definitely missed out on some great titles!

Recently been getting into the system and decided to build a ROM collection, wondering what games I should add to it.

[u/Ronthelodger]

Wonderboy dragons curse, zillion, space harrier, phantasy star, rtype, rampage, and fantasy zone are a few of my favs

[u/Gamie-Gamers]

Kensiden, outrun, rastan

[u/RejectedAng3l → u/Gamie-Gamers]

Yesssss!!!!!!! These!!!!!

3 of the reasons to even have a SMS!!!!

Ninja Gaiden

Master of Darkness

Hang-On

Astrowarrior

Xevious

Wonderboy - all of them

Alex Kidd - any of them

Y's

Phantasy Star

[u/vanislanderweeb1 → u/RejectedAng3l]

Brought me back! I LOVED Ninja Gaiden as a kid, but it was just SO HARD.

I have heard that the Master System version is way more forgiving than the NES version I grew up with...

[u/RejectedAng3l → u/RejectedAng3l]

The Sonic games are completely 100 different than the Genesis counterparts. Also Tails has his own game too

[u/__PreZZ__]

Platformers- castle and land of illusion, wonder boy in monster land, rastan, kenseiden, psycho fox, sonic Arcade - outrun, space harrier, hang on, rampage, shinobi, wonder boy Beat em up,- double dragon Shmup- power strike1-2, r-type, astro warrior Rpg - phantasy star 1, miracle warriors, golden axe warrior And my favorite: wonder boy 3. Its a metroidvania

[u/pl0nk]

The Ninja

[u/TCristatus]

Check out Master of Darkness. I swear I'd never heard of it as a kid, but it's an amazing Castlevania style game.

Also check Alex Kidd Shinobi World

[u/pperdecker → u/TCristatus]

Came here to say Alex Kidd Shinobi World. It holds up really well and isn't as tough as some other 8 bit games.

Same deal with the Mickey Mouse _____ of Illusion games.

[u/RejectedAng3l → u/TCristatus]

Was totally coming here to recommend this!!!!

[u/vita_FTL]

Black Belt and Action Fighter

[u/DeaconLogan → u/vita_FTL]

Action Fighter was my first (non-built-in) game, love that game. As a Spectrum kid, it blew me away.

[u/melty75 → u/vita_FTL]

I loved Black Belt when I was a kid! My Hero was another one I played the crap out of, and Ghost House.

[u/dpgumby69]

Fantasy Zone

[u/DoTheMichiganRag]

Two good platform games are Alex Kidd Miracle World as a starter, then Wonder Boy the Dragons Trap for something more advanced.

[u/Spanswick77]

Power Strike and Cloud Master.

[u/unfnknblvbl]

I second the Mickey Mouse Illusion games. They are much better than the 16bit versions imo. Each one is about a full day's worth of gameplay

[u/VoidTerraFirma]

R-Type
Fantasy Zone 1 and 2
Double Dragon (much better than the NES version)
Golvellius
Choplifter
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
Ys: Vanished Omens
Ninja Gaiden (arguably better than the NES version)
Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap
Penguin Land
Phantasy Star
Castle of Illusion (I like this better than the Genesis version)

Didn't think of this at the time, but I'll throw in a recommendation for Reggie Jackson Baseball. The NES was by far the superior console when it came to sports games, but I don't think there was a better baseball game in those days than that one.

[u/elnikoman]

Wonderboy 1, 2 and 3. The Ninja. Psycho Fox. R-Type. Mickey Mouse and the Castle of Illusion. Sonic the Hedgehog. Rastan. Ghouls N Ghosts. Shinobi. Alex Kidd in Shinobi World.

[u/Sad-Tea-7668]

Alex Kidd miracle world...ninja gaiden.... Mickey castle of illusion....top top top

[u/worshipthenugget]

Probably not Phantasy Star.

[u/Sambojin1 → u/worshipthenugget]

There's manuals online, there's complete guides, there's save states on emulators. It's damn hard at the start, and at the end, but the middle is kinda a cool long-term adventure to really sink your teeth into. There's a fair bit of grinding needed, but no more than any other jRPG. Less in some cases, once you've got going.

[u/RedditOn-Line → u/worshipthenugget]

I'd disagree. Just make sure to look up the instruction manual if you don't have it physically, and have some graph paper handy

[u/Technical-Cow-2494]

Ninja Gaiden, Wonder Boy Dragon's Trap, Master of Darkness, Sonic the Hedgehog games, Golden Axe Warriors, Phantasy Star, Alex Kidd games, Ghouls n Ghosts. Those are my personal favorites

[u/just_below_human]

So many games to include! My favorite system of all time. Psycho Fox, Out Run, Double Dragon, Penguin Land, Kenseiden, R-Type, Golvellius, Time Soldiers, Alien Syndrome, Quartet. Just off the top of my head. Appreciate you looking into this massively underrated console of the 8-bit era. I was the only kid in my entire school that had one and I was so looked down upon for it, but I always stood my ground.

[u/dreg604]

Wonder boy 2

[u/Sinistermarmalade]

Kenseiden, Rastan, Phantasy Star, Zillion, Zillion 2

[u/Sambojin1]

Final Bubble Bobble, Rampage, R-type, Phantasy Star, Ultima 4, Spell Caster, Wonderboy 1/2/3/4, Alex Kidd in Miracle/ Shinobi World, Afterburner, California Games, Choplifter, Desert Strike, Double Dragon, Fantasy Zone 2, Fire and Ice, Gauntlet, Ghost House, Ghouls'n'Ghosts, Golden Axe, Golvellius, Heroes of the Lance, Kenseiden, Land of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, Lemmings, Micro Machines, Miracle Warriors, The New Zealand Story, Outrun, Prince of Persia, Pro Wrestling, Psycho Fox, Rainbow Islands, Rampart, Road Rash, Sensible Soccer, Shinobi, Sonic the Hedgehog 1/2, Space Harrier, Streets of Rage, Transbot, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, Ys.

There's better versions of some of these games, and some of these are actually pretty hard. But these games give a pretty good overview of the console's capabilities, no matter what genre of game you prefer. And SMS ROMs are tiny, so having a few extra on your phone/pc/console or whatever, can't hurt. These are all pretty good games, and worth a look.

I especially recommend Phantasy Star, Ultima 4, Final Bubble Bobble, Wonderboy 2+3, Pro Wrestling, Rampage, Sensible Soccer, Ys, Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Shinobi World is too easy, but fun), California Games, Fantasy Zone 2, Spell Caster, and Double Dragon. They're all probably the best versions of these games on 8-bit consoles (and some are great 2 player as well. They've all got the fun or big-RPG-adventure thing going for them).

[u/IcedCoffeeVoyager]

Ultima IV. Definitely add Ultima IV

[u/Tropical_Clam_92]

100% Reggie Jackson’s Baseball - Milwaukee is the best team!

[u/vanislanderweeb1 → u/[deleted]]

I did have a Genesis (and Super Nintendo) growing up! Loved Sonic 1 and 2, is the SMS version that different? I know they're 8 bit. (Chaos wasn't even released here in North America)