The Sega Master System was released in September of 1986 to compete with Nintendo’s 8-bit console, the NES. With a Z80 processor and 128k of RAM, the Master System was actually more powerful than the NES and it showed in the graphical prowess of many of the system’s games. Originally referred to simply as the “Sega System”, two bundles were available at launch. The “Base System” came bundled with a Hang-On/Astro Warrior combo cart and two controllers for $125, and a $150 deluxe bundle including a Hang-On/Safari Hunt combo cart, two controllers, and a Sega Light Phaser was sold as the “Sega Master System”.
Episode 43 – The launch of the Sega Master System in 1986. This episode includes the history of Sega up through the Master System’s launch. Check out Paul Driscoll on the RGDS Podcast: http://retrogamingdailyshow.libsyn.com And buy his new book here: http://amzn.to/2gCIDCz Eric Fraga’s YouTube show “Cosmic Effect” can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicEffectGaming And check out … Read more
Episode 33 – This week on the show we take a look back at Shinobi on the Sega Master System, after covering The Revenge of Shinobi on last month’s “The Genesis in 1989” retrospective. This game is probably best known for the first-person shuriken-throwing bonus stages, but it’s an excellent side-scrolling action game that any … Read more
Altered Beast is a side-scrolling action game in which the hero, a shape-shifting resurrected Roman centurion, must rescue Zeus’ daughter from an evil demon god. Through the collection of power-ups the protagonist grows incrementally stronger before finally turning into a non-human creature with special powers. Once the final shape shift has taken place, a boss … Read more
Released in 1987, Great Golf was the only golf title released on the Master System here in the United States. While the game is far from terrible, it does little to live up to its name. It supports match and stroke play and allows up to four players, which is generous compared to most NES … Read more
World Grand Prix is a first-party Sega title specifically developed for the Master System, and was part of the console’s North American launch lineup. Although not an official sequel, it is effectively a follow-up to Sega’s 1985 SG-1000 game “GP World”. At first, World Grand Prix seems like nothing more than a Pole Position clone, … Read more
Choplifter is a game that should be familiar to anyone who was playing video games in the 80’s. Originally released on the Apple II in 1982, the game later appeared on almost every gaming platform of the era, including the Atari 5200 and Colecovision, as well as home computers including the Atari 8-bit line and … Read more