Club Retro '23: March & April - Third Generation Games
Feb 27, 2023 8:13:36 GMT -5
Post by toei on Feb 27, 2023 8:13:36 GMT -5
I would say that there are two small libraries of games on the Master System: those released during the system's lifespan in Japan and America, and those released for the Game Gear that received a Master System port in Europe because it was selling there and the hardware was so similar. The Game Gear games are from the early '90s, while the Master System originals are from the mid-to-late '80s, so they look, play and feel different. The Compile shooters are older and less advanced than the GG Aleste games, but they're still much more impressive than the other shmups on the system.
Master of Darkness is mediocre, but maybe a big Castlevania fan might enjoy it.
Here's a few more games I like:
Kenseiden - this is a really good side-scroller with a dark feudal Japan setting and some non-linear elements. Basically, you move on a map of Japan between levels, with multiple paths and training grounds/trial levels where you can earn permanent upgrades. It's one of the best Master System exclusives. It's been inaccurately described as a Castlevania clone, mostly because it has a dark ambiance and staircases, but isn't a knock-off of it at all, and I personally like it a lot more.
Aladdin - this is a different game than either the Genesis or SNES games. It's more cinematic, surprisingly, following the movie closely. There are chase sections with automatic scrolling, simplified "cinematic platformer" levels like Prince of Persia, and only one fight where you actually use a sword (the final boss), which I think is accurate to the movie. It's honestly a pretty decent game, with the downside (or upside for us?) that it's very short, and it has some of the best 8-bit graphics you'll see, being a later Game Gear release originally.
Spellcaster - pretty solid side-scroller/adventure game hybrid. Not a RPG. Only thing I don't like about it is one section near the end that made no sense and required a FAQ.
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World - more platformy than Shinobi, and more standard than most Alex Kidd games (ie no rock-paper-scissors boss battles, etc.). It's a pretty decent platformer.
Batman Returns - In this case the GG and SMS versions look like the same game but they're actually significantly different in terms of enemy placement and level design. One of them has far fewer enemies, but I can't remember which. It's worth trying out as it's a decent Shinobi-inspired side-scroller.
Danan the Jungle Fighter - short side-scroller RPG with ugly graphics and decent gameplay. I liked it.
Hoshi wo Sagashite aka I Seek the Stars - nice little Japanese adventure game with some Phantasy Star references. I seem to be the only one here who likes these games at all, though.
Master of Darkness is mediocre, but maybe a big Castlevania fan might enjoy it.
Here's a few more games I like:
Kenseiden - this is a really good side-scroller with a dark feudal Japan setting and some non-linear elements. Basically, you move on a map of Japan between levels, with multiple paths and training grounds/trial levels where you can earn permanent upgrades. It's one of the best Master System exclusives. It's been inaccurately described as a Castlevania clone, mostly because it has a dark ambiance and staircases, but isn't a knock-off of it at all, and I personally like it a lot more.
Aladdin - this is a different game than either the Genesis or SNES games. It's more cinematic, surprisingly, following the movie closely. There are chase sections with automatic scrolling, simplified "cinematic platformer" levels like Prince of Persia, and only one fight where you actually use a sword (the final boss), which I think is accurate to the movie. It's honestly a pretty decent game, with the downside (or upside for us?) that it's very short, and it has some of the best 8-bit graphics you'll see, being a later Game Gear release originally.
Spellcaster - pretty solid side-scroller/adventure game hybrid. Not a RPG. Only thing I don't like about it is one section near the end that made no sense and required a FAQ.
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World - more platformy than Shinobi, and more standard than most Alex Kidd games (ie no rock-paper-scissors boss battles, etc.). It's a pretty decent platformer.
Batman Returns - In this case the GG and SMS versions look like the same game but they're actually significantly different in terms of enemy placement and level design. One of them has far fewer enemies, but I can't remember which. It's worth trying out as it's a decent Shinobi-inspired side-scroller.
Danan the Jungle Fighter - short side-scroller RPG with ugly graphics and decent gameplay. I liked it.
Hoshi wo Sagashite aka I Seek the Stars - nice little Japanese adventure game with some Phantasy Star references. I seem to be the only one here who likes these games at all, though.