SEGA Master System shmups

[Ed Oscuro]

Funny also how Bomber Raid has a sleek Blackbird/Firefox-looking jet on the cover, but you end up with something that looks like a propeller-driven Spitfire or Thunderbolt. I would have settled for a Shinden.

I know, I was expecting something much better.

The Image Fight-style powerup system just doesn't work, either. Reminds me of that motorcycle shmup (published) by Taito in MAME...

[Cthulhu]

Cloud Master is so nice, you mention it twice?

Cloud Master is one of those games that I fondly, fondly remember but it hasn't aged all that well. I try not to play it much because it sort of makes me sad.

It's definitely not that bad, it's just a victim of rose colored glasses I guess.

[Herr Schatten]

I just finished Submarine Attack on my second try ever. The game is pathetically easy. You can choose to continue into a second loop, which ups the challenge, but not by much.

I still don't know where the fourth boss's weak spot is supposed to be, but apparently, I hit it this time. The final boss looks almost comically bad.

[najzere]

Rambo: First Blood Part II is kind of like a shmup (run and gun style). It might be borderline, but from what I remember it's basically all vertical-scrolling, dodging enemy shots and various other shmup-like activities. No one's said much about Astro Warrior, but that's the first shmup I ever played. It's pretty simple, just three stages in an infinite loop (except on the AW/Hang-On combo cart where it stops after three loops).

[Ed Oscuro]

First Blood Part II is Ashura renamed, and it doesn't have forced scrolling. It looks good but it doesn't control well.

[core]

There are a couple of good top down run and guns on the master system. An awesome port of Time Soldiers and one of my favourite games, The Ninja. One of those "so bad it's good" games.

[ZOM]

There are a couple of good top down run and guns on the master system. An awesome port of Time Soldiers and one of my favourite games, The Ninja. One of those "so bad it's good" games.

The Ninja is good.

[core]

It is good for a ninja game where the main ninja is dressed as a samurai.

[ZOM]

Haha yeah that always bothered me too.

Also, very ninja-like how you just rush through the front gardens, climb a wall with all guards already alarmed and this all while shooting kunai/shuriken like a machine gun(ok actually not if you care for score)...

[core]

Dont forget those very ninja-like ninjas that throw boomerangs.

God I love that game.

[BrianC]

No one's said much about Astro Warrior, but that's the first shmup I ever played. It's pretty simple, just three stages in an infinite loop (except on the AW/Hang-On combo cart where it stops after three loops).

Is this the case with the AW/Pit Pot combo as well? I know the combo version of Pit Pot is missing the edit mode from the JP version.

First Blood Part II is Ashura renamed

It also came out in Europe in a version that kept some of the US graphical changes, but removed the Rambo license. The funny thing about that version is that it has "Secret Command" on the box, but "Secret Commando" on the title screen. Nintendo actually released that version on the VC as an import. :/

The Ninja sounds interesting. I plan to get it, but it's disappointing that it doesn't have a female ninja like the arcade game it's based on (Ninja Princess).

[Herr Schatten]

No one's said much about Astro Warrior, but that's the first shmup I ever played. It's pretty simple, just three stages in an infinite loop (except on the AW/Hang-On combo cart where it stops after three loops).

Is this the case with the AW/Pit Pot combo as well? I know the combo version of Pit Pot is missing the edit mode from the JP version.

Fun fact: The manual of the game still has an elaborate description of the edit mode in all featured languages. This puzzled me to no end when I was a kid. Pit Pot is quite a cool game, I think. It's obvious that at least the graphic artist from Alex Kidd in Miracle World was involved in making it.

I can't remeber if the included version of Astro Warrior stops after 3 loops. I'll have to go and check.

The Ninja sounds interesting. I plan to get it, but it's disappointing that it doesn't have a female ninja like the arcade game it's based on (Ninja Princess).

That's just SEGA being ahead of the times. As you can read in the latest Pink Sweets thread, playing video games is a hobby for manly men only. They'd obviously prefer a badass ninja to a sissy princess, right?

How close to the arcade game is the MS port?

[core]

They are reasonably similar apart from the obvious graphical difference. Arcade game is slightly more forgiving than the port but it lacks that "wow, how did they get away with that" charm which makes The Ninja so great.

[Ed Oscuro]

It is good for a ninja game where the main ninja is dressed as a samurai.

You could play the original arcade version instead, Ninja Princess. There's also a lo-tech version on the SG-1000. Both are a bit exotic, I know.

Incidentally, real ninjas wouldn't have necessarily worn clothes that would stand out - they operated at all times of day. Though strictly speaking it does look kinda goofy in this one.

[Cthulhu]

Ahh, The Ninja. Quality game. Ninja Princess is fun too... we had some obscure JP-only home computer version of it on an emulator that had like 4 colors and the whole game was played on a "grid" (all movements just took you to another square, but it was still in real time). It was delightfully bizarre playing a shmup-ish game on a setup like that.

[core]

Suggestion:

Team "The Ninja is awesome" - STGT 2009 Champions!

[Shatterhand]

Ninja Princess got a SG-1000 and MSX ports. I played the MSX port a lot.. it's obvioulsy a lot inferior to the arcade one, but it's a very solid game.

I also have the SMS game, which I find to be an awesome game. Finish the game is a real pain as you have to get all the scrolls to reach the last stage.

[core]

Pfft I totally knew to go up to that completely random statue on that completely random stage and shoot it 13 times while facing west until the scroll pops out.

Game's a piece of cake.

[Riot Zone]

I'm gonna have to play the Ninja. It's been awhile, Aerial assault too.

[FRO]

Speaking of Bomber Raid, I quite enjoy that title - I've emulated it for some time now. Problem is, I'd like to play the original cart (which I own!), but can't get it to work on my Model 1 Genesis and Power Base Converter. For whatever reason, the ship goes to the top of the screen as soon as I begin the game, and stays there - I can't move it down, only left and right. The shot button is also held down. I've tried w/ multiple controllers (original 3-button, 6-button arcade-style stick, 6-button pad), to no avail. Anyone else run into this? Short of purchasing an SMS (on the "eventual" list), I'm not sure what else to do...

Line of Fire looks interesting, will have to be on the lookout for that.

[BrianC]

Speaking of Bomber Raid, I quite enjoy that title - I've emulated it for some time now. Problem is, I'd like to play the original cart (which I own!), but can't get it to work on my Model 1 Genesis and Power Base Converter. For whatever reason, the ship goes to the top of the screen as soon as I begin the game, and stays there - I can't move it down, only left and right. The shot button is also held down. I've tried w/ multiple controllers (original 3-button, 6-button arcade-style stick, 6-button pad), to no avail. Anyone else run into this? Short of purchasing an SMS (on the "eventual" list), I'm not sure what else to do...

It's a controller issue, not a hardware one. Bomber Raid can only be played with the 2 button SMS controllers (or a modded Genesis controller with the start button switched off). With a SMS controller it should be fine on the PBC. From what I read, other games with this issue are Tennis Ace, Great Volleyball, Penguin Land, Alien Syndrome, Shanghai, Wonderboy in Monster Land, Montezuma's Revenge, and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego.

I have to wait before playing the SMS again. I accidentally used the NES power adapter on it and the transformer inside blew. However, it's an easy fix and I'll be getting another SMS and a PBC soon. I feel dumb because I'm usually extremely careful about these things.

[Herr Schatten]

FRO: Have you tried it with an original Master System Controller? I know that a few games (example: Wonderboy in Monsterland) refuse to work with the Genesis controllers, at least if you use the controller on a 'real' Master System console. I don't know if it's the same with the Power Base Converter, but if yes, maybe Bomber Raid is one of those.

EDIT: Brian beat me to it.

[Riot Zone]

Yup Like what the two prevous posters said, its the controller. I play my bomber raid all the time on my power base converter but you have to use A master system controller! Get a Master system rapid fire unit as well, to plug the controller into and that game is even more enjoyable!

[BrianC]

I just picked up Bomber Raid, with R-Type on the way soon. I only played a bit of Bomber Raid, but I found out something interesting when I played it on the switched Genesis with the Power Base Converter. It's one of the infamous games that doesn't work with Genesis controllers when played on a US/EU SMS, but the Genesis controller works for the game when the Genesis is in Japanese mode. Penguin Land is the same way, as well. Zaxxon 3D is another one with an odd difference. Pause does nothing on the title screen in JP mode, but it brings up an option screen with the option to switch between 2D/3D and reverse the controls in US/EU mode.

Edit: My SMS is now fixed, as well, so I can play games on the normal SMS too. However, the PBC gives a slightly better picture and there's the region switch. This Genesis is a bit finicky with some games (though they still work after a few tries). Another Genesis I have plays them right away with the PBC, but that one isn't switched.

[ED-057]

It's a controller issue, not a hardware one. Bomber Raid can only be played with the 2 button SMS controllers (or a modded Genesis controller with the start button switched off).

I have this game! I was looking through my stash last night and saw this and said to myself WTF is Bomber Raid? I must have bought this on ebay years ago and then not played it even once. I don't have a genuine SMS controller though, only a lousy stick which refuses to go down and right. I'll have to figure out how to make one of the others work. Since you mentioned the start button, does that mean taping the button down will fix it?

[gameoverDude]

There are a couple of good top down run and guns on the master system. An awesome port of Time Soldiers and one of my favourite games, The Ninja. One of those "so bad it's good" games.

Time Soldiers is good on SMS. Shame that Dogosouken/Victory Road and Guerrilla War didn't get ported to SMS by the same team. Ikari Warriors has been done on MSX. The screen shots at Moby Games look very nice - a lot better than the NES version.

[FRO]

It's a controller issue, not a hardware one. Bomber Raid can only be played with the 2 button SMS controllers (or a modded Genesis controller with the start button switched off). With a SMS controller it should be fine on the PBC. From what I read, other games with this issue are Tennis Ace, Great Volleyball, Penguin Land, Alien Syndrome, Shanghai, Wonderboy in Monster Land, Montezuma's Revenge, and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego.

Thanks for the suggestion, Brian & Herr. I don't currently own an SMS, hence no SMS controller. Might have to order one from some place just to try it, though. Until then, since I own the cart (complete, no less!) I feel no shame in emulating the heck out of it to get my occasional fix

But getting an original SMS is on the docket, so once I can score one at a reasonable price (actually, I want both an SMS1 and SMS2, really), I might do that.

[elvis]

Sega Master System is probably the most underrated console

In the US, yes. You can thank Tonka (makers of toy trucks, entrusted with marketing video game consoles) for that.

In EU and AU, it was an immensely popular system. Here in Australia, it outsold the NES by a huge margin in the 80's. Definitely the most popular console at the time. Sega pretty much owned the Australian market during the 8 and 16bit eras.

[core]

This is very true. Here in NZ the Master System was the 80s/90s most popular console by far. Proof from the fact that there are about as many Master Sytem games for sale online here than Mega Drive, NES, and SNES put together.