By Andrew Sztein
Number 15:
The Sega Master System:
We kick our list off with the original Sega system. While the master system was a very powerful piece of hardware for its day, it had several problems that held it back from being the dominant system of its day. Launching in the late �80s, the Master system was capable of some incredible graphical feats and had some wonderful potential.
The master system was home to some of the best games in it�s day. From the Ninja action of the original Shinobi, to the pseudo 3D of Space Harrier, to the speed of the motorcycle game Hang-on, The Sega Master system had some quality software. Some of the games on the system remain playable even to this day. Of course, there were some absolutely atrocious games for the system, such as a half-assed version of Rocky, and the ridiculously bad Duck hunt Rip-off, Safari Hunt.
The graphics that the Master System was capable of was light years ahead of anything that wasn�t in the arcades. Most Master System games were bright, colorful, and quite well animated. It even had some brief flirtations with 3 Dimensions, with games such as Space Harrier and Missile Defence 3D. The knock against the graphics however, was while most games had great looking sprites; some games had backgrounds that left a lot to be desired. In the case of Shinobi, the backgrounds looked very crude, pixelated and simplistic compared to the gorgeous looking sprites.
The biggest problem with the master system is that, simply put, it was not an original system. That�s all there is to it. Everything that Sega did with this system, Nintendo did earlier, and in some cases better, with its Nintendo Entertainment System. The aforementioned Safari Hunt is an example of such. The graphics were nicer than Nintendo�s Duck Hunt, but the light gun was horribly inaccurate, and the creatures moved far too slowly to provide much of a challenge.
The System�s controller is also an example of the system�s lack of originality. It was an NES controller with rounded corners which made for a slightly more comfortable grip than the NES�s. The buttons were all in the same place, and the D-pad was more circular as opposed to the NES�s harsh cross. While the controller was a little more comfortable to hold than the NES�s, its complete lack of originality knocks it down a notch.
The system did have some interesting and original ideas though. Namely, when you turned the system on without a cartridge in the slot, you would get a choice of playing Hang-On or Animal Safari. The idea of built in games on a system was a very unique one, but one that was never made again. The idea has made a small bit of a comeback that is only beginning to take shape again today with Sony�s PSP. That system has capability to upload games directly from your PC to the system, but does not actually come with anything built into it.
The system sold fairly poorly here in North America, but was a smash hit in Japan, so ranking the longevity of the system proves to be a bit of a challenge. In the end, the system doesn�t have much of a history. The Master System�s greatest legacy is that it paved the way for the revolutionary Sega Genesis.
Final Rankings:
Overall Game Library: 5
Graphics: 7
Controller: 6
Innovation: 6
Longevity: 6
Overall: 30/50 � 60%
Top 5 Games:
1) Shinobi
2) Hang-on
3) Space Harrier
4) Ghostbusters
5) Missile Defence 3D
FINAL SYSTEM GRADE: C-
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