In the United States, few consoles remain as underrated and misunderstood as the Sega Master System, first launched here in late 1986. Due to market forces (that's code for "too long to explain here") and sneaky tactics by Nintendo, it played second-fiddle to Nintendo's 8-bit juggernaut, the NES, for all of its commercial lifespan in the US. As a result, some of its most amazing games are unknown to American players.

So if you get down to it, just about every Master System game is underrated in the US. But the console does host its group of usual favorites, such as Phantasy Star, The Wonder Boy series (especially Wonder Boy III), the Alex Kidd series, Sonic the Hedgehog, the wonderful Mickey Mouse platformers (Castle/Land/Legend of Illusion), Golden Axe Warrior, and Zillion.

In other markets, including Europe and Brazil, the Master System shined with a vibrant catalog of games spread out over the next decade (and in the case of Brazil, longer), so the story of this 8-bit Sega console continues far longer than most Americans know. Coming from my NES-centric roots, the SMS has a more varied catalog than I ever expected.

In honor of this 8-bit underdog, I thought it would be fun to take a look at a handful of underrated gems of the Master System catalog. My survey draws from both US and international releases, so you might find something surprising ahead. While researching, I found so many neat games I didn't have room for, so if you'd like to share some of your Sega Master System favorites that I left out (or just your memories), I'd love to hear about them in the comments.


1. Ninja Gaiden (1992) While most Americans remember Ninja Gaiden as a NES title, few know that Ryu Hayabusa also undertook a brand new adventure on the Sega Master System in Europe. Like the NES release, it's a fluid action-platformer, but it looks amazing thanks to the Master System's richer color palette. The game presents a story unrelated to the mainline Ninja Gaiden franchise, making it a must-play for Ninja Gaiden fans and an enjoyable, atmospheric action romp for everyone else.



2. Ultima IV (1990) Most people know Ultima IV as a home computer title. Richard Garriott's legendary RPG and morality play originated on the Apple II and received other PC ports, so it's unusual that this Sega console version remains one of the best ways to play the game. It steers very closely to the Apple II original while updating the graphics (retaining the general style) and giving the game a convenient menu system. The dungeons have been changed from first-person to overhead view, but it is a small loss for such a vibrant console port.



3. Fantasy Zone: The Maze (1988) As an avid maze game enthusiast, it is thrilling for me to find a new game I can use to test out the custom 4-way arcade joysticks I have been building. Just recently, I ran across Fantasy Zone: The Maze, an unlikely sounding Pac-Man style game starring Sega's very own Opa Opa ship, which also appeared in the Fantasy Zone shooter games. This fun and colorful title materially adds to the Pac-Man formula with a money/shop system that you can use to power-up your character over time, and is widely overlooked in the US. If you give it a shot, I highly recommend using a joystick controller over a control pad.

4. Rocky (1987) When I saw first Rocky in a JC Penney Christmas catalog as a kid, I assumed it was a mediocre licensed sports title. I had no interest in boxing, anyway. But it just goes to show how terribly wrong assumptions can be, because Rocky is a surprising delight to play. It feels incredibly fluid and well-animated for its the time, and the graphics and sound reveal a top notch development job. Compared to all the jerky low-framerate Master System titles out there with poor controls, I am mystified as to why this game has received mixed reviews in the past. It's a classic.



5. Enduro Racer (1987) When I first bought a used Master System in the early 1990s, it came with a handful of games and a weird-looking joystick (called the Control Stick) designed for use with your right hand. I soon discovered that the Control Stick and Enduro Racer was a match made in heaven, offering a fluid, free-flying gameplay experience that I came back to over and over again. One of the most fun things about Enduro Racer are the upgrades you can buy that make your bike faster, handle better, and go over ramps without losing speed. Near the end of the game, if you save up for all upgrades, you'll be flying through the tracks with a sense of freedom that I've yet to see in any other 8-bit game. Years later, I discovered that the original Japanese version of Enduro Racer includes completely different, longer tracks. Let me tell you: That was like five Christmases rolled into one.

6. Pit Pot (1985) Unlike every other game on this list, this playful overhead arcade-style title only found solo release in Japan on the Mark III (it did receive a combo release with Astro Warrior in Europe). In it you play as a small knight with a large hammer, knocking out rocks in the floor so enemies will fall to their doom. I love Pit Pot because it has that classic early Sega arcade game feel without ever having been released in the arcade, which was unusual for the company at that time. Definitely a forgotten gem.



7. Master of Darkness (1992) And last but not least, we have one of Sega retro gaming's most closely held secrets: Master of Darkness. It's a Castlevania clone that is almost as good as Castlevania—and it's on an 8-bit Sega console. In this action-platformer, you play as Dr. Social, a suit-wearing psychologist who is out to defeat...dun dun dun...Dracula. On the way, you'll battle supernatural enemies such as skeletons and werewolves. You'll hit weird faces instead of candles to get power ups. It's not a perfect game, but it is good enough to be massively underrated—and I really enjoy that the story plays out via cut scenes sandwiched between stages.

Further Reading