The Sega Master System

[Tatsujin]

yeah..those hiccups are very annoying. please use the 2nd, but unfortunately shorter link

[guyjin]

It is also the ONLY time FM and PSG are used simultaneously on the system.  Notice that all FM-supported games sound like anus compared to that theme.

I dunno, R-Type sounds pretty good on FM.

But it was probably impractical to use both FM and PSG for a game, since both would take cpu cycles from the game...

[Tatsujin]

joe is just kidding out of his anus once again

[ccovell]

I think most games sound like crap in FM because the composers were too lazy to 1) Use unique sounds & notes/pitch bends, etc for FM, as it was easier just to remap the notation data to PSG or FM instruments depending on the hardware used, and 2) Use FM & PSG at the same time, since one song could not be used in either PSG or FM without rewriting a special version for FM with extra music lines.

[Black Tiger]

I think most games sound like crap in FM because the composers were too lazy to 1) Use unique sounds & notes/pitch bends, etc for FM, as it was easier just to remap the notation data to PSG or FM instruments depending on the hardware used, and 2) Use FM & PSG at the same time, since one song could not be used in either PSG or FM without rewriting a special version for FM with extra music lines.

Although every FM soundtrack I can think of sticks to 3 sound channels like the PSG version, I think that the good ones at least based the music around making the FM version sound good in 3 channels and then made an identical PSG version.

The MSX FM is basically the same and could give an indication of what FM-specific soundtracks could sound like (unless most go the Mark III FM route).

This isn't more than 3 channels, but is still very cool and is pretty much what Snatcher on SMS could sound like-

[ccovell]

It's not exactly the same, because the SMS and MSX FM chips use OPL FM chips, and the PC-88 uses OPN FM.  The two are different, with OPL being a bit more primitive than OPN.  Which is why FM on the SMS sounds vastly different from FM on the Genesis/Megadrive.

A better example would be on the MSX.  ()

[hoobs88]

The Sega Master System kinda similar to the Turbo Grafx system as it played "Hu cards" or at least something that resembled a Hu card. They only made 6 different game cards and I recently saw one for sale on ebay as part of a Turbo Grafx lot. The SMS had a lot of great games and it was cool that the Genesis controllers were compatible with it.

[Necromancer]

The Sega Master System kinda similar to the Turbo Grafx system as it played "Hu cards" or at least something that resembled a Hu card. They only made 6 different game cards and I recently saw one for sale on ebay as part of a Turbo Grafx lot. The SMS had a lot of great games and it was cool that the Genesis controllers were compatible with it.

There's more than that - eight domestic and fifteen total.

[vestcoat]

The Master System is my favorite console after the Turbo Duo.

I particularly like the selection of RPGs.  They're few and far between, but the quality more than makes up for quantity.  Y's, Phantasy Star, and Golden Axe Warrior hold their own against Crystalis, Final Fantasy, and Zelda.  For better or worse, Ultima 4 is truer to the computer game than the NES version.  Miracle Warriors, Dragon Crystal, Kings Quest, Lord of the Sword, Golvellius, and the Wonder Boy games (Land, World, and Dragon's Trap) round things out nicely.

Penguin Land is a good platform-puzzler.  Slap Shot looks suspiciously similar to Blades of Steel (which is a good thing).  I haven't played many Light Phaser games, but I like Rescue Mission a lot.  Sonic 1 is the best of the four Sonic games and Mickey Mouse Land of Illusion is slightly better than Castle of Illusion.

[Zeon]

What is this? Super happy everyone gets a kick ass deal on sms stuff week? First Lord Thag, then a few days later I scored a kick ass boxed sms + loose gg lot with 26 games and a few extra goodies for $65, then today chop gets a bare one at his local thrift for $3, and ceti might be getting one very soon! Man what a crazy world we live in...

[Tatsujin]

i've got a boxed japanese SMS for $5 (usally go for $120+)   but unfortunately not in this week

[Lord Thag]

Yeah, it has been a lucky couple of months for me, THATS for sure. From zero to almost complete Turbo and SMS sets. I'm really enjoying both systems. I was completely astounded to discover that 'Power Strike' was actually the sequel to Zanac (Aleste in zJapan isn't it?). I freaked. SUCH a fun shooter, and light years better from anything from the era. Power Strike is as brutal as Zanac was.

I'm trying to track down a few overseas titles. Gauntlet, Populous, Streets of Rage, Ultima etc. That's down the road. Unlike Turbo stuff, SMS is *cheap*. Another reason to collect it.

Oh, and congrats on everyone else's scores. Looks like it's the 'Month of Sega'

[jboypacman]

Thag Ianoid over on AtariAge might have a few SMS games still i know he had a few at Midwest Gaming Classic this year including Ultima.

Its worth a shot to shoot him a PM and see if he has any still.

[Michael Helgeson]

Man I really miss having a Master System. It could really crush the Nes in alot of ways. Really did suck it was lacking 3rd party support here and did so well elsewhere, but that's usually how it always goes.

[guyjin]

Man I really miss having a Master System.

  Why'd you ever get rid of it?