The Video Game Critic

Does anyone know who owns a Master System think is good for the system? I will be getting one with Rambo III and the Hang-on/Safari Hunt game with the gun and two controllers. Don't say Phantasy Star since I don't play turn-based RPG's.

alex kidd in miracle world is outstanding

i also like most of the arcade ports on the system. space harrier, double dragon, outrun, after burner, shinobi, etc.

R-Type is great. I would suggest some of the Genesis ports if you don't have those on a 16-bit machine. Streets of Rage and the Sonic games are particularly good. Shinobi is probably a "must have" as well.

The Wonder Boy and Sonic games are good as well. Other than that... the Master System never really had that much to offer.

The Master System is a great system to collect for because complete games come very cheap. Unfortunately, as has been said, the game library is mediocre - out of the 100 or so games released in the U.S. only about 25-30 are really worth getting. The arcade ports are spotty and most were done better on the Genesis. There are definitely some good games though. Overall, Dave's grades on this site are pretty accurate. Some of my favorites:

Alex Kidd in Miracle World (avoid the sequels)
Bomber Raid
Choplifter
Fantasy Zone (all of them)
Golden Axe Warrior
Golvellius: Valley of Doom
Penguin Land
Psycho Fox
Shinobi
Slap Shot
Wonder Boy (all of them)
Zillion (AVOID Zillion II)

The Master System versions of California Games, Columns, and Sonic the Hegdehog are also quite good.

Avoid most of the Sega Card games (My Hero, Spy vs. Spy, etc.), they're generally pretty awful.

[QUOTE=Adamant]The Wonder Boy and Sonic games are good as well. Other than that... the Master System never really had that much to offer.[/QUOTE]
I beg to differ that was my first great system.

Teddy Boy, Rambo First Blood, Fantasy Zone, Astro Warrior, My Hero. These are all games I loved even though the VGC didn't like some of them as much as I did.

I think it has an incredible library. I'd recommend Space Harrier, but most people say they hate it, so I don't know.  If for nothing else, get it for the best soundtrack of any 8-bit game.  I also really like some of the Genesis "back ports", like Golden Axe and After Burner, but again other people don't like those.  I really don't know what to reccomend, because it seems to me that whatever I like for the system, the vast majority of people who grew up with NESes hate.
I do know for a fact that Zillion is great, as are Psyco Fox, and Shinobi. 

I'd avoid Afterburner, Golden Axe, and Space Harrier, terrible ports of some great arcade classics. Unless you want to waste your money, don't bother with them.

I do recommend Zillion though.

I would recommend Wonder Boy 3, but you should probably get it later because it will make almost everything else that has been mentioned seem like it is from an earlier generation.  WB3 is in a class by itself, especially on the Master System.

The first Sonic is an obvious one. Still play that sometimes. Super Space Invaders is fun too, though you can get that anywhere.

If you are using a US system, forget it, you are going to have to import from Europe and Brazil (or Australia but that had the same software as Europe). Those games will run on a US system fortunately, but they might be stretched and speeded up. That may not be a problem, but you can potentially lose part of the picture.

Anyway the machine has some good arcade conversions too, bt the trouble with those are that they were all converted in superior versions to the Mega Drive and sometimes Saturn as well, so I don't know if they are really worth playing now.