Released in 1983, the SG-1000 was Sega's original home video game console. This short-lived system was released in Japan and, oddly-enough, Australia. Sega also released several variants of the system. The SC-3000 was the personal computer model with a built-in keyboard. In 1984 Sega released the SG-1000 II which was basically the original except with detachable controllers and a sleek new design. But the SG-1000's ultimate successor was the Sega Mark III (1985), which would come to be known in America as the Sega Master System.

I have to qualify this review by stating I've never touched an actual SG-1000. While I'd love to say I own "the" original Sega console, these things currently run upward of $500 on Ebay. I found importing a Sega Mark III to be a more practical approach. Being backwards compatible, it allows me to review SG-1000 cards and cartridges on native hardware.

Console design: B. I like the sleek, rounded shape of the SG-1000. It looks like something from the Space Age. With only one button, the front is clean and uncluttered. The cartridge slot is on top and a joystick controller is hard-wired into the back-left side. A port for a second controller is tucked under the right side.

The red power button is labeled "hold", so I guess it's one of those you need to depress for a few seconds to activate. While originally white, most of these consoles have faded over the years and now assume a yellow hue. Though the SG-1000 does not possess a slot for card games, I believe a converter device was available.

Durability: D. Despite its lack of moving parts, the SG-1000's durability is considered low, partly due to a poorly-designed cartridge slot. The fact that the joystick is hard-wired doesn't help matters, since once that breaks the entire system is compromised.

Graphics: C. The simple graphics are pleasing to the eye and comparable to the Colecovision, as both systems share the same processor. The sprites tend to be a little chunky but the games lack the incessant flicker present in many NES titles.

Audio: D. The audio in most games is mostly limited to beeps and boops. Although capable of music, much of it tends to be shrill and repetitive.

Controllers: The original SG-1000 controllers are held vertically with a small joystick on the upper half and a red button on each side. These buttons perform different functions. The fact that these controllers were replaced by NES-style "joy pads" for subsequent iterations tells me they were not ideal.

Media: C. The system runs blocky cartridges slightly longer and thicker than an Atari 2600 cartridge. Glossy, colorful artwork on the front wraps around to an end label. The system also supports game cards that look similar to those later produced for the PC Engine/Turbografx-16.

Packaging: C-. I'm not sure how I feel about the packaging. The boxes are only slightly larger than the cartridge, but at least they don't waste much space! The minimal instruction manuals are blue text printed on white paper. I'm able use the Google Translate app on my phone to read these. The game card packaging consists of a disposable-looking cardboard booklet with a plastic piece to hold the card in place.

Pack-in Game: None.

Launch titles: D. Congo Bongo and N-Sub are the most recognizable titles to American players, with the other four being Mahjong, Serizawa Hachidan no Tsume Shōgi, Star Jacker, and Yamato.

Library: C. The selection is limited but the games are appealing due to their simplicity. Most are so easy to pick up and play, you won't need to consult the instructions. There are several big-name arcade titles like Space Invaders, Zaxxon, Galaga, and Hang-On. There are also a number of hidden gems like Girls' Garden and Ninja Princess.

Collectability: D. While the SG-1000 might be a crown jewel of a console collection, it's not very practical. If you want to play SG-1000 games on native hardware, a Sega Mark III is more affordable and versatile. There are also many emulation options, including an SG-1000 emulation disc that runs on the Sega Dreamcast.

Pros and Cons:
+ It's a piece of video game history!
+ Simple games easy to play
- Consoles and games expensive to obtain outside of Japan
- Modest game library
- Hard-wired joystick controller

Find on eBay, Amazon, YouTube

Related:

Sega Mark III Console Review

Dina 2-in-1 Console Review

Sega Master System Console Review

Image Credits:
SG-1000 By Evan-Amos - Own work, Public Domain, Link
SG-1000 II By Evan-Amos - Own work, Public Domain, Link
SC-3000 By Bilby - Own work, CC BY 3.0, Link

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