Real Master System, Power Base Converter, or Master Gear?

[DCG]

Last year, I made the difficult decision, Sega Master System or Dreamcast. As you probably already know, I went with the Dreamcast, and I love it. This year, I'd love to get a Sega console that I don't have. I decided to skip the Saturn and SG-1000 to buy a Master System. Before I do that, I need a new Game Gear and I could really use a Model 1 Genesis (I have a retro bit system for Genesis games). So I'm wondering, should I get a real SMS for authenticity and card games, a Master Gear for portability, or the Power Base Converter (I believe that's what it's called) to play SMS on Genesis?

[RickR]

I have the power base converter and a real SMS gamepad, and it works well.

[MaximumRD]

Personally given the option? I'd go original SMS console so you have the option of the card games. The Power Base Convertor with a model 1 Genesis is a damn nice setup but there is just something about the original SMS console imho.

[The Professor]

My vote would be for the real Master System, it's a great console and very under rated in my opinion. Give it a try, if you don't like it you can always put it on eBay.

[nosweargamer]

If you already want to get a Genesis, save space and money and get the Power Base Converter.

 

It plays all the card games except F-16 Fighting Falcon (which hasn't got good reviews)!

 

I don't know why a lot of gamers think it doesn't play card games.

 

There are also 3 or so games that need the regular SMS controller to works like Wonder Boy 2 and Shanghai. Most other games play perfectly with the Genesis controller.

[TrekMD]

I have a Genesis with the Power Base Converter.  It works quite well to play the original games for the SMS plus I can play the Genesis games, which is rather practical.  The decision, however, is yours as it all depends on what you prefer.  Do you want the original console to play or are you okay using another console that is capable of playing the games?

[fergojisan]

Original Master System.

 

BECAUSE SNAIL MAZE

[MaximumRD]

I don't know why a lot of gamers think it doesn't play card games.

You know I honestly DID forget?  I had one back in the day when they first appeared and yes it was pretty damn awesome sitting on my model 1 Genesis. 

 

Still, I love the look of the original SMS. That is something I didn't have back in the day and a while back I had picked up a complete package and realized how much I wished I had had it back in the day. I really gotta do a follow up video on the SMS someday 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X-IXFelZyQ

[Atari 5200 Guy]

I had all except for the converter for the GG.  The Power Base converter is nice but there is nothing quite like the real hardware.  However, like Ferg mentioned there is a snail game hidden in some of the SMS consoles but not all of them.  You will need to find one that doesn't have Super Hang-On and Safari Hunt built-in for a better chance to find that Snail game.  Honestly, I'd go for the real SMS hardware.  It's unique and nothing else is quite like it.  I loved the graphics on it better than the NES...I just wish it had better sound abilities.

[Atari Creep]

Original Master System.

 

BECAUSE SNAIL MAZE

I will always say a Master System but the original model. HOWEVER you can't go wrong with a PBC either. I say if you do not have a lot of space get a PBC and a model 1 Genesis!!!! 

 

Sega Master System is Frankie approved!!!!! 

Edited March 3, 2017 by Atari Creep

[DCG]

My vote would be for the real Master System, it's a great console and very under rated in my opinion. Give it a try, if you don't like it you can always put it on eBay.

If I do get one, I know I'll love it

[DCG]

If you already want to get a Genesis, save space and money and get the Power Base Converter.

 

It plays all the card games except F-16 Fighting Falcon (which hasn't got good reviews)!

 

I don't know why a lot of gamers think it doesn't play card games.

 

There are also 3 or so games that need the regular SMS controller to works like Wonder Boy 2 and Shanghai. Most other games play perfectly with the Genesis controller.

What I might do is get the Power Base Converter first, and in a few years or so, buy a real SMS.

[Atari Creep]

 I could really use a Model 1 Genesis

 

I have a second one here that is not getting any use. Not sure if I have all the cords for it or if it even works. If you are interested I will pull it out to test it and get it over to ya!!!! Message me if you are interested.

[RickR]

I need more SMS games.  Is it just me, or are they hard to find?

[Atari Creep]

I need more SMS games.  Is it just me, or are they hard to find?

Yup. It didn't sell so well in N. America so carts a re tough to come by. I only know 1 person that had a SMS growing up. Nintendo dominated the market and had an illegal strong hold on 3rd party developers and as we all know a system without games will not do well or fail all together.

Edited March 3, 2017 by Atari Creep

[nosweargamer]

I need more SMS games.  Is it just me, or are they hard to find?

 

Yup. It didn't sell so well in N. America so carts a re tough to come by. I only know 1 person that had a SMS growing up. Nintendo dominated the market and had an illegal strong hold on 3rd party developers and as we all know a system without games will not do well or fail all together.

 

Yeah, NES had 90% of the market with the 7800 and SMS splitting the rest...and some years the 7800 beat out the SMS!

[nosweargamer]

And yet in Europe, it was so, so different.

 

The Master system did great guns under Virgin Mastertronic and we also saw a good deal of the Card games re-issued on Cartridge, something i believe never happened in USA?.

 

 

I was always envious of all the the games I saw from the UK fro the SMS back as a Genesis owner when I flipped though import magazines at bookstores. Back in the US, there was barely any 3rd party support, so no Terminator for us.

 

Also, the UK got a PBC for the model 2 genesis, but we did not. However, I don't think it took card games, so at least we got that going for us for the original PBC.

 

Spy vs Spy is the only game I can think of that got both card and cartridge releases in the US..

[DCG]

The last officially released game was Sonic The Hedgehog here in North America. Lots of great PAL SMS games only came out on Game Gear here such as Master Of Darkness, Sonic Chaos, and the Streets Of Rage games.

[nosweargamer]

Did the US get MS releases of things like:

 

Power Strike II (Very different to Game Gear version) No. We got the original, but it was mail order only and pretty rare today.

 

Masters Of Combat No

 

Prince Of Persia No

 

Buggy Run No

 

Light Phaser version of:Assault City No. We didn't get either version

 

Fire And Forget II No

 

MK II No

 

Micro Machines No

 

Road Rash No

 

T2:Arcade Game No

 

 

Mind you, you guys had:

 

 

King's Quest:Quest For The Crown Never played it

 

Alf Want it, but heard it's terrible

 

Golden Axe warrior Great game, Wikipedia says it was released in the UK

 

Few others did you not?

I wasn't aware of any other US exclusives, but Wikipedia says Casino Games, Galaxy Force, Great Ice Hockey and Monopoly did not come out in the UK. Also I hear our version of Captain Silver had stuff cut out and is not as good. Some of the above UK games mentioned did appear as Game Gear titles.

[DCG]

I've seen Golden Axe warrior on Game Gear here in UK.

I think you might be confusing that with Ax Battler: A Legend Of Golden Axe on Game Gear. Golden Axe Warrior was an SMS exclusive.

[nosweargamer]

Your right i bloody was...

 

 

How many spin off's were there for Golden Axe?

 

So the SMS exclusive was an RPG?

 

Blimey, people here in UK moan about Sony milking franchises, but Sega seem no stranger to that game either...

 

Some awful titles as a result (cough, Cyber Shinobi...etc).

 

As far as spin offs go, I'm only aware of Ax Battler on the Game Gear and Golden Axe Warrior (plays like a good zelda rip off) on the SMS. There was also a one on one fighter in the arcade and on Saturn I believe.

[DCG]

How many spin off's were there for Golden Axe?

 

So the SMS exclusive was an RPG?

Yeah, it was essentially Sega's version of The Legend Of Zelda. It's actually pretty good, although it's very rare.

 

The spin-offs of Golden Axe include Golden Axe Warrior, Ax Battler: A Legend Of Golden Axe, Golden Axe - The Duel, and Golden Axe: Beast Rider (most people say spin-off, but some say main series).

[DCG]

I have been away from this site for way too long. I was searching for some info about the Power Base Converter today and was pleasantly surprised to have stumbled across this old forum thread I made over a year ago. I hate to bump an old thread, but since I'd like to finally tell you guys the end of my story about my search for a way to play Master System games, I'll post it here.

 

I got that model 1 Genesis earlier this year and have been enjoying it a lot and I did get a new Game Gear a month after this thread was started. This left me with all three options for playing SMS games. I decided against the Master Gear Converter awhile back so I was down to two options. Yesterday, I went to my local flea market for the first time in six months to finally buy myself a Master System, but then I saw something I never thought I'd find locally. The Power Base Converter! I bought it for $45 and got After Burner and Altered Beast complete in box for $25 which seems a little high for two common SMS games, but not is the Canadian dollar different, but also everyone here tends to charge more. I plan on collecting the entire North American SMS game library complete in box and I do hope to get a real SMS this Christmas (I found one complete in box for $125).

 

I do have one question though. The Power Base Converter almost doesn't work. I think there's something wrong with my Genesis because I took it back to the flea market and tested it on the Genesis the guy originally tested it with and it worked perfectly. The issue is, most of the time, all I get is a black screen. Genesis games work fine, but not the PBC. I have to repeatedly pull it out and reinsert it and just hope it'll work and the odd time it randomly will and I can enjoy the PSG version of Final Take Off while blasting fighter jets out of the sky. On the flea market Genesis, it had no issue, but on mine at home, even just changing the game or turning the console off will screw it up for the next time I try to play it. Does anyone know what the issue might be?

Edited October 8, 2018 by Gemini Gamer

[RickR]

Great news on finding that PBC!  I kind of went the other way and finally found a real Master System. 

 

As far as the issue you have, it's probably a dirty cart connector.  Take the PBC out and clean the pins that go into the Genesis cart port with q-tips and alcohol.  Clean it several times.  I mean clean it, plug it into the genesis.  Take it out, and clean it again.  2 times should do it.

 

The other suggestion is to make sure you're using a good "Sega" branded power adapter on the Genesis.  Should be the kind that puts out 1.2 amps. 

[DCG]

I did your first suggestion earlier today, but as for the other one, I'm using an AtGamer power cable XD. I'll try to get an official one later this week. I had to repeatedly turn my Genesis on and off (about 100 or more times today) earlier when I was trying to get the PBC to work. That wouldn't have hurt my Genesis, PBC, or either SMS game, right?

Edited October 8, 2018 by Gemini Gamer