The Sega Master System: A Historical Overview and System Review
Enjoy our comprehensive retrospective as we showcase each and every one of the classic games developed for the Sega Master System in this captivating video journey, or read up on the s…
The Sega Master System: A Historical Overview and System Review
Enjoy our comprehensive retrospective as we showcase each and every one of the classic games developed for the Sega Master System in this captivating video journey, or read up on the system and review below!
The Sega Master System: A 8-Bit Contender
In an era largely dominated by Nintendo's NES, the Sega Master System (SMS) stood as Sega's valiant effort in the 8-bit console market. Released in 1985 in Japan and two years later in North America, the Master System aimed to capture the hearts of gamers with more powerful hardware and an ambitious game library. While I never had the opportunity to own a Master System myself, being a Genesis and Sega CD aficionado, I've always had a fascination with Sega's earlier attempt to dethrone the NES.
Specifications
The Sega Master System boasted impressive specs for its time, offering:
CPU: Zilog Z80A processor clocked at 3.58 MHz
RAM: 8 KB of main RAM, 16 KB of video RAM
Graphics: VDP (Video Display Processor) capable of displaying up to 32 colors simultaneously from a palette of 64, with a resolution of 256x192 pixels
Audio: Texas Instruments SN76489 PSG (Programmable Sound Generator), providing 4-channel sound
Storage: Cartridge slot and, in later models, a built-in card slot for Sega My Card games, with game sizes ranging from 128 KB to 4 MB
History
Developed as the Sega Mark III in Japan, the console was rebranded as the Master System for its international release. Despite its superior hardware, the SMS faced an uphill battle against the NES, which had a strong foothold in the market. Nevertheless, the Master System found success in Europe and Brazil, where it enjoyed a longer lifespan and a more substantial market presence.
System Review
Design and Hardware
The Master System's design was futuristic, with a sleek black chassis and an angular, red power light. The game cartridges and optional Sega Cards were innovative, though the card format didn't gain..
