The very best of multiplayer games on the Sega Master System - in fact the Top 5!
Posted by RetroKingSimon on Jun 3, 2010 08:17 (Jun 3, 2010 08:17)
5. Super Off Road (1992)
Unlike the 3 player arcade version (and 4 player NES version), the MS port of this spiritual successor to Super Sprint only supports two players simultaneously, but to be fair that doesn't massively detract from the enjoyment of racing around these bumpy, pot-hole-ridden courses. Exciting, fast-paced fun for beginners and experts alike.
4. Gauntlet (1990)
Some say that Gauntlet was never meant as a one-player game and is no fun when played alone. I don't agree, I've always loved playing it.. There can be little doubt, however, that it's much more fun with a friend in tow, even if the age-old problem of deciding who gets to choose their favourite character never seems to go away! The MS version of this arcade classic was a revelation when it came out and still holds up fantastically well today.
3. Double Dragon (1988)
The arcade version of Double Dragon was and still is much loved. The home conversions of this classic street based fight-um-up though were a real opinion-divider! I can still remember the arguments about which ones were good and which weren't. This MS version, renowned for horrifying levels of sprite-flicker does stand out as one of the best. Two-player scrolling fighters are few and far between, but ones this slick and playable are to be treasured!
2. Spy vs Spy (1986)
As much fun as a two-player co-operative game is, most people will agree that outwitting (not to mention beating the crap out of) a friend is much more satisfying! Spy vs Spy helps to release your inner demons and inflict chaos on your so-called friend of choice. Setting booby-traps to blow up-up your bosom mate has never been so good!
1. Fantasy Zone the Maze (1987)
Unusual choice? Maybe.... but hours have been spent by myself playing this much under-appreciated gem. A Pac-Man-inspired 'collect-the-dots em-up' game is not the most obvious use of the Fantasy Zone name but amazingly it works brilliantly. Collecting the coins allows you to buy weapons. Use the weapons to clear a path through each level. Simple, addictive, and awesome fun and bloody hard to boot.
Yep absolutely, a Top 25 would be great but, I think it should be left up to RKS to review things as he has a more 'review-type' basis in his writing where I always seem to throw a personal slant on things. But RKS I will compile my list (inc mini reviews etc) and you can maybe average games out with our lists combined, and if you do need another throw on things please let me know & I will certainly help.
I could certainly give it a go, but it wouldn't be ready for a while - I loved my MS and played it a lot, but I never had that many games for it so I'd have to play (and review in the process, I guess!) a fair few others! I could probably do a Top 25 pretty quickly, but it wouldn't feature some of the popular games that I haven't played
*brief period of research later* Yes, you're right - the game was called Secret Command in Europe, but Secret Commando elsewhere, and it's not a Light Phaser game - I was thinking of Rescue Mission (a two-player Light Phaser game!). Haha, oops! *embarrassed smiley*
p.s. smilies are done in the usual way here, it seems - colon and bracket
Hang on a minute RKS (smiley face - I dunno how to insert smiley faces yet(?), just hope the excuse for not having one will do), 'Secret Command' was as stated on the cartridge packaging but, in game & title screen elect was 'Secret Commando', honest it was, ahhh and it was an 'Ikari Warriors' clone, not a Light-Phaser game. But I tell ya what, a fine review anyway, and I must thank you for replying to my post/comment and also a thanks to aberdeenlad1983 for mentioning 'Rampage'. I remember me & my bro completing it, albeit around fifty levels on the SMS?
Thanks a lot, CrazyKong! As I mention on my blog, these top fives are obviously only selected from the games I've already played, I might make new top fives once I've worked my way through the rest of the games! And I think you mean Secret Command? A real rarity - a two-player light-phaser game!
Yes, aberdeenlad, the MS is home to a decent amount of two-player simultaneous games, but there's more two-player alternate games. Rampage nearly made my list, actually!
The only 1 I have out of that list is double dragon. I remember 1 time I was playing with my cousin and we reached the final level. I then started to attack him and he was wondering why I started to attack him haha. Another great MS game that has just came to the top of my head is Rampage But also am thinking, was there actually a lot of 2 player games for the MS. Werent most of them just where the second player got a turn if player 1 died?
RetroKingSimon, indeed an interesting choice for all 5. No 5, I only played this a handful of times around my friends house, I couldn't enjoy it as much as my mate or, yourself, for when somebody was racing off to the chequered flag, I was still in 'doughnut city'. No4, Gauntlet IS one of those titles that, though alot of fun still via a solo effort, the fun-factor becomes even more rewarding when there are two warriors... though not playing along with my brother who, liked to hang around (with key) a door building the small troop of ghosts into an army - opening the door, then legging it. No3, I never had this on the SMS, but the closest I got probably was playing DD2 on the NES -which is still a stand-out release in 8-Bit console Beat 'em Up's. No2, Yep, a true classic 2 Player game... Again, with this one aswell, I had the habit of trailing in my brothers wake (usually the bucket-of-water-over-the-door ploy), leaving him to fly into the sunset. A real class game (I did manage to get the sequels on the CPC but nothing really matched this variation. No1, a fan of the side-scroller prequels, particuarly FZ2, I was suprised when I saw this as stated, a Pac-Man clone. This game though survived the 'rip-off' tag as it had its own personality, unfortunately I never played this 2-Player. A good reveiw & interesting choices. Good stuff RKS. (I could have seen myself slipping 'Secret Commando' in though I'm sure?)
Jun 11, 2010 00:06:27 (
Jun 11, 2010 00:06
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