28 reviews by Firestorm..
Speedball 2

2001-06-22
From: Firestorm
Comments: Decent graphics, but the opposition ranged from dead easy to impossible (with no middle ground). Shame, it could have been really great. But it's essentially Aussie rules football- a fight with a ball.

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Ghostbusters

2001-06-22
From: Firestorm
Comments: What was Sega thinking? This is exactly the same as the spectrum 48k version (but quicker to load). A hint for anyone still playing this, don't buy a car, you don't need one (you get a black square that does the same job). And it's really not that good a game.

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Strider

2001-06-14
From: Firestorm
Comments: Dunno about this one, but the sequel kicked serious butt. Except that, unlike the Mega Drive version, you didn't fight The Master at the end (as seen on the title screen), just some guy in a jetpack with a gun. Collision detection was a bit off, but the game rocked on the whole. And you can see the Princess' nipples at the end.

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Hang On (Card)

2001-06-14
From: Firestorm
Comments: Essentially the same as World Grand Prix, but with bikes. Graphics were distinctly poorer. The Mega Drive's super hang on was better. But for arcade perfect (should you really want to), got to You Arcade in Shenmue on Dreamcast and waste your money in there instead of chasing a bloke who you never catch in the game anyway.

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Arcade Smash Hits

2001-06-07
From: Firestorm
Comments: Oh dear. £33 spend on this. What was I thinking? Oh yes, it was about 1993. And at my age then, I'd never played any of the games on show here. The three-in-one was just too tempting for me aged 11. On the plus side, both missile command and breakout had commendable graphics, but centipede was crap through and through. Breakout had crap music and was far to difficult, whilst missile command was too easy. I short, this is a bit of a cash-in, three ancient, long forgotton games. And only missile command never had (until the Atari Jaguar) an update. £33 for missile command? A tad expensive. Overall, not much cop.

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Cyber Shinobi

2001-06-07
From: Firestorm
Comments: Oh dear. What a terrible waste. The graphics look really good on the back, which is why I brought this (only for £10, mind). Then they move. Slow, jerky, and overall frustrating. There are plenty of floor panels which vanish, allowing you to plunge to your death. Couple that with woefully linear levels in which all you do is walk right, avoid traps and hit people, and that terrible waterfall bit, where you drop to the bottom to complete the level. What a waste of time. The bosses are easy to kill (usually, hit them when the approach), and the graphical glitches are appalling. Many sprites have a black square around them! Also, the game is too easy, and the magic is worthless. Overall, a waste of time, effort and my cash.

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Cyborg Hunter

2001-06-07
From: Firestorm
Comments: Not bad. The idea is good, the execution good, and it carries just the right level of challenge. The only problem is that it's a bit repetitive, and the dark bits are annoying, even with the right gun. I made it to the last boss, but could not kill it before I had to give this back to a friend, who promptly swapped it for Outrun (presumably because he couldn't get past level 2). One of the better, and more original games on the Master System.

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Golden Axe

2001-06-07
From: Firestorm
Comments: A commendable effort. When will people realise that the only real difference between the characters was their magic. And as you can choose your magic, you can effectively play as any of the characters. Though some of the graphics are toned down (such as nobody comes out of the floor), and only girls can ride the dragons, this is ace. It's faster than the 16-bit version, but much easier, as it only has 5 levels. It lacks a 2 player mode, but remember this is only 8-bit. 2 player would slow it down too much. Overall, this is the closest to Streets of Rage/Final Fight you can get on Master System (except the game actual game Streets of Rage, which was released way after this). Ace.

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Lemmings

2001-06-07
From: Firestorm
Comments: Is this possible? This version beat the pants off the Mega Drive, SNES and PC/Amiga versions of this game (due to better and smoother graphics). A real test of anyone's brain power (though the last level is annoyingly easy). Great music as well. Brilliant!

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Operation Wolf

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: This was released way before the NES version and is way better. Though it's not as arcade perfect as the high powered commodore version, the gun works better. Fun while it lasts, and at least the gun's easier to aim (not fixed to the cabinet). Not hard, I once played through it five times before I got bored and turned it off. You won't find a better gun game on the master system. With the exception of Assault City (gun version). WHICH I WANT BADLY.

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After Burner

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: Basic, lacking the graphics of the arcade, and that silly crash! You can get by just by banking and shooting. You never get hit (until the level after the second refueller). Silly, and Space Harrier's much better in this style, and if you're after shooters, Power Strike is far superior (as is almost everything else).

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Chuck Rock

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: Brilliant game. Now why did I sell it? Possibly the hardest platform game on the Master System. The belly attack is funny for 5 minutes (or 2 years if you happen to be 12). It lacks any background, but makes up by having almost identical sprites to the Mega Drive version. No music either, apart from a superb theme tune. Still, it was fun and tough. And better looking than YOUR sister.

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Mortal Kombat

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: As good as could be expected for the Master System. Harder than the Mega Drive and SNES versions, but not as smooth. Kano is crap, so dropping him was no loss. The rest remain intact, apart from, sadly, Sonya, who looks nothing like a human, let alone a woman. Sub-Zero looks better than in the 16-bit versions, but only 2 backgrounds exist, and there's no pit. That aside, the moves only lose high punch and low kick, but sweep and roundhouse are still easily pulled off, though blocking is hard. Fun, especially in two player mode, and great with the blood on (2,1,2 down, up). Still, not as good as Streetfighter 2. But hey, this is only 8-bit.

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Mortal Kombat 2

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: Released too late to coincide with the 16-bit versions. This site is wrong with Mortal Kombat 3, as it was never released on the Master System (the format was dead at the release of 2, so imagine my surprise seeing 2 in the shops). The SNES version was crap, so I don't think this can be described.

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Out Run

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: Very easy, poor graphics, a decent translation of a crap arcade game. There's better than this on Master System. Crap is a kind description.

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Rescue Mission

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: One of the best tenners I've spent went on this. Despite being very silly, it was good fun (especially shooting your medic to get extra points). It's also quite hard (on hard level only), and you're screwed if the first man dies, as the second one is piss-poor. Fun graphics and sound, and some homosexuality at the end. Not a bad game, but a far cry from Operation Wolf.

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Robocop Vs. Terminator

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: Simply the best ten pounds I've spent on Master System games. Graphics are superb for 8-bit, with fantastic animation on Robocop. Hard difficulty is a real challenge, and the bonus levels are great fun. Great music and top sound, but some flicker spoils this slightly. Overall, top class enterainment, and even speech (okay, limited to "looking for trouble", "you're terminated" and "thankyou for your cooperation", but they sound like Robocop, admittedly the tv Robocop, not Peter Weller). The best platform shooter ever!

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Scramble Spirits

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: Why did I sell this? It was great. And Giga Wing on Dreamcast cost me £10. They are very similar.

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Space Harrier

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: Great game (but very hard). Even better on Dreamcast's Shenmue. Real good fun, and many days of Ryo's life spent playing this.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: The hang glider.....superb.....great.....shame there's no Robotnik after every level.

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Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: As close to Sonic on the Mega Drive you'll get. Great graphics, sound and gameplay. Far too easy though.

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Special Crime Investigation

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: Done in a day. Very easy, but fun. However, nowhere near the brilliant arcade game. Is not really worth paying for. Some gullible sod bought it off me.

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Star Wars

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: Love it! But you can't fight Darth Vader. Too easy, but damn good fun.

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Taz Mania

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: Great graphics, but too easy. And Taz-Mania 2 never existed on Master System.

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World Grand Prix

2001-05-24
From: Firestorm
Comments: It's hang-on, with F1 cars. But better. One of the first Master System games, so don't cuss it. Better than the arcade game Pole Position. Fun, but too easy, and where do all those cars come from? You start 4th.

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Alex Kidd in Miracle World

2001-04-18
From: Firestorm
Comments: This came built in with my SMS2, free=shite in this case. Paper, scissors, stone to win the game? What were these people thinking of? The graphics were too bright, the sound effects pants, and the music was OTT cute. This makes me sick. And how a bull turns into a puff of smoke upon being slapped by a small boy with an oversized head is beyond me. Give me Power Strike or Operation Wolf any day!

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Xenon 2

2001-04-18
From: Firestorm
Comments: One of the poorer shooters I've played. And while I usually love them, I can't stand not being able to move my ship properly. It moves sooo slow (mind you, the Mega Drive had the same problem). Frame rate is only a problem at the bosses in this UK version, but it does suffer from bad flicker when lots of stuff is about at once. Music's cool though

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Power Strike

2001-04-10
From: Firestorm
Comments: This is the greatest game ever! It's that simple. Okay, so it lacks a two player mode, and is very hard, but it has to have the best graphics ever on Master System, coupled with music that I still find myself humming years after I bought it. Even with the nine lives cheat and that special weapon 2, it's tough. But it's fun, and the enemies encountered depend on your special weapon and where you die. Never the same game twice. Bloody brilliant. Let's see Playstation 2 match this sort of class gamplay!

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