Master System:Game Incompatibilites

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The Master System unfortunately has some incompatibilities with various games depending on the model at hand.

Original lists by Tycho on smspower.org

Non-Japanese Games on Japanese Console

Japanese Master System/Mark III games are both narrower and thicker than non-Japanese cartridges in addition to having a different pinout. Therefore, the cart slot on Japanese systems can not physically accommodate non-Japanese games. However, third-party adapters exist that allow you to play non-Japanese games on a Mark III or Japanese SMS.

Games Incompatible with SMS Model 1 BIOS Versions 1.3 and 2.0

Snail Maze-only BIOSes are incompatible with the following games:

  • 4 Pak All Action (selecting any game goes back to the main menu)
  • Street Fighter II (crashes when a match starts)

Games Incompatible with 315-5124 VDP

The 315-5246 VDP used in the Master System II and VA3 model 1 consoles has additional extra-height (256 x 224 pixels NTSC, 256 x 240 pixels PAL) graphics modes which a handful of games make use of. The following games are incompatible with consoles that use the older 315-5124 VDP, such as most model 1s (including all NTSC model 1s) and Japanese consoles. They are also incompatible with the Genesis/Mega Drive as its VDP does not incorporate the extra-height modes:

  • Cosmic Spacehead
  • Fantastic Dizzy
  • Micro Machines

Games Incompatible with Power Base Converter

The following games are incompatible with the original model Sega Genesis/Mega Drive with a Power Base Converter.

  • 4 Pak All Action (selecting any game goes back to the main menu)
  • Alien 3
  • F-16 Fighter/F-16 Fighting Falcon (this is due to the game using a legacy SG-1000 video mode which is not supported on Genesis/Mega Drive hardware)
  • Street Fighter II (automatically selects two-player mode, game is playable otherwise)

Games Incompatible with HES Converter

The following games are incompatible with the Australian HES-branded Sega Genesis adapter. The 3D feature of games that use 3D glasses also will not work.

  • After Burner (black screen)
  • Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars (pink screen)
  • Assault City (7034; 7040 unknown)
  • Aztec Adventure (black screen)
  • Golfamania (animated garbage)
  • Golvellius (buzz w/ flickering screen)
  • Parlour Games (garbage screen)
  • Shinobi (black screen)
  • Card games (physical incompatibility)

Games Incompatible with Genesis/Mega Drive Controller

The following games are incompatible with a Sega Genesis/Mega Drive controller. You can patch these games to fix this or play them on a Japanese Master System or Mark III via a cartridge adapter. They will also play normally on a Japanese Mega Drive or region modded console set to Japanese mode.

  • Alien Syndrome
  • Bomber Raid
  • Great Volleyball
  • Montezuma's Revenge
  • Penguin Land
  • Shanghai
  • Tennis Ace
  • Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
  • Wonder Boy in Monster Land

Games Incompatible with Sega Master System II

Because the Master System II lacks a card slot, it is not compatible with Sega Card games. Also, since the adapter for the 3-D glasses uses the card slot, games which make use of the glasses cannot be played properly (unless the game has a 2-D mode).

Games Incompatible with the Tototek SMS-Mark III Adapter on SMS

  • Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (blank screen; reports of some working)
  • Wanted (red screen, this is due to the game locking up when it detects the FM sound hardware)
  • Missile Defense 3D (works, doesn't recognize the Light Phaser)
  • Rescue Mission (works, doesn't recognize the Light Phaser)
  • GP Rider

PAL Games with Issues on NTSC Master System

Note that these issues also apply to a Mark III or Japanese Master System. Testing was performed on a US model 1 SMS and a French SMS II modified with a 50/60 Hz switch, both using an original Master Everdrive.

Game Title Issue Severity
Alien 3 Minor graphical glitching when in air vents Minor
Andre Agassi Tennis Plays too fast Minor
Arcade Smash Hits Plays too fast Minor
Back to the Future Part III Displays a yellow screen, does not boot Unplayable
Battlemaniacs Minor graphical glitching at top of screen Minor
Bram Stoker's Dracula Plays too fast, occasional glitched graphics Minor
California Games II Boots to a black screen Unplayable
Cosmic Spacehead Plays too fast, flashing colors Moderate, unplayable on all consoles with 315-5124 VDP
Desert Strike Plays too fast, major graphical glitching Severe
Fantastic Dizzy Plays too fast, garbage pixels in status bar Minor, unplayable on all consoles with 315-5124 VDP
Global Gladiators Minor graphical glitching at the bottom of the screen Minor
Home Alone Plays too fast, major graphical glitching, Kevin can fall through the floor, Harry and Marv sometimes stop moving Unplayable
Krusty's Fun House Plays too fast Minor
Micro Machines Plays too fast, flashing tiles on top of screen Minor, unplayable on all consoles with 315-5124 VDP
NBA Jam Plays too fast, graphical glitching Moderate
Operation Wolf Cannot shoot at enemies Unplayable
Out Run Europa Plays too fast Minor
PGA Tour Golf Plays too fast Minor
Power Strike II Plays too fast[1] Minor
Predator 2 Plays too fast, graphical glitching when scrolling Moderate
Prince of Persia Plays too fast Minor
RoboCop 3 Plays too fast Moderate
RoboCop vs. The Terminator Plays too fast Minor
Sensible Soccer Plays too fast Minor
Shadow of the Beast Plays too fast Moderate
Smash TV Plays too fast Moderate
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Occasional glitched graphics on top of screen Minor, game actually plays at proper speed on 60 Hz
Space Harrier (European release) Space Harrier's legs are glitched, flickering transparencies on large sprites Moderate
Star Wars Plays too fast, some slowdown Minor
Super Kick Off Plays too fast Minor
Superman Plays too fast Minor
Taito Chase H.Q. Plays too fast, glitched road graphics on turns Severe
The Addams Family Graphical glitching at top of screen Moderate
The Flash Plays too fast Minor
The Flintstones Plays too fast Minor
The Jungle Book Plays too fast, minor graphical glitching Minor
The Lion King Plays too fast Minor
The Newzealand Story Plays too fast, severe graphical glitching and flickering sprites Severe
The Ottifants Plays too fast Minor
The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants Plays too fast, Bart's legs are glitched Minor
The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World Plays too fast Minor
The Smurfs Plays too fast Minor
The Terminator Plays too fast Minor
Trivial Pursuit Plays too fast Minor
Ultimate Soccer Plays too fast, garbage pixels on top of main menu Minor
Winter Olympics: Lillehammer '94 Plays too fast, minor graphical glitching Minor
Wimbledon II Plays too fast Minor
World Cup USA '94 Plays too fast Minor

References