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 SMS

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 Version 1.3

Snail Maze only BIOSes are incompatible with the following games.

  • 4 Pak all Action
  • Cosmic Spacehead
  • Fantastic Dizzy
  • Micro Machines
  • The Incredible Hulk
  • Street Fighter II
  • Virtua Fighter Animation

Games Incompatible with Power Base Converter

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

  • 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)
  • Games that aren't compatible with SMS Model 1 BIOS version 1.3

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 Shape 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)
  • Missile Defense 3D (works, doesn't recognize the light phaser)
  • Rescue Mission (works, doesn't recognize the light phaser)
  • Hang On/Safari Hunt (various glitches; unconfirmed)
  • GP Rider

PAL Games with Issues on NTSC Master System

  • Back to the Future Part III
  • Battlemaniacs
  • Bram Stoker's Dracula
  • California Games II
  • Cosmic Spacehead
  • Desert Strike
  • Fantastic Dizzy (goes to a scrambled Codemasters logo then a black screen followed by a blue screen, crashes after a minute)
  • Home Alone
  • Micro Machines (just displays a purple screen after the Codemasters logo)
  • Operation Wolf (cannot shoot at enemies, unplayable)
  • Power Strike II (plays too fast)
  • Predator 2
  • Ren & Stimpy: Quest for the Shaven Yak
  • RoboCop vs. The Terminator (plays too fast, nearly unplayable)
  • Sensible Soccer
  • Shadow Dancer - The Secret of Shinobi
  • Shadow of the Beast
  • Smash TV (plays too fast)
  • Sonic Blast
  • Sonic The Hedgehog 2
  • Space Harrier (some versions)
  • Street Fighter II
  • Taito Chase H.Q.
  • The Newzealand Story
  • The Simpsons: Bart vs the Space Mutants