NES vs Master System

[AllYourBase]

NES vs Master System - No this is not a which console was best thread! I just want to know how the NES was perceived by you guys who were in high school during it's reign.

For me it was all about the Master System, everyone at my school had one almost, we all swapped games, etc - The NES really never got a look in - was that the same for everyone in the UK?

There was one kid who had the NES and I used to love playing the games whenever I could get round to his house. There was a real mystery about them. I also used to bunk off school sometimes so I could play the machine at Boots which had about 10 NES games like Excitebike, Life Force, Ice climbers, etc you could demo for a while.

I eventually picked up a NES when they were cheaper (think I had a Megadrive by then) and loved it. I caught up with all the old classic games I had missed, it was like I had missed out on this whole other world. Whilst the Master System had it's moments I wished I really could have had both!! hehe

What were your experiences? Why did the NES seem to fare so badly against the Master System in Europe when in the USA it was completely the opposite picture.

[Wools]

There was infinate amounts of love for both consoles in the schoolyard as a kid.

Going back now I feel the Master System has the superior line up but the NES had Mario Bros 3 which I loved, possibly my favourite 2D Mario.

[DeathAdder]

At the time I wanted an NES (had neither) but now I much prefer Master System games, for the most part. Most people I knew were more into the NES. I wasn't aware that it had fared badly against the Master System.

[Baseley09]

Master System had it as far as everyone I knew was concerned, some people had NES but majorly it was all about the Sega. I dont know why, one factor for my area was we had a Sega heavy seafront and we wanted those games (albeit in a limited, not that we cared at the time, form) at home. And Moonwalker. And Megaman was crap.

I got the deluxe pack xmas 1990 with safari hunt & hang on...best built in games evar!

[AllYourBase]

I wasn't aware that it had fared badly against the Master System.

Well only in the sense that the NES didn't enjoy total dominance like it did in the states. The NES was a relative success in the UK I would have thought.

In terms of market share in the UK are there any figures to support which was the biggest selling console? It must have been a close race by the end!

[babs]

*hums the tune to Snail Maze game*

I was a master system chap, as were my mates by and large. I did really want a NES though, I almost got one too - Castlevania and Turtles nearly sold me, I remember feeling very excited about it.

But in the end it was all about Fantasy Zone 2, Wonderboy games, Slap Shot, American Pro Wrestling and some others.

hmmmmm Action Fighter - dokipen anyone?

[Yakumo]

Master System for me. I remember the NES being the poor kids console back at school and with piss poor image quality and very few colours sort of strengthened this image Oh and the fact that EVERY NES I ever saw has problems loading games. The Master System, fantastic picture quality even through RF, colourful vibrant graphics and some great games. The only thing that let the western system down was the God awful audio.

Yakumo

[bootmonster]

got a master system when i was seven, and i feckin loved it. had a ton of games too. faves were miracle world, sonic (better than megadrive IMHO), wonder boy 3 and i absolutely loved action fighter. the music was great.

not one person i knew had a nes, but sega were 'cooler' at my school and you were a bit of a geek if you had anything by nintendo, at least until the n64 came out.

[chaoticjelly]

Master System

[Leon Retro]

I was bought a MasterSystem, and I really enjoyed games like AstroWarrior, Outrun, Wrestling, Psycho Fox.

After visiting a friends house and playing MarioBros and DuckHunt on his NES though, I realised it was a machine with far more magic, despite the visuals not being as colourful as the other machines around.

I eventually got my hands on a NES, with Mario1-2-3, ExciteBike, Castlevania, Cobra Triangle, RC-Pro AM.

The months of joy the NES gave me, means I hold it in much higher regard than the MS. The NES may not have loads of colours, or great sound quality, but its range of great games, makes it a classic machine and one of my faves.

In my mind the NES crushes the MS.


Edit: What's with Sega console fans always going on about technology and visuals? ... It should be totally about playability. That's why I like the NES more: it has far more stunningly playable titles.

[AllYourBase]

In my mind the NES crushes the MS.

Hmmmm, time for the Sega rap methinks!

[Leon Retro]

Hmmmm, time for the Sega rap methinks!

The worst rap ever.

The Sega posse is over hundred strong

Sega have always rocked my world, but I can't deny that I feel the NES has a much better collection of playable titles.

I always thought the NES destroyed the MS in the U.K. That's the impression I got as a kid. Most people I knew sold their MS' for a NES. Mario games were too good to resist.

[Vince]

It was all Master System where i lived too, in fact i didn't know anybody who had an NES at the time. I think the draw of arcade conversions of Out Run, AfterBurner, Galaxy Force, Shinobi, R-Type etc were the draws to the system for most of the guys i knew.

That said not many people i knew had Master Systems either, we went straight from Spectrums/C64s to PC Engines.

[Leon Retro]

It was all Master System where i lived too, in fact i didn't know anybody who had an NES at the time. I think the draw of arcade conversions of Out Run, AfterBurner, Galaxy Force, Shinobi, R-Type etc were the draws to the system for most of the guys i knew.

That said not many people i knew had Master Systems either, we went straight from Spectrums/C64s to PC Engines.

I'm talking about 1989-1990. I guess most people here are talking about a few years earlier. In 1990, most people I knew had a NES.

From Spectrum to PC-Engine? .... That's a strange jump. I would have thought computer owners would have gone for an Amiga or ST.

[AllYourBase]

The NES really seemed to take off when it was bundled with TMNT (or hero!) - Does anyone know what year that was?