Sega Master’s System: top five games –

5. Wonder Boy

In the shadow of Super Mario itself and after 40 years, not many people speak very highly of Westone Bit Entertainment’s 8-bit gem. Except me. I still stand where I’ve always stood, in a place where the scantily clad cave boy with the bright blond haircut offered mystery, challenge, variety and lavishly beautiful graphics that still stand the test of time.

4. Fantasy Zone II: Tears of Grandpa Grandpa

This Sega-owned series founded a new genre with the first Fantasy Zone, which was described as a cute ’em up, where the previously frustrating space mutant monsters of R-Type were replaced with cute flowers and mushrooms. Almost 40 years later, it is easy to see why both the first game and its brilliant sequel were such successes, as the gameplay is simple but challenging and the design, as well as the pace of play, is incredible.

3. Shinobi

I had just turned 10 when Shinobi was first released and saw it for the first time in an arcade aboard a Finnish ferry. It was magical. Freaky ninjas, throwing stars, katanas, lots of enemies and bonus levels played from a first-person perspective that was innovative for the time. I loved Shinobi then and love it just as much today, hence it is the third best game Sega has rolled out for their 8-bit machine.

2. Alex Kidd in the miracle world

I still hum the music often; it’s there, burned into my consciousness. I also play the game sometimes, with the kids, and it is as maddeningly difficult as it is delightfully entertaining. I have always loved Alex Kidd and always will, and I think Miracle World is one of those platform gems that should be talked about more in general.

1. Wonder Boy III: the fall of the dragon

Phantasy Star was really good, one of the best titles for the Sega Master System, as was the arcade version of Operation Wolf and Out Run. I also really loved Psycho Fox, Asterix, R-Type and Double Dragon for this pretty little shiny black console. None of those games, however, had even the slightest sigh of relief from the outright, boiled-down, concentrated brilliance found in the wonderful genre remix of Westone Bit Entertainment’s Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap. It combined traditional platforming action with appropriate role-playing elements, with exploration being an important part of the gaming experience. In addition, the design was very beautiful, as was the music, which I still hum to this day.