SMS games question

[tz101]

I think it has been asked here before, and maybe even by me, but I used the forum search tool and cannot find it. Forgive my memory, or lack thereof as I get older, but I will ask the question again.

Do PAL SMS games play fine on US NTSC Master System consoles with no major change of colors or other annoying visual effects? Thanks.

[sheath]

All of the ones I have bought play on my US Master System no problem. I think I've seen some complaints about Codemasters games not working, but I might be confusing that with Genesis games over the Everdrive.

I tend to buy UK versions of Master System games because they are more available and frequently cheaper than their US counterparts (if there is one).

[tz101]

Sweet. Rep added.

[Tower of Power]

Anyone have a more detailed explanation? I know there's some sweet SMS exclusives not released in the US. I know that most of them will play, but will they be sped up? The games that glitch out, how do they glitch?

[bohokii]

i stupidly bought operation wolf it locks up after level one guess i just have to live with rambo 3 as my operation wolf

maybe a search for master system region incompatibilities would have saved me

[Obviously]

Can't speak for all PAL games but I have Ninja Gaiden, Sonic, Sonic 2 and Land of Illusion which all work fine.

[Jessie]

The most notable difference is the speed. There are some games that do not work on the US system. It is not many but a few notable titles. To my knowledge this is the complete list. Some have glitches, others will not work:

Addams Family, The
Back to the Future Part III
Battlemaniacs
Bram Stoker's Dracula
California Games II
Cosmic Spacehead
Excellent Dizzy Collection, The
Fantastic Dizzy
Home Alone
Micro Machines
Operation Wolf
Predator 2
Quest for the Shaven Yak
RoboCop 3
Sensible Soccer
Shadow Dancer - The Secret of Shinobi
Shadow of the Beast
Sonic Blast
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Space Harrier (some versions)
Taito Chase H.Q.

[Tower of Power]

The most notable difference is the speed. There are some games that do not work on the US system. It is not many but a few notable titles. To my knowledge this is the complete list. Some have glitches, others will not work:

Addams Family, The
Back to the Future Part III
Battlemaniacs
Bram Stoker's Dracula
California Games II
Cosmic Spacehead
Excellent Dizzy Collection, The
Fantastic Dizzy
Home Alone
Micro Machines
Operation Wolf
Predator 2
Quest for the Shaven Yak
RoboCop 3
Sensible Soccer
Shadow Dancer - The Secret of Shinobi
Shadow of the Beast
Sonic Blast
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Space Harrier (some versions)
Taito Chase H.Q.

What is the difference in the speed? Is it on all games or just some?

[Obviously]

What is the difference in the speed? Is it on all games or just some?

The difference is roughly 16.7% and what this means will vary depending on the game.

A game optimized for PAL will run too fast on an NTSC system which sometimes causes glitches or failures to occur. But many games released in PAL regions aren't actually PAL optimized which means they run slower on PAL consoles and their original speed on NTSC consoles.

[Tower of Power]

The difference is roughly 16.7% and what this means will vary depending on the game.

A game optimized for PAL will run too fast on an NTSC system which sometimes causes glitches or failures to occur. But many games released in PAL regions aren't actually PAL optimized which means they run slower on PAL consoles and their original speed on NTSC consoles.

Thanks for that. Is it known which SMS games (especially the ones we never got here) fall into which categories? For example, Master of Darkness. I read that Sonic the Hedgehog US version was exactly the PAL version with a new UPC sticker. Is this true? Does the PAL version run correctly in both regions?

[Obviously]

I read that Sonic the Hedgehog US version was exactly the PAL version with a new UPC sticker. Is this true? Does the PAL version run correctly in both regions?

That's apparently the case. I'm going to guess it runs slower on a PAL console like other unoptimized games.

As for a list of PAL optimized games I don't know if one is out there other than what Jessie already posted.

[IrishNinja]

Golden Axe Warrior works great, if you find a cheaper copy there!

[Black_Tiger]

Ultima IV's music sounds faster than some of the computer versions. Maybe it was developed for Europe? Music sounds much better at the faster pace though.

[segarule]

The solution is buy brazilian games of eur versions. I think that it will work in US SMS

[Obviously]

The solution is buy brazilian games of eur versions. I think that it will work in US SMS

Most of the time when I see Brazilian Master System games for sale in the US the prices are worse than in the US.

Honestly, for the most part Master System games aren't terribly expensive here save for a few uncommon or in-demand games or ones that weren't released here.