Categories within 'Master System'

Released in the UK in 1987, and billed as 'The Ultimate Home Video Arcade System', the Sega Master System was Sega's first real success in the European Games market. They had previously developed games for other consoles such as the Colecovision but this was their first console in the West.

Retailing at £99 with two controllers and a Hang-On Card, it was significantly cheaper than its main rival at the time, the Nintendo Entertainment System (£140) and with a raft of quality games such as the Wonder Boy series, Phantasy Star and home conversions of Sega's hit arcade games such as Out Run and Space Harrier, the Master System was to have a successful lifespan before being superseded by the Sega Mega Drive.

In 1991, Sega released a remodelled machine simply called the Master System II. This was a more compact version of the long, sleek Master System and did away with the Card Slot among other things to reduce the size and cost of the machine to a more competitive £59.99.

The original Sega Master System


The redesigned Sega Master System II

The 3D Glasses add-on