The 3rd Generation era of video games brings back very fond memories to many retro gamers. To many gamers in north America The third generation (sometimes referred to as the 8-bit era) began on October 18, 1985  with the release of  the Nintendo Entertainment System , and later in June of 1986 (about nine months  after the NES debut) the Sega Master System. This generation marked the end of the North American video game crash,

The NES was the first video game system for most gamers that were apart of  the system’s amazing 10 year run in the United States and still cherish it as their favorite console even in these current times.  the SMS had two years worth of a technological improvement on the NES despite coming out less than a year later in the United States and various people could see that its games had twice the colors on screen as any Nintendo game.

Time and time again to many gamers, the best graphics, sound, or weird sounding techno-babble doesnt always lead to the best or most successful system.

Both systems had their respective and adored franchises and although the NES did come out the victor in the end (NES selling approximately 62 million units world wide, while the SMS sold around 13 million) It was the quality entertainment that came from these two machines that was really important, because it showed that playing Nintendo or Sega was actually cool. Both giving it all they had, because that made Nintendo better  drove Sega to try harder with the true winners being the gamers playing those games.

I think that we could honestly due without the harmful “flaming” of someone for liking a system, taking sides choosing which was best to enjoy,  and just enjoy what each of these systems brought to us: Amazing gaming memories.

So, to honor both these amazing gaming systems, I am dedicating this STAGE of the retro VGM revival hour to honor the legacy of these amazing consoles.

1.) Bucky O’ Hare – Tomoko Sumiyama – “Red Planet” – January 1992 – KONAMI – NES

2.) The Flash – Jeroen Tel – “At Peace in the Park” -1993(Europe Only) – Probe Entertainment/SEGA – Sega Master System

3.) Wurm: Journey to the Center of the Earth – Dota Ando – “Title Screen / Cutscene Theme 2” – November 1991 – Cyclone System/Asmik Corporation – NES

4.) Astro Warrior – Unknown – “Asteroid Zone”- 1986 – SEGA – Sega Master System

5.) Metal Gear – Kazuki Muraoka – “Intruder Detected Theme 1” – June 1988 – KONAMI – NES

6.) Enduro Racer – Hiroshi Kawaguchi – “Race Theme 1 (BGM 1)” – 1987 – SEGA – Sega Master System

7.) Astyanax – Kiyoshi Yokoyama & Toshiko Tasaki – “Intro / Rounds 3-1 & 3-2” – March 1990 – Aicom/Jaleco – NES

8.) Alex Kidd in Shinobi World – Tokuhido Uwabo – “Kabuto” – 1990 – SEGA – Sega Master System

9.) Yo! Noid – Masakatsu Maekawa – “Stages 13 & 14” – November 1990 – Now Production/Capcom – NES

10.) Golvellius: Valley of Doom – Masatomo Miyamoto, Takeshi Santo, Shin‑kun & Pazu – “ First Cave“ – 1988 – Compile/SEGA – Sega Master System

11.) Rygar – Michiharu Hasuya – “Cave” – July, 1987 – Tecmo – NES

12.) Space Harrier– Hiroshi Kawaguchi – “Haya Oh“ – 1986 – SEGA – Sega Master System

13.) Shatterhand – Iku Mizutani & Hiroyuki Iwatsuki – “Area G: Missile Command“ -December 1991 – Natsume/Jaleco – NES

14.) Rocky – Unknown – “Fight” – 1987 – SEGA – Sega Master System

15.) Street Fighter 2010: The Final Fight – Junko Tamiya – “City Lights (Planet 1 – Area 3)“- September 1990 – Capcom – NES

16.) Wonder Boy – Ryuichi Nishizawa – “1st Round” – 1987 – SEGA – Sega Master System

17.) Startropics – Takashi Kumegawa & Yoshio Hirai – “Dungeon“ – December 1990 – Nintendo – NES

18.) Black Belt – Katsuhiro Hayashi – “Boss“ – November 1986 – SEGA – Sega Master System

19.) Target Renegade – Tim Follin – “Levels 1-3(Parking Garage)” – March 1990 – Software Creations/Taito – NES

20.) Quartet – Katsuhiro Hayashi – “Stage 2“ – April 1986 – SEGA – Sega Master System

21.) Wizards & Warriors – David Wise – “Title Screen / Ending” – December 1987 – Rare/Acclaim Entertainment – NES

22.) Rastan – Kazuyuki Onui – “Outside“ – 1988 – TAITO – Sega Master System

23.) Conquest of the Crystal Palace – Mitsuyasu Tomohisa (arranged by Masaharu Iwata) – “1st Stage(Mount Crystal)” – November 1990 – Quest Corporation/Asmik Corporation

24.) Phantasy Star – Tokuhiko Uwabo – “Title Screen“ – 1988 – SEGA – Sega Master System

25.) Shadow of the Ninja – Iku Mizutani & Kouichi Yamanishi – “2nd Stage(Underground Sewers)” – December 1990 – Natsume – NES

26.) Wonder Boy in Monster Land – Shinichi Sakamoto – “Main Theme“ – 1988 – SEGA – Sega Master System

27.) Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom – Hiroshi Miyazaki, Kaori Nakabai &
Rika Shigeno – “Stages 2-1 & 7-2” – August 1991 – Tecmo – NES

28.) Ys:The Vanished Omens – Mieko Ishikawa & Yuzo Koshiro – “Feena (opening Theme)” *Standard & FM Japanese version* – 1988 – Nihon Falcom – sega Master System

29.) Crystalis – Yoko Osaka – “Inner Mountains” – July 1990 – SNK – NES

30.) Ghost House – Unknown – “House” – 1986 – SEGA – Sega Master System

31.) Treasure Master – Tim Follin – “The Moon (world 2)” – December 1991 – Software Creations/American Softworks Corporation – NES