For the purposes of this review I have used the iPad version of this book, but it needs to be noted that there are also Kindle and printed versions to be purchased, although the iPad version has the added benefit of gameplay videos which we will come to shortly.
The author Derek Slaton approached me with a view to doing a review of the first in this series of Master System Encyclopedias and I jumped at the chance with the SMS being one of my favourite gaming systems. I have fond memories playing the ubiquitous Alex Kidd in Miracle World (built into my version of SMS II) and playing Operation Wolf with the Sega Light Phaser when I should have been revising for exams. And although I originally didn’t own the system for long (upgrading to a MegaDrive a year later) I realise how important this system is in Sega’s timeline.
Hence the importance of a Master System Encyclopedia which would hopefully, and in the author’s words; “be the definitive publication on the system”. He also states that this encyclopedia is about keeping the memory of these games alive for future gaming generations, a sentiment that I am in total agreement with.
First impressions do last
Unfortunately my first impressions were not great. Before delving deeper into the content of the book, I must state that the presentation of this iBook leaves much to be desired. The front cover is uninspiring, the pages are plain white and bland looking and do nothing to make anyone but those specifically interested in the subject want to look further.
The descriptive text of each game is OK, but again I personally felt a little disappointed in the lack of content. Most games are covered by 3-4 pages, which consist of a description of how the game plays, a set of screen shots (scrollable) and a video (playable on the iPad). The playable video is a great feature as are the scrollable screenshots but I was left wanting to see some extras, maybe full shots of the packaging – front back and booklet, a poster or two, you know – the extras that usually accompany such a digital download nowadays.
Also, Volume 1 of the Master System Encyclopedia only covers 29 games from Action Fighter to F16 Fighting Falcon. With the printed version at $25 and the downloads at $4.99 and another 3 volumes to come this is going to work out expensive.
In Summary
I wanted to like this, I really did. But with its price and dull appearance it only comes down to the content to save this book. And in truth, the content is fine, nothing special but it gives a decent overview of the gameplay in each game and if that’s all you want then it would suffice. But unfortunately for the price I would expect more and its the lack of work on the presentation, lack of the extras I expect from such publications and the fact that is is only the first volume in a series that let it down.
Links
The Videogame Archeologist – http://www.thevgatv.com/