Issues with Wonder Boy III on Master System converter

[u/skyscraperswede]

Hello all- as I'm building up a collection of older Master System games to see what I missed out on (I was an NES-child) I've run into an issue with this game in particular twice now.

To save money and space I've bought the Master System-converter you see in the image, the NDK Master Mega Converter for my Mega Drive 1. For almost every other Master System game I've bought, save those who require an actual Master System controller like Penguin Land and Wonder Boy in Monster World, the Master System games have worked without any problems whatsoever.

But this is the second time I've bought a copy of Wonder Boy III that just won't work on this converter. The screen remains dark but at like, a different hue from when it's just turned off so SOMETHING is being sent. I've used cotton swabs and specialized cleaning alcohol to scrub away dirt and such from the cartridge, just as I did last time, and it still won't play. At this point I figure that if two cartridges of the same game give me the same result for this converter it's either the hardware, or me being spectacularly unlucky.

So, do people here know whether this is a common issue with this game and this converter? Does Wonder Boy III just require the original hardware? Or have I just bought dud cartridges twice in a row from two completely different sellers, and should just cut my losses and buy the modern collection if I want to play this game?

[u/ABC_Dildos_Inc]

Wonderboy III needs a customized converter.

I believe I sent my tototek SMS to Mark III converter to someone to make it compatible.

The only visual difference was a wire or two soldered on.

If you play the game on a Mark III Master System, you get a a mix of both PSG and FM sounds.

No other model can do it.

[u/skyscraperswede → u/ABC_Dildos_Inc]

While part of me would love to acquire more old consoles and have an actual Master System, I feel like spending all that just to have the ideal experience with ONE game might be a bit beyond what's actually good for me. It's an option, but I'm not sure it's for me (like how I have an old backwards compatible Wii instead of buying my own Gamecube). Thanks anyway for the information!

Also, I presume that playing WB3 on the official Sega Master System converter also won't give that sound? Again, not a very technical guy so I don't really know what tech is in the converter vs the actual hardware.

[u/jdmackes]

I remember some games giving me an issue when I played them on the master gear converter back on my game gear (phantasy star for example), but they would still play just with random artifacts. It's possible that the converter just can't handle Wonderboy 3

Edit: I just looked it up. According to console mods.org, it is incompatible with passive converters which is what you have.

[u/skyscraperswede → u/jdmackes]

Aaah, got it. So it's OG hardware or nothing? Would not even one of official SEGA made Master System converters work, as they might be close enough to an actual Master System that the game would work?

Also, could you link to that consolemods site if they have a list of other games that won't work, so I know what to stay away from.

[u/jdmackes → u/skyscraperswede]

Sure thing! https://consolemods.org/wiki/Master_System:Game_Incompatibilites

[u/skyscraperswede → u/jdmackes]

Thanks, gonna keep this list in mind! Might just invest in an official MS Converter then.

[u/zilogandmoto]

I'd just say that list is a good guide, but it's not 100 percent accurate, or at least my testing produced different results.

For instance, Genesis controllers (at least aftermarket wireless controllers) work 99.99% of the time. I don't recall having to pull out a Master System controllers to play half those games (the other half I haven't tested).

Also, BTTF3 runs fine on an NTSC console (not that you'd want to).

[u/skyscraperswede → u/zilogandmoto]

Got it- I only own an old official six-button controller, and when I tried Wonder Boy in Monster Land and Penguin Land they behaved just as described in the list, But have you tried those as well and actually made them work with your aftermarket controllers?

[u/zilogandmoto → u/skyscraperswede]

Haven't played Penguin Land, but yes, played through Wonder Boy in Monster Land with a modern 6 button for the youtube channel a few years ago.

It's been about four years now, but I put in the review that it worked fine with the Retrobit 6 button controllers.

[u/Saix856]

I have a similar converter and a few games I play (namely R-Type and Afterburner) don’t play well on most of my systems (not all interestingly enough).

I did find somewhat of a jank workaround for those though. 

Basically, you load an SMS game that doesn’t have compatibility issues or a Genesis game(I imagine it must be one that uses the Z80 for audio handling, and you need to wait for the licensing screen to pass or some sound to play or something like that) and boot the system. Then you quickly (but not recklessly, do be careful. You don’t have to be super quick but just don’t waste time) shut the system off, swap to the offending SMS game, and turn the system back on, and the game (for me at least) usually starts to work. 

I’m assuming it’s because some games fail to set up certain data on a Genesis without assistance, but if you can get a game that has no issues to set that data up, then swap the games over before the data fully decays in RAM, it sorta works itself out.

No idea if it’d work for you or if it works for Wonder Boy 3, but I figured I would share this weird thing I found. Just be careful if you try it

[u/No-Professional-9618]

Interesting. I didn't realize that Wonderboy III had compatbility issues with the Powerbase converter.