Sega Master System Hang-On Review

So here is my 4th Master System arcade Conversion review, if you prefer the written medium then my written review is below the video 

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ang-On was an arcade racing game released by Sega in the arcades in 1985 in which you control a motor bike racing against computer-controlled bikes. It was one of the first arcade games to use 16-bit graphics and uses the Super Scaler arcade system board, The deluxe cabinet version also introduced a motion-controlled arcade cabinet, where the player's body movement on a large motorbike corresponds with the player character's movements on screen. Hang-On started the trend of motion simulator games in the late 1980s, which Sega followed up with Space Harrier, Out Run (1986) and After Burner all of which I have already reviewed. The introduction of these interesting cabinets helped the arcade video game market grow during the late 1980s. Hang-On has been recognized as a well-remembered and influential arcade game. Several sequels were later made for arcades, as well as video game consoles. Every time I jump on a Arcade Machine with a bike I cant help but think of this game, not long ago I was on holiday and I played a few Bike related arcade machines including Super Bikes 3 and Moto GP and for a brief time it transported me back to my youth playing Hang-On.

Yu Suzuki began development of Hang-On after deciding to design a motorcycle racing game as a way to use a torsion bar in an arcade game, however in the end this particular item wasn't actually used in the game cabinet. Market research was conducted and the results suggested that GP 500 racing was popular and so this is what the game was based upon despite the fact Suzuki originally wanted to go with Dirt Biking an idea he would later return to.

Hang-On was very popular it was the highest-grossing arcade game of 1986 in both Japan and the United States. It received an overwhelmingly positive critical reception with people being impressed by its realism, its graphics, and the cabinet, it was just amazing at the time controlling the bike on screen by riding the model bike attached to the arcade machine., Apparently there was some initial controversy in Japan over modesty concerns involving female players with the bike cabinet.

OK So now lets talk about the Master System conversion obviously the graphics have been scaled down to meet the capabilitys of the machine, but it is instantly recognizable as being Hang-On. The music provided on the title screen is really good, but unfortunately it's the only music you'll hear in this game. Once you start playing the game you wont hear any music all you are going to hear is sounds of the motorcycle revving, and your tires screeching, I have never been a fan of this sort of sound choice for games,. Ideally I would like music with engine noises and tire screeches lower in volume just there in the background but if that's not possible due to memory constraints or something id sooner have a basic tune and not bother with engine noises and screeching tires if I cant have both.

So the objective of the game is to avoid the other bikers and race against the clock making sure to hit five checkpoints and then reach the finish line. 60 seconds are available per section, although any remaining time is automatically added to your total time once you pass a checkpoint.

The controls are simple Button 2 is the accelerator, Button 1 is the brakes, the d-pad Up/Down directions are used for changing between the three gears and left and right are used to control your bike. It was a long time since I had played this port and when I first started to play it I was going all over the shop, constantly coming of the bike not making it to any check points and on the verge of turning the air blue. After some practice though the game just seemed to click, basically you have to learn to properly manage your gear changes and I would also add you need to learn to ignore the break, what I found myself doing was letting go of the accelerator and then taping it while going round corners or trying to swerve and then putting my finger back on it when on clear straight road, this kept the sliding to a minimal and made sure I stayed on the road and helped me avoid other bikes. Soon using this method I was hitting checkpoints, over taking bikes and beginning to enjoy the game

I think that Hang-On on the Master System is a good conversion, obviously its not quiet up the standards set by the Arcade Version but I think it is a good representation of what this little machine can handle and it provides something that is in the spirit of its bigger arcade brother, I do think you need to bear with it a little and get through some teething pains to get the most out of the game. I would score this game 7 out of 10.

If you want a cart of it, well when I looked around online you were looking at about the £10 mark, at the experience of giving away what a future project might be I would Recommend you grab Mega Games 1 a multi game cart that includes the Mega Drive game Super Hang On as this can be grabbed for around the £3 mark online and includes not only a version of Hang On but 2 other games for far less than this will cost you.