I studied the ’Blades: Thunder Blade & Blade Eagle 3-D | Segaiden 064

This episode brings us two brave attempts by the Master System development cadre to create visually spectacular gaming experiences despite the fact that the console just didn't have enough juice under the hood to realize those aspirations. Sega promised arcade-quality experiences at home, but the gulf between their arcade tech and the Master System's aging architecture has really begun to make itself felt at this point. To their credit, the unnamed and uncredited programmers and designers laboring to create the Master System library give it their best shot here! They change up some fundamental elements of Thunder Blade to better fit the console space, adding new patterns and behaviors for enemies while redefining the basic scroll behavior of the action. I don't know that those revisions work, but you can at least respect the effort. And Blade Eagle 3-D... well, it's a 3-D game. But did it NEED to be 3-D? Out of all the 3-D "SuperScope" games, this one probably could have used a hidden 2-D mode most of all... but it lacks one. As the Roblox kids say, oof. Production notes: Why watch when you can read? All 420 full-color pages of SG-1000 Works: Segaiden Vol. I are now in print at Limited Run Games (https://limitedrungames.com/collections/books). You can also grab the massive hardcover print editions of NES Works, Super NES Works, and Virtual Boy works as well. Look for NES Works Gaiden Vol. I and Master System Works Vol. I in 2024-25. Video Works is funded via Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/gamespite) — support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its YouTube debut! Plus, exclusive podcasts, eBooks, and more! Master System footage captured from U.S. carts running through a cart adapter on Japanese Master System hardware and MiSTer (thanks to MiSTerAddOns). Video upscaled to 4K with RetroTink 4K. RGB cables courtesy of StoneAgeGamer.com and Allie Bellrose.