A 16-bit console released by NEC Corporation in 1990 that sold 10 million worldwide. It sold better than 32-bit 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (10 million), and 16-bit Neo Geo and 32-bit Atari Jaguar (250,000). It sold only 2.5 million in USA and is an entry level collector's item. The best selling game was Bonk's Adventure which spawned 2 sequels and weren't great. The good games on the system were all SHMUPs like Blazing Lasers, and R-Type. The reason why it looked inferior to Sega Genesis was the 8-bit CPU. It was the first console to use CD format in 1991. CD games include WonderBoy III (platformer), Ys I and II (JRPG) and Street Fighter. Legendary Axe 1/2 were an Alter Beast clones. Neutopia I/II were Zelda NES clones.

* CPU: 8-bit Zilog Z80A
o 3.546893 MHz for PAL/SECAM, 3.579545 MHz for NTSC
* Graphics: VDP (Video Display Processor) derived from Texas Instruments TMS9918
o Up to 32 simultaneous colors available (one 16-color palette for sprites or background, an additional 16-color palette for background only) from a palette of 64 (can also show 64 simultaneous colors using programming tricks)
o Screen resolutions 256×192 and 256×224. PAL/SECAM also supports 256×240
o 8×8 pixel characters, max 463 (due to VRAM space limitation)
o 8×8 or 8×16 pixel sprites, max 64
o Horizontal, vertical, and partial screen scrolling
* Sound (PSG): Texas Instruments SN76489
o 4 channel mono sound (3 Square Waves, 1 White Noise)
o 3 tone generators, 10 octaves each, 1 white noise generator
* Sound (FM): Yamaha YM2413
o mono FM synthesis
o switchable between 9 tone channels or 6 tone channels + 5 percussion channels
o Included as built-in "accessory" with Japanese Master System (1987)
o supported by certain games only
* Boot ROM: 64 kbit (8 KB) to 2048 kbit (256 KB), depending on built-in game
* Main RAM: 64 kbit (8 KB), can be supplemented by game cartridges
* Video RAM: 128 kbit (16 KB)
* Game Card slot (not available in the Master System II)
* Game Cartridge slot (not included on newer Brazilian models, as these have built-in games)
o Japanese and South Korean consoles use vertical shaped 44-pin cartridges, the same shape as SG-1000 and Mark II
o All other consoles use 50-pin cartridges6 with a horizontal shape
o The difference in cartridge style is a form of regional lockout
* Expansion slot
o Unused, pinout compatible with 50-pin cartridges (but opposite gender) in all regions

The successor was the 32-bit PC-FX and had a ton of adult hentai and anime dating sims on it. Things American culture aren't supposed to like.