In October 1988 Sega released their third home console in Japan. The follow-up to the Master System it was a full on 16-Bit games console designed to bring the numerous games from their arcade division into people's homes.

 

An enourmous step up in both graphics and sound it transformed the videogame landscape from a Nintendo dominated arena, especially in North America where shortly after release there in 1989 it destroyed the house of Mario's total dominance, kickstarting the best battle of the Golden Era war.

 

In 1990 Virgin mastertronic released the system in Europe and Brazil also got their hands on the system that one day would bring a Blue Hedgehog into everyone's home.