I purchased Golden Axe Warrior and Strider for the Sega Master System which both came shrinkwrapped. They are US releases (you can tell from the UPC sticker). From what I know, games like these that were European and released in the US were identical except for the UPC sticker, and did not have the shrink wrap as my games have.
All European SMS games were sold new unwrapped with the Sega sticker sealing the cart on case's right opening. Was this the same with the US release of SMS games that were a direct port of European games?
The game's shrinkwrap is in poor quality with seams on three sides and does not have the open oval opening at the top that is so typical of new US SMS games.
My guess is they are new because the Sega seal is not broken, but the shrinkwrap was put on later to give them more of a collectible value. Opinions?