The second most popular portable gaming unit.
Written: Aug 21 '02 (Updated Sep 29 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Japanese and other import games will work on a North American Game Gear.
Cons: The size of the thing, and the 6 AA batteries don't last for long either.
The Bottom Line: Some of the games are fun but most of the great GGtitles are already on the GBA.
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| StarSoldier1's Full Review: Sega Game Gear |
SEGA GAME GEAR (1990-1997)
Sega said "Me too!" Sega wanted in on the new portable gaming market like Nintendo (Gameboy of course) and Atari (the Lynx) were in during the early 90's and here we have their Game Gear. Sega made it easy for themselves by using their Sega Master system http://www.epinions.com/content_53761314436 engine for their Game Gear portable machine (which would explain all the 8-bit remakes) and thus the 8-bit Colour portable system was born.
There were over 200 games created for the Game Gear and you even play some of the import games like Phantasy Star Gaiden (but the text will remind in Japanese regardless) and Mappy on a North American unit too. If you ever get bored with the games than you can get the Sega TV Tuner to watch some limited channels on the go or if you get the Master Converter to play the Sega Master System cartridge games and I know that your Gameboy can't do that.
A lot of the GG games looked way better than their rival black and white Gameboy counterparts, for example just look at games like Mortal Kombat, Mega Man, and Pac Man on the Game Gear compared to their Gameboy games counterparts. Times have changed though because some of the newer Gameboy Color titles and definitely the latest Gameboy Advance titles greatly surpass the old Game Gear technology. I'm also not a big fan of the Sega Master System's sound and the same goes for the Game Gear's poor audio, thankfully there is a adjustment switch to turn the music down.
Another problem with the Game Gear is its very bulky size (like the Atari Lynx, it's 4 times the size of a Gameboy Advance) http://www.epinions.com/content_63139122820 that can not fit into most normal pockets. The Game Gear also takes a whopping 6 AA batteries and it can really eat away in only 3 to 4 hours of playing. This is what really holds back Sega's portable machine from making any kind of comeback today.
COOL GG TOYS
TV Tuner
The TV Tuner fits into the cartridge slot and it turns your Sega Game Gear into a mini portable TV. A very rare device because it didn't sell too well so it is most likely not gonna go cheap. Only the Game Gear and the Turbo Express have TV Tuners and there is no such feature for any of the Gameboys.
Master Converter
This cool device lets you play your Sega Master System game cartridges on the Game Gear. There is even a extra port for a additional controller for two player action. Finally greats like Phantasy Star, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, and others can be played on the go. Again this is a very rare device because it didn't sell too well so it is most likely not gonna go too cheap.
StarSoldier's Top Ten Game Gear games:
(SHINING FORCE, SHINING FORCE!)
#1. SHINING FORCE: The Sword of HAYJA
This series is soo underrated! I loved it why doesn't everybody else? This Strategy/RPG has a excellent story from beginning to right to the end plus you also get the excellent classic Shining Force gameplay as well. Build your party and capture the sword of Hayja, in hopes of saving the land of Cypress. Shining Force is a superior game.
2. MEGA MAN
This game has parts of the NES games Mega Man 4, 5, and 2. It's a little on short side with only 7 levels but there are no continues which makes this one hard game. Password save feature included. This is a very rare game because it was one of the last Game Gear games released.
3. BUBBLE BOBBLE
This game is almost just like the cool arcade platform from 1985 complete with the over 100 levels and even as the option for two player action. Help the two cursed dinos Bob and Bub rescue their girlfriends and return back to human original form but it won't be easy because each screen is filled with crafty enemies like robots, ghosts, and springers. Bob and Bub can fight their enemies by trapping them in self made bubbles and then burst em while they're captured but you better be quick though or they will break free eventually plus you also have to worry about your time too or a annoying white ghost will try to hunt you down he will get you if you do not get rid of the remanding bad guys.
4. DR. ROBOTNIX's Mean Bean
It's a portable Puyo Puyo game for all you Japanese gamers. The game is easy to enough learn for any player as you match cute looking coloured blobs to score points in chain combos and winning of course against your current opponent. This is a perfect game for the Game Gear!
5. BUST A MOVE
If anybody remembers the Super Nintendo or 3DO versions of Bust A Move then the Game Gear version should look very familiar. The game is famous for being part shooter and part puzzle game with 100 levels, Vs. mode, Endless option, and more. If Columns disappointed you then maybe this will be up you alley instead.
6. SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
An impressive remake for the Game Gear with new levels not found in the award winning Genesis version. Sure the graphics and sounds are not as good as the 16-bit brother but it still plays very well and that's most important.
7. WONDER BOY III The Dragon's Trap
This great Sega Master system game also comes to the Gamegear thankfully. Help the Wonder Boy find a cure for a animal curse but only the Dragon's have been known to have the fix. Five worlds, five forms, excellent adventure/RPG action!
8. SHINOBI
It's good the way the game builds up level after level. Help the Shinobi rescue four other captured ninjas who are then playable with different abilities. I also like the clean graphics and the some of the music too which even from the hit Revenge of Shinobi for the Genesis at times. The game is worth picking up for a challenge too.
9. SUPER COLUMNS
Better than the first one thanks to the more better control of the falling pieces. Again another great example of a puzzle game for the Game Gear but why didn't we get this type of game first?
10. STAR WARS
Not bad, not too bad at all. This kind of plays like the SNES versions of Star Wars and it even follows the movie closely has you start out as Princess Lea and then move on to the other characters like Luke Skywalker.
Most Disappointing:
SONIC DRIFT 2
This is a really hard on the eyes 3D racing game that copies, you guessed it, Mario Kart. A 8-bit system should not have a 3D kart racer on it and I think I know why there was no Sonic Drift 1 to the US.
Runner Up: Columns
Columns was suppose to be Sega's answer to Nintendo Tetris but nobody really liked it. The objective of the game is to guide falling jewels and then match up a roll of three coloured gems to make em disappear. Good but very unexciting with a series lack of game modes. This puzzle game packed in with the original Game Gear's so hopefully you can find one with a system or just dirt cheap.
The Worst:
YU YU FIGHTERS
This is a stupid punch out style game featuring a limited set of anime style characters. Stay far away from this!
Runner Up: Nikki
I don't get it and I don't like it. Help a penguin push around eggs and blocks in this boring overhead puzzle game.
Most Underrated:
DR. ROBOTNIK's Mean Bean
Puyo Puyo doesn't get the respect it deserves.
Runner Up: Virtua Fighter Animation
Actually better than the horrible Sega Genesis of Virtua Fighter 2 but than again what isn't?! This portable version features cutscenes from the original Virtua Fighter Anime series in the story mode. The controls are a little stiff but the graphics were fairly impressive despite the lace of 3D polygons of course.
Bottomline: Unfortunately the Game Gear lost it's support when Sega decided to focused their efforts on the ill fated Sega Saturn......... which is too bad, because it could of lasted a lot longer I think, much like the Gameboy did. Sega should have tried to remake the bulky Game Gear like Nintendo did when they released the smaller and clearer Gameboy Pocket in 1997 instead of just letting their system die off. Think of the Sega Game Gear as a bigger version of the Gameboy Color. Be sure to look out for the new Game Gear's by Masjesto sold in certain stores and some Toys r us franchises.
GAME GEAR overall rating: 64/100 It's good but it lacks Puzzle games and RPG's compared to the Gameboy's strong line up.
StarSoldier1 2002 (Ryan Genno)
http://www.videogames101.com
Recommended:
Yes
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