Game Gear Worth Owning?

[RegSNES]

A few months ago, one of my friends gave me his old Game Gear because he wasn't using it. It came with the charger, AC Adapter and a few games. I'm grateful for the gift but I'm also wondering if there's a reason I should hang on to it. I never planned to own a Game Gear and I don't know if a lot of worth while games are even on the system. I loved Halley Wars when I was a kid and I know where I can get a copy for $11.90 but outside of that and the Sonic games, I don't know if I should look into building a library for the Game Gear.

[Technosis]

I have several Game Gear systems picked up for pocket change at garage sales. Of all of the popular portable systems I probably like it least. It's just my personal opinion though, but I find many games to be too blurry, or the games themselves are watered down versions of Genesis titles. That said I do have some extra Game Gear titles such as Sonic Chaos, Wrestlemania Steel Cage Challenge for trade. If anyone wants them PM me.

[Steve W]

I've got a couple of Game Gears, and I never really cared for them. The low refresh rate of the screen is one reason, and the second is that I could never find any games that really interested me. I've bought a lot of GG carts since then, but I can't muster the enthusiasm to play them and see if they're any good. Just something about the machine that doesn't feel 'fun' to me.

[madman77]

I agree, the Game Gear just isn't that great of a system. I've got one somewhere, but the only game I remember really liking was the Battle Toads game.

[Goodwill Hunter]

If you are at all a fan of the Shining Force series on the Genesis, the Shining Force game for the Game Gear alone makes the system worth owning. Pengo is a close second for me, but beyond those two I rarely play any other titles. Unfortunately, the crap far outweighs the quality when it comes to the Game Gear library.

Rich

[Arcade Antics]

I'm grateful for the gift but I'm also wondering if there's a reason I should hang on to it. I never planned to own a Game Gear
Sounds like you don't want to keep it then.


and I don't know if a lot of worth while games are even on the system.
I think there are many good games for it, but YMMV. :)


I loved Halley Wars when I was a kid and I know where I can get a copy for $11.90
Ouch. I'd recommend not spending more than $4 on Halley Wars, it's super common.


but outside of that and the Sonic games, I don't know if I should look into building a library for the Game Gear.
ProTip: Check over the library of games and see if what's there appeals to you as a player. If it doesn't, put the GG in the trade pile. :)

[ecresto]

i picked up one too , have about 7 games . i use to play it back in the day when the system screen looked good , but dont really play it now a days . i just dont like to get rid of my game stuff unless i have doubles of stuff .

[theshizzle3000]

Hell I would recommend keeping it but if you are deciding to let it go then good luck with it.

[Snapple]

I enjoyed my Game Gear, but I don't think it works anymore. I had Sonic: Triple Trouble, Mega Man, Ecco, Ren and Stimpy, and some other stuff.

Tails Adventure works pretty well for the Game Gear, because it's at a slower pace, like a Mario game, and so you don't have any blur problem. Still, I like the Sonic games for the system, with the exception of Sonic Spinball, which is even worse than the Genesis version.

I've heard good things about the Shining Force GG games, although I haven't played them myself.

The library lacks a lot of (or any) "must have" titles, but I think there are enough decent games for it that I don't regret owning the system.

[RegSNES]

Sounds like the original Game Boy games hold up much better than the titles on Game Gear. If I were to trade in my Game Gear and the 5 games that were given to me with it, I know I wouldn't even get much store credit. And Halley Wars for $4? I'm so glad I didn't buy a copy for $11.90.

[Blitzwing256]

It is a weak system, to be frank you coudnlt get much money for it at all as a trade in or even trading with someone.

the system did not age well but did have some fun games strewn about.
the few I enjoyed included:

defenders of oasis:
fairly standard rpg, semi-rare fun arabian theme a good game to play

shining force
mmm awesome, only one was released in english but the japakahuchi versions are just as easy to play without japanese knowledge, highly recomended if you like strat games.

battletoads
Battletoads was a decent port and was actually playable compared to the nes version

magic knight rayearth 1&2
jap only, fun if you like that sorta thing

puzzle bobble
done on every system but fun to play

collums
see puzzlebobble.

streets of rage 2
not nearly as good as the genesis version but still a fun little beatemup on the go.


one other thing you might want to consider is you can get a converter to play sms games on the gg, so that adds a few hundred good to mediocre games to the libarary. (phantasy star, ghouls and ghosts etc etc)

i'd suggest keeping it if you can find those games cheap, the converter will cost you a grand total of like 6$ on egay.

[djsquarewave]

I personally think Sonic Labyrinth is an ace title, though I wouldn't be surprised if nobody agreed with me. I recently picked up a Game Gear along with Sonic Triple Trouble and Gunstar Heroes. I like Triple Trouble more than Sonic 2, and Gunstar is an ace conversion hindered by the GG's really rather crap screen.

I hate to even imagine what the Panzer Dragoon conversion looks like. :puke:

[bangtango]

Sounds like the original Game Boy games hold up much better than the titles on Game Gear. If I were to trade in my Game Gear and the 5 games that were given to me with it, I know I wouldn't even get much store credit. And Halley Wars for $4? I'm so glad I didn't buy a copy for $11.90.

About the Game Gear:

The majority of the games stink. Let's get that right out of the way. However, the same could be said about the game libraries of the Atari Jaguar, the Sega 32X or the 3DO. Most people don't pass up the opportunity to get one of those systems and they are higher priced than the Game Gear.

You'll get hardly anything for it on the forums here or on Ebay. Pretty much everyone who would actually want the Game Gear already has it. Most of the people who own one aren't actively looking for it. The Game Gear just doesn't have a high demand. Store credit will be virtually nil, since any clerk you talk to will say they will never sell it. As for trade value, you'll be hard pressed to find someone who will trade you ANY of the Game Boy models for it (including the original gray brick version).

Why not tell us what types of games you like to play and what you would pick up if you were choosing games for the Master System or Genesis? Maybe then you'd get a more solid answer.

You should hold onto it. If you go through 20-30 Game Gear games between now and the next year or two, you should be able to find at least 1-2 games which will be worth keeping the system for.

I guess the big problem with the games that are good is the stripped down feeling which taints the experience. Road Rash is "good" on Game Gear but it is like playing a demo or watered down version. Streets of Rage (series) is "good" on the Game Gear but when you see how small the characters are...........

[ghostangelofcky]

I had one win I was a kid, and still do. I still like it but I can agree with most of the members here it's kind of a weak handheld in comparison to others.

On the other hand if you get the Master Gear Converter for the SMS titles it's a lot more fun to use.

Also it does have some pretty neat hardware variants like the Kid's Gear systems.

http://www.smspower.org/misc/kidsgear.jpg

[7th lutz]

There are good games for the system, if they are like sms versions of the games for game Gear. I don't a lot of games for the system, so I can't recommand them due to the fact you own the sonic games.

If you own a sms game console, make sure you don't buy the game version of sms games you already own.

Some the good game gear games were released as sms games before hand like Wonder boy 3, fantasy Zone to name a couple of games. I do recommend buying a sms convertor called Master gear. The sms in the states has some great games like Phatasy Star, Fantasy zone, R-type, Wonderboy 3: Dragon's trap, Golvellius: valley of Doom, King's Quest, Rastan, and outrun. Getting a sms convertor will add great games to play on your game Gear.

[RegSNES]

I had one win I was a kid, and still do. I still like it but I can agree with most of the members here it's kind of a weak handheld in comparison to others.

On the other hand if you get the Master Gear Converter for the SMS titles it's a lot more fun to use.

Also it does have some pretty neat hardware variants like the Kid's Gear systems.

http://www.smspower.org/misc/kidsgear.jpg

Nice!

The more I read here and the more I think about it, I just can't see much a reason to hang on to the system. However, since I know I won't get much at all for it, I don't see the point of trading it in or selling it.

I just got done playing Sonic The Hedgehog on it and that game is still a lot of fun. I even remembered where the first Chaos Emerald is.

[cyberfluxor]

That Kid's Gear looks freaking great!

I love my Game Gear, it was my first game system that was mine and mine alone. I wanted one for over a year before I ever got it and I was nuts over it. Sure, it doesn't look as great now but some of the games on that system, freaking gold. Once you get use to it you're good to go. :)

[j_factor]

The problem with Game Gear is that too many of its games are ports. Back in the day, watered down portable versions of Mortal Kombat and Streets of Rage were more appealing than they are now. However, the Master System ports were usually not watered down, so if you don't have a Master System, there's some good stuff in that area. And a few of the Genesis ports are quite impressive, particularly Dynamite Headdy, Ristar, and Gunstar Heroes.

Anyway, it does have some great games of its own, like GG Shinobi, Ninja Gaiden (not a port), Halley Wars, Ax Battler, Defenders of Oasis, Arena, Sonic Triple Trouble, Tails Adventure, Super Columns, etc. Just not tons of them.

[fishsandwich]

I've got dozens and dozens of GG games. Never play the actual system... too heavy, too hungry for batteries, shitty screen.

The games themselves aren't bad... some of them are quite cool. I play them all the time on the N-Gage and I'm trying to get them to work on the GBA with a flashcart. A smaller size and a better screen plus more battery life make a world of differance.


Some good ones...

Aleste
Aleste II
Fantastic Dizzy
Galaga ’91
Griffin
Gunstar Heroes
Mappy
Power Strike II
Puyo Puyo
Puyo Puyo 2
Shining Force: The Sword of Haja
Skweek
Aladdin
Beavis & Butthead
Chicago Syndicate
Crystal Warriors
Defenders of Oasis
Ecco the Dolphin
Factory Panic
Micro Machines
Poker Face Paul’s Gin
Ristar
Aerial Assault
Alien Syndrome
Arena Maze of Death
Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Ax
Baku Baku
Battletoads
Bubble Bobble
Bust-A-Move
Drop Zone
Dynamite Headdy
Fantasy Zone
Halley Wars
Man Overboard
MegaMan
Pengo
Tempo Jr.
Vampire: Master of Darkness

[Iron Draggon]

well if you loved Halley Wars, then you gotta check out Aerial Assault also... it's a horizontal scroller, but I think it's on the same level with Halley Wars

[NinjaJoey23]

I used to have one when I was younger. I remember liking Road Rash, and also an X-Men game. I found my old GG recently, but the sound was out. Isn't this a frequent problem?

[Zadoc]

A few months ago, one of my friends gave me his old Game Gear because he wasn't using it. It came with the charger, AC Adapter and a few games. I'm grateful for the gift but I'm also wondering if there's a reason I should hang on to it. I never planned to own a Game Gear and I don't know if a lot of worth while games are even on the system. I loved Halley Wars when I was a kid and I know where I can get a copy for $11.90 but outside of that and the Sonic games, I don't know if I should look into building a library for the Game Gear.

Well, the Sonic games are certianly a great start!

There are a few real jems for the Game Gear, in my opinion - again, this is just me. :)

Shining Force: Sword of Hajya - This game is in the same franchise as Shining Force I and II on the Genesis, and it features a comprehensive SRPG (S=strategy) combat system, and a pretty good story to boot!

Defenders of Oasis - To me, the Genesis' "Beyond Oasis" is amung the greatest of the great action RPGs. "Defenders" does the original justice on a portable scale!

Ax Battler: The Legend of Golden Axe - "What you say!?!?" To quote "Zero Wing," Ax Battler is a bonafied Golden Axe action RPG. The novality alone, along with the fun gameplay, makes this a true and unique gem for any Game Gear collection!

[CosmicMonkey]

GG Shinobi FTW!

Loved that game when I was younger, along with Castle of Illusion.

Didn't know there were ports of Samurai Spirits and Garou Densetsu Special till recently though. Apparently they're pretty good too.

[PallarAndersVisa]

worst portable system I've ever owned. I wonder what even happened to it.

[Snapple]

worst portable system I've ever owned. I wonder what even happened to it.

Sega dropped support for it, just like every system they made that became less popular than expected.

[Daria]

Defenders of Oasis - To me, the Genesis' "Beyond Oasis" is amung the greatest of the great action RPGs. "Defenders" does the original justice on a portable scale!

Defenders of Oasis and Beyond Oasis are unrelated. But both are still great games.

[djsquarewave]

I've seen a couple people mention Dynamite Headdy. I have to say that there's something about that conversion that really puts me off. It just feels cheap in a way that other MD conversions usually avoid. I'd still play it over Quest for the Shaven Yak, but that ain't sayin' much.

I just remembered I had Pinball Dreams for the thing back in the day. I do recall playing that nigh-endlessly, but I've already said I liked Sonic Labyrinth so take that with a grain of salt.

[Virtualogik]

I have around 80 games for the game gear... but I have to confess.. I can't play it more than 5-10 minutes.. that screen! HUGH.. gives me headaches...

I saw a hack once to plug the game gear to a TV set... now if only these kinds of mods were popular enough so someone around here who know what they're doing could start making them.. it could revive the game gear a bit ;)