Any love for the Sega Game Gear?

[otaku]

I have fond memories of the game gear used to play a friend's back in jr high he had the ac adapter for it of course lol. I was more impressed by it than gb because of the color etc.

I don't recall owning one as of yet have nearly bought one a few times. In some ways I'd rather get a nomad first having never tried one of those

[ZP3]

I found Ninja Gaiden for $4 today on the game gear. Was this a good buy? Seems like a good game so far, but it does seem to get a lot of hate...

[recorderdude]

I found Ninja Gaiden for $4 today on the game gear. Was this a good buy? Seems like a good game so far, but it does seem to get a lot of hate...

That's a good deal for GG Ninja Gaiden. The main reason people don't like it so much is that it's completely different from both the NES and SMS versions, and not really as memorable, albeit not bad per se.

Shinobi is THE game gear ninja game, though.

[ZP3]

That's a good deal for GG Ninja Gaiden. The main reason people don't like it so much is that it's completely different from both the NES and SMS versions, and not really as memorable, albeit not bad per se.

Shinobi is THE game gear ninja game, though.

I've heard that the Shinobis are great games, what sets them apart from Ninja Gaiden?

[Polygon]

Wasn't the Game Gear version a port of the arcade like the Lynx version?

[Az]

Nope, the GG Ninja Gaiden is a totally original thing. It's kind of similar to the NES games (running, slashing, ninja magic) but different enough to make it a unique version. I personally liked it, but I can see why people expecting the NES game dismissed it.

As for Shinobi in comparison to Ninja Gaiden, they really have nothing in common other than dealing with ninjas.

[Polygon]

Nope, the GG Ninja Gaiden is a totally original thing. It's kind of similar to the NES games (running, slashing, ninja magic) but different enough to make it a unique version. I personally liked it, but I can see why people expecting the NES game dismissed it.

As for Shinobi in comparison to Ninja Gaiden, they really have nothing in common other than dealing with ninjas.

Hmm... I'll have to check it out then.

[Sabz5150]

Anyone who likes the GameGear owes it to themselves to get a Master System and see where Sega got almost all of the worthwhile GameGear games from. Sure, there are a bunch of GG exclusives, but by and large the majority of the best GameGear games are also on Master System and almost always better on Master System.

Better yet, buy a Master Gear converter and take the Master System on the go. I got my first Game Gear way back before the dinosaurs died off for that single reason. I had almost zero interest in the Game Gear's native library and instead hunted down all the SMS games I could find. If you could deal with the tiny text (Monopoly? Shanghai? HA!), you were able to build yourself a serious portable library. By the time I got my hands on an actual Master System, I had a decent collection of games.

My recommendations for Master Gear games:

R-Type
Phantasy Star
Miracle Warriors
After Burner
Galaxy Force
Golden Axe
Columns
Outrun
Ys

All of these have text that is easy to read on the GG's screen and make for hours of battery slaughtering fun

[ZP3]

Better yet, buy a Master Gear converter and take the Master System on the go. I got my first Game Gear way back before the dinosaurs died off for that single reason. I had almost zero interest in the Game Gear's native library and instead hunted down all the SMS games I could find. If you could deal with the tiny text (Monopoly? Shanghai? HA!), you were able to build yourself a serious portable library. By the time I got my hands on an actual Master System, I had a decent collection of games.

My recommendations for Master Gear games:

R-Type
Phantasy Star
Miracle Warriors
After Burner
Galaxy Force
Golden Axe
Columns
Outrun
Ys

All of these have text that is easy to read on the GG's screen and make for hours of battery slaughtering fun

I have heard great things about the Phantasy Star games, but have never played them. Are they a typical JRPG series?

[recorderdude]

I've heard that the Shinobis are great games, what sets them apart from Ninja Gaiden?

Shinobi is notable for having a ton of COMPLETELY different series in of itself; arcade shinobi games, rrevenge-style shinobi games, and the game-gear teamwork shinobi games. the Genesis games have one arcade-style game and two that go a more standard side-scrolling fare with limited (though plentiful) shuriken and a plethora of moves. The Game Gear games are a combination of power rangers and megaman; you choose a stage starting with the most basic ninja, and free four others, each with special abilities. One throws bombs, one has a spinning cross attack sort of like the one in castlevania but more versatile, one that shoots lightning, hell, you can even free a ninja that has the exact same abilities as in revenge of shinobi for the genesis! (btw, all weapons are unlimited use). You find upgrades for your life bar among other powerup items, and you'll need them because these games are HARD, especially part 1. Given the fact that they play REALLY well and they're some of the only killer GG exclusives outside of sonics, a LOT of people really enjoyed them.

Also, since they're WAY slower paced than the sonics, it's much easier to keep up with them on the GG's blurry screen.

I have heard great things about the Phantasy Star games, but have never played them. Are they a typical JRPG series?

I only own II for the genesis myself, but #1 gets a shiton of praise and I can see why. It's very much ahead of its time in graphics and story. Some even claim it's their favorite JRPG of all time.

I believe Phantasy Star was the first JRPG series set in the distant future *to come to america*, but I may be wrong.

[ProjectCamaro]

I had a Game Boy growing up and loved it to death but I had an uncle who had a Game Gear and whenever he brought it out the Game Boy's all went away because the Game Gear was in color and just so much cooler.

[ZP3]

I had a Game Boy growing up and loved it to death but I had an uncle who had a Game Gear and whenever he brought it out the Game Boy's all went away because the Game Gear was in color and just so much cooler.

I have been impressed with my gamegear in comparison to my Gameboy. I might even venture to say that I like it more than my Gameboy Color! (With the exception of Pokémon) I think the Game Gear has an underrated library, the games for it are dirt cheap, and its plain awesome. What's not to love?

[Greg2600]

The screen is not to love. You can honestly play games on that thing?

[recorderdude]

GG's honestly not as bad as people make it out to be. I've played game gear and original brick game boy and I can safely say that the GB is FAR less tolerable for graphically intense games. How ANYONE played donkey kong land on that damn thing I have no idea.

I think it's more that people who are used to zero ghosting on conoles like the DS are surprised when they find it on older ones.

[SparTonberry]

I'm not sure either. And that's why, as much as I love my Game Boy, I will call Donkey Kong Land a glorified tech demo. Luckily for the sequels, Nintendo/Rare realized playability was more important than amazing graphics we can't see anyways!

[Gameguy]

GG's honestly not as bad as people make it out to be. I've played game gear and original brick game boy and I can safely say that the GB is FAR less tolerable for graphically intense games. How ANYONE played donkey kong land on that damn thing I have no idea.

Try using a Gameboy Pocket. I can't play games enjoyably on an original Gameboy, not for any real length of time. I do have Donkey Kong Land and while I never beat it I used to play it quite a bit on my Gameboy Pocket.

There was a time when I really liked the Game Gear, back before I got my GBP. Someone let me play their Game Gear for awhile and playing Aladdin and Deep Duck Trouble was really fun. When we went to get one we were told that the system was being discontinued so we went with the GBP instead, I found lots of fun games with that so I didn't mind it. Now the Game Gear aged horribly and I don't collect it, I don't remember the screens being that bad back when I first played the system. The low battery life gets annoying fast too.

[recorderdude]

DKL works just peachy in both my GBC and GBA. I keep it for that :P Also, it's totally worth beating, or at least getting further into. There's some really unique levels in it, like the ones where you jump on flying pigs on city rooftops.

As for GG's main issue, battery life, I just find myself plugged into the wall for most playsessions anyway so it doesn't bug me that much. I tried using a powerback, but as yall may remember, it fucking exploded from normal use, so DON'T USE A POWERBACK.

[theclaw]

Don't the DKL games have graphical glitches on GBC or later?

[o.pwuaioc]

Don't the DKL games have graphical glitches on GBC or later?

Of what sort? I never noticed anything on my GBC or GBA.

[RP2A03]

Of what sort? I never noticed anything on my GBC or GBA.

The color pallet is probably wrong or at least it is when I play Mega Man V on GBA.