Can a SEGA Game Gear Game Genie change the region of the system?

[recorderdude]

OK. For me, most game gear games really have no use for game genie as they tend to be easy and/or short, but there is one possible exception; ristar. For whatever reason, an entire level of the game is omitted when played in a US system, though it's not due to space reasons as it's STILL ON THE CART - god knows why they did it. Once I found this out, I began to wonder - could a game genie change the region the game cartridge sees in a game gear? I'd certainly buy one if this is the case, but I can't justify the purchase quite yet if it doesn't have that capability.

[Ed Oscuro]

Didn't know about the missing level, thanks for bringing that up. A few moments online seem to verify that the level is missing from the US version, but if you obtain the Japanese release, it'll play on your domestic Gear with all levels intact. The Game Gear has no region lockout. If the level is "in the cart" of the US release, it's dummied out or otherwise bypassed in the stage order (whatever simple trick they used to excise the level).

[Rickstilwell1]

If the level is dummied out in the US cartridge, look for a game Genie code to start on the dummied out level.

[Superman]

Unfortunately, Game Genies don't change regions, but they can be used as pass throughs for games from other regions.

So, there are two options:

1. You can get a copy of the Japanese release and play it in your game gear using your Game Genie as a the pass through, as Ed suggested.

2. You can play the US copy and use the Game Genie to access your desired level, as Rick mentioned.

[Ed Oscuro]

The Game Genie isn't necessary to play a game from Japan on a US Game Gear.

The Game Gear has no region lock.

I hope the second method will work, but it's not guaranteed, and somebody will have had to do the heavy lifting of making a code anyway. Hopefully it is simple to switch the level, but it's not guaranteed.

[theclaw]

It depends whether Japanese version Ristar had programming to detect an English console.

Though not used intentionally, Game Gear was capable of region lock.
Since games could identify between English/Japanese.

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