Sega Saturday: Prince of Persia (Game Gear)

Sega Saturday: Prince of Persia on Game Gear – Cinematic Swordplay in Your Pocket

Welcome back to Sega Saturday, where we celebrate Sega's portable prowess every week. This week, we're dodging spikes and slashing guards in Prince of Persia on the Sega Game Gear – Domark's masterful 1992 port of Jordan Mechner's groundbreaking 1989 cinematic platformer.

The Basics: What You Get

Developed by Domark and published by Sega (with Domark licensing), this is a near-1:1 conversion of the Apple II original. Guide the Prince through a 60-minute real-time dungeon crawl: run, jump, climb, fight Vizier Jaffar's guards with a sword, avoid traps (spike pits, collapsing floors), and rescue the Princess before the hourglass runs out. 12 levels packed with rotoscoped animation (motion-captured from real footage) for fluid, lifelike movement.

The Game Gear version runs in Master System compatibility mode but leverages the color screen for vibrant palaces and shadows. Passwords save progress; simple controls (D-pad move, 1/2 attack/jump).

Region	Release Date
Europe	1992
North America	1992

Why It's a Sega Handheld Highlight

Pioneering "cinematic platformer" status made PoP revolutionary – real-time action, no passwords mid-level, and that ticking clock tension. The GG port shines: buttery animation holds up on tiny screens, atmospheric music, and precise controls despite hardware limits. It's grueling (one-hit deaths outside combat) but fair, with secrets like hidden doors for extra lives.

Fun facts:

• Handheld rarity: One of few official PoP ports on portables; GG/SMS versions are identical twins.
• Mechner magic: Rotoscoping from brother David's footage – timeless fluidity.
• Value play: Loose carts ~$10-15, CIB ~$40-60 – budget Bat-time adventure.

Play It Today

Emulate instantly on RetroGames.cz or download ROMs for Gearsystem (RetroArch) – perfect for quick runs. No modern re-releases, but fan patches enhance colors.

This ad (page 032) spotlights the dramatic box art: Prince mid-sword clash in a dungeon cell – pure '90s adventure hype.

Toughest trap or speedrun PB? Spill below – next Sega Saturday sands in soon!

Catch you next Saturday – Sega Forever!

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Sega Saturday: Batman & Robin (Game Gear)

Sega Saturday: The Adventures of Batman & Robin on Game Gear – Dark Knight Portable Patrol

Welcome back to Sega Saturday, our weekly spotlight on Sega's legendary lineup. This week, we're donning the cowl for The Adventures of Batman & Robin on the Sega Game Gear – a 1995 handheld platformer that brings Gotham's grit to your pocket, inspired by the iconic Batman: The Animated Series.

The Basics: What You Get

Developed by Hungarian studio Novotrade and published by Sega, this is a side-scrolling action-platformer where you primarily control Batman (with Robin assists) battling Joker's villain alliance who kidnapped the Boy Wonder. Punch thugs, swing across rooftops, use Batarangs/glide cape, and face bosses like Joker, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy across 4 levels (8-12 stages total): Gotham streets, chemical plants, circuses, and lairs.

Collect icons for health/power-ups; simple but punishing difficulty with precise jumps and enemy swarms. No co-op, passwords for saves.

Region	Release Date
North America	1995
Europe	1995
Japan	1995

Why It's a Sega Handheld Highlight

Part of a multi-platform series (SNES/Genesis by Konami/Clockwork Tortoise), the GG version stands out for its Animated Series vibe: moody art, voice samples (grunts, laughs), and levels echoing episodes like "Joker's Favor." Novotrade's take squeezes impressive sprites (Batman gliding over neon Gotham) onto 8-bit hardware, with chiptune remixes of Danny Elfman-esque themes.

Reviews were middling: Fun for Bat-fans but criticized for repetitive combat, cheap deaths, and short length (~1 hour). Fun facts:

• Catalog trio: Follows Aladdin (029) and X-Men (030) in Sega's 1994-95 GG push – license goldmine!
• Cheat codes: GameFAQs lists 9, like level select (Up+1+Start at title).
• Collector's item: CIB fetches ~$135 today – rarer than Genesis counterpart.

Play It Today

Emulate via Gearsystem core in RetroArch or Kega Fusion – battery-munching action awaits! No official ports, but YouTube longplays showcase the chaos.

This ad (page 031) flaunts epic box art: Batman cape-swooping amid Joker/Harley/Poison Ivy mayhem – pure '90s comic hype.

Toughest boss or fave gadget? Bat-signal your thoughts below – next Sega Saturday glides in soon!

Catch you next Saturday – Sega Forever!

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Sega Saturday: X-men (Game Gear)

Sega Saturday: X-Men on Game Gear – Claws-Out Beat 'Em-Up Action

Welcome back to Sega Saturday, our weekly dive into Sega's vast library of hardware, games, and rarities. This week, we're unleashing the fury with X-Men on the Sega Game Gear – a 1994 handheld brawler that packs Marvel mutant mayhem into a portable powerhouse.

The Basics: What You Get

Developed by Paul Hutchinson at Sega of America and published by Sega, X-Men is a single-player side-scrolling beat 'em-up/platformer released in 1994. Professor X summons you to stop Magneto's Sentinel army from capturing the X-Men. Pick your fighter at the Danger Room:

• Wolverine: Claws for close combos and wall-cling jumps.
• Cyclops: Optic blasts for ranged attacks.
• Colossus: Heavy punches and unbreakable defense.
• Storm: Lightning strikes and flight for aerial dominance.

Punch, slash, and blast through 6 stages (Astro Mines to Magneto's Asteroid), rescuing captured teammates and battling bosses like Juggernaut and Sentinels. Power-ups include health, 1-ups, and character swaps mid-level. No passwords – short sessions with unlimited continues.

Region	Release Date
North America	1994
Europe	1994
Japan	1994

Why It's a Sega Handheld Highlight

This isn't an arcade port (like Konami's 2-player SNES/Genesis smash) – it's a bespoke Game Gear original that punches above its 8-bit weight. Vibrant sprites pop on the color screen (Wolverine's adamantium gleam!), with tight controls and varied movesets keeping combat fresh. It's long and brutal – expect deaths from cheap hits – but rewarding for mastery.

Reviews raved: Magazines averaged 92% (graphics 97%, gameplay 95%), calling it a "classic portable." GameFAQs users gave 9/10 for challenge and replayability. Fun facts:

• Sega-Marvel synergy: Followed hot on Spider-Man GG; Sega snagged licenses while Nintendo got later X-Men titles.
• Hidden gems: Stage secrets like extra lives and power-ups for pros.
• Battery burner: Like all GG hits, its action demands fresh AAs – but worth the drain!

Loose carts fetch ~$10 today, CIB ~$30 – an affordable X-perience.

Play It Today

No official re-release (yet – Sega Ages, when?), but emulation rules: RetroArch (Gearsystem core), Kega Fusion, or online via Emulator Games. Pair with a modded GG for authenticity – or Evercade for collections.

This ad (page 030 from a 1994 Sega catalog, right after Aladdin on 029) hypes the epic box art: Wolverine slashing amid Cyclops beams and chaos – pure '90s comic hype.

Favorite mutant or toughest stage? Slash your thoughts below – next Sega Saturday claws in soon!

Catch you next Saturday – Sega Forever!

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Sega Saturday: Aladdin (Game Gear)

Sega Saturday: Disney's Aladdin on Game Gear – A Portable Magic Carpet Ride

Welcome back to Sega Saturday, where we dust off the Sega archives for a weekly spotlight on hardware, games, or hidden gems from the house of Sonic. This week, we're hopping on a magic carpet for Disney's Aladdin on the Sega Game Gear – a 1994 handheld platformer that turned the 1992 Disney blockbuster into pixelated adventure gold.

The Basics: What You Get

Developed by Japan's SIMS Co., Ltd. and published by Sega, Disney's Aladdin launched as an 8-bit exclusive for the Game Gear and Sega Master System. It's a side-scrolling platformer where you control Aladdin, slashing through enemies with his scimitar, collecting jewels, and rubbing lamps for Genie power-ups. Levels faithfully recreate movie beats: marketplace chases, cave escapes, Jafar battles, and Agrabah rooftops. Cutscenes bridge stages, making it feel more cinematic than many contemporaries.

Region	Game Gear Release	Master System Release
Europe	February 1994	April 1994
Japan	March 25, 1994	N/A
North America	May 1994	N/A

The Game Gear version is nearly identical to Master System but optimized for portable play – tighter controls on the smaller screen, though it lacks an on-screen HUD (health shown via hearts). Expect 5-6 levels with bosses like Iago, Razoul, and Jafar, plus unlimited continues for casual fun.

Why It's a Sega Handheld Highlight

This isn't a watered-down port of Virgin's stellar Genesis or SNES Aladdin games (those had apples and rug-riding). SIMS crafted a unique take blending elements from both – sword combat like Genesis, but with more movie-accurate progression and cutscenes than either 16-bit version. Graphics pop on the Game Gear's color screen: fluid animations, vibrant Agrabah markets, and Genie's flashy assists. Soundtrack remixes movie themes chiptune-style – perfect for battery-draining sessions.

It was a massive hit: Topped U.S. Game Gear charts for three straight months (June-August 1994), UK's #1 Game Gear title in April, and named Best Game Gear Game at CES 1994 by GamePro for its sprites and polish. Reviews averaged 80-86% (Joypad, neXGam), praising visuals but noting easy difficulty and iffy jumps. In 2013, Complex ranked it among the top 25 handheld games ever.

Fun facts:

• Sega scored the Disney license after hits like Castle of Illusion – proving handheld magic sells.
• No password save; short playtime (30-60 mins) made it ideal for portables.
• Loose carts go for ~$11 today, CIB ~$19 – a steal for nostalgia.

Play It Today

No official re-release (yet – fingers crossed for Sega Ages), but emulation shines via Sega Game Gear apps or Evercade VS collections. Pair with fresh AA batteries for authentic drain!

This ad (likely from a 1994 Sega catalog, page 029) captures the hype: box art with Aladdin vs. Jafar, Genie flair, and that dreamy platform tease. A shining example of Sega's Disney dominance on handhelds.

What’s your fave Aladdin port? Drop it below – next Sega Saturday revs up soon!

Catch you next Saturday – Sega Forever!

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Sega Saturday: Sonic Blast (Sega Game Gear)

Welcome back to Sega Saturday, our weekly whirlwind through Sega's stellar (and sometimes stinky) catalog! This week, we're cranking up the handheld with Sonic Blast for the Game Gear—the 1996 swan song for both the blue blur's 8-bit adventures and Sega's ill-fated portable powerhouse. That vibrant pink-spine box art with Sonic mid-leap? It's the last gasp of Game Gear glory. Spin dash into the final frontier!

The Game: A Sluggish Send-Off

Developed by Aspect (veterans of prior Game Gear Sonics like Chaos and Triple Trouble) and published by Sega, Sonic Blast dropped in North America and Europe in November 1996, with Japan getting G Sonic on December 13 under the kid-friendly "Kid's Gear" banner. You control Sonic (double jump for a "Boost Blast") or Knuckles (glide and wall-climb) across five zones (Green Hill, Yellow Desert, Red Volcano, Blue Marine, Silver Castle), each with two acts and a boss. Collect Chaos Emeralds via special stages (grab 50 rings near a giant ring to warp in), smash Robotnik's glass-domed machines, and stop him from powering up with emerald shards.

It's classic 2D Sonic platforming... but slower, shorter, and screen-cramped on the Gear's tiny display. Snag all five emeralds for a secret Robotnik showdown!

Why This Port... Exists?

Aspect chased the pre-rendered 3D sprite trend (Donkey Kong Country, Sonic 3D Blast) for flashy visuals on 8-bit hardware. It looks detailed—chunky Sonic models pop against colorful backdrops—but animations stutter, colors muddy up, and the sluggish pace kills momentum. Jump, and the camera follows vertically (handy for pitfalls, annoying for visibility). Bosses demand dome hits only. Critics at launch were mixed; retrospectives roast it as "one of the worst Sonics" for "distracting" graphics and "dreadful" levels like Blue Marine Act 2 (infamous water slog).

Mind-Blowing (or Eye-Straining) Trivia

• Name Confusion Alert: Shares a title (and release timing) with Sonic 3D Blast (isometric Flicky-rescuer on Genesis/Saturn), but they're unrelated beyond rendered sprites. No 3D here—just side-scrolling regret.
• Game Gear Goodbye: Last Sega-published GG title worldwide; final game period in Japan. Tectoy ported it to Master System in Brazil '97—glitchy borders, palette issues, but bigger screen helps (kinda).
• Unused Leftovers: Strike Dash animation from older GG Sonics lurks in ROM, unused. Error handler? Infinite freeze loop—no helpful message.
• Regional Quirks: Identical ROM, but Japan-exclusive G Sonic title animation (ring-to-G morph). Kid's Gear aimed at tots—short levels fit, but bored everyone else.
• Re-Releases Galore: Unlockable in Sonic Adventure DX (2003), Sonic Mega Collection Plus, 3DS VC (2013), Sonic Origins Plus (2023). Plug-n-play TV console in 2005!
• Cult Status? Nah: Often called GG Sonic's low point—sluggish hero, short zones, brutal water bits. Yet completists endure; speedruns clock ~20-30 mins.

Legacy: The End of an Era

Sonic Blast aimed high with visuals but crash-landed on clunky controls and forgettable design—proof even Sega stumbled closing out the Game Gear. It's playable curiosity for 8-bit Sonic diehards, but skip unless you're emulating Origins Plus. Fire it up: Can you stomach Blue Marine without rage-quitting?

Worst GG Sonic? Guilty pleasure? Spill in comments! Next week, another Sega surprise. Until then—boost those rings! 🦔💨

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Finds 1731: Atari 7800 box, Bubble Bobble Manual, and Loot!

Here are some awesome additions. The Atari 7800 box is really cool although it's a little beat up. I also got some portable games and Mega Man X for the PC. Good loot and closer photos below...

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Ads from the past 462: Game Gear TV Tuner

This is a really cool ad which was actually true at one point. Due to digital tv signal, we lost that usable signal but not to worry, I’m sure some savvy nerds out there are finding a different way to use this gadget. 

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Ads from the past 461: Sega Game Gear

It's that time again! Ads from the past is back with even more entries than ever before. This time around, we are going to start off with the Sega Game Gear. This two page ad definitely does justice to the wonderful portable. Giving information about what it's capable of and some photos of the games it offered! Now, that's playing with portable power. 

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Sega Saturday 005: Tail’s Adventure for Game Gear

This is an unusual title that very few have mentioned. Even though we got a lot of Sonic games for the Game Gear, the one odd title called Tail’s Adventure was kind of put to the side but why? I think it’s because it had no speed whatsoever, after all it’s Tails! The game is quite simple. It’s a side scroller in which you control guess who? Tails. He uses his classic flying technique but now he uses bombs to attack! That’s right, he throws bombs! This is something else alright!

Tails can get a lot of different gadgets that’ll help him on his journey. He even has the ability to run fast, yes it’s an ability and other interesting gadgets such as remote controlled robots. it’s more of an exploration kind of game so it’s a total opposite of the fast paced Sonic games. if you are looking for something that’s quite odd and different in the Sonic franchise, look no further but be sure to be ready to pay a lot for them. You will need a Game Gear or a Retro Freak with the adapter. 

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Finds 1335: Deep Duck Trouble for Game Gear

This is a beautiful addition to the collection! Not only is this an amazing game, it's nice and sealed. This game was also released for the Sega Master System and plays quite similar. I already have this game in loose form but definitely loving the boxed version, it was needed! Love the artwork. 

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Finds 1320: Retro Freak Adapter

My Retro Freak console needed this adapter to be able to play some wonderful Sega Master System and Game Gear carts and cards. It's totally worth it! Definitely add it to your console! Playing Game Gear and Master System is really cool! 

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Finds 1305: Barcelona 92 and Pixel Junk Monsters Deluxe

Here are some additions from the thrift store! Nothing fancy, but I won't say no to a pixel PSP game and a boxed Game Gear game!

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Finds 1232: Golden Axe for Master System, Night Striker, and Blood Gear

Here are three new titles for the collection. Lets start off with Golden Axe! It's a very bad port of the arcade classic but well, you know, I love the Sega Master System so I had to have it!  Here is a pic of it!

You can only play as one character and the animation is choppy. I still believe it has a charm, a Sega Master System charm. The next game on the list is Night Striker which is a pretty cool racing game. It is also one of the more cheaper ones so totally worth picking it up. Cheap and good always equals to good.

Here is a shot of Night Striker. As you can see, it looks beautiful! 
Finally, I already mentioned this game Blood Gear but it's totally worth another look. This one is definitely worth a playthrough if you have a PC Engine. Import it now!

If you are into Mech style games with good gameplay and music, this is it! Enjoy, I know I am!

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Finds 1155: Master of Darkness and Fantasy Zone

Master of Darkness has been a game that I've been wanting to pick up for a long time. I finally scored a decent copy of it! It will be streamed on Halloween! It's a beautiful game! Fantasy Zone is just another classic game by Sega, this one for the Game Gear. 

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Finds 1034: Arrivals from Japan, Lots of New Additions!

A wonderful lot from Japan just arrived. It took more than a month and another package is still on its way but here is what I got for now. Check out the photos! WOOOHOOOOOOO!!!  

Here are some games for the Playstation and Fighters Megamix for the Saturn.  

 The PC Engine CD. AWWWW YEAH!

 Gotta bring up the count of Hue Cards! PC ENGINE!

 I gotta plug in my PC Engine asap! 

 I gotta try all these out! 

Some Famicom, Gameboy, and Game Gear. 

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Game-bit of the day 745: Land of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (Game Gear)

A magical Disney adventure where you play as Mickey Mouse! It's a lot of fun! Check out the Genesis games as well! 

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Game-bit of the day 741: Tempo Jr. (Game Gear)

This is a pretty awesome game for the Game Gear. It plays like the Sega 32X release somewhat. I guess you can think of it as a watered down version. 

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Game-bit of the day 723: Magic Knight Reyearth 2 (Game Gear)

I had to get this little game for the Game Gear. It's totally worth it just for the cover art. A beautiful game indeed!

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Game-bit of the day 716: Halley Wars (Game Gear)

This is a shoot 'em up for the Game Gear. Believe it or not, there is a shoot 'em up for the handheld! Even though we got very few games for it here in the USA, this is one you have to try at least once. It's nothing amazing, but it is unique in its own sense. 

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