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!
1 comments:
The Game Gear port of Prince of Persia is such a gem. Domark really did an incredible job capturing the fluid animation and tension of the original on a handheld. The rotoscoped movement still looks gorgeous, even on that tiny screen. The one-hour timer adds a real sense of urgency that makes every run feel like a race against time.
The price range for loose carts is surprisingly affordable. It's a great entry point for collectors who want a classic without breaking the bank.
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