RELEASED: 1990 // SEGA

Sega Game Gear

Name: Sega Game Gear
Brand: Sega

A Master System in your hands. It had a backlit color screen and TV tuner, but its battery life was... legendary for the wrong reasons.

Legacy & History

Released in 1990 to compete with the Game Boy. It offered full color and backlit gaming, but its bulk and 6-battery appetite limited its portability.

Cultural Impact

It forced Nintendo to eventually adopt color (GBC) and backlighting (GBA SP), though it took them years to do so efficiently. It proved there was a market for "premium" handheld experiences.

Modern Legacy

The Game Gear's TV Tuner accessory was a precursor to the multimedia capabilities of modern smartphones and handhelds.

Under the Hood

Hardware-wise, the Game Gear is almost identical to the Master System, just with a lower resolution screen and a larger color palette (4096 colors). This allowed for easy ports, but the backlit fluorescent screen consumed 6 AA batteries in just 3-5 hours.

CPUZilog Z80 (8-bit)

MEMORY8 KB RAM

DISPLAY160 x 144 (Color)

AUDIOSN76489 PSG

Defining Titles

Sonic the Hedgehog Triple TroublePlatformer • 1994

Shinobi II: The Silent FuryAction • 1992

Defenders of OasisRPG • 1992

Tails AdventureAction-Adventure • 1995

ColumnsPuzzle • 1990

Best Selling Title

Sonic the Hedgehog

GAME_GEAR Games

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Sega Game Gear

Legacy & History

Cultural Impact

Modern Legacy

Under the Hood

Defining Titles

GAME_GEAR Games

Madou Monogatari II: Arle 16-Sai

Berlin no Kabe

The Lucky Dime Caper Starring Donald Duck

Puyo Puyo Tsuu

Sega Game Pack 4 in 1

Shinobi II: The Silent Fury

Revenge of Drancon

Moldorian: Hikari to Yami no Sister

Vampire: Master of Darkness

Phantasy Star Gaiden

Slider

Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya

Land of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse

James Pond II: Codename RoboCod

Power Strike II

Amy Rose in Sonic Triple Trouble

Frogs by Charles Doty

Kawasaki Superbike Challenge

Magic Knight Rayearth

Magic Knight Rayearth 2: Making of Magic Knight

Royal Stone: Hirakareshi Toki no Tobira

Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict

Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine

Taz in Escape from Mars

Madou Monogatari I: 3tsu no Madoukyuu

Galaga 2

Madou Monogatari A: Doki Doki Vacation

Ristar

Dynamite Headdy

GG Aleste

Legend of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse

Cheese Cat-Astrophe Starring Speedy Gonzales

Dunk Kids

Ninku Gaiden: Hiroyuki Daikatsugeki

James Bond 007: The Duel

Shining Force Gaiden: Ensei Jashin no Kuni e

Popeye Beach Volley Ball

Tails Adventure

Kishin Douji Zenki

Lunar: Sanposuru Gakuen

Kuni-chan no Game Tengoku Part 2

Astérix and the Great Rescue

Yuu Yuu Hakusho II: Gekitou! Nanakyou no Tatakai

Psychic World

Dinobasher: Starring Bignose the Caveman

Man Overboard!

Wimbledon Tennis

Super Columns

Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos

Magical Puzzle Popils

Madou Monogatari III: Kyuukyoku Joou-Sama

The Excellent Dizzy Collection

Deep Duck Trouble Starring Donald Duck

GG Aleste 3

Tempo Jr.

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S

Yogi Bear in Yogi Bear's Goldrush

Neko Daisuki!

Pete Sampras Tennis

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