2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the Sega Game Gear, a handheld that brought color and ambition to the portable gaming world. Released in 1990, the Game Gear was developed by Sega as a direct rival to Nintendo’s Game Boy, boasting a full-color, backlit screen that outshone the Game Boy’s monochrome display. However, this leap in technology came at the cost of battery life, with the Game Gear requiring six AA batteries that drained rapidly.

Despite its shortcomings, the Game Gear introduced us to standout titles. Sonic the Hedgehog, a colorful and fast-paced experience, showcased Sega’s mascot in portable form, while Columns became an iconic puzzle game alternative to Tetris. Other memorable titles included Shinobi, Mortal Kombat, and Defenders of Oasis. While it couldn’t topple the Game Boy’s dominance, the Game Gear remains a cherished relic of the console wars and an innovator in handheld gaming.

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