Celebrating 30 Years of the Game Gear: The Handheld Console That Lit Up the '90s

2020 marks three decades since the Sega Game Gear revolutionized handheld gaming. Launched in 1990, the Game Gear was Sega’s ambitious attempt to outdo Nintendo's iconic Game Boy. While the Game Boy thrived on simplicity and efficiency with its monochrome screen and long-lasting battery life, Sega aimed for more: a full-color, backlit screen that dazzled but drained six AA batteries in hours.

The Game Gear boasted a stellar game library. Titles like Sonic the Hedgehog brought Sega’s mascot to life with vivid graphics, while Columns served as a colorful answer to the addictive puzzle gameplay of Tetris. Action fans were treated to portable versions of Shinobi and Mortal Kombat, with RPG enthusiasts finding treasures like Defenders of Oasis.

Despite never surpassing the Game Boy in sales, the Game Gear's contributions and fierce rivalry with Nintendo defined an era of handheld gaming innovation.

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