How is your Game Gear gaming going?

[SpaceBooger]

Any suggestions on my power issues? I do not want to buy another one unless I have to.

[Tanooki]

Gah! Got the name wrong (I hate when I do that).
Yeah, Arena Maze of Death is a pretty obscure one, but always looked interesting to me. Just never ran into the game when I was more heavily collecting for the system.

As for my recs, they really aren't much different than what most people already know and have said.
Also, there's really not a WHOLE lot worth tracking down. I just take an interest in the system.
But what the heck, here's my top 20 (only one game per series; no order to my madness, I think I've shared a few game recs before, but whatever):
*snip*
Mega Man is still fun, but not worth your time (and no original levels/content). Stick to the Game Boy ports (or better yet, get the collection for 3DS).

*snip*

Otherwise, there's still a lot that I haven't played at all.

Wow...very nice. Thanks. I've got (or in the mail) X-Men, Shinobi II, SOR1+2, FF Special, Devilish, B-A-M, Columns, Dragon Crystal, Wonderboy 3 DT, and Crystal Warriors on list one. Most of the others I'm watching for, but shining force isn't for me.

I do agree on Mega Man. I'd be honest and say I'd pay a cap of $50 on it because of the 2 games it mixes only, but kind of annoyed the dumb thing has no save routine I read which seems insane.

Of your others. Baku Baku my brother has back then and I played it a lot and it's great, unique too in how it eats the pieces. Alesta/PS2 I've had those in other formats, love em but the price on them if I bought fast is awful. Vampire I'm going to buy soon, loved it on my SMS total Castlevania clone done right. Tails Adventure I touched before, it's solid, more curious about his Skypatrol game.

Wizard Pinball? Got my curiosity since I love digital pinball as I do the real pair I own and had no idea that existed. The Wiki or the wiki listing on Sega Retro is shit as I'm missing these games as I worked up a list of stuff and that (and Arena) would have been on it.


Spacebooger I wish I could say but I've barely touched the inside of the one I have now. I know I should learn it better then I wouldn't have to send it off to get it re-capped and the LEDs put in. I think you have a power input issue, but you are talking about wiggling batteries, did you ever try it off a wall plug? That would narrow it some to a possible short or loose component between the battery box and the internal intake of the power between there, or if it's not there but between where either battery/ac brings it to the board. I'd try and trace it that way, narrow the fault down, then look for a suspect.

[flash1987]

Yeah I was totally wrong on the name of the golf game. This is the one: http://segaretro.org/Putt_%26_Putter_(Game_Gear)

[Tanooki]

Wow yeah way off, it's mini golf. I was starting to wonder if it was one of those darn EA golf games or that fred couples one. There's more than I realized on there, but then again sega was the go to for the dudes in the day wanting their sports.

[flash1987]

Yeah, in my defence its been nearly 20 years

[Tanooki]

Yeah I figured that much you're fine, just would be nice to know if one of the golf games on there was actually enjoyable and not clunky or a snore.

[nightrnr]

Wow...very nice. Thanks. I've got (or in the mail) X-Men, Shinobi II, SOR1+2, FF Special, Devilish, B-A-M, Columns, Dragon Crystal, Wonderboy 3 DT, and Crystal Warriors on list one. Most of the others I'm watching for, but shining force isn't for me.

Don't hate me if you don't like Dragon Crystal, it's a Rogue-style and a pretty simplistic one at that. But I always enjoy it.
Also, Crystal Warriors is a lot like Shining Force, so keep that in mind.

I do agree on Mega Man. I'd be honest and say I'd pay a cap of $50 on it because of the 2 games it mixes only, but kind of annoyed the dumb thing has no save routine I read which seems insane.

The game is pretty short (only 6 robot masters, 2 of them are counted as Wily Levels, if Memory serves) so it doesn't bother me.

Alesta/PS2 I've had those in other formats, love em but the price on them if I bought fast is awful.

What formats? or just emulation (recommended given the scarcity).

[Tanooki]

Hate what? http://segaretro.org/Arcade_Gamer_Portable


I technically own it already. I know what that one is. I've had a GG before and a couple SMS's in the last decade as well, plus I have that device with its locked set of games in my desk. I know it's rogue like, I don't even go into it thinking/knowing/caring if there is an ending. The fun of that game is to see how far you can go before it randomly generates something that's the death of you. That 6 game lot of Dragon Crystal, Crystal Warriors, Ninja Gaiden, Devilish, Shinobi 2 and Junction still hasn't arrived, but supposedly he finally shipped it 2 days ago from Hot Springs Nat'l Park, Arkansas and the post office isn't tracking other than accepting it. Could be here today or in another day or two if they're screwing around as that's not a long distance.

Now Crystal Warriors was more of an in the bundle game, I don't expect to like it really but the price was still there as I really dislike tactical RPGs as they make no sense to me. Games like that I see a clear path to victory, but that doesn't matter if you don't follow the one the designers want and I never get beyond that kind of stupidity.

(GG) Aleste and Aleste 2 (aka PS2 aka Power Strike 2 also on SMS) I'd like to physically own as I consider a flash kit a last resort thing. Now that said given what the everdrive goes for I would not be opposed to for imports since those, Sailor Moon, and a few others (and domestic Mega Man) go for $50-100+ which I think is unreasonable entirely. But if I can snap one up cheap that flies under the ebay radar I'd be all over it.

[nightrnr]

Oh hey, I have something like one of those things, only mine is capped at 20 games (and no Dragon Crystal on mine).

I'm glad you can see Dragon Crystal for what it is. I have a similar opinion of the game. Truly, it's more about the journey (and what game isn't, really?).

I ... understand your attitude towards SRPGs. It's unfortunate though, as Crystal Warriors and Shining Force give the Game Gear a major "one up" against the Game Boy.

BTW, you do know that the GG Aleste/Power Strike games are completely different than their SMS counterparts, right?http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/aleste/compile.htm

[Tanooki]

Yeah but I like Aleste a lot, and the only one I have anymore is Space Megaforce (Super Aleste.)

My problems with T/SRPG games go well back to the SNES era. The fact I stubbornly hold onto Ogre Battle is mind blowing, but I think because it's not quite as rigid and I have a guide to fall back on Atlus put out I can deal. Same can be said with the NP Advance mag that covered the first Advance Wars as I'd have gotten nowhere in it (still didn't finish it with the guide once it turn into a 3 against ME slap fight. I just can't wrap my mind around grid based/turn based combat games at all -- the logic 100% escapes me and I have no patience or will to fail something a half dozen times until I figure out the dumbassed pathing the designer made despite the fact tactically knowing what the things can do (both sides) and position on the board what I'm doing would (and realistically can) do better and I get smoked out over it. I have a huge dislike of peabrained designs like that and almost all of them follow that mold. Ogre Battle doesn't and Fire Emblem teeters between that one and the more rigid majority of their ilk like Crystal Warriors/Shining Force do.

Gameboy yeah in the US got the shaft, in Japan they kept Fire Emblem, Nectaris, GB Wars, and the others away until the GBA rolled around which was a stupid shame.
Same can be said with Dragon Crystal style stuff as that fits the Mystery Dungeon/Shiren games Nintendo had for a stretch too overseas.

I'll play it, and I'll try it to be fair, but I'm going in with no expectation of playing it for long if it's like most the rest of the genre.