Best old portable handheld system?

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Definately Neo Geo Pocket Color or the Sega Game Gear.

[futuramaguy42]

Definately the NGPC, it just has so many really fun games on it, has a great battery life, and while the screen isn't backlit, it's relatively easy to see.

Oh, I finally got to try out a Wonderswan, it was ok, the console is really nice, but the d-pads aren't that good. I only tried a bit of a Chocobo Dungeon game but since it was in all Japanese I couldn't figure it out. The games and their boxes are very cool looking, and they all come with these snap on dust protectors. I'd probably get one if I found one with some games I didn't need to know Japanese to play.

[crux]

Game Gear is pretty low on my list, certainly below Neo Geo Pocket Color and Lynx. I'd put it next to WonderSwan, I suppose, and a lot of that is primarily due to the fact that the WonderSwan is a difficult console for an English speaker. It speaks volumes more for Japanese speakers.

NGPC gets my vote as well, with a very, very high rate of translated games and many shining titles, plus the neat control stick. I don't count things that simply portabilize a console though. That's cheating. Lynx' is also cheating a bit, as a lot of the greatest games for the system were created after its demise, via homebrew. Considering that, it has an impressive amount of decent titles. It's fucking huge though.

The 'Lynx' problem is still active...

[dedalusdedalus]

I think Wonder Swan could have been a serious contender if it had found a niche in the US, and if Nintendo hadn't quashed it in Japan with GB Color.

[pepharytheworm]

I have to give it to the Nomad.

[the7k]

How coincidental, that the Neo Geo Pocket Color has the same reputation among portables that the Sega Dreamcast has with consoles (a great library of games within a short lifespan), considering the things you could do with the two together.

Dunno if I would really consider the Sega Nomad portable. I mean, could you imagine lugging that thing around with at least 3 games? The Game Gear was a beast too, but at least the game carts were small enough to fit in your pocket.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

How coincidental, that the Neo Geo Pocket Color has the same reputation among portables that the Sega Dreamcast has with consoles (a great library of games within a short lifespan), considering the things you could do with the two together.

Dunno if I would really consider the Sega Nomad portable. I mean, could you imagine lugging that thing around with at least 3 games? The Game Gear was a beast too, but at least the game carts were small enough to fit in your pocket.

I feel its portable, but its definately not in any way pocket sized.

[MrPopo]

How coincidental, that the Neo Geo Pocket Color has the same reputation among portables that the Sega Dreamcast has with consoles (a great library of games within a short lifespan), considering the things you could do with the two together.

Dunno if I would really consider the Sega Nomad portable. I mean, could you imagine lugging that thing around with at least 3 games? The Game Gear was a beast too, but at least the game carts were small enough to fit in your pocket.

I lugged my Nomad around at PAX this year getting my MUSHA on. It's definately not good for the pocket but you can rock out with a bag.

[skyknight]

I think Wonder Swan could have been a serious contender if it had found a niche in the US, and if Nintendo hadn't quashed it in Japan with GB Color.

True, but it should be GBA that crushed both Wonderswan and NGPC. GB Color wasn't that much advanced when compared to Wonderswan and NGPC.

Actually I do wonder about a "what if" scenario, where Bandai, Sega, and Neo Geo decided on a universal gaming cartridge design, and each would design their own handle console. That could've change the scenery of handheld gaming.

[Ivo]

My opinion is that the "best" that is not Nintendo is indeed the NGPC.

Ivo.