Early Game Boys Vs. Sega Game Gears: And Other Handhelds Discussion

General and Gaming > Classic Video Games

<< < (3/8) > >>

tripredacus:
I just want to add that the NGPC is terrible due to not having a backlit screen.
But the Game Boy didn't seem to be an issue for me. Perhaps it is due to me not even using a Game Boy once I got a Game Gear.

If I recall, my first Game Boy was one of the color series that was sold in the clear plastic organizer. I didn't buy a Game Gear until around 1998 or so... which was the Majesco version. But I had played a lot of Game Gear when borrowing it from my friends or cousin.

The Turbo Express was a thing that I had only seen in magazines, and that one time it was in the Enemy of the State movie.

Warmsignal:
I think by now my thoughts might already be known. I honestly kinda hate the Game Boy. I think it's a woefully bad system. I remember trying to play it, and having to pitch the screen in a certain direction towards the light just see it. Half the time the graphics were so lame and shrunk down you could barely tell what you were looking at. Nintendo didn't take portable gaming seriously back then, it was just a novelty. It was seen as a toy that kept kids quiet. Hence the name, Game Boy. It even sounds like a child's toy. It doesn't matter what titles it has, they were all abominations to play on Game Boy. You have to have the Game Boy player for TV, otherwise forget it.

Game Gear I never knew about until much later, and I felt cheated. I didn't play one until I got into game collecting, and even then I was very impressed with what it could do for an early 90s handheld. The games look great, IMO. Basically every other handheld I've researched or come across since has been infinitely more appealing than the Game Boy was. All of the competition should have stomped the GB, but the cheap price tag and tiny form factor of the Game Boy made it parent's number one choice for their kid... kind of like the Tiger handheld games.

Sure, the GG eats through batteries, but rechargeable batteries exist for a reason. There were also third party rechargeable packs you could buy for GG. Yeah, it makes it more bulky, but I don't see what the issue is with people's perception of size and handheld systems. Like, I don't want a handheld to be tiny anyways. I don't want to put a handheld system literally into my pocket. Nobody does that nowadays, nobody complains they can't fit their 3DS XL into their pocket and nor should they be trying to. You need to a get a proper travel case for it whether it's a Game Boy, or a Switch. Size in not an issue, and bigger screen is better. Color screen is better. Lit up screen is better. Graphical power is better, lol. All of which Nintendo has finally embraced in their approach to handhelds thankfully.

Nowadays, I don't play a lot of old-school handhelds, but when I get the craving to do so it's usually Game Gear. Which is a platform I still collect for, although not actively at the moment. I'm actually somewhat intrigued by the Lynx as well as the Neo Geo Pocket Color... and may consider starting collections for those at some point. Game Boy on the other hand, I don't collect for. Probably never will.

sworddude:
It's kinda insane that people pay a ton of money for a backlit gba ags 101 wich was only slightly better but still with a small screen. the backlit difference was not that much better in my experience than a normal gba sp. it's just slightly better maybe you'll have a nice image with hars sunlight outside but probably not. besides when you play inside or at night you'll have the same image in most cases.

if I play an old school handheld 99 out of 100 times i use a gameboy player to play them on the big screen. It's like I'm playing a slightly lesser snes title obviously for different games that where not released on snes. gameboy player gives handheld games a totally different experience.

or if where going with non retro handhelds

i mean ds psp and 3ds are good especially the 3ds xl screen was a game changer for a decent size screen for handheld. it sure as hell increased my enjoyment for playing ds games on the 3ds xl

While switch is also is a handheld there is absolutely no reason for me to ever want to play that portable, tv only for me as far as switch goes. i would be pissed if i bought a switch lite only to find out that it's portable only if i where stupid enough to miss the fact that it was portable only.

backlit wasn;t that big of a deal back in the day you had some items that gave you the light that you would need wich where way cheaper than having a build in backlit. otherwise in the case of neo feo pocket you can always use a trusty reading light.

GBA is my number one handheld console for the simple fact that i can get a retro tv console experience thanks to the gameboy player aside from having an excellent 16 bit 2d library with a ton of exclusives not released on other consoles.
Classic DS comes in 2nd. even if it had the tv option it would not push gba of that spot but it's library ain't that far off. some excellent 2d games on here aswell all be it a hell lot less also some excellent 3d games but the grapics in those departments let's just say the ds ain't the greatest for 3d grapics.

98dgreen:
GBA>3DS>GB>GBC>GG>DS

pzeke:
Game Boy over the Game Gear all day, any day. I got both as birthday presents (separately), and of the two, I used the Game Boy the most, while the Game Gear was essentially a waste of money. To this day my mom still throws jabs at me over how she wasted money on "that black brick", as she refers to it (it's sort of become a joke by now).

While the Game Gear, at the time, was something to marvel at because, oh my, it's in color, the Game Boy was, and still is far better, and has a wide variety of games, too. Don't get me started with the Game Gear capacitor thing.

Emulating the Game Gear on the other hand has been quite fun for me, I will admit. It has some cool gems.

--- Quote from: marvelvscapcom2 on October 07, 2019, 02:00:38 am ---I don't usually say this on here because I know it'll offend people. And it's only my preference. And I don't want to be that console fanboy guy. But quite honestly. Sega was never even close to Nintendo in anything they made. Even with their peak which is the Genesis in most people's eyes.
The Genesis isn't even close to the Super Nintendo imo. It can't even sit at the same table. Gameboy trumps Gamegear, Trumps Nomad. Then if we get into pinnacle gameboys like Advance SP. Folding screen DS. Boy the margain gets larger.
--- End quote ---

Yeah, I have to agree with you.

Navigation

 Message Index

Go to full version