ARIEL THE LITTLE MERMAID
Fairly inoffensive 'explore and find the objects' gameplay coupled with reasonable graphics, but why is it so incredibly easy? Because it's a kids game, that's why.


BAKU BAKU ANIMAL
The lovable Saturn game also found its way to the Game Gear and not bad it is too. The game lacks most of the catchy tunes that made the Saturn version so enjoyable and it only really contains one mode (apart from a 2-player link-up) but overall this an amusing puzzler.

BATMAN FOREVER
An uninspired beat 'em up which seems to go on -indeed- forever. The washed-out
graphics and boring level design don't help much either. It ain't rubbish but it's just kinda dull. Not really the first Game Gear action game you should pick up, no sir.

BATMAN RETURNS
Nowhere near as good looking as the Lynx version but Batman Returns has a clever multiple route system, some good grapple hook action and a couple of catchy tunes. I liked it, even while I'm not exactly a Batman fan.

CHUCK ROCK
I didn't like it on the Master System and I still don't like it on the Game Gear.
The gameplay's basic, it doesn't have any in-game sound and with the Game Gear having an incredible load of platform games available for it you don't really need this one. Now on the other hand..

CHUCK ROCK 2: Son of Chuck
..this game is pretty good. Better level design, better graphics and more fun.

COLUMNS
You could argue for ages if Columns was 'as good as Tetris' but the facts remains that Columns is very enjoyable puzzle game and the game that defined the Game Gear and showcased it as a good platform for puzzle games.

DEVILISH
This is the kind of the game the Game Gear was made for. Devilish is an enjoyable pinball/arkanoid action crossover featuring tunnels, creatures, power-ups and bosses. Shame there's only eight levels, but it's still highly entertaining.

EARTHWORM JIM
This port by Eurocom is very well done, with some excellent graphics and nearly all the action packed levels of the original. One of the best action games on the Game Gear. Could've used some a password system, perhaps.


ECCO THE DOLPHIN
Apart from the fact that it misses the quality soundtrack (especially the beautiful one that made Mega-CD version so memorable), this is a port is done with care.
There's plenty of levels (including the City of Forever and The Machine and a lot of animation made it in.

FACTORY PANIC
A puzzle game in which you flick switches to direct objects to the right persons.
The gameplay is too simplistic and the levels too samey to be really enjoyable.


G-LOC
For such an early Game Gear game (1991) this is pretty good effort. Three difficulty settings, a mission select and a clever upgrade system after each successful mission. Link-up too! Shame the scenery is so incredibly basic.

HALLEY WARS
Despite the mixed reviews, Halley Wars is one of the better Game Gear shooters
available. There's plenty of ways to power up your ship and the bosses are good fun. The last level is rather on the cheap (=unfair) side, though.

MARKOS MAGIC FOOTBALL
A platform game featuring a kid with his soccer ball. Some great graphics (which really don't look much different than the ones in the Megadrive version) and tough but somewhat frustrating levels.

MORTAL KOMBAT II
This was the best portable Mortal Kombat game for ages only beaten by recent
versions on the GBA and DS. Despite have only eight characters and two backgrounds, this is a mighty fine port by Probe. Would've gotten full marks
if they crammed in another background.

MORTAL KOMBAT III
Something went wrong here and I'm still not sure why. Loads of stuff was included
(Nine playable characters, five backgrounds, Babalities, Arcade codes..) but somehow the gameplay just doesn't feel right and there's no in-game music which really creates an empty atmosphere. This could've been the portable version to end them all but sadly it wasn't meant to be.

PENGO
One of my personal Game Gear favorites, this. The gameplay is rather addictive with loads of ways to improve your scores and it's a great game to 'pick up and play' for a couple of minutes.

ROBOCOP vs TERMINATOR
RvT is one of the best action games available on the Game Gear. Loads of action-a-plenty levels, tasty weapons and multiple hidden bits to be found. The tunes are horribly catchy too..

SHINOBI
Boy do I love this game. This Shinobi game was written especially for the Game Gear and it shows. Excellent laid-out levels, smart bosses and an overall great difficulty level which is hard but fair. One of the most accomplished Game Gear games ever.

SLIDER
An okay-ish puzzle game in which you have to 'walk over all tiles' to complete the level. I won't take long to complete the 99 levels with all the passwords and continues on offer, though. There's better puzzle games for the 'gear.


SONIC THE HEDGEHOG CHAOS
Eight-bit gamers were finally able to play as tails in this Sonic 2 follow-up. Its levels are pretty good (better than the ones in Sonic 2 imo) and feature some good boss fights, but they're all too short and the game itself is way, way too easy.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
More or less the Master System game on a portable format. However, they slightly changed the view to it closes up to the action (and works better on the small Game Gear screen). Just as good as the excellent Master System version. Full marks.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2
The same 'screen' trick they used in the first game now backfires as 90% of all people found it impossible to beat the first boss (thanks to the zoomed action which didn't show the incoming projectiles untill the very last second). The levels levels are poorly laid out and offer little of interest. Not the sequel one would hoped for and a far cry (in terms of quality) from the Megadrive game.

SPACE HARRIER
Eleven levels might not be as much as the Megadrive or Master System versions but this is arguably the best version of those three. Better defined graphics than the
Master system version, better sound and an added password system which really helps to keep the frustration down, while keeping it a meaty challenge. Lovely.

TINTIN IN TIBET
One of the last ever Game Gear releases and it shows. Some greatly detailed graphics, tough levels and varied gameplay. The password system is a bit of a mystery though. (You'll need to progress waaay into the game to gain any).