GameGear Exclusive Games & MasterSystem differences

[Black_Tiger]

This entire thread just talks about differences between games that were multiplatform but never mentions one game that is actually exclusive to game gear.

Same or similar name, but completely different games, are exclusive and different games.

Some more are Panzer Dragoon Mini, Shining Force Gaiden III, Phantasy Star Gaiden, Phantasy Star Adventure, Royal Stone, Eternal Legend, Sylvan Tale...

[needler420]

Same or similar name, but completely different games, are exclusive and different games.

Some more are Panzer Dragoon Mini, Shining Force Gaiden III, Phantasy Star Gaiden, Phantasy Star Adventure, Royal Stone, Eternal Legend, Sylvan Tale...

But they aren't different games. If the same game has a bonus level or feature for one platform but not the other just means there is a inferior version. It's still the same dam game.

[Jeckidy]

From what I know, most GG games are ports of Master System games, and often times, the Master System versions were better. The only advantage to having the GG version is usually that it may be cheaper and/or more common than its SMS counterpart. Yes, some were actually entirely different rather than ports. Psychic World was a good example that was already cited, and one that I always recall to mind when asked this question. It's obvious why GG Shinobi focuses on melee attacks rather than shurikens because the resolution is too damn small to effectively aim and watch for flying projectiles. That's why they made an entirely new Shinobi for GG. Every now and then, when the two are similar, the GG version is better, but 99% of the time, that's not the case.

[Black_Tiger]

I don't think that most Game Gear games are ports of SMS games. SMS-to-GG ports usually don't bother upgrading the color much and GG-to-SMS ports don't usually have much effort put into balancing the color for the SMS palette. So it's usually obvious which one was the target platform, but I don't have time to compare hundreds of games. Thr number of GG exclusives alone should be a strong enough sign that most games are not SMS ports.

[Tanooki]

I forget, maybe someone can remind me as it has been a couple years since I last had it -- Ninja Gaiden on SMS vs the GG? I have the GG one now, solid game, brutal restarts if you die though. I don't believe it's the same game other than in name.

[GelmiR]

I think the Game Gear version of Star Wars is the only one that has an extra level? The game starts on the Corellian corvette with Leia as playable character.
Edit: Forgot... Luke's landspeeder is also replaced with side-scrolling levels.

Don't know about many exclusive games, these are the ones I have:
- Itchy & Scratchy
- Sonic Triple Trouble
- Tails Adventure
- Super Star Wars Return Of The Jedi
- Ax Battler

[Black_Tiger]

I forget, maybe someone can remind me as it has been a couple years since I last had it -- Ninja Gaiden on SMS vs the GG? I have the GG one now, solid game, brutal restarts if you die though. I don't believe it's the same game other than in name.

The SMS Ninja Gaiden game is much more like the NES games.

[Melf]

The Game Gear has a bunch of exclusive RPGs, and I've been pleasantly surprised to find just how strong it is in the genre. This is just a partial list:

- Ax Battler
- Crystal Warriors
- Defenders of Oasis
- Eternal Legend
- Head Buster (has English patch)
- Lunar: Samposuru Gakuen (rereleased on the Saturn as "Magic School Lunar!")
- Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible Special
- Magic Knight Rayearth
- Magic Knight Rayearth 2
- Phantasy Star Gaiden (has English patch)
- Royal Stone (has English patch)
- Shining Force Gaiden
- Shining Force: Sword of Hajya
- Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict

There are also lots of other great exclusives. Again, here are just a few:

- Arena: Maze of Death
- Game Gear Shinobi
- Shinobi: Silent Fury
- Tails' Adventure
- Tails' Skypatrol
- Tempo Jr.
- X-Men
- X-Men: Gamemaster's Legacy
- X-Men: Mojo's World

[Tanooki]

Wouldn't Dragon Crystal work that list too? It's a rogue style RPG overhead turn based title.

I'm not usually a fan of the style as I never can figure out the single minded coder logic in the genre, but I have a copy of that Shining Force Sword of Hajya coming my way this weekend or early next week and I'm curious about it (along with JP the Lost World and Prince of Persia too.)

[BrianC]

Wouldn't Dragon Crystal work that list too? It's a rogue style RPG overhead turn based title.

Dragon Crystal has a SMS version.

[Popful]

Pretty sure Sonic 1 and Sonic 2 both have the warning signs to tell you theres a hazard coming.

Nope, only Sonic 1 had that, to my memory.

[Gogogadget]

I played Sonic 1 GG recently and you're right, it has no hazard signs.

Sonic 2 does though, and pretty much requires them since it's a poor port.

[Popful]

I played Sonic 1 GG recently and you're right, it has no hazard signs.

Sonic 2 does though, and pretty much requires them since it's a poor port.

I think you're confused, I said Sonic 1 GG did have warning signs (though they're only in GHZ). Attachment 11366

Sonic 2 GG definitely is a terribly optimized port, though. Sonic 2 8-bit was horribly cheap to begin with, and the GG's smaller screen just makes it worse.

[Tanooki]

Ahh damn that's right. I've had the SMS twice in its history, that game I think I had it one of those times. Oddly I was introduced to it through emulation devices mostly, the latest being that SMS/GG emulator handheld atgames made that unlike their Genesis one they made actually does not suck yet it's a shame it has no SD card slot.

I think I read about a SMS device for the GG before fairly recently but it appeared to be there were 2 revisions of it, guess that second one worked out a few kinks. Not quite sure it would be worth the effort personally as a good many of the SMS games I liked anyway were GG ports as it was.

[Gogogadget]

The reduced screen size is 100% of the problem, you'll forever run into things and die because you just can't see enough.

Sonic Advance it isnt