If there’s one thing to be sure of in the gaming world, it’s that the Neo Geo won’t back down. True, SNK’s consoles and handhelds never achieved the same level of fame as the Nintendo, Sega or Sony devices, but that didn’t stop the company from trying. Even the Neo Geo Pocket Color experienced a more »

While it didn’t receive a lot of publicity or recognition, there was a portable handheld system that was fairly successful in Japan, and even received a release in North America and Europe. I’m talking about SNK’s Neo Geo Pocket and Neo Geo Pocket Color series of systems. The first generation, the Neo Geo Pocket, was a Japan exclusive, but its successor, the Neo Geo Pocket Color actually did find its way outside of Japan.

Both handhelds were fairly unique, with a handful of well known titles. They were almost like having small, portable arcade systems, and are notable for being one of the first handheld consoles to have an analog stick. Both systems also had CPUs built by Toshiba. They were also region-free units, allowing owners to import to boost their libraries.

Now, they’re somewhat difficult to find. If you can, and you enjoy portable gaming, it may be worth the effort…

I collect video game systems. I love the classic games, because I grew up with them. I always had a special place in my heart for the handheld systems, because I’m an only child, which meant being carted to events where I would be the only person under 30.

A few times a year, I’ll enjoy a retro weekend. This past weekend I decided I would spend some quality time with my Game Gear. Imagine my shock when it would only play one game – Sonic the Hedgehog. This discovery prompted a bit of informal research – just how well were my portable systems holding up? I decided to spend some serious time playing my Game Boy, Game Gear, Game Boy Color, Sega Nomad and Neo Geo Pocket Color to see if they were aging well. The results gave me a newfound appreciation for Nintendo.