The Absolute Best Real-Time Strategy Games for the Sega Game Gear

Have you ever played a classic real-time strategy (RTS) game on a handheld system? Back in the early 90s, the Sega Game Gear brought full-color, on-the-go gaming to the masses including some shockingly good RTS titles in its lineup.

In this guide, we‘ll explore the absolute best RTS games released on the Game Gear during its lifecycle between 1990-1997. Each offered their own innovative blend of strategy and immediacy tailored perfectly to short burst mobile play sessions.

Overview of the Sega Game Gear Hardware and Capabilities

First, let‘s quickly recap what made the Game Gear such a revolutionary handheld system for its time and why it was able to handle fast-paced RTS games:

Processing Power

• CPU: 8-bit Zilog Z80 processor @ 3.5 MHz
• VRAM: 8KB
• Powered by 6 AA batteries for up to 6 hours of battery life

Display

• Backlit color LCD screen
• Resolution of 160 x 144 pixels
• Capable of displaying up to 32 simultaneous colors

Audiovisual Capabilities

• Could display up to 4,096 simultaneous colors
• Supported stereo sound
• Horizontal screen real estate close to the Sega Genesis

Despite its humble on-paper specs compared to 16-bit consoles of the era, the Game Gear could smoothly run action-focused games requiring quick reflexes and tactical decision making thanks to efficient coding and hardware acceleration.

The following RTS games stood out by making excellent use of the Game Gear‘s speed, screen resolution, control layout, and audiovisual capabilities – all tuned towards engaging gameplay in short 5-10 minute play sessions on the go.

Now, let‘s countdown the absolute best RTS titles released on the Game Gear!

1. Road Rash

• Release Year: 1993
• Developer: Electronic Arts
• Critical Reception: 4.4/5 Average Review Score

Road Rash took traditional racing games to the next level with its pioneering mix of high-speed motorcycle racing and street fighting mechanics. You control career criminal biker Mike Daley racing through 5 distinct areas of California while clubbing opponents off their rides as the cops give chase.

With smooth 60FPS performance allowing tight control of your motorcycle during intense races, Road Rash translated surprisingly well to the Game Gear. The strategic timings required to bash nearby racers with chains and clubs as you jostle for position at 150MPH, while avoiding spike traps, oil slicks and police barricades keeps your adrenaline pumping every second!

It captured lighting-quick action reminiscent of console racers like OutRun while innovating the sheer mayhem of knocking human racers off their bikes mid-race. I still fondly remember the satisfying thunk sound effects of landing a perfect strike on that jerk driver who kept side-slamming me!

For delivering console-quality racing competition blended with heavy doses of violence, Road Rash earns its place as one of the most intense RTS experiences ever put on the Game Gear.

2. Prince of Persia

• Release Year: 1992
• Developer: Domark
• Total Units Sold: Over 1 Million Copies

Prince of Persia pioneered cinematic platforming gameplay years before titles like Flashback or Another World. You play as an unnamed Persian prince fighting to rescue a princess from the clutches of the evil Grand Vizier Jaffar across 14 thrilling levels.

This game was a technical showcase for the Game Gear – with lavishly animated character sprites and environments bringing the action to life. Stealthy movement, timed acrobatic jumps between precariously narrow ledges, and sword fights required precision input and planning. Here‘s a quick breakdown of gameplay innovation and strategic elements:

Prince of Persia also featured a unique time rewind mechanic – letting you rewind up to 10 seconds to retry failed jumps or undo combat mistakes. Smart use of this added major strategic considerations during play.

With ahead-of-its time cinematic presentation and precise control gameplay, Prince of Persia brought a tense action-adventure film come to life in your hands through the Game Gear.

3. Sonic the Hedgehog

• Release Year: 1991
• Developer: Ancient
• Total Franchise Units Sold: Over 1 billion including merchandising

No countdown of greatest Game Gear titles is complete without the legendary Sonic the Hedgehog! Developed by Ancient and released in 1991, this handheld version stayed faithful to the beloved side-scrolling gameplay, vibrant art and breakneck sense of speed.

I still fondly remember many happy hours dashing through levels collecting rings and freeing woodland creatures from my evil nemesis Dr. Robotnik and his army of grimy industrial robots.

Here‘s a recap of key gameplay elements and strategic considerations when playing as Sonic:

With color graphics and fluid animations that nearly matched its Sega Genesis counterpart, Sonic brought blistering speed and intuitive controls perfect for the handheld format. Moving fast but precisely through loops, jumps and enemy gauntlets kept you wholly engaged every second.

For capturing that pure vibrant 16-bit era Sonic spirit, this Game Gear adaptation was a must-own for fans who needed their fix on the go.

4. Dragon Crystal

• Release Year: 1991
• Developer: Sega
• Gameplay Length: 20+ hour epic campaign with high replay value

Dragon Crystal took the exploration and role-playing genres to new heights with its addictive randomly generated dungeons and strategic turn-based gameplay. Players descend through endless underground floors filled with monsters, traps and treasures – developing their character‘s stats, equipment and abilities in a quest to reach the bottom.

With strong inspiration from roguelike RPGs like Nethack, Dragon Crystal featured:

Dragon Crystal captured the methodical, high-risk gameplay of computer RPGs like Ultima and Might & Magic – but tuned for quick pick-up-and-play sessions on the go. With many ways to develop your hero, legions of monsters to battle using positioning tactics, and randomized levels, no two playthroughs were ever the same.

For offering incredible depth and endless replayability on the Game Gear, Dragon Crystal earns its place among the great RTS titles of its era.

5. Super Off Road

• Release Year: 1992
• Developer: Leland
• Notable Awards: 1992 Video Game of the Year award from Electronic Gaming Monthly

Super Off Road captured the same fast-paced racing excitement of top-down arcade racers like RC Pro-Am. Players choose from among several fun cartoon truckers with names like Max Outhaul and Tough Tukka – then compete against them on looping dirt tracks filled with dangerous jumps.

While lightweight on story or settings compared to other racing simulators, Super Off Road delivered straightforward, whimsical fun for all skill levels. Here‘s an overview:

With easy-to-grasp controls, a charming roster of memorable rival racers and steady progression as you upgrade your truck, Super Off Road made it simple to get into the racing action – while still requiring skill to set new track record times. Local 2-player split screen races added hours more fun.

For delivering a whimsical, skill-based racing challenge tuned for gaming on the go, Super Off Road surely ranks as one of the Game Gear‘s most enduring RTS classics in my book.

6. Gunstar Heroes

• Release Year: 1995
• Developer: Treasure
• Notable Awards: Ranked among IGN‘s Top 100 Games of All Time

Gunstar Heroes brought Run ‘N Gun shooting action to the Game Gear with a fun sci-fi story as you battle the empire across 9 stages with up to a buddy in 2-player co-op. Treasure built upon their acclaimed work on the Genesis‘ Alien Soldier for frenzied run ‘n gunning.

Players choose between gunner Red or close-quarters fighter Blue – combining shooting, melee attacks and acrobatics against relentless enemy onslaughts. Special weapon drops, multiple level paths, two-player co-op and giant bosses kept the action epic and fresh.

Gunstar Heroes exemplified addictive short-burst gameplay – with stages under 3 minutes and endless replayability through score attack and co-op modes. For delivering white-knuckle action that rivaled 16-bit run ‘n guns like Contra Hard Corps, Gunstar Heroes capped the Game Gear‘s lifecycle on a high note.

7. Ristar

• Release Year: 1995
• Developer: Sonic Team
• Notable Awards: Ranked among Top 100 Sega Games of All Time by IGN and other publications

Ristar represented a colorful swan song for the Game Gear as its official sunsetting approached – developed by acclaimed studio Sonic Team of early Sonic fame. Players control a friendly alien hero named Ristar traversing 7 vibrant, varied planets to rescue his kidnapped family from an evil space pirate named Kaiser Greedy.

With long stretchy arms that can grab objects, enemies and scenery, Ristar provides unique platforming mechanics centered on skillful swinging and climbing. Each level scales up the challenge with progressively trickier platform navigation and enemy patterns.

Here‘s an overview:

With lavish graphics, smooth animation, and progressively challenging platform navigation, Ristar squeezed every ounce of technical prowess from the aging Game Gear. For delivering an inventive swan song exclusive to the handheld, Ristar deserves recognition as the system‘s last great RTS platforming adventure.

Why These Games Ruled as RTS Titles

While not as strategically complex as contemporary PC classics such as Warcraft, these action-focused titles remained engaging by blending intuitive real-time gameplay with meaningful decisions:

• Smooth performance and control schemes heightened deadly split-second reflex challenges
• Short 2-5 minute play sessions catered perfectly to on-the-go gaming
• Vehicle upgrades, character development or randomized levels enhanced replay value
• Co-op and competitive local mutliplayer features for friends

Overall, these games exemplified the Game Gear‘s tight design ethos: distilling beloved genres down into their pure essence for gaming in quick bites – whether racing at 200 MPH or defending the galaxy from hordes of otherworldly enemies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What game genres did the Game Gear handle best?

With its capable Z80 CPU, color screen and accurate control pads, the Game Gear excelled at smooth side-scrollers, action platformers, run ‘n gun shooters and racing games that relied on quick reflexes over large playing areas. Simplified RPG mechanics also worked well.

How does the Game Gear library compare to Game Boy?

While the black-and-white Game Boy boasted a much bigger game library, the Game Gear matched or exceeded it in colorful action-oriented genres that took advantage of its superior graphical capabilities for the era.

Which of these games hold up best today?

Gunstar Heroes and Ristar are two Game Gear classics that remain intensely enjoyable today. Their perfect blend of action, platforming and challenge mechanics make them high watermarks of an era.

I hope you‘ve enjoyed this tour through the legendary RTS games that made the Sega Game Gear such a technological pioneer of its era! Each squeezed the most from its hardware throughgenre-defining gameplay paired with short-burst game length, color visuals and stereo sound specifically tailored for gaming on the go.

Have fun exploring these action masterpieces on original hardware, modern compilation packs or via emulation! Let me know your favorite handheld RTS games of the 90s era as well. Game on, my friend!