Officially Licensed Sega Genesis Gen Mobile Portable System

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The Genesis was my first video game system growing up. It is a great system with a wonderful library, so therefore anything that plays its games is bound to be at least okay. The GenMobile is, by this logic, an all right purchase. Unfortunately it is far from perfect.

First the good it's cheap by video game system standards, and comes with 20 games built right in. They vary in quality from great (Sonic and Knuckles) to good (DecapAttack, Columns III, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine) to average (Crack Down) to painful (Jewel Master). It's a mixed bag, but there's a decent amount of variety. It can also play Genesis cartridges via a cartridge slot, allowing you to play gems like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Streets of Rage 2.

Now the bad. This thing was designed very poorly. The button layout is awkward and the reset button is uncomfortably close to the D-Pad. Due to some missing parts possessed by the actual Genesis system, some cartridges won't work, including Ms. Pac-Man and Super Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers. Toy Story works but freezes when you reach the first-person stage halfway through. Sound quality is inexcusably poor. It's all very unfortunate.

But when it comes down to it, this thing is still a decent purchase if you absolutely must play Genesis on the go. I would however recommend buying a plug-to-your-TV Genesis system, however, and I don't mean one of these new "clone" systems, because they have the same problems as the GenMobile. I'm talking about a real, vintage, 1990s Genesis system. Get one of those bad boys and some of my recommended games and you'll experience gaming nirvana in no time.

RECOMMENDED GENESIS GAMES

-Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2, 3, and Knuckles

-Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine

-DecapAttack

-Contra: Hard Corps

-VectorMan

-Streets of Rage 2

-Castlevania Bloodlines

-Super Street Fighter 2

IMPORTANT UPDATE: My GenMobile has gone dead on me. It was owned for less than a year, played only occasionally, and treated like a king. I will not and cannot endorse this pathetic, shoddy worksmanship when my ACTUAL Sega Genesis which I have owned for over a DECADE is still working while this thing decided it couldn't take the heat. I have docked this piece of junk two stars for this insolence. NO LONGER EVEN SLIGHTLY RECOMMENDED! GET THE ORIGINAL PRODUCT!

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I own the Retrogen, GenMobile, and the Nomad and they all have their strengths and weaknesses.

I suspect the Retrogen and GenMobile were made in the same factories because they have the same compatibility with games, same sound issues, same build quality, and same "Firecore" menu.

Compatibility Winner: Nomad

The Nomad has actual Genesis hardware inside, while the Retrogen and GenMobile use emulation. I've run across a few games that don't work at all on the Retrogen and GenMobile (such as Super Street Fighter 2). The Nomad on the other hand will play any game, even Virtua Racing. The Nomad uses the same video and power cable as the model 2 Genesis and has a controller port that accepts any Genesis controller for player 2. The Retrogen and GenMobile don't even have a controller port, making them 1 player only systems. They will play most Genesis games, but you might run into 1 or 2 that don't work.

Screen Winner: draw

The Nomad has the biggest screen but being technology from the mid-90's, it is very hard to see. The Retrogen's screen is smaller than the Nomad's, but it's a huge improvement in clarity. It's not perfect, as there is a slight green tint (very noticeable on blacks and yellows) and the viewing angle is not as good as the GenMobile. The GenMobile has an even smaller screen than the Retrogen, but it is brighter and has a wider viewing angle. It depends if you want a bigger screen or more brightness.

Sound Winner: Nomad

Games sound as they should be on the Nomad, where as on the Retrogen and GenMobile they are off pitch. Streets of Rage 2 just sounds awful on the Retrogen and GenMobile. The Retrogen and GenMobile also only output mono sound.

Controls Winner: Nomad

The dpad and buttons on the Nomad are excellent. On the Retrogen and GenMobile the dpads don't pivot and can be pressed in the center, which is annoying. The GenMobile's dpad is actually made up of 2 separate pieces split diagonally. The buttons are ok. The dpads are the main problem. This is not a huge deal unless you are playing fighting games where precise movements are required.

Battery Winner: Retrogen and GenMobile

The Nomad takes AA batteries and drains them in no time. The Retrogen and GenMobile have built-in rechargeable batteries which lasts much longer. The Retrogen comes with a charging cable that ends in a usb plug, which you can charge in any computer or device with a usb port. The GenMobile comes with a wall adapter that you plug into any wall outlet. They both have the same mini-usb port, so you can use the wall adapter on the Retrogen or usb cable on the GenMobile. The downside is that if and when the rechargeable batteries die, you won't be able to replace them.

Portability Winner: Retrogen and GenMobile

The Nomad is very big and heavy, while the Retrogen and GenMobile are a fraction of the size and weight. The Retrogen and GenMobile are very lightweight. They do have a cheapish feel.

Built-in Games Winner: GenMobile

The Nomad doesn't have any built-in games. The Retrogen has 20 built-in homebrew games, which are very boring and you'll only play them once before getting tired of them. The GenMobile has 20 actual Genesis games built-in, which are much better.

Also, the GenMobile is licensed by Sega and has the Sega Genesis logos on the box (as well as a sticker on the unit, which can come off easily). The Retrogen is not licensed. You also get a wrist strap with the GenMobile. The GenMobile even has a better box than the Retrogen (it has magnets to hold the box closed instead of velcro).

Overall, the Retrogen feels like an older version of the GenMobile.

The GenMobile is a decent alternative to the Nomad, but you have to sacrifice a bit of sound/compatibility/controls for portability/battery life/screen quality.

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I bought this handheld because I wanted to play my old Genesis games again, it plays every Genesis game I own. It comes with a charger and holds up to 8 hrs and it has 20 official Genesis games built in. You can even plug in the A/V plug to a television, I haven't tested this yet though. The sound on it is pretty good, its only one speaker so don't expect a Dolby sound system. The d-pad is pretty nice for most games except for Street Fighter 2 and other fighting games, the buttons are also awkward for fighters, but its not a problem if you don't play them. I recommend this system for anyone who misses their old Genesis games and the most important part, you can play it on the go!

Pro: -plays Genesis games on the go!

-20 official Genesis games built in

-extra cartridge slot

-smaller than a Sega Nomad & Gear Gear (it fits in your pocket)

-long battery life and rechargeable

Cons: -button layout is strange

-D pad is not desired for fighters, should of been like a Sega Genesis D-pad

The Genmoble includes 20 games built in:

Alien Storm

Altered Beast

Sonic Spinball

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle

Arrow Flash

Kid Chameleon

Decap Attack

Crack Down (1989)

Columns III

Sonic & Knuckles

Eswat: City Under Siege

Ecco

Gain Ground

Flicky

Golden Axe

Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master

Ecco Jr.

Jewel Master

Shadow Dancer

*These games below work with the Genmoble's extra cartridge slot(I tested them)*

The Punisher

Vectorman 2

Rocketknight Adventures

Primal Rage

Last Battle

Hellfire

WWF Raw

WWF Wrestlemania: The Arcade Game

Road Rash 2

Battletoads

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters

Talespin

Ranger X

Virtual Bart

Lethal Enforcers (hard to play without the lightgun, but still fun)

NBA Jam

Zombies Ate My Neighbors

Genesis 6 Pak

Spiderman: Separation Anxiety

Cool Spot

Mercs

Operation Europe

Streets of Rage 2

Street Fighter 2:CE

Sonic 2

Sonic 3

Beavis and Butthead

Toe Jam and Earl

Toe jam and Earl: Panic on Funkotron

Aladdin

Tiny Toon Adventures : Buster's Hidden Treasure ( btw great game)

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First off, I'd like to let the viewers know that I have 3 Game Gears. If one can find a Game Gear for under 20 dollars with working sound, you are very fortunate. Game Gears have 8 bit graphics, and the picture quality fades quickly. Game Gears also aren't very portable. In addition to the crappy blurry picture of the Game Gear, the games cost money. You can find some on Amazon for 1 penny, although you have to pay 4 dollars for shipping. I bought 7 games this way, and most cost more than a penny.

Where was this little gem the whole time? 16 bit graphics and 20 games built-in, and BRAND SPANKING NEW! This sounds stupid, but I feel special owning this. The games are fair to good, while some like Golden Axe, Shinobi III and Shadow Dancer are great. I secretly love Sonic Spinball also. shh! Yeah, the sound really is average to poor, but the gameplay is incredible. I can guarantee you that if you buy this system, you will play it for at least 3 to 4 hours on arrival. You'll also forget about the subpar sound quickly, as I did. I just turned down the volume, and really became involved.

An alternative would be to purchase a PSP and the Sega Genesis Collection which includes almost the same exact games. It's really an issue of finances for some when it comes down to it. (To add: One major advantage with GenMobile is nonexistent load times)

I'd also like to give 2 thumbs up to Classic Game Source Inc. I ordered this product, but without the 20 games (don't recommend) at first, and asked them to cancel it. They canceled the order immediately without sending it. I reordered this, and received the RetroGen with the 20 games in 2 days.

update December 2010I now have 3 Retrogens and they are used on a regular (Monday through Friday) basis by kids. All 3 still work fine. Usually if something seems wrong, plug it in with the included charger, and everything works perfect again. Peace, Lou

3 year update 11/12: This little system is so impressive. I bought 3 of these which get regular use, and all 3 still work.

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Well, I was pretty excited to see this. I didn't think that anything like this even exsisted. At Fifty dollars, who could say no! Well, let me tell you. Its not a TERRIBLE deal, but mine is already broken. I havent even had the thing a month. BECAREFUL when loading the cartridges into the slot, thats how mine quit. It wont turn on.

Once again, not a TERRIBLE deal, but only if you have fifty bucks to blow and caring hands.

Cool Features:

Plugs into television slot via AUX cables.

Doesnt require batteries, rechargable included.

Its something INNOVATIVE!

Good Battery Life.

Poor Features:

Too small.

Feels cheap.

Screen is too small.

All in all, I'd have to say....in the end...its probably not worth the money. Save a coulple bucks and buy a used Genesis Console.