1. The Nintendo Game Boy Color
The Nintendo Game Boy Color is one of the most iconic handheld gaming devices of all time. It was released in 1996 and brought color to the world of handheld gaming. With a 256-color screen, it offered an impressive step-up from the black and white of its predecessor, the Game Boy.
One of the key features of the Game Boy Color was its ability to play games in both monochrome and color modes. This allowed developers to create games that took advantage of the additional colors without sacrificing gameplay on older systems. The device also introduced a touch screen interface, which would later become a staple for many handheld gaming devices.
2. The Sega Genesis
While the Genesis was not a handheld device, it is worth mentioning as one of the most popular consoles of the ’90s. It was released in 1989 and quickly became known for its impressive graphics and large game library.
Many of the games released on the Sega Genesis were later ported to handheld devices, such as the Game Gear. This meant that players could enjoy some of their favorite games on-the-go, including Sonic the Hedgehog and Street Fighter II.
3. The Sony PlayStation
The Sony PlayStation was released in 1994 and quickly became one of the most successful gaming consoles of all time. It introduced many new features, such as CD-ROMs instead of cartridges, which allowed for larger game sizes and faster load times.
While the PlayStation was not a handheld device, it did pave the way for future portable gaming systems. The success of the PlayStation meant that Sony had a lot of resources to invest in developing new technology, which eventually led to the development of the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in 2004.
4. The Nintendo 64
The Nintendo 64 was released in 1996 and was one of the most successful consoles of the ’90s. It introduced many new features, such as analog sticks and the ability to play games in 3D.
Many of the games developed for the N64 were later ported to handheld devices, such as the Game Boy Advance (GBA). This meant that players could enjoy some of their favorite games on-the-go, including Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
5. The GBA
The GBA was released in 2001 and was the successor to the Game Boy Advance. It was a massive leap forward for handheld gaming, with its powerful hardware and large library of games.
One of the key features of the GBA was its ability to play games in both monochrome and color modes. This allowed developers to create games that took advantage of the additional colors without sacrificing gameplay on older systems. The device also introduced a touch screen interface, which became a staple for many handheld gaming devices.
Conclusion
The 1990s were an exciting time for video games, with many iconic titles and devices emerging. While handheld gaming had already been around for a while, the ’90s saw a major shift in the way we played on-the-go. In this article, we have looked at some of the most influential handheld video game devices that debuted in the ’90s and seen how they shaped the industry.