The Strangest Special Edition SEGA Game Gear Ever Made
Nintendo and SEGA's console war didn't just take place in kids' living rooms.
It also took place outside due to the presence of both companies' respective handheld machines. Nintendo dominated the market with the Game Boy, while SEGA came out swinging with its Game Gear (the less said about the Sega Nomad, the better). Unlike the Game Boy, the Game Gear offered full-color visuals, a backlit screen, and a landscape format. The Game Gear played host to a library of games that featured popular SEGA IP's, such as Sonic the Hedgehog, The G.G. Shinobi, and Space Harrier.
Like most consoles, the Game Gear came in different variations via special editions. There's one rare Game Gear model that most gamers have never even seen or heard of. And it just so happens to have ties to one of the world's biggest soft drink brands. That special Game Gear console is simply referred to as the Coca-Cola Game Gear.
The Coca Cola branded Game Gear is a Japan-exclusive version of the retro handheld
Back in 1994, SEGA partnered up with The Coca-Cola Company to release a game called Coca-Cola Kid.
The game's premise focused on the soft drink company's Japanese mascot at the time and saw him go out of his way to save his kidnapped teacher. Along with a cartridge of Coca-Cola Kid, a special red version of the Game Gear handheld came bundled with it. And what made that version of the console even more special was the special Coca-Cola logo placed in its bottom left corner. Both the game and Coca-Cola branded Game Gear were only released in Japan.
If you're on the lookout for this super rare bundle, you'll have to pony up a few hundreds to obtain one. Copies of the special handheld have been listed for sale on eBay for $800+. And if you're in the market for another special edition of the Game Gear, there's a dark blue version of the handheld that was released in conjunction with Disney's The Lion King.