REVIEW | Sega Nomad - Sega's Black Beauty

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Above all the retro consoles and/or handheld I wanted to acquire, nothing intrigued me more than the Sega Nomad.

Released only in the US in 1995, this hybrid portable console predates the Nintendo Switch with it's ability to play nearly all of the Sega Genesis game library whether on handheld or on the TV. It also included a 2nd player port for some multiplayer action.

However, the LCD panel is a blurry mess when in motion, the quality of the visuals shows a really washed out look on the LCD. As the LCD is also backlit, this leads to poor battery life with six double A batteries clocking in less than two hours of gameplay at a time, which makes this portable system not so ideal to take on a long road trip. 

Speaking of portability, the Nomad is a beast in terms of size, it's bulky and doesn't bother to fit into your pocket. But what you get is a sturdy handheld that can, relatively withstand some aggressive button mashing.

The direction pad and the six-button layout looks a bit odd at first, but once you start using them, but I daresay it does feel smoother to use than the regular controls. The speakers does its job well, but if you don't want to disturb others around you, you can always plug in earphones in the audio jack.

Playing console games on a portable system back in the day was the dream come true. Whether it was Contra Hard Corps or Phantasy Star II, I was deeply enthralled by the idea of how cool this system was compared to the Game Gear or the Game Boy that only does a fraction of the Nomad's (blast) processing power.

So, is it worth having this portable system in 2019?

Asides from the current hefty price for the system and with what I've mentioned above it doesn't seem like its the ideal portable system to have. 

Poor battery life, blurry and washed out visuals on the LCD screen is a deal breaker in 2019 as some of these Genesis game have been compiled on various system such as on your smartphones, the Sega Genesis Collection for the PSP/PSVITA, the Sega Ages series and the Sega Genesis Collection on the Switch and heck even on the 3DS with the 3D remasters of Sonic, Gunstar Heroes and Streets of Rage are among other available cheaper options. So, that's a resounding no.

Despite it all, the modding community has been active in extending the life of the black beauty. From making new shells, adding an internal rechargeable battery to upgrading the LCD panel for longer battery life.

When I received my Sega Nomad back in 2012, it had already been modified with a new TFT LCD panel. Not only does it gives out clear visuals but also helped a lot in terms of battery life. When fully charged, I managed to put in at least six to eight hours of gameplay before recharging the batteries again. 

While far from a perfect portable console these mods are a godsend, especially if you're a big Sega fan who just want to play a few hours of Pier Solar on the go, using actual hardware without having to worry about battery life or messy visuals. I'd say that's a yes, it's worth getting this souped up version of the Nomad.

Whatever your choice may be, I personally cherrish my Nomad to no end. It's great novelty item but marred by the technical limitations of the time. With a few tinkering, you can get a lot of gaming out of this system. 

- Gamers' Hideout BN