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You ever slide a handheld gaming device into your pocket when you were traveling or perhaps just going somewhere local? Perhaps you were playing it at home even and just slid it in because you had something else to do. Well, that’s the idea behind this article. I want to simply discuss why I miss the days of pocket handhelds.
What are Pocket Handhelds?
By pocket handhelds, I simply mean the handhelds that slide into your pockets. This could be the (paid links) Gameboy Color, PSP, PS Vita, Game Gear, Gameboy Micro and many more. While I understand you can technically fit a (paid link) Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite and Switch 2 in your pocket, it doesn’t quite fit the same. Those are more like handhelds you fit into a backpack.
What About Them Are So Special?
Well, the simplicity of it first of all. If you were born in the 90s, then you may have some memories of taking some form of a Gameboy to school with you or perhaps the DS and PSP. I know I had taken all of them at some point. I would play them during lunch, recess or basically any chance I could get. It isn’t quite the same now when you look at it. Yeah, the handhelds we have now, including the (paid link) Steam Deck are nice but they aren’t exactly the friendliest systems to travel with, especially when you consider battery life.
The History of Pocket Handhelds
Before we begin, just a quick note. When I am writing about release dates below, just know I am referring to the North American release date, as I am a North American writer.
The Gameboy
There were a couple handheld gaming devices before the Nintendo Gameboy, such as the (paid link) Mattel Auto Race, which had a singular game on it and then the (paid link) Nintendo Game & Watch, which was also a singular game. You could later find (paid link) Game & Watch Gallery titles on the Nintendo Gameboy, which released in 1989 and was the first handheld to offer a variety of games to play via cartridges. Some of the first games for the original Gameboy included (paid links) Super Mario Land, Alleyway & Baseball.
Sega Game Gear
Released in 1991, the (paid link) Game Gear was Sega’s answer to Nintendo’s Gameboy. It offered a variety of games and in color too. Launch titles included games such as (paid links) Dragon Crystal, Castle of Illusion, Columns and a few more. The system lasted 7 years, ending in 1997 in Japan but lasted 11 years in NA, ending in 2002. I never personally owned one of these systems but I probably will grab one at some point.
Gameboy Color
After the success of the Gameboy, we later received the Gameboy Color in 1998. This neat device gave, you guessed it, color to our handheld games. Even the original Gameboy titles benefited from this. Some of the most notable Gameboy Color games were (paid links) Pokemon Gold, Silver and Crystal.
Gameboy Advance Lineup
Then we went to the Gameboy Advance in 2001, the SP in 2003 and (paid link) Micro in 2005. All of these systems were great in their own way and played the same type of games, the Advance games. The (paid link) Gameboy Advance SP specifically made a big improvement to the market by offering the first built in rechargeable battery, compared to the disposable double A batteries that were required. Now you could buy battery packs for the other systems, which I had a couple, but there was definitely something revolutionary about having a rechargeable battery from the start, something we take for granted now, on my opinion.
The GBA saw great original titles like the 3rd generation Pokemon games (paid links) Ruby & Sapphire, Legacy of Goku, Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga & Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap while also seeing a nice collection of ports like (paid links) Yoshi’s Island, Donkey Kong Country & Kirby Nightmare in Dream Land.
Sony PSP
The (paid link) PSP released in 2005 and what a system it was. Bringing the Playstation power on the go was a different experience. Now I didn’t get one of these until later into the system’s life but I have some great memories playing games such as (paid links) Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, Star Ocean First Departure, God of War: Chains of Olympus & Ghost of Sparta, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep & The 3rd Birthday. There are many more than that, but that’s the gist of what I spent most of my time on. The PSP had many great titles and truthfully, you can still find hidden gems on the system.
Nintendo DS Lineup
The original (paid link) Nintendo DS hit the market in 2006 and it really made quite the splash with dual touch screens. The top screen was what you, typically, would play your game on and the secondary bottom screen could act as a variety of tools. Add that with the touch screen, which a ton of games used.
Later, in 2007, we saw the release of the (paid link) Nintendo DS Lite, which was a smaller version of the system with a brighter back light. I have to admit I used this more than my original. I also remember receiving (paid links) Digimon World Dusk & Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass with it for Christmas, which is a great memory.
Nintendo 3DS Lineup
Following the success of the DS, we received the (paid link) 3DS which included a slider on the side of the top screen that allowed game to have a 3D appearance without the need for gimmick glasses. All 3DS games tried to take advantage of this for a while but ultimately, I feel like it was a flop. Not the 3DS system itself but the technology behind the 3D. Nintendo later released the Nintendo 3DS XL line, which had some cool collector editions such as the (paid link) Majora’s Mask edition. Then we later received the (paid link) 2DS, which traded the typical folded design for a standard handheld look.
Finally, we received the (paid link) new 2DS XL, which offered much nicer models that folded with the 3D option. This is the DS system I use the most, as I snagged one of the (paid link) Pokeball edition years ago. I also still own the original (paid link) 3DS Occarina of Time edition.
Sony PS Vita
One of my favorite handheld systems and for good reason. Released in 2012 in America, the system saw a ton of niche games, some that are still locked away in the system’s library. Two of the most notable games that most people know about are (paid link) Gravity Rush, which I just did a review for and (paid link) Persona 4 Golden. What really stood out about the Vita are the touch screens. Not only was the main screen capable of touch commands and gameplay but so was the back of the system itself. One game that took advantage of that was (paid link) Little Deviants.
Unfortunately for the Vita, Sony abandoned it not long after release and it was left to obscurity. This didn’t stop myself, Downs and some of our other friends giving it love during the Amino days. Downs and I wrote a whole article showing some appreciation for the system, which you can view here.
The Memories
Car rides and handheld systems were certainly better, in my opinion, than now. I’m not against bringing my Switch or Switch 2 but let me be real, the complete ease of pulling my Vita out of its case and playing it was a different experience altogether. A smaller system and smaller case than what we have to bring along now, which granted, the Vita and 3DS days aren’t that far gone but they feel like ages now.
Conclusion
Do you have any memories of a pocket handheld? Find us on one of our socials and let us know about it! Make sure to stay tuned for more articles and if you missed it, check out our Switch 2 anniversary article: A No Life User Versus “I Only Have An Hour” User. Until next time, happy gaming!
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