Introducing the Blaze Sega Mega Drive handheld gaming system. This neat little device comes with 20 classic Sega Genesis games that are playable on its own color LCD display. Unlike the bulky old Sega Nomad and Game Gear, however, this svelte retro handheld easily fits in your pocket. Somewhere between the size of the classic Gameboy Advance and an iPhone, the Blaze portable feels like the perfect Sega handheld system, if Sega were still in the hardware market. UK-based company Blaze Europe has licensed the rights to 20 retro games from the 16-bit Sega system, and these are accessible via convenient menu screen on the device. Highlights include Sonic & Knuckles, Alex Kidd, Altered Beast, and Golden Axe. Unfortunately, once you tire of the included games, there is no way to upload new roms to the machine.

Hardware features include a small but servicable 2.2″ LCD display, directional pad and three face buttons. The unit also comes with a headphone jack and A/V composite cable, allowing players to connect the device to a standard television set. Just like the old Game Gear, the Blaze handheld runs off of AA batteries (only three are required this time). The manufacturer claims battery life in the range of 8-10 hours.

The Blase Sega Mega Drive handheld currently retails in Britain for £29.35 ($48 USD). This is not a bad price considering that many PSP games and Square Enix DS titles retail for more money. If you are a fan of retro gaming and of the Sega Genesis in particular, the Blaze handheld will bive you plenty of bang for your buck. Continue reading to check out an image of the actual device as well as the full list of games.

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