Ristar on Game Gear: Sega's platformer with the star with extendable arms. Creativity and unique gameplay adapted to portable. One of the best platformers on the console, unjustly overlooked.
Your verdict
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Platformer1 player3+
Description
Ristar, a small being with elastic arms, extends his arms to grab enemies and swing through levels in this Sega platformer. Published by Sega, released in Europe in December 1995. 2D platformer with Ristar's elastic arms to grab and propel enemies, varied planets, creative bosses. European version.
Ristar review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
A small stellar being with elastic arms, Ristar moves through planets of sumptuous colour and settings of a richness rare for the console. The hero's expressive roundness and the vividness of the hues overflow with charm. This visual generosity, polished and warm, showcases all of Sega's talent in the machine's late years.
Luminous and singing, the music of Tomoko Sasaki and Naofumi Hataya unfurls colourful pop melodies of an irresistible tropical gentleness. Each planet pulses with a catchy theme that embraces the bouncing whimsy of the adventure. This 8-bit freshness, joyful and polished, remains one of the finest sonic showcases on the console.
Ristar is among the last great Sega platformers to reach Game Gear at the console's twilight, which explains its slim European run and high loose value. Released in December 1995 as attention shifted to 32-bit hardware, it barely circulated boxed, and complete PAL copies climb fast. Its standing as a forgotten gem, anchored by Sega's signature stretch-armed hero, sustains genuine demand among handheld platformer enthusiasts rather than mere speculation.
Is Ristar still worth playing in 2026?
A late Sega platformer, Ristar stars a little star with elastic arms who grabs enemies and ledges to fling himself and strike. The stretching mechanic, original and exhilarating, feeds an inventive level design and a shimmering art direction typical of the late 8 bit era. The Game Gear version keeps the essence of that freshness, despite the small screen. For a fan of inventive platforming or someone curious about Sega's late gems, the title keeps a charm and singularity well intact.
