Musical ant character platformer on Game Gear. Colourful visuals and musical themed levels. Accessible and fun. The Game Gear little sibling of 32X's Tempo.
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Category
Platformer1 player3+
Description
Tempo the musical cricket battles Dr Genre's robots in colourful musical worlds in this Sega Game Gear platformer. Published by Sega, released in the United States in January 1995. 2D platformer with Tempo using musical skills, varied musical world levels, creative bosses. US edition.
The US edition of Tempo Jr. shares its PAL twin's scarcity but diverges on price: a far cheaper loose cart against a complete and sealed copy that soar, a sign of heavy attrition among poorly kept NTSC cardboard boxes. Sega's musical platformer stayed niche in 1995 America, overshadowed by the Genesis and 32X. Desirability rests on the difficulty of sourcing a complete original, not on the title itself.
Is Tempo Jr. still worth playing in 2026?
A late, colourful Sega platformer, Tempo Jr. stars a young musician cricket facing Dr Genre's robots across worlds set to music. The sparkling art direction, the expressive animations and the good natured spirit appeal, in an accessible, joyful gameplay that bets on charm more than challenge. The production is among the machine's most appealing. For a fan of cute retro platforming or someone curious about the Game Gear's late gems, the title keeps a colourful, warm appeal.
