The 8-bit version of Ristar on the Game Gear is if anything even more impressive to look at than the Mega Drive version when considered within the restraints of it's hardware, looking as good or better than many games on 16-bit hardware. Much like the graphics the controls are completely uncompromised too, Ristar controlling near identically to how he does in the 16-bit version. It also mostly doesn't suffer from the same mean difficulty curve towards the end apart from a cruel final boss rush, the levels following a similar path to Sonic the Hedgehog 8-bit with a mix of direct ports, alternate levels with the same themes, and completely original worlds which ends up making Ristar 8-bit worth playing even if you've played the original.