Since the launch of the 3DS eShop in June of 2011, Nintendo have offered up a selection of classic NES and GameBoy titles which have been welcomed with open arms. While there’s been plenty of great additions so far, it’s been a little disheartening that every single Virtual Console release has come exclusively from past Nintendo consoles.

Finally that’s all set to change later this afternoon with the latest e-Shop update bringing three classic titles from Sega’s much loved (and derided) behemoth of a handheld, the Game Gear.

Launched in 1991 as a competitor to the Nintendo GameBoy, Sega’s Game Gear was groundbreaking in many ways. It had a huge colour screen and made use of additional tat like a TV adapter. Sadly its fleeting battery life and huge size made it a troublesome beast, and it couldn’t compete with Nintendo’s hugely successful GameBoy. For many gamers it remains a fondly remembered console with some notable games, making it a once worthy competitor.

Three of the Game Gear’s most respected games will be spearheading its 3DS debut – Sonic The Hedgehog: Triple Trouble, Shinobi and Dragon Crystal. Triple Trouble was an exclusive Sonic title for the Game Gear and will cost you £4.50, while ninja sidescroller Shinobi will be slightly cheaper at £3.60. Finally, lengthy RPG Dragon Crystal is predictably the cheapest of the three at a mere £2.70.

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