Adventure Island on Game Boy is one of those classic platformers that looks cute but will absolutely wreck you if you're not careful. You play as Master Higgins, this little dude in a grass skirt who runs, jumps, and throws axes (because why not?) through jungles and caves to save his girlfriend. The first level tricks you into thinking it's all sunshine and fruit collecting—then suddenly you're getting dive-bombed by angry birds and dodging rolling boulders.

What makes it stand out are the weird little power-ups, like hopping on a skateboard (which is both awesome and a death trap) or riding a dinosaur that spits fire. The controls take some getting used to—Higgins slides around like he's on butter sometimes—but once it clicks, you'll be hooked. The music is stupidly catchy too; I still hum the first stage theme randomly.

It's tough as nails later on, but in that satisfying "one more try" way. Just don't throw your Game Boy when you die to the same jump five times. We've all been there.