Alex Kidd – Tenkuu Majou is one of those classic Sega platformers that feels equal parts charming and frustrating in the best way. You’re thrown right into this floating castle full of weird enemies—some of them just bounce around, others shoot fireballs, and good luck figuring out which ones to punch or avoid at first. The controls take a second to get used to, but once you do, it’s satisfying to nail those jumps between tiny platforms while dodging projectiles.

The music’s got that classic Sega synth sound, and the levels are bright and colorful, even if some of the obstacles feel downright mean. There’s a weird mix of easy sections and sudden difficulty spikes—like, one minute you’re cruising, the next you’re getting knocked into a pit by some flying thing you didn’t see coming. But that’s part of the retro charm, I guess. If you grew up with this era of platformers, it’s a fun (and occasionally rage-inducing) trip down memory lane.

Just don’t expect a walk in the park—this one makes you work for the win.