Castle of Illusion is one of those Sega Genesis gems that just oozes charm. You play as Mickey Mouse—not the cutesy modern version, but the classic, determined little guy—hopping through these surreal, dreamlike levels to rescue Minnie from Mizrabel’s creepy castle. The first thing you’ll notice is how weirdly pretty it is for a 16-bit game: bouncing on giant playing cards, dodging living furniture, and sliding down candy-colored hills like you’re trapped in a Disney fever dream.

The platforming’s got some bite to it, too. You’ll toss apples at enemies (because apparently that’s Mickey’s weapon of choice), but the real challenge is the level layouts—some jumps feel just a pixel too tight, especially when the screen starts auto-scrolling. And that music? Still catchy as hell, especially the toy-themed world with its jingle-like soundtrack.

It’s short, yeah, but there’s something about the way it blends whimsy with just enough challenge that makes it stick with you. If you’ve got a soft spot for retro platformers, this one’s worth revisiting.