Ecco: The Tides of Time on the Sega Master System picks up right where the first game left off—you're still this weirdly powerful dolphin saving the ocean from alien invaders, but now everything's cranked up a notch. The levels feel bigger, the puzzles are trickier, and the whole thing has this eerie, dreamlike vibe that sticks with you. I remember getting stuck for ages in that one cave with the spinning crystals before realizing you had to time your sonar just right.

It's definitely a sequel—same beautiful, floaty swimming mechanics, same haunting music, but with some new abilities like that weird dolphin dash that sends you flying through tunnels. Not gonna lie, some sections are brutal (looking at you, jellyfish maze), but figuring them out feels so satisfying. If you liked the first game, this one's worth diving into—just maybe keep a walkthrough handy for the really obscure bits.