James Pond 3 is basically what happens if you take a secret agent fish, crank up the speed, and throw in some Mario-style branching paths. It’s way faster than Robocod—you’ll be bouncing off walls and sliding around like you’re on ice half the time, which takes some getting used to. But once it clicks, zipping through levels with that weird fish physics feels oddly satisfying.

The levels sprawl out in different directions like Super Mario World, so you can take shortcuts or go exploring for hidden stuff. Some routes are way harder than others, and I definitely got stuck a few times trying to figure out where to go next. The underwater jetpack sections are a nice break from the usual running and jumping, even if the controls are a little floaty.

It’s not perfect, but there’s something charming about how over-the-top it all is. You’ll know within the first few levels whether the chaotic energy works for you.