Jim Power on the Genesis is one of those early '90s platformers that looks way prettier than it has any right to be—bright colors, weirdly detailed sprites, and these trippy parallax backgrounds that scroll at different speeds. At first glance, you'd think it's just another run-and-gun, but then you realize Jim's got this weird double jump that takes some getting used to, and the level design gets brutal fast.

You'll bounce between alien planets and lava-filled factories, grabbing power-ups that actually feel worth hunting for (the spread shot saves lives). The music’s got that classic synth-rock vibe, all crunchy bass and cheesy melodies. It’s not the smoothest game—expect some janky hitboxes—but there’s something satisfying about nailing a tricky jump section after five tries. Definitely more of a "masochistic weekend project" than a casual playthrough.

If you’ve got nostalgia for the era or just like punishing platformers, it’s worth dusting off the cartridge.