Okay, so Luigi and the Island of Mystery is one of those SNES hidden gems that makes you wonder why Luigi didn’t get more solo adventures back then. Right off the bat, you’re dropped onto this weird, lush island—no explanation, just Luigi looking confused (relatable). The vibe’s a mix of classic platforming and light puzzle-solving, like if Mario had to actually think instead of just jumping on everything.

The controls feel familiar but with little tweaks—Luigi’s jump is floatier, which takes some getting used to, but it actually helps with some of the trickier platforming sections. And the levels? They’re packed with secrets. I spent way too long poking at suspicious-looking bushes just to find a hidden coin stash or a shortcut.

What really stuck with me were the characters. There’s this one NPC, a talking coconut (yes, really), who gives you the most absurd side quests. It’s charming in that old-school, low-budget-translation way. The music’s got that bouncy SNES charm too—catchy but not annoying after the 50th time you replay a level.

If you’re into retro platformers with a side of weirdness, this one’s a solid pick. Just don’t expect Bowser to show up—it’s all about Luigi finally getting his own strange little adventure.