Ever wondered what Sonic would be like if he was a robot? This proof-of-concept hack for the Genesis lets you play as Mecha Sonic—basically a metallic, slightly clunkier version of our favorite blue blur. The controls feel familiar, but there's a satisfying mechanical whirr when you spin dash, and the sprite work actually looks pretty cool against the classic Green Hill Zone backdrop.

It's a short demo, but messing around with Mecha Sonic's slightly heavier physics makes the old levels feel weirdly fresh. You can tell it's an early mod (some animations are janky), but that's part of the charm. If you've played the original to death, this is a fun little "what if" to kill an afternoon with.