Mega Man Xtreme on the Game Boy Color is basically a pocket-sized version of the SNES classics, and honestly? It pulls it off way better than you'd expect. You jump right into X’s armor, blasting through Mavericks in tight, bite-sized levels that still manage to cram in all the wall-jumping, dashing, and boss weapon-stealing the series is known for.

The graphics pop for a GBC game—those sprite animations when you charge your buster still feel satisfying. And yeah, the music’s got that classic Mega Man synth-rock vibe, even if it’s a little tinny through the handheld speaker. First time I played, I got wrecked by Chill Penguin’s stage (ice physics, man), but nailing that perfect run later felt so good.

It’s not just nostalgia bait, either. The level design forces you to actually use the weapons you steal, not just spam the buster. I still remember finally beating Storm Eagle’s stage by abusing his tornado attack on the minibosses. Classic Mega Man cheese.

If you’ve got a soft spot for 16-bit action or just want a tough-but-fair platformer for your GBC, this one’s a no-brainer.