Metal Sonic Hyperdrive is one of those Genesis gems that slipped under the radar but absolutely rips if you're into fast-paced platformers. You play as Metal Sonic—yeah, the one who usually gives regular Sonic a hard time—blasting through levels with this slick hyperdrive boost that makes normal Sonic look like he's jogging in molasses.

The first level throws you right into it: neon-bright industrial zones, springs that launch you halfway across the screen, and these satisfyingly chunky enemy robots that explode into gears when you plow through them. The controls take a second to click—holding down the boost button too long overheats your systems—but once you get the rhythm, weaving through obstacles at full speed feels incredible.

It's got that classic Sega attitude, right down to the crunchy synth soundtrack. Just don't expect it to go easy on you—some of those later boss fights had me resetting more times than I'd like to admit. If you ever wished Sonic games had more mech vibes and less loop-de-loops, this one's worth digging up.