Okay, so Miracle Adventure of Esparks is one of those Game Boy games that somehow nails that perfect mix of "simple but punishing." You play as this little lightning dude—Esparks—and yeah, the controls are tight, but those pixel-perfect jumps? Brutal in the best way.

The first level throws you right into it: zapping floating eyeball enemies, bouncing off clouds that vanish if you hesitate, and dodging spikes that come out of nowhere. The music’s got that classic chiptune energy, all bouncy and slightly frantic, which fits because you’ll be retrying sections a lot. Not gonna lie, I died like five times before I figured out the timing on the third screen.

What’s cool is how the lightning mechanic actually matters—you can’t just spam it. Some enemies take two hits, others reflect your shots, and there’s this weird satisfaction when you chain a perfect combo. Later levels get wild with teleporters and disappearing platforms, but it never feels unfair, just… very 90s-hard.

If you’ve got a soft spot for games that don’t hold your hand, this one’s a hidden gem. Just bring patience (and maybe a Game Boy light).