Project MD is one of those Genesis games that nails that classic 16-bit feel—the kind where you boot it up and immediately get hit with chunky pixel art and a soundtrack that sounds like it’s straight out of 1993. You start off with this little dude (or dudette, can’t remember if there’s a character select) who moves with that satisfyingly stiff platformer precision, jumping between floating platforms while some synth-heavy track blares in the background.

The first level throws you right into it—no tutorials, just a quick scroll to the right while weird, low-res enemies pop out. I died like three times figuring out the attack timing, but once it clicks, you get into this rhythm of ducking under projectiles and landing those pixel-perfect jumps. Boss fights are where it really shines though—huge, screen-filling monstrosities with attack patterns that feel tough but fair.

If you’ve got nostalgia for the era or just dig no-nonsense action platformers, this one’s a solid time capsule. Just don’t expect any hand-holding.