Remember when Sonic first hit the Sega Genesis? That first level, Green Hill Zone, was like nothing else at the time—rolling through loops at breakneck speed, bouncing off springs, and barely dodging spikes while that iconic soundtrack played. It’s simple at first—just run right and jump—but those later zones get brutal if you don’t nail the momentum.

I still panic when I hear the drowning music in Labyrinth Zone. And don’t get me started on Marble Zone’s disappearing blocks—timing those jumps never gets easier. But that first time you spin-dash through a line of badniks? Pure satisfaction.

It’s a classic for a reason, even if the physics feel a little stiff compared to later games. You can tell they were still figuring out how fast Sonic should really be.