Man, Sonic Advance was such a big deal when it dropped on the GBA—first time Sonic ever showed up on a Nintendo system after Sega stopped making consoles. Feels weird now, but back then it was wild seeing him on a Game Boy.

It’s classic 2D Sonic—speed, loops, those little animal dudes popping out of robots—but with smoother sprites and some new moves like the spin dash. The levels are packed with alternate paths, so replaying them never gets old. First zone’s got this bright, bouncy vibe, but later ones throw in ice physics and lava pits to keep you on your toes.

Still holds up if you’re into the old-school Sonic feel, just with a handheld twist. Definitely the start of something good for Nintendo fans.