Alright, so Sonic 2 on the Genesis—classic, right? But have you tried Sonic 2Z? It's a romhack that tweaks the original game just enough to feel fresh without losing what made it great. You still blast through Green Hill at ridiculous speeds, but now there are new level layouts, some adjusted physics, and even a few surprises in the later zones. The first time I hit Chemical Plant and realized the paths were different, I had to pause just to process it.

It’s still unmistakably Sonic—same controls, same music, same satisfying spin-dash—but it’s like playing a slightly alternate universe version. Some of the changes are subtle (why does this ramp send me flying farther now?), while others, like the revamped boss fights, are way more obvious. If you’ve played the original to death, this’ll trip you up in the best way. Just don’t expect Tails to be any less of a liability in water levels.

Definitely worth a spin if you’ve got a Genesis emulator handy.