Okay, so Sonic – The Lost Land 2 is one of those obscure Genesis gems that never got the spotlight it deserved. You boot it up, and right away, the soundtrack hits you with that classic Sega synth—way moodier than the usual Sonic fare. The first level throws you into this weird, overgrown jungle zone with vines you can actually swing from, which feels surprisingly fresh for a 16-bit platformer.

Controls are tight, but the physics are a little floaty compared to the mainline Sonic games—takes a minute to adjust. And the power-ups? Some wild stuff in here, like a temporary double jump that makes boss fights way less frustrating. Honestly, I got stuck on the second zone’s underwater section for way too long before realizing you can tap the dash button to swim faster. Classic Genesis-era jank, but in a charming way.

If you dig hidden retro platformers, this one’s got personality for days. Just don’t expect it to play exactly like Sonic 3.