Noah Smith

This captures the spirit of the old games, but in the worst way. Before any 30-something veteran gamer calls me an intitled Gen Z brat, I have played all of the games 1-Sonic and Knuckles on the Sega Genesis. Anyway, this game has the short bursts of speed and dumb traps of the 3rd and 4th games, but has references and boss fights that call back to all of the classics. The traps always bugged me the most even in the old games, and for that reason I always thought Sonic 2 was the best: Some puzzles and platforming, but still the same fast-paced Sonic game from before. The first was too easy, the later games too hard, but 2 was perfect. This game emulates the later classics more, but get it if you're into that. Personally, I give them credit for the original music and stages they made, as well as keeping the same style. But, if you like the more platform-y elements of the older games, get it.