It has some ups and downs for me. It’s premised on speed and momentum and crazy loops. The first zone of the first game does a lot to establish that. It then promptly throws it all away in the second zone with a water level that puts in stops everywhere.

Second game figured out the formula.

To reopen the 16-bit playground wars, looking back at the merits of just the games, I’m surprised this was ever considered competition for Super Mario World. Sonic is fine, but Mario World is a masterpiece of design.