One of the all-time greats, plain and simple. Given that, and given its status as the blockbuster release of the Summer of '98, it's a remarkably humble little adventure (up until the point where they announce a sequel within the game itself - but by that point B-K's earned a little swagger). The actual focus of the game is on exploration, not action, but it always feels good to explore the game's worlds (well, maybe you have to psych yourself up for Clanker's Cavern and Rusty Bucket Bay). It's difficult for me to define the appeal of the game otherwise, but it really is something you have to sit down with and see for yourself.

What's really impressive to me on revisit is how complete the game is, knowing how many more features they wanted to put in. Everyone knows about Stop 'n' Swop these days, but there's also stuff like the unused worlds and the planned second quest. The game still hints at all of these things, but the game doesn't feel like it's missing something by their absence - as it is, it's a great, well-paced little adventure. The only thing that feels off is the strange maximum Note total - 900 rather than a round thousand - but even that's excusable as an eccentricity.

Grunty's Furnace Fun is quite simply one of the greatest sequences in all of gaming, especially if you're not briefed going in. Holy moly, was that a fun surprise on my first playthrough.