Quite possibly the strangest, most experimental game I've ever played, Sonic Frontiers is for me the definitive example of a wholly unique platformer. Damn near everything in Frontiers is bodged together and noticeably flawed (at least everything that isn't utter rubbish), but the benefits of this wonderfully loose design are nigh-impossible to count.

Breaking this game over my knee is more pure joy than almost anything else in this franchise, and what genuinely does work helps all that partially-successful weirdness to amount to a great experience. I could (and would happily) point out countless glaring problems with this game, but when I actually sit down and play the damn thing I'm usually having a lovely time. Sonic Frontiers is about as far from as perfect as is generally possible, but it is undeniably a beautiful mess.

Pizza Tower is prob- scratch that, by far the most relentlessly stylish, adrenaline-pumping game I've had the pleasure of experiencing in recent memory. A palpable, unmistakable energy is proudly displayed throughout every inch of this tower, elevated further by consistently fantastic level design and the intensely lovable Peppino's inherently fun, genuinely meaningful set of core mechanics - not to mention the cavalcade of increasingly awesome level gimmicks. A mostly bangin' series of boss fights, the legendarily-executed Pizza Time mechanic, and a magnetic desire to master every stage rounds out an unforgettable game I'll no doubt be comin' back to constantly.

Probably the closest to a perfect game I've ever witnessed, Klonoa: Door to Phantomile is to say the least a special experience, on top of being a damn fine old-school platformer. You're never bored or fatigued with the core mechanics despite them rarely being deviated from, and platforming about stays satisfying as all get-out from start to finish. Oh yeah, and the storytelling is exquisite for such an old release, building a beautiful, fascinating world, and expertly delivering some genuinely emotional moments! Probably the easiest single game I could recommend to people, certainly moreso than Final Fantasy VII despite me loving the latter a lot more.

Objectively, Sonic 3D Blast sucks. The basic progression structure is super-monotonous, level design can be annoying as hell when it isn't distractingly samey and undercooked, diagonal movement can be physically tiring after a while (depending on the controller in use of course)... I'm aware that this game ain't great. At the same time, how could I possibly dislike something that's this much of a weird time capsule? I can't get enough of the tacky mid-'90s CGI, legitimately excellent soundtrack (actually my favourite in this whole franchise!) and gameplay I probably enjoy more than I really should. I don't know, it works for me as a simple, casual l'il exploration platformer. There's a reason I replay it every so often, more than most games starring this bloody blue bastard.