Wish I liked this more, but it truly has aged so poorly in it's mechanics. It's the awful Crash Bandicoot game design of "anything that looks remotely dangerous will instantly kill you" mixed with punishing setbacks and a clunky control scheme.

And it's a shame, because when you aren't frustrated trying to make a super precise shot or jump, the game is cool as hell. It looks fresh and impressive even today - in 1991 it would have felt unbelievable. the pixel art is gorgeous, and its minimalistic storytelling is done in such an understandable and digestible, yet still mysterious way. Even in its punishing gameplay, it makes the world at least feel dangerous and that the only way to survive is to know what's coming and perfect your moves.

Walked so a lot of other games can run, but it walks very, very slowly in 2023.