This is a game that is so close to greatness but falls short. The platforming is just as amazing as 2, which is some of the best controls in a platformer, and the general platforming levels are amazingly done. The problem lies in nearly 1/3 of the game being bogged down by stupid vehicle levels that ruin the flow of the game. Even on my first playthrough as a kid I remember constantly avoiding the vehicles levels in each hub until last because they just drag down the pace so much when you want to get back to the interesting and fun platforming levels. In the first warp room alone you have only 2 pure platforming levels, with a lame jet ski level, an underwater level and an auto runner. Every warp room is like this and they get even worse with the motorcycle and plane levels. After you beat the game you unlock spriting shoes and once you beat a level for the first time you can replay it and beat it as fast as possible for a chance to get a relic, which gives the game so much more replayability if it weren't for the constantly gimmicky vehicle levels. Racing for times on your average platforming level was a blast but doing anything else is just a drag. I still played it an insane amount as a kid and even got 105% in it as an adult in anticipation for the remakes but it was an awful gaming experience and I'd never do it again. What a shame.

Reviewed on Apr 29, 2020


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