ended up replaying this again and oh MAN using a controller really makes a difference when it comes to whether or not this game is good. I knew this game was good back when I originally played it on my Wii U but couldn't figure out why it wasn't clicking for me on PC until I brought in my Switch Pro controller

still believe that anyone who worked on the Himalayas level is going to hell and the final sequences in Mount Vesuvius suck. but that is a small price to pay for a remaster of one of the best NES games ever released