System: SNES
Genre: Platfomer
A great start to a classic series, the fuss at the time was all about the graphics but while they seem unimpressive by these days standards the gameplay still holds up well. It's not as structured as it's sequels with odd numbers of bonus stages in each level, hidden in odd places. I even rang one of those tips hotlines to find one of the bonus stages in the days before gamefaqs (it was at the very bottom of the screen as you bounce across a pit on some Neckies heads in a forest level). The final boss is brilliant with some misleadingly jolly music and it's one of the first games I remember feeling truly triumphant about completing.
