Vectorman

In 1995, against a glossy backdrop of techno, then-cutting-edge technology brought to life a shapeshifting character who fights using energy blasts from his palms and weaponized double-jump recoil. To use the academic term, it was pretty fucking rad, and at the time, that was enough to rack up significant accolades. Unfortunately, it doesn’t actually play that well. It seems to take after the 8-bit Sonic titles on the Master System/Game Gear. Thus, while the environments are surprisingly open-ended for a 2D platformer, the camera is zoomed in so drastically and the protagonist’s movement is so unwieldy that even basic platforming and combat become nauseating and dangerous. To make matters worse, the technically impressive visuals are often undisciplined and confusing, and the sound effects bury the music in endless noise.