We have no shame in admitting a year hasn’t passed since this undeniable classic’s release when we haven’t completed a run-through, either to rekindle the old fire after some movie-licensed hell, or simply as a study in truly majestic level design. And away with your criticisms of excessive length – you’re thinking of Sonic & Knuckles.

Evidence enough for a high score perhaps comes from the fact extended play has an element of clairvoyance to it; such is the ease with which levels can be committed to long-term memory. Enemies are dispatched more from muscle memory than thought, within an early physics system that never, ever glitches players out of a life or successful jump. All this to the finest soundtrack ever squeezed out of six channels. Fantastic stuff, and if you don’t agree it was actually Practical Caravan magazine you wanted.