A definite improvement over the first game, the 2D prototype had some interesting ideas going on but from a personal standpoint the jump from 2D side-scroller to 3D platformer collectathon was the right move here. Breezy, fun, and full of charm. Even this early on these games were clearly developing their own identity. That being said, outside of the GBC port this is probably the weakest version of the game - so it doesn't really have anything on its other ports let alone something like Gex: Enter the Gecko which is tighter and more nuanced let alone a genre titan like Super Mario 64, both of which came out years prior. Not that it should be a one-or-the-other deal, this is still a good game - but it can't help feeling somewhat rudimentary in comparison.