I remember playing the original Game Gear version last year. After 8-Bit Sonic 2 and Sonic Chaos, it was a decent improvement, but anything on the Game Gear never compared to Sonic's best games.

This remake really unlocks the potential of the original, with some great surprises added. The level design is sprawling with alternate paths and secrets, taking inspiration from Sonic 3 and Mania. It's really polished for an unofficial game.

Props to Noah N Copeland and the team behind this, absolutely worth trying.