A true mixed bag. If you love the original, there's a bunch of levels here that push your ability to its absolute limit, and are generally fun as hell to learn and master. But then about 30% of the levels are either totally cryptic and need a guide, or are straight-up unfun (swimming mostly).

I still think this could have been a great sequel if they had focused on the actual platforming; it's not like they didn't understand how to elevate the first game's difficulty because there are levels that do that perfectly. Super Mario Bros revolutionised the entire industry on the basis of it being fundamentally fun to run and jump and control this weird mushroom man. I just wish they'd carried that concept all the way through this game too.