I find this game to be a pretty fun mascot platformer most of the time, but if it wasn't for the constant backtracking needed for mastery and some horribly designed levels and bosses (Anubis Rex, King Galaxian, Spin Dizzy), It ends up being pretty mid for me. Best I can describe this game is the "1999 Backtracking Simulator"
The remake fixes a lot of my problems.