I’m sitting on the floor with my Nintendo 64, waiting for the new Sonic game to load. The box is full of little characters—blue hedgehog, fox, and a weird green dude. Music is playing from the TV; it’s that tune I’ve heard in commercials but can’t name yet. The loading screen says “Sonic Adventure.” I’m excited to see what kind of levels and zones there are.

I notice some clouds in the sky outside my window, but I don’t mind. I’m too focused on this game. When it finally starts, I jump into a level with Sonic running fast, dodging rocks and avoiding spikes. The screen is bright, and the graphics look amazing—more than any other game I’ve played before.

There are these new floating rings that shoot out of walls and float in mid-air. You have to grab them quickly or they disappear. I keep missing them and falling into holes, but it’s fun trying again. The levels feel big and open compared to what I’m used to with Sonic running around on flat ground.

I spend the afternoon practicing my speed and jumps. There’s a part where you run through water and have to collect seashells. It’s harder than it looks! By the time my mom calls me for dinner, I’ve been playing for hours. My fingers are sore from pressing the buttons so much, but I don’t want to stop.