For YMMV applying to the franchise as a whole, go here.
- Awesome Music: Both the Super Nintendo and Sega CD versions have a fantastic rendition of the soundtrack, especially the theme from the 1980s cartoon series.
- Cult Classic: Despite its difficulties in the final two acts and occassional flaws in the gameplay, the 16-bit version is fondly remembered by fans of the original comics and 1980s cartoon series.
- Difficulty Spike: The final two acts go from "hard" to "insane":
- The penultimate act is a single stage with omnipresent instant death (when the tree trunk bridge starts rotating under your feet, you have a split-second to jump or fall to your death).
- The last act has a frustrating first level (16-bit only), a long and and dangerous second level (with flies that have The Virus), a short and dangerous third level and a Final Boss with One-Hit Kill Collision Damage. You'll lose so many lives here that the only way to survive is to start the game from the beginning and collect Extra Lives on the way. Fortunately, this has been somewhat toned down in the Game Boy Advance port, where at least you have infinite lives.
- Memetic Mutation: The music track for the Swamps level is remixed a lot in YTPMVs and SiIvaGunner.
- Nintendo Hard: The 16-bit version is infamous for Fake Difficulty.
- Obvious Beta: The NES version feels incomplete next to the other 8-bit renditions, with certain missing tracks and instruments, a lack of the intro scene, an alternate enemy arrangement in Gargamel's Manor House in place of Azrael, and no stairway and celebration sequence for rescuing Smurfette (among other things).
