Awesomeee! The NES-difficulty really shines through, and I could see fans of retro games appreciating that authenticity. The requirement to get 100% to clear the stage was an interesting choice; while it does add a layer of challenge, I felt that just reaching the top would have been a satisfying objective on its own. The gameplay and level layout was quite engaging, but I found that having to hit every single gear slowed me down a bit. The platforming elements, like dodging and jumping, were the most fun part for me. As you'll see it wasn't until my first run's end that I discovered the whip attack.
Visually, the game looked great! The graphics were spot-on, and the music and sound effects were well done, though the whip sound effect stood out as louder and more intense compared to the others. There was some audio doubling with the jump sounds too. Overall, I had a good time with my run, and there's a lot of promise here! Fantastic work!