The familiar, synthesized SEGA chant filled his earbuds, followed by the upbeat, brassy title theme of Leaf Forest Zone. It didn't look like an emulator. There were no translucent buttons cluttering the view; instead, the game filled the entire 21:9 display of his modern Android phone.
You really need a controller. The Razer Kishi or Backbone One (USB-C) turns your Android phone into a de facto Steam Deck. Even a cheap $10 telescopic controller will transform the experience. Sonic Advance 2 Android Port
Sonic Advance 2 features a gameplay loop that demands the player hold a direction (often right) while simultaneously pressing jump or trick buttons. On a touch screen, this necessitates "virtual buttons." The lack of tactile feedback creates "input blindness"—the player cannot be sure a button was pressed without looking at their thumbs, which obscures the screen. The familiar, synthesized SEGA chant filled his earbuds,