Batman on NES is one of those licensed games that actually holds up—way more intense than you'd expect. Right off the bat (pun intended), you're jumping between neon-lit rooftops, punching thugs into pits, and swinging from your grappling hook like it’s 1989 all over again. The levels lean hard into sci-fi with killer robots and jetpack goons, which feels weirdly cool next to the gothic Gotham vibe.

Dying is brutal, though—Batman just disintegrates into bat-shaped ashes. No second chances, no dramatic fall. Just poof, gone. And the music? Absolute fire. That title screen theme lives rent-free in my head. By the time you reach the cathedral showdown with Joker, you’ll either be a ninja with the Batarang or restarting for the 20th time. No in-between.

It’s tough as nails, but pulling off a flawless run feels like wearing the cape yourself.