Battletoads is one of those NES games that looks like a goofy TMNT knockoff at first glance—three mutant toads named Rash, Zitz, and Pimple beating up bad guys—but don’t let that fool you. This thing is brutal. The first level lulls you into thinking it’s just another side-scrolling brawler, then suddenly you’re dodging instant-death obstacles on a turbo bike or clinging for dear life on a rope over lava. The Dark Queen’s minions don’t mess around.

What’s wild is how the gameplay keeps switching genres—one minute you’re punching robots, the next you’re platforming on disappearing blocks or free-falling down a tunnel. The co-op mode is fun until you realize how easy it is to accidentally murder your teammate (sorry, Pimple). And yeah, good luck getting past the third level without throwing your controller.

It’s got that classic Rare charm, though—gross-out humor, weirdly detailed animations (watch Rash’s fist grow to the size of a watermelon when he lands a punch), and a soundtrack that somehow makes electric guitar work for amphibian heroes. The arcade version and the Double Dragon crossover are worth a look if you’re into over-the-top beat ‘em ups, but the original NES game is the one people still rage-quit decades later. Maybe that’s why we never got a proper sequel.