Blades of Vengeance is one of those Genesis games that looks simple at first—just another side-scrolling hack-and-slash—but then it sucker-punches you with how tough it gets. You pick between three characters (I always went with the barbarian because, well, big axe), and right away you're slashing through skeletons and dodging fireballs like it's nobody's business.

The pixel art holds up surprisingly well, especially the spell effects—casting lightning actually feels satisfying. And that soundtrack? Pure 16-bit adrenaline. But don’t let the charm fool you. The levels get brutal fast, with enemies that love to ambush you from off-screen and platforming that demands precision. Dying a lot is part of the experience.

If you’re into old-school action games that don’t hold your hand, this one’s a solid time. Just maybe keep a spare controller handy for when you inevitably throw yours.