Castlevania: Bloodlines (or The New Generation if you're in Europe) is one of those Genesis gems that doesn't get talked about enough. It's got all the classic whip-cracking, candle-smashing action you'd expect, but with this cool twist—you're chasing Dracula across World War I-era Europe instead of the usual gothic castles. The levels actually feel different for once, from crumbling cathedrals to the Eiffel Tower (yes, really).

You get two characters to pick from: John Morris, the standard Belmont-style whip guy, and Eric Lecarde, who fights with this ridiculous spear that lets you pole-vault over enemies. I always go with Eric because his moves just feel wilder, but good luck not faceplanting into Medusa heads your first few tries.

The music slaps too—that Genesis sound chip doing work with some surprisingly moody tracks between all the action. Just don't expect Symphony of the Night-style exploration; this is pure, brutal old-school Castlevania where every jump needs to count.