Ever played one of those old-school side-scrollers where you just feel the weight of every jump and shot? Chelnov on the Genesis is exactly that—a little rough around the edges, but packed with that classic arcade energy. You play as a coal miner (yeah, really) who gets mutated into some kind of atomic superhero, blasting through waves of enemies with this weird arm cannon thing.

The first thing you’ll notice is the soundtrack—it’s got this grungy, industrial vibe that somehow fits perfectly with the whole nuclear apocalypse theme. And the bosses? Huge, screen-filling monstrosities that take way too many hits to bring down. I died like five times on the first one before realizing you gotta aim for the glowing weak spot.

It’s not the smoothest game out there—expect some janky hit detection and the occasional cheap death—but there’s something weirdly satisfying about mastering its quirks. If you’re into retro action with a side of absurdity, Chelnov’s worth a spin.