Chuka Taisen: Cloud Master is one of those NES shooters that feels a little weird at first—you're floating around on a cloud, tossing energy balls at flying enemies like some kind of airborne chef. But once you get into it, the movement has this satisfying drift to it, and the power-ups actually make a difference (unlike some games where upgrades barely matter).

What I like is the shop system—you collect credits mid-stage, then duck into these little doors to buy bombs or upgrades. Some of them are total game-changers, like the spread shot that turns you into a flying bullet hose. The bosses are no joke either, especially the later ones where you're dodging attacks while trying not to fall off your cloud. Just don't expect unlimited continues—this is an NES game, after all.

It's got that classic "tough but fair" thing going where you'll memorize enemy patterns after a few tries. The music's catchy too, in that 8-bit way that gets stuck in your head.