Contra: Hard Corps is basically the Genesis flexing how much harder it could go compared to the NES Contra games. You pick from four characters—each with their own weapons and playstyle—and then immediately get thrown into chaos. I went with the cyborg dude first because, well, he’s a cyborg, but the girl with the spread shot ended up being my favorite.

It’s classic run-and-gun madness: dodging bullets, blowing up everything, and occasionally making story choices that actually change how the game plays out. The branching paths are cool, but let’s be real—you’re mostly here for the ridiculous boss fights and trying not to die in two hits. Oh, and grab a friend if you can; co-op turns the chaos up to 11.

Fair warning: this is the Japanese version, so it’s even more unforgiving than the US release. You’ve been warned.