Dengeki - Big Bang! is one of those weird, hyper-Japanese NES games that never made it overseas—which is a shame, because it’s a total hidden gem. You’ve got this wild mix of side-scrolling shooter and platformer where you play as a tiny, super-deformed samurai blasting through waves of enemies with oversized weapons. The first stage throws you right into chaos: dodging ninja stars, jumping between floating platforms, and mashing the attack button like crazy.

The art style is pure late-80s anime madness—big eyes, ridiculous explosions, and enemies that look like they escaped from a Saturday morning cartoon. The controls take a minute to get used to (why does jumping feel so floaty?), but once it clicks, you’ll be chaining together sword slashes and screen-clearing special moves. Just don’t get too attached to your first few runs—this game doesn’t go easy on you.

If you’re into obscure retro action games with personality, this one’s a blast. The soundtrack alone is worth the playthrough—all screechy synths and adrenaline-pumping beats.