Densetsu no Kishi - Elrond is one of those obscure NES RPGs that never made it outside Japan, which is a shame because it’s got this weird charm to it. You play as a knight—Elrond—on a quest that starts with the usual "rescue the princess" setup, but then it throws in some odd twists, like a magic system where you collect elemental spirits. The overworld feels cramped at first, but once you get into dungeons, the combat actually gets pretty tactical for an 8-bit game.

First thing you’ll notice? The sprites are chunky, and the menus are all in Japanese, so unless you’re fluent or using a guide, expect some trial and error. Still, there’s something satisfying about grinding through battles and slowly piecing together what each spell does. The music’s also surprisingly catchy—especially the dungeon theme.

If you’re into retro RPGs with quirks, this one’s a neat little time capsule. Just don’t expect Final Fantasy levels of polish.