Don Doko Don 2 is one of those weird little NES gems that never made it outside Japan—which is a shame, because it’s a solid follow-up to the first game. You’re still smacking enemies with a hammer (satisfyingly chunky sound effects included), but now there’s more variety in stages and some sneaky platforming bits that’ll trip you up if you’re not careful.

The first few levels ease you in with cute, blocky graphics and simple enemy patterns, but don’t get too comfortable. By the third stage, you’re already dodging falling icicles and timing jumps over pits while those little goblin things try to flank you. The music’s got that classic NES charm too—upbeat and slightly chaotic, like someone mashed a toy piano with a drum machine.

It’s not revolutionary, but it’s polished in that way only early ‘90s NES games could be. If you’ve played the first one, this feels like a natural step up. If you haven’t, it’s still a great pick for when you want something quick and punchy. Just don’t blame me when you get stuck on that one ice level.