Elemental Master is one of those Genesis games that somehow flew under the radar back in the day, which is a shame because it’s got this weird, satisfying energy to it. You play as this wizard—or maybe a demigod?—who blasts through levels by hurling elemental spells like fireballs and lightning bolts. The controls feel tight, and the way your magic arcs across the screen never gets old.

What I love is how the game forces you to switch up your approach. Some enemies shrug off fire but get wrecked by water, while others just melt if you hit them with the right combo. The bosses are these massive, screen-filling beasts that actually make you think instead of just button-mashing. And that soundtrack? Absolute bangers—especially the stage 3 theme, which still gets stuck in my head.

It’s not perfect—some of the later levels get brutal with enemy spam—but there’s something about the way it blends shmup-style shooting with magic that just clicks. If you dig retro action games with a twist, this one’s worth dusting off.