Ex-Ranza is one of those Genesis games that just feels right the second you start playing. The pixel art pops with these bold colors—like someone cranked the saturation just enough without going overboard. And that soundtrack? Pure late-'90s energy, all synthy and urgent, like it’s pushing you to move faster.

You’re thrown straight into the action, jumping between platforms and taking out enemies with this satisfying, slightly weighty combat. At first, I kept mistiming my attacks, but after a few levels, it clicks—you learn when to dodge, when to strike, and where the hidden power-ups are tucked away. (Seriously, check behind waterfalls.)

It’s got that classic "tough but fair" vibe—you’ll die a lot, but it never feels cheap. And yeah, the later levels get brutal, but in that way where you want to retry immediately. If you’ve got a soft spot for Genesis-era action platformers, this one’s a no-brainer.