Front Mission: Gun Hazard is one of those SNES games that feels like it shouldn’t exist—in a good way. It takes the tactical, mech-heavy world of Front Mission and slams it into a side-scrolling action RPG. You’d think that combo wouldn’t work, but somehow it does.

You start off in a clunky but satisfying mech, blasting through enemy squads and dodging missiles like it’s a Contra game with way more customization. The RPG stuff sneaks up on you—before long, you’re swapping out leg parts for better mobility or agonizing over whether to equip a flamethrower or a grenade launcher. The story’s got that classic ‘90s anime war drama vibe, complete with betrayals and shady corporations.

What really sticks with me is how weighty the mechs feel. They’re not zippy—they stomp, they clank, and when you boost-jump, you can almost hear the hydraulics straining. It’s not perfect (some missions drag), but when it clicks, it’s like piloting a tank through a fireworks show. If you missed this back in the day, it’s worth digging up.