Oh man, Contra (or Gryzor if you're in Europe) is that classic NES run-and-gun where you blast through jungles, bases, and alien-infested corridors with a buddy. You start with a measly pea shooter, but within minutes you're grabbing power-ups that turn your gun into a screen-clearing spread shot or a laser that melts everything in its path.

The controls are tight, the action never lets up, and those overhead sections where you dodge bullets still give me flashbacks. Just don't forget the Konami code—trust me, you'll need those extra lives. One of those games where even when you die, you immediately hit start to jump back in.

Also, fun fact: the European NES version replaced the buff soldiers with robots for some reason. Weird choice, but the gameplay's still solid.