Gunstar Heroes is one of those Genesis games that just feels different—like someone took Contra, cranked the chaos to 11, and then handed you a bag of candy-colored explosives. The first time I played, I got wrecked in minutes because I kept trying to treat it like a normal run-and-gun. Big mistake. Those little dudes flipping around, bosses that fill half the screen, weapons you can mix and match mid-fight? Pure madness in the best way.

Treasure went all-out with the sprite work too—everything’s bright, loud, and somehow never turns into a visual mess even when the screen’s packed with bullets. And that minecart level? Still one of the most ridiculous things I’ve seen in a 16-bit game. If you’ve got a Genesis (or an emulator), this one’s a no-brainer.