Hiryuu No Ken - Ougi No Sho is one of those old-school NES platformers that tries to mix in some RPG flavor—think jumping between floating islands while also managing stats and equipment. It’s the sequel to the first Hiryuu No Ken, but honestly, it feels a bit more polished, even if the controls are still stiff by today’s standards.

You start off picking between three characters (I went with the ninja first because, well, ninja), and right away you’re hopping over pits and slashing through enemies with a weirdly satisfying *shing* sound. The levels are short but packed with little secrets—breakable walls, hidden power-ups—and the occasional boss fight that’ll wreck you if you don’t grind a little first.

It’s definitely a product of its time, but there’s charm in the chunky sprites and the way the music loops just right. If you’re into obscure NES action-RPG hybrids, this one’s a neat little time capsule.