Jackal on NES is one of those games that feels simple at first—just you, a beefy armored jeep, and a desert full of enemies to mow down. But man, it gets intense fast. You’re weaving between tanks, blasting bunkers, and rescuing POWs while bullets fly everywhere. The controls are tight, and that little jeep can actually take a beating before exploding (which, trust me, happens a lot).

What I love is how it forces you to think on the move—you can’t just camp and shoot. The screen scrolls whether you like it or not, so you’re always pushing forward, dodging rockets, and figuring out whether to prioritize saving hostages or taking out that pesky turret first. And the soundtrack? Pure 8-bit adrenaline.

If you’re into run-and-gun chaos but want something a little different from Contra or Metal Slug, this one’s a hidden gem. Just don’t blame me when you get stuck on that one brutal level with the helicopter swarm.