Kid Icarus on NES is one of those classic games that feels equal parts charming and punishing. You play as Pit, a little angel dude with a bow, trying to rescue the goddess Palutena after Medusa—who’s basically the worst—turns traitor and takes over Angel Land. The story’s got that old-school myth vibe, where gods throw curses around and heroes climb literal towers full of monsters.

At first, the controls feel a little stiff—jumping is weirdly floaty, and enemies pop up out of nowhere. But once you get the hang of it, there’s something satisfying about sniping harpies with arrows while dodging eggplant wizards (yes, really). The levels flip between vertical climbs and side-scrolling dungeons, and the music? Absolute 8-bit bangers.

Just don’t expect it to go easy on you. One wrong step and you’re plummeting to your doom or getting turned into a walking vegetable. Still, there’s a reason people remember this one—it’s got personality, even if it occasionally feels like the game’s out to get you.