Kiwi Kraze (or The New Zealand Story, depending on where you played it) is one of those weirdly charming NES platformers where you play as Tiki, a kiwi bird in sneakers—because why not? Your mission? Rescue your kiwi buddies from a leopard seal (yeah, that’s the villain) across these scrolling levels that feel like a mix of Bubble Bobble and something way more chaotic.

You start with basic arrows, but pretty quick you’re grabbing bombs, lasers, or fireballs that bounce everywhere—some work better in tight spots, others when you’re dodging enemies mid-air. The real fun comes with the vehicles: steal a UFO from an enemy and suddenly you’re blasting missiles, or hop on a balloon and just try not to get popped. There’s a ton of hidden paths and shortcuts, too, which is great because some levels feel impossible until you find the right route.

Oh, and if you die in the most oddly specific way (arrow to the head, nothing else), you get this bizarre "Heaven" mini-game where you can actually claw your way back to life. It’s as random as it sounds, but somehow it fits the game’s vibe perfectly. This one’s a cult classic for a reason.