Mamono Hunter Youko – Dai 7 No Keishou is one of those Sega Genesis gems that slipped under the radar for a lot of people, but it’s got this weird, grimy charm to it. You play as Youko, a monster hunter who swings swords, tosses magic, and just generally looks cooler than she has any right to in 16-bit form.

The first thing you’ll notice is how stiff the controls feel—like, your jumps have weight, and your sword swings aren’t instant. But after a few minutes, it clicks, and suddenly you’re timing dodges between giant demon claws or baiting enemies into traps. The spells are flashy but limited, so you’ve gotta pick your moments. I wasted half my mana bar spamming fireballs at the first boss before realizing I could just stab him in the ankles.

It’s got that classic "trial and error" thing going—expect to die a lot until you memorize where the hidden pits and cheap enemy placements are. But there’s something satisfying about finally clearing a stage that kicked your ass three times in a row. The pixel art’s rough in places, but the monster designs? Absolute nightmare fuel in the best way.

If you’re into retro action games that don’t hold your hand, this one’s worth dusting off.