Mega Man VII on SNES is one of those games that just feels right—tight controls, bright pixel art, and that classic "one more try" energy. You start off with just the basic blaster, but after taking down a few Robot Masters (I always go for Freeze Man first—his stage has this slick ice physics thing going on), you steal their weapons and suddenly every level becomes this puzzle of which ability wrecks which enemy.

The sprite work pops, especially for a late-era SNES title, and the music’s got those crunchy synth beats Mega Man’s known for. Some of the later stages get brutal—Slash Man’s jungle zone has these disappearing platforms that’ll make you groan—but nailing a boss fight after a dozen attempts? Pure satisfaction. Dr. Wily’s final fortress is a gauntlet, but by then you’re sliding under lasers and chaining weapon swaps like a pro.

It’s not the hardest in the series, but it’s got that perfect balance of challenge and charm. Still holds up if you’re into retro action.