Mega Man X on SNES is one of those rare sequels that actually improves on the original in every way. You start with X—a sleeker, more agile version of classic Mega Man—and immediately notice how much smoother everything feels. The dash move alone changes everything, letting you zip through levels with this satisfying sense of speed.

The first time you fight a Maverick boss, you realize how much deeper the combat is now. You can climb walls, charge shots, and even absorb enemy weapons—but good luck figuring out which boss to tackle first. I went for Chill Penguin because, well, snow levels are usually easier, right? (Spoiler: not always.)

And that soundtrack? Absolute fire. The opening stage music still gets stuck in my head decades later. It’s the kind of game where you’ll replay levels just to hear the tracks again while hunting for hidden upgrades. If you’ve ever wondered why people still rave about this one, play it for 10 minutes and you’ll get it.