Metroid on NES is one of those games that feels way ahead of its time—you start off in this eerie, isolated space station with nothing but a wimpy little arm cannon, and suddenly you're lost in a maze of tunnels filled with weird alien creatures. The music alone gives off this lonely, almost creepy vibe that sticks with you.

Controls take a second to get used to (Z to shoot, X to jump—why was Nintendo like this?), but once it clicks, you’re rolling into morph balls and hunting for hidden missile upgrades like it’s second nature. Just don’t expect any hand-holding—figuring out where to go next is half the fun (or frustration, depending on how lost you get).

Also, that final twist? Still hits different, even now.