Ninja Cop Saizou is one of those weird, kinda janky NES action games that somehow sticks with you. You play as a ninja cop (yes, really) slicing through waves of enemies with a sword that feels just a little too short—until you grab the power-ups, anyway. The controls take a second to click, but once they do, it’s oddly satisfying to chain jumps and slashes through the side-scrolling chaos.

First level throws you right into it: dodging shurikens, climbing bamboo, and fighting dudes who explode into coins when you hit them. The music’s got that classic NES energy, all bouncy synth and urgency. It’s not the prettiest or smoothest game, but there’s charm in its roughness. If you’re into retro action with a side of “what even is this,” give it a shot.