Ninja Crusaders - Ryuuga is one of those NES gems that flew under the radar back in the day. You pick between two ninjas (or play co-op if you've got a buddy) and slash your way through side-scrolling levels filled with weird enemies—think giant crabs, floating heads, and samurai who just won’t quit. The controls are simple—jump, attack, throw shurikens—but some of those jumps? Brutal. I still remember the first time I got past the underwater stage without drowning.

What’s cool is you can transform into different animals mid-fight—a tiger for raw power, a snake to slither past traps, even an eagle to cheese some sections. The music’s got that classic chiptune energy, and the bosses are just the right kind of ridiculous. It’s short, but good luck beating it without a few rage quits first. Definitely a solid pick if you’re into old-school action with a few surprises.