Ninja Crusaders is one of those NES games that looks simple at first—just another side-scrolling ninja beat 'em up—but man, it gets wild fast. You start off slashing through basic enemies with your sword, but then you realize you can transform into different animals mid-fight. A scorpion? A tiger? Yeah, it’s as ridiculous as it sounds, and I love it.

The controls are tight (Z and X for attacks, arrows to move), and the levels throw these weirdly satisfying platforming sections at you between the chaos. The first time I turned into a bird to dodge a boss attack, I knew this wasn’t just another generic ninja game. Also, the music? Surprisingly catchy for an NES title.

It’s got that classic ‘80s arcade vibe where you’ll die a lot, but each run feels a little smoother than the last. Definitely a hidden gem if you’re into retro action games.