Pesterminator is one of those weird, charming NES platformers where you play as an exterminator mascot named Kernel Kleanup—yes, with a K—who’s gotta clean up mutant bugs after some rat villain zaps Earth with a "pest beam." It’s as ridiculous as it sounds, but in the best way.

You’ll be smacking spiders, ants, and even sharks (because why not?) with a hammer across nine levels. The first few are standard side-scrolling fare, but things get interesting later—like the underwater stage where jellyfish drift by, or the moon level where gravity feels off. Level 5 throws in a helicopter section that still catches me off guard.

What I like is how straightforward it is: smash bugs, check the counter to see how many are left, and grab hearts for extra lives when you can. The last level mixes things up with a key hunt before the final showdown. It’s not groundbreaking, but there’s something satisfying about whacking everything in sight while a rodent supervillain monologues from the moon.

If you’re into quirky retro platformers, this one’s a fun little time capsule.