Phantasy Star II – Shilka's Adventure is one of those old-school RPGs that just oozes charm, even if the graphics are pixelated by today’s standards. You start off as Shilka, a no-nonsense warrior with a sword and a mission, and right away, the game throws you into this weirdly futuristic yet medieval world where you’re fighting robots one minute and magic-wielding monsters the next.

The combat’s turn-based, obviously—this is a Genesis RPG—but there’s something satisfying about how simple and crunchy the battles feel. The translation patch makes the story actually understandable, which is a plus, because otherwise you’d just be mashing through dialogue wondering why you’re collecting random items for NPCs who talk in broken English.

It’s not as polished as later Phantasy Star games, but if you’re into retro RPGs with a mix of sci-fi and fantasy, this one’s got a weirdly specific vibe that’s hard to find anywhere else. Just be ready to grind a little—this isn’t the kind of game that hands you wins for free.