Power Strike II is one of those classic Sega Master System shooters that just feels good to play. You're blasting through waves of ski pirates—yeah, they're basically airborne bandits on jet skis—and racking up bounties as you go. The controls are tight, and the levels get pretty intense once those bullets start filling the screen.

At first, it seems straightforward, but then you realize some enemies drop power-ups that totally change your shot pattern. I kept grabbing the wrong ones early on and ended up with this weird spread that made boss fights way harder than they needed to be. Lesson learned: stick with the straight laser if you can.

The music’s got that classic 8-bit energy, and the sprite work holds up surprisingly well. It’s not the longest game, but it’s the kind of thing you’ll replay just to beat your high score. Definitely a solid pick if you’re into old-school shmups.