R-Type III on SNES is one of those shooters that makes you appreciate how hard the genre can go. It's the official follow-up to R-Type II, and it doesn't mess around—right from the first stage, you're dodging waves of enemies and weaving through tight corridors while the screen scrolls relentlessly forward.

The SNES Mode 7 effects get a workout here, especially in the rotating boss fights that feel way more dynamic than most shooters of the era. Your ship still has that classic Force pod mechanic (you'll either love or hate juggling it for optimal firepower), but they added a new twist with three different weapon setups you can switch between mid-game. I usually stuck with the lightning shot—it just feels right for clearing screens.

Fair warning: it's punishing. You'll memorize patterns or die trying. But when you finally nail that perfect run, it's pure arcade adrenaline. The pixel art holds up surprisingly well, too—those organic-looking alien levels still creep me out a little.