R-Type II on Game Boy is one of those classic shooters that somehow makes you feel like you're piloting a tiny spaceship through an entire alien war. The screen's cramped, sure, but the devs squeezed in these wild biomechanical bosses that fill half the display—dodging their attacks feels like threading a needle. First time I played, I got wrecked by the second stage's rotating tentacle thing because I didn't realize my charge shot could cut through smaller enemies.

It's brutal in that old-school way where memorizing enemy patterns matters more than reflexes. The power-up system's simple (grab the floating orb, choose how it attaches to your ship), but losing your upgrades hurts way more here than in modern shmups. Still, nailing a perfect run when everything clicks? Pure satisfaction. This Japan version plays identically to others, but there's something charming about the tiny kanji in the pause menu.