Ristar – The Shooting Star is one of those Genesis games that just oozes personality. You play as this little stretchy-armed star dude who grabs onto ledges, swings around like a cosmic monkey, and smacks enemies headfirst—no jumping on heads here. The controls take a second to click, but once they do, flinging Ristar around feels weirdly satisfying.

Each planet’s got its own vibe, from jungles with bouncy mushrooms to ice levels where you can skate on your face (seriously). The music’s an absolute banger too—catchy in that classic Sega way. It’s not super hard, but some of the later stages get creative with how you use Ristar’s stretchy moves. Definitely a hidden gem if you missed it back in the day.

Also, the boss fights are ridiculous in the best way—imagine fighting a giant space frog that shoots musical notes at you.