Ryuuko No Ken on the Genesis is one of those fighting games that feels like it got lost in the shuffle back in the day—which is a shame, because it’s got this weird, janky charm to it. The moment you boot it up, you’re hit with that classic 16-bit fighter vibe: chunky sprites, exaggerated special moves, and a roster that’s half martial artists, half "wait, why is this guy here?"

Picking your fighter is half the fun. There’s the usual karate guys and ninjas, but then you’ve got this dude who fights with a boomerang and another who looks like he wandered in from a wrestling game. The controls take a second to click—some moves feel stiff at first, but once you land that first spinning kick or fireball, it just works. And yeah, the AI cheats like crazy on higher difficulties, but that’s part of the nostalgia, right?

It’s not Street Fighter, but it’s got its own weird energy. Perfect for when you want something old-school that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Just don’t blame me when you lose to the final boss for the tenth time.