Shadow of the Beast II on the Genesis is one of those weird, moody side-scrollers that never got as much love as it deserved. You’re still playing as that clawed, monstrous-looking hero from the first game, but now you’re diving deeper into this eerie fantasy world full of jagged landscapes and creatures that look like they crawled out of a heavy metal album cover.

The whole thing feels like a fever dream—you’re jumping between platforms, slashing enemies with your claws, and hunting down these weird glowing orbs (because of course you are). The controls take some getting used to—your guy moves kinda stiff, and the hit detection can be brutal—but once it clicks, there’s something hypnotic about the whole thing. The music? Absolute banger, all eerie synths and pounding drums.

It’s not for everyone, but if you like games with a dark, surreal vibe and don’t mind some old-school jank, this one’s worth a look. Just don’t expect it to hold your hand.