Solar Striker is one of those classic Game Boy shooters that feels like it was made to kill time on long car rides—in the best way possible. You’ve got your little ship, a steady stream of enemy formations, and that satisfying *pew pew* of lasers. The first level eases you in with basic fighters, but by stage two, you’re weaving through bullet patterns like some kind of space ninja.

What I love is how straightforward it is—no complicated power-up trees, just grab the floating upgrades when they drop and watch your shots go from single lasers to full-on death beams. The bosses? Huge, chunky sprites that take up half the screen, and beating them feels like a real accomplishment. It’s got that old-school arcade vibe where you’ll replay levels just to shave seconds off your time or finally nail a no-death run.

Sure, it’s not the deepest shmup out there, but there’s something weirdly comforting about its simplicity. You’ll probably beat it in an afternoon, but you’ll keep coming back anyway. Perfect for when you just want to zone out and blast some pixels.