Space Harrier II was one of those Genesis launch titles that made you feel like you were holding the future in your hands—even if the graphics look hilariously polygonal now. You’re this dude flying through trippy, checkerboard landscapes, blasting dragons, robots, and whatever else the game throws at you while dodging trees and pillars like your life depends on it (because it kinda does).

The controls take a second to click—your guy moves on a grid, so it’s not quite free-range flying—but once you get the rhythm, weaving through bullets while returning fire feels weirdly satisfying. And those bosses? Absolute units. Nothing like seeing a screen-filling monstrosity appear while that cheesy synth soundtrack kicks in.

It’s short, it’s tough, and yeah, it’s janky by today’s standards, but there’s something about the sheer audacity of its "3D" illusion that still charms me. Just don’t expect to beat it on your first try—or your tenth.