Star Cruiser on the Genesis is one of those weird, ambitious space shooters that feels like it’s trying to do way more than it probably should—and that’s why I love it. You start off in this clunky first-person cockpit view, blasting asteroids and dodging enemy fire while some seriously crunchy synth music plays in the background. The controls take a minute to get used to (why does rolling feel so dramatic?), but once you’re locked in, it’s oddly satisfying.

There’s this weird mix of space combat and RPG-ish upgrades—you’re constantly tweaking your ship’s weapons and shields between missions, trying to figure out if you should dump credits into lasers or save up for that overpowered missile launcher. And the enemy designs? Pure late-80s sci-fi cheese, all jagged polygons and flashing lights. It’s janky, sure, but there’s something charming about how hard it commits to its retro-futuristic vibe.

If you can push past the initial awkwardness, there’s a surprisingly deep little shooter here. Just don’t expect it to hold your hand.