Star Tropics 2 is one of those NES sequels that doesn’t get enough love. You’re back as Mike Jones, but this time you’re hopping between time periods—one minute you’re in ancient Japan fighting samurai, the next you’re in the Wild West dodging bandits. The time travel gimmick actually works, giving each area its own weapons and enemies.

The controls feel tighter than the first game, and the puzzles are just the right mix of "wait, how does this work?" and "aha!" moments. That said, some of the platforming sections can be brutal—expect a few cheap deaths before you figure out the timing. The music’s still catchy as heck, though.

If you liked the original or just want a solid action-adventure with some weird twists, this one’s worth dusting off.