Street Gangs (or "River City Ransom" if you're from the US) is one of those NES brawlers that feels way ahead of its time. You play as Alex and Ryan—two high school kids punching their way through gangs to rescue Ryan’s girlfriend. But here’s the thing: it’s not just mindless button-mashing. You actually explore the city, duck into shops to buy burgers or new moves (pro tip: the dragon feet kick is stupidly fun), and even rob random pedestrians if you're feeling mean.

The RPG stuff sneaks up on you—at first, it’s just smashing dudes with trash cans, but then you realize stats matter, money’s tight, and suddenly you’re strategizing whether to splurge on a protein shake or save up for that sweet nunchaku. The sandbox-y freedom was wild for 1989. Just don’t expect the cops to care when you suplex someone in broad daylight.

It’s janky in that classic NES way, but the charm’s undeniable. You’ll probably lose your first run to the bike gang near the bridge.