Strider on the Genesis is one of those games that just feels fast—like you're barely keeping up with your own character. You play as Hiryu, this cyber-ninja with a plasma sword that cuts through enemies like butter, and the game throws you right into a futuristic Soviet Union (yeah, it’s weird) where you’re scaling skyscrapers, dodging mechs, and slicing up soldiers before they even know what hit them.

The controls are slick, and the animation was insane for its time—Hiryu flips, slides, and climbs walls like it’s nothing. The first level alone has you jumping between airships mid-flight, which still looks cool even now. Some of the later stages get brutal, though. You’ll die a lot, but the action never lets up long enough to feel frustrating.

It’s one of those Genesis games that makes you realize Capcom was already ahead of the curve back then. If you like fast-paced action with a side of ‘80s anime flair, this one’s a classic for a reason.