Super Air Diver 2 on SNES is one of those flight sims that looks simple at first—until you realize how much is actually going on. You start off with basic takeoff and landing drills, but within minutes you're dodging missiles and trying not to black out during tight turns. The controls take a second to click, but once they do, pulling off barrel rolls between canyon walls feels surprisingly smooth for a 16-bit game.

What I like is how the missions escalate—one minute you're doing recon over open water, the next you're weaving through skyscrapers with enemy fighters on your tail. The pixelated clouds and terrain actually sell the altitude, especially when you dive too fast and your screen starts shaking. Just don't expect Ace Combat-level realism; it's arcade-y in the best way, where crashing because you got cocky is half the fun.

If you dig old-school flight games with just enough sim elements to keep you sweating, this one's a blast. Just remember to ease up on the throttle when landing—I may have exploded on the runway more than I'd like to admit.