Super Airwolf on the Genesis is one of those classic shooters that feels like it was designed to drain quarters at an arcade—except you can actually beat it without going broke. You’re flying this sleek black helicopter (which, let’s be honest, looks way cooler than it has any right to on 16-bit hardware), dodging missiles and blowing up tanks before they even know what hit them.

The controls are surprisingly tight for an early Genesis title—no floaty helicopter nonsense here. You’ve got machine guns for close-range chaos and lock-on missiles for when things get too crowded. First mission’s simple enough, but by level three, you’re weaving through canyon walls while enemy choppers come at you from all sides. The music’s pure late-80s synth, all dramatic chords and urgency, like the game’s constantly telling you to move faster.

It’s not perfect—some hit detection feels a little off, and later levels get brutal—but there’s something satisfying about mastering the rhythm of dodging and firing. If you grew up with this era of games, it’s a solid nostalgia trip. If not? Well, at least you’ll understand why we all had calloused thumbs back then.