Super Contra on NES is one of those games that makes you question your reflexes within the first five minutes. You start off blasting through jungles, dodging bullets from soldiers who pop up everywhere, and then suddenly—boom—a giant alien brain thing shows up. Classic Contra chaos.

The controls are tight, but good luck surviving without memorizing enemy patterns. That second level with the rotating gun turrets? Brutal. And yeah, you’ll probably mash the Z and X keys (A and B buttons) like your life depends on it—because it kinda does.

Pro tip: Spread shots are your best friend. Don’t even bother with the laser unless you’re feeling reckless.