Super Fantasy Zone is one of those Genesis games that just oozes personality—bright, cartoony, and way more chaotic than it looks at first glance. You play as Opa-Opa, this little flying ship thing that feels like someone crossed a spaceship with a pancake, blasting through levels that flip between candy-colored skies and trippy, shifting backgrounds.

The weirdest part? It’s a shooter, but you’re also shopping mid-level. Yeah, you collect coins from enemies, then dart into floating shops to upgrade your weapons or refill health. First time I played, I blew all my cash on a fancy spread shot, only to realize I couldn’t afford shields for the boss fight. Learned that lesson the hard way.

The music’s got that classic Sega sound—bouncy, slightly off-kilter synth tracks that stick in your head way longer than they should. And the bosses? All giant, grinning monstrosities that fill half the screen. One’s literally a slot machine that spits fireballs when you hit the wrong combo.

It’s not the toughest shooter out there, but there’s something about the way it mixes frantic action with those weird little shopping breaks that makes it stand out. Definitely a hidden gem if you’re into retro stuff that doesn’t take itself too seriously.