Super Shadow of the Beast on SNES is one of those moody, atmospheric platformers that sticks with you—mostly because it’s brutal in the best way. You start off in this eerie, almost painterly world where every background feels like it’s hiding something, and the music? Haunting. The controls take a second to click—your character moves with this weird weight to him, like he’s fighting the environment itself.

Combat’s simple but punishing. One wrong jump or mistimed attack, and you’re back to the checkpoint. The puzzles aren’t just filler either—some of them actually make you stop and think, which I wasn’t expecting from a game this old. And yeah, the art style holds up. Those creature designs are still unsettling in a way few pixel-art games manage.

It’s not for everyone—if you hate trial-and-error gameplay, steer clear. But if you’re into retro games with a dark fantasy vibe, this one’s worth the frustration.