Alright, so Syd of Valis—if you’ve ever wanted a side-scrolling action game that feels like an anime fever dream, this is it. You play as Syd, this pink-haired swordswoman who slashes her way through weirdly beautiful levels full of floating eyeballs, giant bugs, and other nightmare fuel. The controls are tight, but some of those jumps? Brutal. You’ll die a lot.

The music’s got that classic Genesis synth-rock thing going on, and the sprite work is surprisingly detailed for the time—Syd’s hair actually flows when she moves. The bosses are the real highlight, though. One minute you’re fighting a demonic clown, the next you’re dodging fireballs from a floating skull. It’s ridiculous in the best way.

Fair warning: it’s short, but good luck beating it without save states. This game doesn’t hold your hand. Still, if you’re into retro platformers with attitude, it’s a weird little time capsule worth revisiting.