Taiga Drama Taiheiki is one of those weird, niche Genesis games that somehow slipped under the radar outside Japan. It's based on an old samurai drama, so expect a lot of feudal politics and dramatic showdowns—except you're playing it as a side-scrolling beat 'em up with surprisingly chunky pixel art.

You pick from three warriors (I always go for the spear guy—his reach is ridiculous) and hack through waves of enemies across castles and countryside. The combat's simple but satisfying, with these little flourishes like screen-filling special moves that drain your health. Classic risk-reward stuff.

Honestly, half the fun is the bizarre mix of history lesson and arcade brawler. One minute you're clobbering bandits, the next there's a dramatic cutscene with overly serious dialogue. Plays great on emulators if you're into retro oddities.