Man, The Revenge of Shinobi on GBA takes me back. You play as Joe Musashi, this absolute ninja legend, slashing through waves of enemies with that classic side-scrolling action. The first level throws you right into it—shurikens flying, dudes in black pajamas lunging at you, and that iconic ninja jump that somehow feels both floaty and precise at the same time.

It’s a solid port of the Genesis original, but the GBA version smooths out some of the rough edges. The controls are tight, and the sprites pop way better on that little screen than you’d expect. Some of the later levels get brutal—like, "throw-your-GBA-across-the-room" brutal—but pulling off a perfect run with those ninja arts never gets old. If you’ve got a soft spot for retro action games, this one’s a no-brainer.