Twinkle Tale is one of those hidden gems that makes you wonder why it never left Japan. At first glance, it looks like a cute, colorful fantasy shooter—until you actually play it and realize how deceptively tough it is. You control this little wizard kid (or maybe an elf? honestly, not sure) blasting through nine levels of enemies, dodging bullets like it’s a shmup, and then suddenly the screen fills up with a massive boss that feels like it belongs in a completely different game.

The controls are tight, and the sprite work is gorgeous for a Genesis title—lots of little details, like how your character’s cape flaps when you move. The bosses are the real highlight, though. Some of them take up half the screen, and the fights shift into this weird hybrid of run-and-gun and bullet hell. It’s chaotic in the best way.

Yeah, it’s rare, and yeah, it’s expensive if you’re hunting for a physical copy. But if you’re into retro shooters, this one’s worth tracking down. Just don’t let the cute graphics fool you—it’ll wreck you if you’re not careful.