Uchuusen - Cosmo Carrier is one of those weird, ambitious NES space shooters that tries to do way more than it probably should. You're basically scrambling to stop Earth from getting wrecked by some alien threat, but instead of just blasting everything, you've gotta hunt down parts for this massive superweapon first. It's got that classic Jaleco jank—awkward controls, cryptic objectives, and a weird mix of top-down navigation with side-scrolling shooter sections.

At first, it feels like a standard space shooter, but then you realize you're supposed to be docking with stations, managing fuel, and tracking down hidden components. The manual (if you can find a translation) helps a ton, because the game sure doesn't explain much. Still, there's something oddly satisfying about piecing together that giant space cannon while dodging enemy fire. Just don't expect it to play fair.

If you're into obscure, borderline frustrating retro games with big ideas, this one's a trip.