Venus Senki - Back the City is one of those weird, obscure NES games that somehow slipped under the radar. It's a side-scrolling action game where you play as a futuristic soldier defending a city from alien invaders—pretty standard stuff, except the controls feel a little stiff at first. You’ve got this charge shot that takes forever to power up, so timing is everything.

The graphics are surprisingly decent for an NES title, with some cool enemy designs and a few unexpected explosions. The music’s got that classic 8-bit energy, though it loops a little too quickly. I remember getting stuck on the second stage for way too long because the hit detection on some enemies is… questionable.

If you’re into retro games with a bit of jank, this one’s an interesting curiosity. Just don’t expect a hidden masterpiece.