Ever played one of those old-school NES action games that just ooze charm despite being brutally hard? Wing of Madoola is one of those—Japan-only, so you probably missed it unless you were deep into imports. You play as Lucia, this sword-swinging heroine who jumps and slashes her way through side-scrolling levels packed with weird monsters and tricky platforming.

Sunsoft made it in '86, so expect that classic NES jank—hit detection can be a little iffy, and some jumps feel like they’re designed to kill you on purpose. But there’s something weirdly satisfying about the way Lucia moves, swinging her blade in these quick, clean arcs. The music’s got that crunchy Famicom synth sound too, which just adds to the vibe.

It’s not the deepest game, but if you’re into retro action-platformers with a bit of a challenge, it’s a neat little hidden gem. Just don’t expect any mercy from the level design.