Man, Wonder Boy on the Sega Master System is one of those games that just sticks with you. You start off as this little dude in a loincloth running through jungles and caves, dodging snakes and throwing axes—because, yeah, for some reason he throws axes now. The controls are simple but tight, and those chunky pixel graphics still pop with color.

First level’s all sunshine and fruit collecting, but don’t get too cozy. By the second stage, you’re skating on waterfalls and getting ambushed by spiders, and suddenly you realize this game doesn’t mess around. The music’s got that classic Sega chirpiness too—catchy in a way that’ll loop in your head for days.

It’s got that old-school "one life, no saves" brutality, but in the best way. You’ll die a lot, but each run feels like you’re learning the rhythm of the levels. And that final boss? Still a pain in the butt after all these years. Pure arcade-era magic.