Wrath of the Black Ninja is one of those NES games that looks simple at first—just another ninja slicing through enemies—but then throws some sneaky curveballs. You start off with basic shurikens and jumps, but pretty soon you're dodging traps, fighting off waves of enemies, and figuring out which power-ups are actually worth grabbing (hint: the spinning blade is way better than it looks).

The controls are tight, though some of the platforming can get frustrating when the screen gets crowded. And that boss fight with the shadow clone? Took me way too many tries to figure out the pattern. Still, there's something satisfying about finally nailing a perfect run through the bamboo forest stage.

If you're into old-school action games that don't hold your hand, this one's a solid pick.