Play Akira (Japan) Online

Akira on the NES was released by Taito in Japan in 1988, though it never saw an official release elsewhere. It's a side-scrolling action game based on the famous anime film, and it arrived during a period when many movie tie-ins struggled to capture the depth or polish of other NES titles.

You control Kaneda on his motorcycle, riding through linear stages while punching and kicking enemies who approach from either side. The main goal is to survive each level, defeat bosses, and ultimately rescue Tetsuo from the military complex. The game uses a lives and continues system, with limited opportunities to progress. Its stiff controls and repetitive enemy patterns make it a challenging, often frustrating experience. Playing it feels like wrestling with a clunky adaptation that never quite finds its rhythm.