Play Flying Warriors Online

Flying Warriors came out on the NES in 1991 from Culture Brain. It was one of those games that tried to do a little bit of everything, mixing genres in a way that felt ambitious for the time. You don't see many games that try to combine side scrolling brawling with one on one fighting and light RPG elements all in one package.

You control a hero who can punch, kick, and use special ki attacks to fight through waves of enemies. The main goal is to defeat the demon lord who has kidnapped a princess, moving through distinct worlds that change the gameplay. One moment you're in a standard side scrolling stage, the next you're in an overhead view dungeon, and then you're suddenly in a one on one martial arts duel. The pacing is uneven and it can be brutally difficult, especially during the sudden enemy ambushes. It feels like a strange, experimental project that somehow holds together through sheer novelty.