Play GI Joe Online

GI Joe on NES is one of those side-scrolling action games that feels both familiar and frustrating. You control different team members—each with their own weapons—but the controls are stiff, and the hit detection is rough. The first stage throws you right into the chaos, bullets flying everywhere, and you realize pretty quick that memorizing enemy patterns is the only way forward.

Some characters feel useless compared to others, like Snake Eyes with his short-range attacks while Cobra troops shoot from off-screen. The music’s decent, though, and there’s something satisfying about seeing the GI Joe crew in 8-bit form, even if the gameplay doesn’t always hold up.

It’s not the worst NES game, but unless you’re a die-hard GI Joe fan, the nostalgia might not be enough to carry it.