Play Ikari Warriors (EU) Online

Ikari Warriors (EU) is one of those NES games that feels like a relic from another time—in a good way. You control a lone soldier (or two if you've got a friend) pushing upward through dense jungles and rivers, mowing down waves of enemies with whatever weapons you can scavenge. The controls are stiff by today's standards, but there's something satisfying about the way grenades arc across the screen.

It's harder than I remembered. Enemies spawn endlessly, and the scrolling forces you forward even when you'd rather take cover. The power-ups help, but you'll still die a lot—especially in the later stages where everything gets chaotic. The two-player mode makes it slightly more manageable, though.

If you're into old-school run-and-guns with rough edges, Ikari Warriors (EU) still holds up in a punishing, nostalgic way.