Play Little Samson Online

Little Samson came out in 1992 for the NES, developed by Takeru and published by Taito. It arrived late in the console's life, a time when developers were really pushing what the hardware could do, and it shows in the animation and scope. You don't hear about it much, but it's one of those games that feels like a secret handshake among people who were still buying new NES carts that year.

You control four distinct characters: a prince with a projectile attack, a dragon that flies and breathes fire, a golem that smashes through certain walls, and a mouse that can climb on ceilings. The main goal is to fight through a series of themed stages, defeating bosses and rescuing a kingdom. The core mechanic is switching between these heroes on the fly to solve environmental puzzles and overcome specific enemies; each screen often demands a particular character's skill. The pacing is brisk, and the difficulty is substantial but fair, asking for quick reflexes and smart character selection. It feels like solving a dynamic puzzle while also executing precise jumps and attacks.