Play Power Moves Online

Kaneko released Power Moves for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992, a time when the console was filling up with fighting games trying to stand out. It didn't have the polish or recognition of the bigger franchises, but it had a strange, almost homemade energy that made it memorable in its own way.

You choose from a small roster of fighters, each with a standard set of punches and kicks, but the real goal is to build up your power meter by landing hits. Once it's full, you can unleash a screen-filling super attack that often involves bizarre transformations or projectiles, like a cowboy throwing his flaming hat or a warrior summoning a giant dragon head. The pacing is frantic, and the difficulty can spike unexpectedly, but landing one of those over-the-top moves and watching the chaos unfold is a uniquely silly kind of satisfaction.