Play Zan II Spirits (Japan) Online

Zan II Spirits is one of those SNES games that makes you wonder how it slipped past most people. It’s pure, unapologetic action—you’re slashing through enemies with this slick sword, dashing between platforms, and occasionally blasting things with a projectile attack that feels just right. The movement’s so fluid it almost reminds me of Strider, but with a heavier emphasis on precision. Mess up a jump, and yeah, you’ll probably eat a hit—but it never feels cheap.

The pixel art’s gorgeous, especially for a late-era SNES title. Bright colors, detailed backgrounds, and these little animations that make every slash and dash feel weighty. And the music? Absolute bangers. The kind of synth-rock that somehow makes you play better just by hyping you up.

It’s a sequel, so everything’s cranked up—bigger levels, crazier boss fights, and a grappling hook that adds some fun verticality. Not gonna lie, the difficulty’s no joke, but it’s that good kind of hard where you can tell the game’s playing fair. If you’ve got a soft spot for ‘90s action-platformers, this one’s worth tracking down.