Play Zoids - Chuuou Tairiku no Tatakai (Japan) Online

Zoids: Chuuou Tairiku no Tatakai came out for the NES in 1987, published by Tomy. It was part of that wave of licensed games trying to capture the feel of a popular toy line, in this case the animal-like mechs called Zoids. It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, just drops you into its world with a functional, if sometimes awkward, control scheme.

You pilot a Zoid from an overhead view, navigating a large map divided into territories. Your goal is to destroy the enemy base on each map. The core loop involves moving your Zoid across the landscape, which shifts to a side-scrolling action screen whenever you encounter an enemy. You have to manage your energy carefully, as firing your weapon and taking damage both drain it, forcing you to return to your home base to refuel. The controls feel heavy and deliberate, making each encounter a deliberate push forward rather than a fast-paced brawl. It feels like piloting a stubborn, powerful machine that you have to wrestle into doing what you want.