Still, the game is incredibly addictive and well balanced. It’s tough but not too bad, hitting the sweet spot between making players feel godlike and making them want to throw the DS against a wall.

It’s just enormously cool that this title exists, despite the fact that the only other title in the series is a 22-year old NES game. It’s stylish, fun, and offers a very solid retro experience. If you’re looking for an old-school action game that serves up substance and challenge without getting to Mega Man 9 levels of brutality, you should pick this one up. It’s a steal at $20, and well worth a place in your DS library.

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