Surveillance footage released in search for shocking daycare burglary suspect

Let’s go back to the golden age of arcade games, a time when you had to stockpile coins just to keep the action going. While Street fighter And Pac-Man often monopolizes the attention, there’s one arcade gem that deserves a moment in the sun: Forgotten worlds. Released by Capcom in 1988, this shooter-slash-platformer hybrid was both breathtaking and rage-inducing. And let’s face it, it’s high time for some love.

So buckle up, hit the virtual “Start” button, and prepare for a nostalgia-fueled deep dive into the bizarre, challenging, and criminally underrated world of Forgotten worlds!

1. The first shooter to truly Rotation Your head

Sure, we’ve all played a shooter, but Forgotten worlds had one thing other games didn’t have: a rotating fire button! You didn’t just shoot forward: you could explode in any direction, making it look like you had eyes (and weapons) in the back of your head. This 360-degree shooting mechanic represented a next level for its time and added a new layer of strategy. Plus, you felt like a futuristic Rambo.

2. The cooperative dream team you didn’t know you needed

Forgotten worlds let yourself team up with a friend for double the chaos. Two players, each controlling a shirtless, buffed “nameless soldier,” could team up to destroy hordes of enemies. The co-op mode was also essential: believe me, tackling this game solo was almost impossible unless you had cat reflexes or a cheat code. But with a friend? Pure magic. Or maybe pure chaos, depending on your teamwork skills.

3. That glorious 80s sci-fi aesthetic

Imagine Mad Max encounter Blade Runner with a pinch of space dystopia, and you have the setting of Forgotten worlds. The game’s environments were filled with vibrant, supernatural backgrounds, such as ruined cities and cyber wastelands. The bosses? Gigantic monstrosities that seemed to come out of a metal album cover. In short, this game oozed 80s sci-fi goodness. It’s basically the love child of a synthwave playlist and a VHS action movie.

4. The power-ups were weird but awesome

Forget basic things like extra lives or simple weapon upgrades. Forgotten worlds went all-in on its upgrade system. As you progressed, you earned “Zenny” (yes, the currency was called Zenny) to purchase power-ups from a floating trader. You can collect everything from lasers to homing missiles, and – oh, let’s not forget – jet packs. That’s right, jet packs. Any game with jet packs automatically wins in my book.

5. Slapped music

You know a game is memorable when its soundtrack sticks in your head decades later. Forgotten worlds had an epic soundtrack that mixed upbeat, fast-paced tunes with a touch of dark, spacey atmosphere. It gave you that extra adrenaline rush you needed when the screen was swarming with enemies, and you had about two lives left. Capcom knew how to do it seriously firecrackers at the time.

6. You fought giant Egyptian gods in space

Why fight normal enemies when you can fight larger-than-life mythical beings in space? One of the most iconic bosses in the game was none other than Set, the ancient Egyptian god of chaos. Imagine this: you, a nameless soldier armed with weapons, flying through space, facing off against a deity the size of a building. Talk about epic. It’s like God of Warbut with fewer twists and a lot more lasers.

7. This unforgiving difficulty level

If you have already played Dark souls and I thought: “Wow, this game is difficult”, and then Forgotten worlds might just blow your mind. This game was the original “quarter muncher”, meaning it was brutally hard and designed to eat up your coins as quickly as possible. Whether dodging a relentless barrage of bullets or trying to take down a boss the size of a skyscraper, you had to be laser-focused. It was punishing but so rewarding to finally get through a tricky section.

8. The graphics were wild for the time

At a time when most games were still quite pixelated, Forgotten worlds it was like a visual treat. There were amazingly detailed character sprites, massive bosses, and intricate backgrounds. Capcom used its CPS-1 arcade card to its full potential, pushing the boundaries of what 2D games could look like. It felt like someone had turned the dial on your standard arcade graphics up to 11.

9. There was that “Just one more try” energy

There’s something about Forgotten worlds that sticks with you no matter how many times you die. Maybe it’s the satisfying power-ups or the thrill of dodging enemy fire, but the game had this magic formula where you couldn’t help but keep dropping coins into the machine. It’s the kind of game where “one more try” easily turns into “ok, it’s my last quarter, I swear.”

10. It’s a forgotten classic, but not forgotten by us

Forgotten worlds may not have the same weight in pop culture as Super Mario Bros. Or Sonic the Hedgehogbut it holds a special place in the hearts of those who played it. It was innovative, visually stunning and tough as nails. If you were lucky enough to experience it, you know it was something special. What if you don’t? Well, it’s never too late to rediscover this forgotten treasure.

So here’s to Forgotten worlds—a game that, despite its name, deserves to be remembered. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find an emulator and relive my shirtless, jet pack-powered glory days.