Gaiares is one of the most difficult games that I've ever beaten. I've never felt as great beating a game as I did when I finally beat this monster. Anyway, this is a phenomenal Shoot 'Em Up for the Genesis with some of the best music from its time, which kept me playing a lot of the time. The unique power-up system is really cool, and the game is generally just really fun to play. Every time I died, I was eager to try again, which is the mark of a great game. The bosses are great and have awesome designs, and there's just so much to love here. If you like difficult retro games, this'll be right up your alley. It's much more than an R-Type clone, which is what I assumed it to be when I first popped it into my Genesis. The only major gripe I have with the game is that the last couple levels feel lazy, and the bosses in them are pretty weak compared to the rest. Besides that, everything's good here.