I don't have too much to say about this one. Simply put: Pocky & Rocky is a fantastic overhead shoot-em-up featuring really fun and endearing character designs, excellent sprite work, and levels that are just a blast to play. Gameplay remains pretty simple from start to finish, but Pocky & Rocky is proof that you don't need to hitch on a ton of crazy gimmicks for the sake of uniqueness.

Admittedly, I have a hard time telling where this game ends and its sequel begins, a consequence of me playing these back-to-back, though I do know that Pocky & Rocky 2 is the more beloved and perhaps best remembered entry in the series. That's not to say you should sleep on the first, however, especially if you're a shoot-em-up fan.

Just a shame the franchise didn't stick around for very long, with twenty years separating 2001's Pocky & Rocky With Becky and the recently released Reshrined. I love these little bastards and I'm glad they're back.