Action games that still hold up

Chuckie Egg 1983 i Why it still holds upA clock and patrolling hens, in a henhouse built of ladders and lifts, still make a good test today.

Battletoads / Double Dragon 1993 i Why it still holds upA cooperative brawl with a crossover cast still gives two players a challenge.

Kid Icarus: Uprising 2012 i Why it still holds upEvery mission is still a wager you place yourself, by betting your own hearts to set the difficulty.

Ghouls 'n Ghosts 1988 i Why it still holds upIt still asks for more than getting through once, with a second pass through the same stages and a new weapon.

River Raid 1982 i Why it still holds upFuel that is always running out still turns each stretch of river into a choice today, between a pass over a depot and clearing what is in the way.

Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense 1999 i Why it still holds upFor car combat among friends, it is still a good time.

Aero Fighters 1992 i Why it still holds upA route that changes with every run and every pilot still makes it worth starting another today.

Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection 2005 i Why it still holds upThe Tekken 5 cast plus three newcomers is still there to play today.

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles 2007 i Why it still holds upA remake that keeps its stages and adds routes is still a good reason to go back to the vampire hunting.

Batman 1989 i Why it still holds upA restart that keeps your progress still makes the search for the next part easy to resume after a failure.

Vampire Killer 1986 i Why it still holds upThe castle is still a maze to search and not a line to run.

Nemesis 2 1987 i Why it still holds upA sequel with its own ship and weapons gives players a different Gradius to try.

Bosconian 1981 i Why it still holds upFlying in every direction with a radar that shows where the bases are still gives each round a clear goal.

Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend 2003 i Why it still holds upA martial arts movie on a handheld still keeps each fight cinematic.

Frame Gride 1999 i Why it still holds upA robot you build and tune yourself still gives each duel your own stamp.

Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Son Goku Densetsu 1994 i Why it still holds upA set of Goku's biggest fights told by his family still makes the story easy to follow.

Legendary Axe II 1990 i Why it still holds upSwapping between a sword, a morning star and an axe, each with its own reach and power, still gives every fight a choice.

Bionic Commando: Elite Forces 2000 i Why it still holds upA claw that grabs overhead objects in place of a jump still decides how you cross every level.

Gate of Thunder 1992 i Why it still holds upSeven stages of constant scrolling with a boss at each end still make it quick to pick up for another try.

Wizball 1987 i Why it still holds upPortals take you between the levels you have opened, so choosing where to go for which colour still makes each run something to plan as well as to shoot through.

Gunstar Super Heroes 2005 Also known as Gunstar Future Heroes i Why it still holds upStages reworked with new parts, and three guns to switch between, still give plenty to try today.

Touhou Koumakyou: The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil 2002 i Why it still holds upTwo characters with different weapons still make each run its own.

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time 2009 i Why it still holds upSolving puzzles with your own recorded copies is a mechanic that is still worth trying.

H.E.R.O. 1984 i Why it still holds upDark mineshafts to fly through, with dynamite to light the way, still make every rescue worth trying today.