Cheetahmen II vs Shadow of the Beast II

Cheetahmen II is an unreleased Action 52 sequel that surfaced in 1996 on reused cartridges, making it one of the rarest NES titles. Players control three Cheetahmen—Aries, Apollo, and Hercules—through a series of platforming levels, though a critical bug blocks access to Aries' stages without ROM hacks.

Shadow of the Beast II is an action‑platform game developed by Reflections Interactive and published by Psygnosis in 1990. Players guide Aarbron, now in half‑beast form, through the mystical lands of Karamoon on a quest to save his kidnapped sister from the evil dragon Zelek. The game blends side‑scrolling combat, spell‑casting, and environmental puzzles, featuring memorable foes like Tree Pygmies and goblins in the Crystal Caverns. Its atmospheric graphics and haunting soundtrack create a distinct fantasy‑horror experience that still resonates with retro‑gaming fans.

• Nostalgic 8-bit platforming experience
• Three playable characters with unique abilities
• Highly collectible physical cartridge
• Simple, responsive controls

• Atmospheric pixel‑art graphics
• Challenging boss encounters
• Engaging puzzle‑based progression
• Rich fantasy‑horror narrative

• Critical bug blocks access to part of the game
• Extremely limited physical availability
• Unfinished design leads to rough edges

• High difficulty curve for newcomers
• Limited save system
• Controls feel dated by modern standards