Abarenbou Tengu

Released by Meldac in 1990, Abarenbou Tengu is a side-scrolling shooter for the NES starring the Tengu, a long-nosed flying yokai from Japanese mythology. Armed with a fan, the player battles through dense enemy waves in a game built around environmental destruction — stage terrain scrolls relentlessly toward the screen, and any obstacles not blasted apart in time will crush the character. The shot powers up in three stages, and screen-clearing bombs provide emergency relief. Energy items drop from falling humanoid figures scattered across each level. Its relentless pacing, heavy bullet density, and unique yokai theme set it apart among Famicom shooters.