Now This Is Music In My Ears!. – Yo! Joe! –

Yo! Joe! is one of those games that sweeps you up from the very first minute.

What hooked me immediately was the music — even on the opening screen, it pours out of the speakers with surprising richness and energy.

Something many players might not know is that Yo! Joe! actually includes a full intro sequence. If you leave the main menu running for a while, a long, stylish intro begins to play, all while that fantastic opening theme keeps thumping in the background, making the whole experience even more enjoyable.

Yo! Joe! was unfortunately one of those great games that slipped through the cracks. It launched at the wrong time, received barely any marketing for a brand‑new IP, and ended up buried under a flood of other releases.

The box design didn’t help either. The dull colours, the odd title treatment, and the overall bland presentation were hardly the best choices from Blue Byte and Hudson Soft. It deserved something far more eye‑catching.

I still remember the day I got it — the very same day I picked up Turrican 3. Luckily, I fired up Yo! Joe! First. That entire week vanished in a blur. I got so hooked that I actually missed my first day of school after summer break. I genuinely thought classes started on Thursday… but it was Wednesday. Oops.

The developers clearly poured their energy into the gameplay.

Yo! Joe! is incredibly approachable — sometimes even a bit easy — but it’s so much fun that you never really mind.

The engine runs smoothly, too, so you won’t run into any technical hiccups along the way.

The game suddenly shifts into a sideways shooter about thirty minutes in, complete with fantastic music and tight gameplay — assuming you make it that far. Once again, the graphics hold up beautifully. And just when you think the soundtrack can’t get any better, another brilliant tune kicks in, every bit as catchy as the ones before it.

The shoot‑’em‑up stage instantly reminded me of another classic — not because it’s unusual, but because the overall style, pacing, and music hit that same sweet spot. It’s a straightforward sidescroller, sure, but it has that unmistakable charm that sticks with you.

From start to finish, the game just keeps delivering. There are plenty of levels, plenty of music, and plenty of variety to keep you hooked. Each stage brings new visuals and new tracks, yet the gameplay stays consistently top‑notch.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve completed this game. I even burned a CD of the WHDLoad version so I could play it on my CD32. These days, I often revisit it through longplays on YouTube — and it still amazes me how a decades‑old game can be such a blast after all this time. And the best part? Yo! Joe! is just one of many gems from that era. It’s absolutely an endless classic.

If you’re a retro fan, you owe it to yourself to check out this underrated treasure. Give it a go — and don’t miss the video below. It’s a perfect reminder of just how incredible the Amiga was at delivering great music and games like this in its glory days.

Yo! Joe! Screenshots and information at Hall Of Light.