It's very famous and you've definitely heard it. It was used in a lot of 80s and 90s cartoons (often now used ironically). It sounds like a shimmering light or a power-up. It's like a beam of energy. You can picture hearing it as a character does an action pose or lands a critical hit. It's not from a video game specifically, and it most likely originates from Gundam Wing or an action anime from the 80s. It's almost like a screech and it has a slight delay only before a quick release. I vaguely remember it being used in Kirby's Dream Land 1 or 2. That's all I can give you. Thank you.
Here is some sounds I thought of.
To find the sound you're thinking of it might require watching all those sources. I think I've heard similar sounds in shoot em up games where you can charge up attacks.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gundam+lightbeam+sound
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gundam+lightbeam+sound
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K71bXXOqjA
>>370339
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPrk7JBFsWs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeIC1UzZBEk