Barkley – Shut Up and Jam 2 is basically the opposite of NBA Jam—no flashy arenas, no clean jerseys, just raw streetball chaos. You pick Charles Barkley (obviously) or one of a few other rough-around-the-edges players and hit the blacktop, where the rules are more like suggestions. Elbows fly, the ball physics are wild, and every dunk feels like you're showing off in front of a crowd that might jump you after the game.

The AI plays dirty, too—expect shoves, steals that feel borderline illegal, and a general vibe that the refs stopped caring ages ago. First time I played, I got wrecked by some random dude in a headband who just would not let me near the hoop. It’s janky in that classic Genesis way, but that’s part of the charm. If you want polished basketball, go elsewhere. If you want to throw down in a back alley with Barkley talking trash? This is it.