Madden NFL 2004 on the GBA is one of those rare handheld sports games that actually feels like the real deal. The graphics are surprisingly solid for the tiny screen—players look like their real-life counterparts, and the animations for tackles and catches are way smoother than you’d expect. First thing you’ll notice? The controls are tight. Audibles, jukes, and deep passes all work without feeling cramped on the GBA’s buttons.

Franchise mode is where I lost way too many hours. Drafting rookies, managing salary caps—it’s all there, just scaled down smartly. And yeah, the AI actually puts up a fight, especially on higher difficulties. Nothing worse than throwing a pick because you got cocky with a Hail Mary.

If you’ve got a soft spot for old-school Madden or just want a portable football fix, this one holds up better than most. Just don’t blame me when you start muttering about refs during a close game.