NBA Live '97 on SNES is one of those classic basketball games that somehow still holds up. The animations are a little choppy by today's standards, but the gameplay is surprisingly smooth—you can pull off crossovers, alley-oops, and even some mean dunks if you time it right. The rosters are packed with mid-90s legends, so if you ever wanted to see young Kobe or Shaq in pixel form, this is your chance.

It’s not as flashy as modern NBA games, but there’s something satisfying about the simplicity. No complicated controls, just pick a team and start draining threes. The AI can be a bit predictable once you figure out their patterns, but playing against a friend is where it really shines. Just don’t expect any fancy commentary—you’ll mostly hear the same few sound bites over and over.

If you’re into retro sports games, this one’s a solid pick. It’s got that nostalgic charm without feeling completely outdated.