NBA Live 99 on N64 was one of those games that made you feel like you were actually calling the shots on the court. The animations were smooth for the time—players had their own signature moves, and the AI actually put up a fight instead of just standing around. I remember spending way too much time tweaking my lineup, trying to figure out if I wanted speed or raw power in my starting five.

It wasn’t perfect—some of the controls took getting used to, and the graphics definitely show their age now—but back then, it was the closest thing to real basketball on a console. Dunking with Shaq or pulling off a last-second three-pointer with Reggie Miller just felt good. If you’re into retro sports games, this one’s still worth firing up for the nostalgia alone.