NBA Showdown '94 (Beta) is one of those early '90s basketball games that feels rough around the edges but still has that classic arcade charm. The graphics are blocky, the animations are stiff, and the AI isn’t exactly smart—but there’s something weirdly satisfying about dunking on pixelated opponents with exaggerated swagger.

You pick from a handful of teams (no full league here) and jump straight into fast-paced, slightly chaotic matches. The controls are simple—pass, shoot, steal—but mastering the timing for alley-oops or three-pointers takes a few tries. And yeah, the commentary is hilariously repetitive, but that’s part of the nostalgia.

It’s definitely a product of its time, but if you’re into retro sports games, this one’s a fun little time capsule.