Pete Sampras Tennis on the Genesis is one of those old-school sports games that somehow nails the simplicity of arcade tennis while still feeling satisfying. You pick your player (obviously, Sampras is the go-to), choose a surface—grass, clay, hard court—and just start swinging. The controls are basic: one button for regular shots, another for lobs, and that’s about it. But the timing actually matters, and you’ll quickly learn to angle your shots or risk getting wrecked by the AI.

What’s cool is the J-Cart version—it had two controller ports built right into the cartridge, so you didn’t need a multitap for doubles. The graphics are chunky in that early-’90s way, but the animation’s smooth, and there’s something weirdly addictive about the way the ball physics work. Matches can get surprisingly tense, especially if you crank up the difficulty. It’s not a deep sim, but it’s way more fun than it has any right to be.

If you’re into retro sports games, this one’s a solid serve-and-volley pick.