Ever played one of those early NES sports games that somehow feels both janky and weirdly charming? Taito Basketball is exactly that—a super basic 5-on-5 arcade-style hoops game where the players look like chunky little sprites with zero necks. The controls take a second to get used to (passing feels like you're throwing a brick), but once you figure out the timing, you can pull off some satisfying fast breaks.

Don’t expect realism here—players slide around like they’re on ice, and the AI defense is either brain-dead or psychic, no in-between. But there’s something oddly addictive about the sheer simplicity of it. Dunking makes this ridiculous boing sound, and the crowd just kinda murmurs in the background like they’re not even watching. Classic NES jank at its finest.

If you’re into retro sports games, this one’s a fun little time capsule—just don’t go in expecting NBA Jam.