NBA Hangtime

One of the best sport/arcade games ever, NBA Hang time rivals the likes of the original NFL Blitz and other top sport/arcade games. It first arrived in 1997 on the SNES and on arcade, leaving many wanting more...more...more! The sheer speed of the game is what first got me, with 2 on 2 game-plays and the small court giving way to quick points. Combine that aspect with crazy dunks, no fouls, team dunks and lay-ups, "team fire", codes, other options, and you got one hell of an up-tempo basketball game!
With the "create a player" option, one is able to create multiple characters, decide their players' name, what their player looks like (aliens, a clown, a wizard, etc) what their initial skills are, and special bonuses as well.

For every 3 wins in a row, you are awarded bonus points to allot your character and eventually unlocking other special bonuses later. Choose between, say, creating a 7'6 defensive blocking machine, or maybe a small, too-quick-for-you passer/shooter. You could say that your goal for the created character is to defeat all 29 teams and rise atop the rankings doing so (for bragging' rights). The game itself isn't too difficult; it’s really all about your own creativity and reflexes.
My favorite part of the game is the ability to play with or against a friend. The game is 2 on 2, and so 4 players can "coin in" to a game. Trying to stop another player from doing a nasty dunk is just as fun as slamming one in the opponents grill. When playing with someone it’s great going on a tear, scoring basket after basket to attain "team-fire", and that’s when the demolition begins! Team-fire makes your stats much better, and it’s hard to be stopped from scoring. Just make sure you play with someone that actually shares the ball, because it’s possible for someone to just hold onto the ball for a full half of the game...
Although it’s in 2D and the graphics by today’s standards are unfavorable by comparison, NBA Hang time stands the test of time. Whether you're a sport enthusiast or not – it’s not so important. The nostalgic aspects of simple controls, replay ability and the pick-up-and-play "feel" that the early-generation of games brought to the table are all here. The fun aspect will keep you playing this game, at least until something comes along that’s eerily similar. But with the sport genre sticking to simulation, don't expect to find a gem such as this anytime soon.
When I say "gem", I mean stop reading this and download this game right now.