Basketbrawl (USA, Europe)

Basketbrawl is a basketball simulation that throws in a healthy dose of aggressive physical play, originally hitting the Atari 7800 in 1990 before making its way to the Atari Lynx in 1992. The name is a dead giveaway: it's basketball with a brawl twist, taking clear inspiration from Midway's arcade hit Arch Rivals, which even carried the tagline 'A basket brawl!' On the Lynx, this handheld port brought the same chaotic two-on-two action to a portable screen, letting you rough up opponents while trying to score. It's a sports game at its core, but the fighting elements make it feel more like a playground scuffle than a disciplined match.

Each game puts you in a two-on-two contest where you can run, jump, shoot, and, critically, punch or push your opponents to steal the ball or disrupt their play. The gameplay loop is simple: grab the ball, dodge or fight off the other team, and toss it through the hoop. There's no foul system that stops you from throwing elbows - the referee is lenient, so expect frequent shoving matches. You control one player at a time, and the AI handles your teammate, passing to you when you're open. The court is small, which keeps the action fast and collisions frequent, and you score by landing shots from various distances.

For retro gamers, Basketbrawl holds a specific charm as a rough-and-tumble sports title that doesn't take itself seriously. It's not a deep simulation or a polished fighting game; it's a messy, fun arcade experience that captures the spirit of schoolyard basketball where elbows fly. On the Lynx, it's a decent port that preserves the aggressive style of the console original, though the smaller screen and monochrome palette (unless you have a later model) can make it a bit harder to track the ball. If you like games like Arch Rivals or NBA Jam's over-the-top style, this is worth a few rounds, but it's definitely a niche title compared to the Lynx's stronger library.