Before video game football became just as complex as real-life football, there was Tecmo Bowl. There weren't hundreds of plays with varying formations or special spin moves to worry about. You didn't actually have to even know much about the game of football to enjoy and play Tecmo Bowl. It was this simplicity that made the game such a huge success back during the 8-bit era and it's one of the main reasons that classic gamers still hold this unique arcade football title in such high regard, even two decades later.
There are three modes of play in Tecmo Bowl: Single Player, Two Player, and Coaching mode. They're all pretty self-explanatory with Coaching mode allowing you to call plays and manage your team while letting the CPU carry out your coaching. Since this is an arcade-style football game, there's not much to it. You're given the choice of 4 plays while on offense and defense. They're the same 4 plays for both sides of the ball. On offense you can choose either a running play or passing play. You then hike the ball by pressing one action button and then execute the toss or pass using the other action button. Whichever player currently has the ball is the player you'll be controlling. From there it's just a matter of running. You can press the buttons rapidly to try to break tackles, but other than that, there's not much you can do other than run as fast as you can.
On defense it's quite similar. You get to choose one of the four plays that the offense is choosing from. If you're lucky, you might guess the same play the offense calls and for that you'll normally score a loss on the play. Otherwise it's every man for himself and you just try to run to the ball and make the tackles. There are no fumbles or trick plays, it's just straight-ahead arcade football at its best. The simple and responsive controls work perfectly within the framework of the game, but gamers who are used to a more advanced and realistic game of football might find this game entirely too simplistic in its execution.
Visually the game is what you'd expect from an 8-bit football game and doesn't feature much in the way of realism. While this can make it difficult to distinguish between the various offensive and defensive positions, it doesn't take much away from the overall experience in the end. We've all become a bit spoiled with recent video game football titles, but there's something to be said for the simple visual presentation of Tecmo Bowl.
The music of Tecmo Bowl has always been its strong point. Anyone that spent any time at all playing this game back during the 8-bit era will easily be able to hum the Tecmo Bowl theme song at a moment's notice. Even the sound effects were fairly impressive for the time period. You can even hear the quarterback saying "hut-hut" just before the snap of the ball. It's little nuances like this that made Tecmo Bowl such an instant classic.
Video game football has come a long way over the years, but there's still something to be said for the back-to-basics formula that Tecmo Bowl employed. It stripped the football game down to its basic elements and created a fun arcade experience around it all. If you're one who enjoyed this game back in the day, it goes without saying that you'll still get a kick out of it today. But be forewarned, if you're expecting a more in-depth football gaming experience with Tecmo Bowl, you're probably going to be in for quite a disappointment, because that's just not what this game is about.
1. Flemmonthang
05 Mar 2007, 23:51 GMT
Oh man.....I used to take Bo Jackson to the end zone every play....Ah, those were the days. Bo knows sports!
2. CrawfordTexasJingoJango
12 Mar 2007, 15:11 GMT
I think the game is dreadfully boring and after playing it for free on tons of other platforms, I'd actually REFUSE to spend $5 on it. You're better off holding out for StarFox 64 or something.
3. socrates
12 Mar 2007, 18:15 GMT
I remember this was thee game to play back in the days. Everyone loved it, and couldn't wait for their turn when you had more than 2 peeps. Sure, it's in the "it's an old game" dept. but i'm sure it's still fun to play. It's simplicity is it's charm.
4. FencerMusashi
12 Mar 2007, 18:34 GMT
Tecmo Bowl is great, worth the 5 bucks and all but where is the NES version of Tecmo Super Bowl thats where it is at.
5. Stripestore
13 Mar 2007, 06:05 GMT
I was really hoping the far superior Tecmo Super Bowl would make it first. While it was the one I grew up with and had the most memories playing, comparing it to Tecmo Bowl, this feels like an incomplete game. Super had every team in the NFL at the time, a season mode, twice as many plays per round, cooler music, better graphics in cutscenes, etc. I'd say 3 stars is a more appropriate rating. Just because Tecmo Super Bowl IS a much better game in the series.
6. Joseph
13 Mar 2007, 12:57 GMT
This one DOES NOT have player names. Yes it has numbers, but no names. No "Bo Jackson" or "Lawrence Taylor" Just their numbers and their kick assery so you assume its them. I love when you make a touch town with Bo and yet 2 white guys hug in the end zone.
7. GarrettCRW
13 Mar 2007, 19:25 GMT
The original Tecmo Bowl had player names, and was specifically endorsed by the NFL Player's Association-in fact, there are three versions of the rosters: the original, with Eric Dickerson on the Colts, a revised version without Dickerson, and the Japanese release, which updated rosters from the '87 season to the '89 season.
8. Matt
13 Mar 2007, 19:53 GMT
The original Tecmo Bowl had the names as well, but with EA Sports having the exclusive rights to the NFL license, there was no way Tecmo was going to be able to include them.
9. Koolkitties
15 Mar 2007, 21:12 GMT
That settles it, I'm getting it.
10. terrene
23 Mar 2007, 00:23 GMT
Seems pointless to me until Nintendo implements an online play system for VC games. :/
11. SnakeEyes
19 Apr 2007, 04:55 GMT
This is one of THE best Nes games every made! But you need someone to play against to make it any fun. Simplicity, an craziness of throwing a pass the entire length of the field, LOL! Absolutely an awesome game
An ya Online play? Over the top fun if they could do it, an allow 4 players just like the original arcade version.
12. nephew77
09 May 2007, 03:32 GMT
This is one of the most enjoyable two-player games that I have ever played. The one-player mode is a bit too easy, but I have not played a more addictive football game since this. Tecmo Bowl gets 5/5.
13. tditty
07 Jun 2007, 18:27 GMT
It's a good game, but wait for Tecmo Super Bowl. We all love the Tecmo Bowl game play, but what made TSB great was the full season, stat tracking, injuries, and so on.
14. Vladimir
18 Jun 2007, 06:35 GMT
I agree, if they were going to release a Football game it has to be Super Tecmo Bowl. **Off subject, If there was a game I would love to see released as a virtual Console game. BaseBall Stars (first one), the ability to make your own team, add abilities, trade, release and play any team (Friends), that did not get the chance to play that day it did not matter. For an NES game, that felt like a whole game, that could still be playable (not comparable) to todays games.
15. Mii be you
31 Jul 2007, 19:48 GMT
I played this at my nephew's house and instantly fell in love with it. Although i never won, but that'll change!
(There's a code that'll make your team invisible! I'm not saying what it is, though!)
16. Jade Louise
09 Aug 2007, 19:23 GMT
This is a good game but the VC version is ruined by licence issues. The real names made a big difference. Its fun but not as fun as it used to be.
17. LikwidSnaque
30 Aug 2007, 06:55 GMT
I totally had a flashback and laugh @ Joseph's comment. I guess football wasn't integrated in Nintendo cut-scene land. And I agree with everyone. Tecmo - get your heads straight and bring out Tecmo Super Bowl so I can run for 225 yards on eight carries with Barry Sanders in average condition, run up the score and throw my classic controller at my tv in disgust when I throw my first interception of the year with Montana in week 14 bringing my 325 qb rating down a point or two.
18. Mii be you
01 Sep 2007, 04:57 GMT
Guys, you can't say Tecmo bowl's a bad game just you think Tecmo Super bowl is better. To be honest, I think TB is better.
19. Mii be you
08 Sep 2007, 03:42 GMT
I disagree with Vann Styrke on the music factor. In my opinion, This one has better music.
20. pricetag
26 Sep 2007, 22:42 GMT
I'm among the "Tecmo Super Bowl is far better" crowd, but the original Tecmo Bowl is better than nothing.
I'm scared that they won't be able to bring TSB to the Virtual Console. Taking the names out is easy (although I prefer fake names to blank space), but there are tons of NFL logos in the game that would need to be removed, aren't there? I don't think it would be worth Tecmo's while to do that extensive an amount of work on that ROM.
21. Mii be you
03 Oct 2007, 02:53 GMT
Hey, Guys! They're making Tecmo Bowl '08(Working title)!
22. Mii be you
13 Oct 2007, 20:09 GMT
What?! Gametrailers says that Tecmo Super Bowl is one of the Greatest games ever made? And I thought Tecmo Bowl was better. (sigh)
23. XCWarrior
20 Dec 2007, 06:04 GMT
It's amazing how a game so simple can be so addicting and so fun. I still can remember 15 years ago when my friend and I were playing and we intercepted the ball from each other on six straight plays. Just picked up the actual cartridge this past summer and love it.
24. MrLopez
10 Apr 2008, 16:39 GMT
Why isn't Europe getting this, there are football fans here too!!
)
(Not many, but some
25. Adamant
18 Apr 2008, 10:37 GMT
^Yeah. Come on, we get tons of baseball games, but they can't hand us one tiny football game?
26. slangman
20 May 2008, 11:14 GMT
There are probably better games for the VC but it would be cool if it came over here in europe as it sounds like a title that is well worth a look.
27. sephiroth79
19 Jun 2008, 19:00 GMT
Good game (walter payton is all I have to say), but Tecmo Super Bowl improved on it massively.
28. Mr. Cheez
28 Jun 2008, 06:22 GMT
I thought about getting this, despite the fact that I don't care that much about sports games, especially old ones, but I think i should just wait for Tecmo Super Bowl, or that new Tecmo Bowl coming out for DS. Plus, the removal of licensed players does suck.
29. KISSman
10 Jul 2008, 06:25 GMT
Even though Tecmo Super Bowl is significantly better, it wouldn't exist if this masterpiece didn't come first. The thing that nulifies this normally sure-fire purchase is the lack of player names. There were video football games before Tecmo Bowl, but none had the real player names. That was the charm of Tecmo Bowl. You were the real guys. It's just not as fun not having them on there.
30. jones2929
15 Jul 2008, 02:38 GMT
Despite the fact that the players' names have been removed, this is the best possible type of nostalgia. Played this one (and Super Tecmo Bowl) constantly while in high school and college. It's a classic that really was the first great video football game.
31. thwipp89
18 Jul 2008, 11:24 GMT
i remember really liking this game as a kid and maybe madden has spoiled me...i ended up getting this and got real bored, real quick. i wish i hadn't spent the $5. in 2008, this game leaves a lot to be desired. i don't know how anyone wouldn't get bored of this game very quickly. not recommended.
32. The Bear
03 Aug 2008, 07:42 GMT
Tecmo Bowl is legendary. Although not the original Arcade game, it's the first of it's kind on the NES. Yes, Tecmo Super Bowl is better than Tecmo Bowl - but that's besides the point.
This game's simplicity, even to that of Tecmo Super Bowl, is something that can allow nearly anyone to pick up a controller and play (only 4 plays). Personally, I love this game - as I grew up playing this (as well as the Gameboy version) more so than Tecmo Super Bowl. Unfortunately the real rosters could not be used on the VC version... because the slightly older rosters than Tecmo Super Bowl in this version were real neat. I will not be buying this most likely, only because I still have the original cartridges for both systems.
In terms of gameplay, very rarely are there incompletions. This adds up to a very interesting dynamic. Nearly every single pass in this game is either completed or intercepted. I've honestly only seen about 5 incompletions in nearly 50 games played.
I have extremely fond memories of playing through the entire season with the password system (some days even just playing the entire way straight through). Ahh, back in the glory days of my beloved 49ers...
If you are a football game fan or nostalgic NFL fan like I am, you will love this game. I gave it a 5/5, partially because of my bias... a more honest assessment would be 4/5, I suppose.
33. LordJamak
09 Aug 2008, 22:20 GMT
"Hut hut hut hut hut hut hut hut..." Oh man. I forgot how fun this game was. It's tough to remember what teams were really good back in those days. I am a Seattle Seahawks fan but back then (when I was like 9) I was a NY Giants fan. They were good in the game... Seattle was not. Ah the memories.
34. angel m. rivera collazo
01 Sep 2008, 14:00 GMT
I am not a football fan and I like it,4 stars!
35. Corbie
07 Oct 2008, 19:22 GMT
I spent more then a few hours with this game back in the 8-bit era. Me and my friends spent many a Friday night playing away at this game. It's certainly not for anyone expecting an in-depth football experience, but it's the best arcade-style football game ever made.
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