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The current industry of sports video games is an absolute juggernaut, one that relies heavily on annual releases that are often nearly indiscernible from the previous. So it may be hard for some to believe that Tecmo Bowl, a title based on a traditional sport such as American football went on to become such a well remembered game.
Originally released by Tecmo for arcades in 1987, Tecmo Bowl undoubtedly hit its stride with its 1989 port to the Nintendo Entertainment System. In this version, the names of real NFL players are used, which was an absolute first in video games. However, they licensed the names of players only, not the team names or logos. Each team is referred to simply by its respective cities, but since the actual colors were used, there was no question who you were playing as. It includes a total of 12 teams, six AFC and six NFC.
With its pick-up-and-play appeal, it’s easy to see why Tecmo Bowl was a smash success. Still, its inclusion of a playbook for both offensive and defensive moves, coupled with the option to switch teammates on the fly allowed players to have a more in-depth experience than most sports titles offered at the time. The game really shines in two player mode, where you can throw down and go head-to-head with a buddy. In addition, a “coach” mode is offered, where you simply decide on each play and the computer plays them out.
At the end of the day, what we got is a game perfectly tailored for a night with good friends and a bit of unfriendly competition. Audiences later received Tecmo Super Bowl, which is such a worthy follow-up that it deserves its own separate feature.
