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Wednesday, December 24, 2008 |
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Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff
By Beadden @ 1:59 PM :: 1096 Views ::  :: DS
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Returning to the Nintendo Library is Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff for the Nintendo DS. This game is everything that can be expected from the series. Starting up the cartridge the game starts off with the classic 8-bit sounds of yesteryear. The unfortunate thing about all of this is that since Tecmo does not have the rights to the National Football League (NFL) there are none of the teams or faces that hardcore football fans do crave about being the stars that they watch every week on TV.
Starting off the game there are a few changes from the classic Tecmo Super Bowl that really pulled people into this game. The music is updated, but still has an 8-bit feel. The game plays very similar to what was on the other consoles. This game has many types of play, the single game just random teams in random settings playing against a computer opponent. The next is season play where the individual picks a team and takes them through the years, this can be done for the full season and win the championship then in the great Tecmo Bowl itself. Lastly, the person can compete in the the multi-player aspect of the game which can be done with another person in the room who has the game or with someone via the Nintendo network.
The single play is very similar to what was on the original games. Once again the teams and players are just random names, but the game play is very similar. Picking out the team of his or her choice and getting to pick the play book of plays to use against the other team. Each player is allowed to have four run plays and four pass plays. During the game play there are the generic four downs in football. Player A picks one of the eight plays and then Player B picks one of them as well if the players have picked the same play whoever is on defense crushes the other person. So whoever is on offense is really trying to pick something unexpected because the object of all football games is to move the football down the field into the end zone and score points, most points wins. When on defense the players is trying to stop the person from getting to the end zone. Each player has four chances or downs to move ahead ten yards to get another four chances. Basic football rules are applied here. The nice thing about this version is that there is weather so it gives it slightly different game play, such as when the game is in a wet or rainy environment the player is more likely not to catch the ball or drop it while running so these things have to be taken into consideration when playing. Besides the rain there is snow and sunny days.
The season play for the game has the player able to customize his or her team, this does cross over for the single player, but since those games are just one at a time some people do not feel invested in them, but in a season the person has to play with them over and over. By being able to customize that means that the player gets to pick which town they want their team to be from. Once that is decided then the player gets to pick colors and names and an entire play book; also the person can change the names of every player on their team to people of their choice so he or she could make their dream team of classic players. Also the person controlling the team can change the attributes of each player and give them special abilities to make them more of what they are looking for. Such as a person could run faster or have an increased ability to catch better so the person can even more make the team his or her own.
The multi player of the game is nice to play anyone who owns the game, rather than just the friends that the players knows, but a chance to truly match their masterpiece of a team vs. another person's dream team. That is a chance for a person to truly show skill and what he or she has learned from playing the game. The team settings—such as color and play book—do cross over to the on-line version so that way each person is used can shine through the use of a team they are familiar with.
I picked this up and played it because I have been a fan since the very first Tecmo Bowl. They did make several improvements to the game, such as alternate weather conditions and the ability to pick the play book for any of the game-play versions. It was fun; it did make me happy that a new generation of people get to play the sports game that really got me hooked to begin with for sports games. Unfortunately they really didn't make many more changes than the basics; they did incorporate the stylus for controls such as running and picking things, but it is somewhat awkward, because while playing since the bottom screen is the one with game play and the top is just stats the players hand blocks the view so you cannot see where the other team is necessarily coming from. They also did not change the way the people move. Just like the old days if the person with the ball runs at angles then they have a better chance to avoid tackles. Since the computer only thinks in the straight path to the player, not if I dive here I will hit them while moving they dive and go in a straight line of where you were or are. The rest of the game is pretty much similar to past versions, the on-line play was rough because I played two games and I was destroyed in both the first one—the player knew how to kick it perfectly every time so I never had a chance to have the ball, and second the player always seemed to know what play I was doing so I never progressed. Playing this game was great, because I enjoy playing the classics, but I could see someone buying this thinking it is going to be another great football game, and they are going to be wrong. It does work very well on the DS, and plays very nicely. The wireless has some lag, which is annoying, but not impossible to work with, so overall the game was fun I enjoyed it, and I am even looking forward to playing it more to see how I do next season.
So overall 7 out of 10. Not because it is bad, but because it is good with nothing new or different.
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