Tecmo Bowl Overview
Tecmo Bowl is an American football title for the NES. Its gameplay is viewed from a top down perspective, with the screen scrolling horizontally to follow the action. The player count is reduced to nine per side, allowing for larger and more colorful character sprites.
Competition can be against the computer in a single elimination tournament of eleven games, or directly against another person. While it features twelve teams of real NFL players from the late 1980s, it lacks official team names and logos, licensing only the players' association. Brief animated sequences play after scores and at halftime, with crowds depicted in the end zones.
On offense, selection is limited to four plays, typically a split between running and passing. After the snap, control shifts from the quarterback to either the running back or a chosen receiver. Defensive strategy revolves around predicting the offensive play call before taking control of a defender. A basic power meter governs all kicking actions.
The game does not track detailed statistics or support a saved season mode. However, tournament progress can be resumed using a password system.
