The first player I’m creating is Bo Jackson.
For many adult gamers raised on the NES and SNES, football has only one name: Tecmo. After a more than decade-long hiatus (its last incarnation was 1997’s Tecmo Super Bowl for the original Playstation), the cult hit series returns on the Nintendo DS with Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff.
Since Electronic Arts now owns the NFL License, Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff uses strictly fictional teams and rosters. However, all of its thirty-two teams are customizable, meaning that you can change your team’s city, emblem, and uniform colors, as well as edit each of your player’s names and statistics to your liking. You can also customize your playbook with your own selection of four passing plays and four running plays.
One thing the Tecmo Super Bowl series is known for is its completely over-the-top plays (see Montana, Joe to Rice, Jerry). Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff promises the same crazy plays, but also the opportunity to strategically use them at just the right time in order to get the edge on an opponent. Of course, these outrageous athletic feats will be highlighted by all-new cut-scenes, a series trademark.
There are also some new features made possible by the unique abilities of the Nintendo DS hardware. In addition to full stylus control, you’ll be able to battle other players using local multiplayer as well as Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection. For the first time ever, you’ll be able to play other Tecmo fanatics no matter where they are.
Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff looks to be filled with nostalgic references, right down to its rock’n’roll remixes of classic musical tracks from the series. It may very well create a new generation of Tecmo Bowl maniacs when it releases in September.