Throwback Thursday: Tecmo Super Bowl
Throwback Thursday. The month is December 1991. The Washington Redskins are on a tear during the NFL season, setting offensive records along the way.
Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions is leading the Lions to their first Division Title since 1983. The Buffalo Bills are utilizing their K-Gun Offense to plow through the AFC, on their way to the second consecutive Super Bowl.
On Friday, December 13th of that year, Tecmo released a follow-up to their 1989 hit, “Tecmo Bowl” as “Tecmo Super Bowl.”
The game involves all the then-28 NFL teams, a complete 1991 schedule, and a full NFL roster. Plus, it has the full Preseason, Pro Bowl, Season, Playoff and Super Bowl modes. In comparison, the original Tecmo Bowl featured a dozen teams, two playoff rounds, and the Tecmo Bowl, as well as a truncated roster. Tecmo Bowl had the NFLPA license, but no NFL teams. However, the teams are based on NFL cities (e.g. San Francisco, Los Angeles (Raiders), Miami, Cleveland, Dallas, etc.).
Tecmo Super Bowl retains the arcade-style gameplay from the original one. The game features fast-tracking gameplay and smooth cut scenes when a player scores a touchdown or wins a Super Bowl. Additionally, it has full stat tracking and substitutions with battery back-up.
TSB improves on the original by having eight playbooks for both offense and defense. During gameplay, the playbooks can be switched at any time. Tecmo Bowl only has four plays on both offense and defense.
The original NES release is showcased in various lists of the “Greatest Video Games of All-Time” lists, such as Electronic Gaming Monthly, IGN, and GamesRadar.
ESPN ranks it as the best sports video game of all-time.
In November 1993, Tecmo debuted the same game for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. Both 16-bit versions have major enhancements, as playing the three-year mode (1991, 1992 and 1993 seasons), official NFL logos in the endzones and enhanced graphics. There were sequels for both 16-bit versions, Tecmo Super Bowl II — Special Edition and Tecmo Super Bowl III — Final Edition. Tecmo Super Bowl II had limited quantities and is very arduous to find. Tecmo Super Bowl III was the “final” 16-bit version released for both systems at the conclusion of 1995.
The Sony PlayStation would get a critically-panned 1996 release. By that time, it was eclipsed by the EA Madden series and NFL GameDay.
There’s a Tecmo Super Bowl Tournament in Madison, WI, which is popular. They have tournaments every April. They were once featured on ESPN.
Tecmo Super Bowl is still a fun game to play, even 27 years after its release. Dust off that old-school NES and put it in! Rub it in your friends’ faces using the likes of Bo Jackson and the LA Raiders, Christian Okoye and the Kansas City Chiefs or the Montana-to-Rice combo with the San Francisco 49ers. You won’t be disappointed!
On Tuesday, January 28th, the Raleigh Retro Gamers Facebook Page is having a Tecmo Super Bowl Tournament. It will be at 7:30 PM at the Alamo Drafthouse in Raleigh, NC. The entry fee is free and you won’t be disappointed!