Looks as if the virtual download releases are picking up some steam after a dormant few weeks. I can’t say that I played the arcade version of Tecmo Bowl, but the Nintendo version logged many hours of fun in my book throughout the 80′s. The arcade version is what it is, a version to that one can enjoy right away. Instant gratification for your 25 cent investment. There aren’t any plays to call. There aren’t any individual distinctions between players. There aren’t even any other teams to choose from, beyond the default two — you’re either playing as the Wildcats or the Bulldogs, and that’s it.
The game play also suffers a bit as well. The best part about Tecmo Bowl (NES) was the fact that you could chose 1 of 4 plays, 2 passing 2 running. If your opponent chose your exact play (25% chance probability) then you were rushed and blitzed (is that even a word?) and lost some serious yardage!
The arcade version has a cumbersome passing play, therefore you just might want to run. (and that’s no fun!) Also, tackling is quite a challenge. If you grapple a player, you have to violently shake your controls to break or make a tackle. Hopefully you have a classic remote to accomplish this.
All in all I wouldn’t recommend this download, its an arcade type game designed to take your quarters. Stick to the TB NES!
Something so basic as a 4 play system made the game a fun guessing game. I loved the original Tecmo Bowl and always picked NY. LT was a real threat.
Tecmo Bowl Arcade has a Super NES look to it, but you’re right nothing will compare to the NES version.