Destination articles

Retro Bowl review

stephenand

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Retro Bowl is often compared to Tecmo Bowl, and its inspirations from Tecmo's groundbreaking game are clear. However, it would be wrong to think that Retro Bowl is just a throwback to a simpler time. Play Retro Bowl online for free at cookie clicker!

Underneath its throwback aesthetic is a game that combines deep on-field strategy and team management with the easy pick-up-and-play of an arcade game. It's a great fit for Switch.

What it has in common with Tecmo Bowl is its retro look and style, as well as the fact that it is pretty easy to play. With bright 8-bit sprites and lively chiptune music, the game has a sense of playfulness that many of today's more serious sports simulators don't have. Instead of digging through menus and messing around with card packs, you can start a new franchise in seconds and finish a season in an hour.
Retro Bowl is the kind of game you can jump into for a few minutes of casual fun, even if you only have a few minutes to spare. This is because it strips football down to its most basic rules. Two-minute quarters, which are shorter in real time because you only play offense, keep the games moving quickly. Your AI offensive coordinator calls most of the plays, which keeps the focus on the action.


Your main job on the field is as the quarterback. You run whatever play your offensive coordinator (OC) calls, change it when you need to, and decide when to pass, hand off, or try to run it yourself. The controls are easy to use, so you always know what your options are. Even though it looks like a simplified version of the real thing, it has a surprising amount of depth, both in how the plays go and in the options you have. You'll also play receivers and running backs after a successful pass or hand off, and your kicker will try field goals, but most of Retro Bowl is about getting your offense down the field.

One of the best parts is the passing game. In most other games, the receivers are controlled by buttons. In Retro Bowl, you aim your throws by hand. It's much more satisfying to line up a long pass yourself instead of just pressing a button and watching a simulation play out. It also gives you a lot more options for strategic pass placement, leading your receivers, and other things like that. Stats are still a big part of whether or not the catch is made, but being actively involved is a lot of fun and very rewarding.
Retro Bowl is great for when you just want to play a quick game because it's like a highlight reel, but it's also fun enough that you'll want to play "just one more!"" can turn a "quick game" into something that takes a couple of hours, especially if you get involved in managing the game. You don't have to manage the whole team. Instead, you focus on a few key players and use simple systems to improve their stats, manage their moods, and draft new players. You are also in charge of hiring, firing, and developing your offensive and defensive coordinators. The offensive coordinator is especially important because he or she affects the number of plays available and the quality of play calling.

Between matches, there are light simulation elements in the form of random events that give you a binary choice with two possible outcomes. For example, if you have to choose between a team meeting and a media briefing, do you go to the team meeting? If a player has a bad game, do you yell at him or try to protect him from the team's owners? There is even some control over the fan base with linear stadium upgrades.