Nintendo Entertainment System
Released in 1991 by Tecmo
Grade: B+
If you go and peruse the internet for every “greatest sports video games of all time” list, I assure you, Tecmo Super Bowl is at the top of the list more than any other game.
It’s beloved and famous for good reason. It’s a great combination of simple controls, exciting action, and actual football sense, and it’s dolled up with a full NFL license and lovable presentation.
Where it falls in the series
This is the follow-up to the almost-as-beloved Tecmo Bowl. The series moved to 16-bit consoles for three editions, then a single edition on PS1.
Praises and gripes
This game improves upon everything good about the original without messing anything up. It’s still easy to pick up and fast-paced, with each play bringing its own unique bit of football chaos, usually followed by that distinct zig-zag running before the ball carrier is brought down. But this time, the viewpoint is pulled back, the players are smaller and nicely animated, and teams have eight plays instead of four, a critical adjustment.
Unfortunately, the players flicker like crazy, especially when cluttered together. That said, the graphics are overall an improvement from the original. The view displays 33 yards of the field instead of just 20, which holds all the action and full 11-man squads (upped from 9) on the screen.
The passing game is easy to handle as long as you’re fast and decisive. Defense is ultra simple, with no “change player” function, and it’s fun to make your move toward swatting down a pass or tracking down the ball carrier.
The new NFL license really puts a fresh coat of paint on the game. Back in 1991, people must have been blown away by the attractive team select screen, full of real team helmets and names. During games, the awesome cutscenes do a great job showcasing players and I love the occasional in-action scene of picturesque catches and heart stopping near-interceptions. I have to mention, Bo Jackson’s dominance in this game is almost as famous as the game itself, thanks in part to the fun cutscenes bearing his name and an image of him spiking the ball … several times a game.
Games have an unpredictable nature and you never get the same game twice. I’ve had games where I made key mistakes but caught enough luck to claw my way back into the game, and I’ve had games where I thought I’d cruise to victory and watched the opponent turn the tables on me.
Some other refinements include more balanced logic for offense and defense. There are more short gains, more incomplete passes, and fewer interceptions.
You can play a realistic NFL season mode, saving your progress via battery backup. The stat tracking and team management elements were impressive for the time and helped set the groundwork for the sophisticated season modes in modern sports games.
Even though I didn’t play this game in its time, I can admit its fun factor still holds up and it’s worth owning today.
Published November 8, 2025