Sega Genesis
Released in 1995 by Sega
Grade: C
This game is a dull but mostly competent attempt at simplistic simulation football.
Where it falls in the series
It’s the second of just two college football games Sega released for the Genesis. Sega also released seven pro football games starting with Joe Montana Football and ending with NFL 98. Although this game is noted for being a near-copy of NFL Football ’94 Starring Joe Montana, I find it to be slightly more user-friendly.
Praises and gripes
The game’s default settings have you viewing the action vertically from high above the field, but once the QB gets rid of the ball, it switches to a very close view. You can also choose a horizontal view or a couple variations of the vertical view, but I stuck with the default, despite its limitations. The close view is often too narrow, and sometimes the wide view is somehow not wide enough.
The motion in this game has a straightforward feel. It’s not energetic and fluid like Madden, and it’s not cartoonish and charming like Tecmo Bowl. I wouldn’t call it easy or hard to control. It’s somewhere in between.
On the bright side, the playcall interface and basic controls all make sense. You use the Tecmo passing system, hitting a button to cycle through receivers and another button to throw. I like that passes are usually accurate and if you hit an open receiver, he’ll catch it.
The plays have clear diagrams and operate nicely on the field. The playbooks are unique to each team, but they aren’t large enough. The game logic favors offense. QBs have plenty of time to pass, receivers can get separation from their defenders, and runners can break free for long touchdowns.
I honestly don’t have much to complain about, but I simply don’t find this game very fun. The pace is decent, but it could be faster. The controls work, but they don’t have any zip. First downs and defensive stops feel more like relief than excitement. The presentation is flat, the crowd noise is drab, and the play-by-play announcer from earlier installments is gone. I commend the slight improvement in gameplay, but it’s not enough for me to want to play this game again.