Tecmo Bowl (NES) Playthrough

A playthrough of Tecmo's license-based 1989 football game for the NES, Tecmo Bowl.
In this video I play through an entire season as the New York Giants.
Tecmo Bowl was an instant hit when it came out in early 1989, blowing away any previous efforts at recreating the sport on the NES. This home conversion of Tecmo's popular 1987 arcade game is still thought by many as one of the best NES games ever made, and as far as 8-bit console football games go, it was only ever surpassed by its excellent 1991 sequel, Tecmo Super Bowl ( • Tecmo Super Bowl (NES)... ).
It was the first NES game to feature an NFLPA license and it stars real players and stats based on the 1988 season. The selection of twelve teams is split evenly between the AFC and NFC, and though they're only referred to by city since the game lacked an NFL license, they're all faithfully represented.
The biggest draws were the fast pace of the arcade-style gameplay and its presentation. The action on the field is gleefully chaotic yet easy to follow, the downtime between plays is kept to a minimum, and the controls are easy to handle. The cutscenes that pop up during key gameplay moments and heavy use of digitized speech clips give it the feel of a TV broadcast. It's all pretty exciting to take in, and it blew people's minds back in 1989.
It's not difficult to see why an entire generation of players still place it on such a high pedestal. Tecmo Bowl was a revolutionary game, and it's just as playable and as fun now as it was thirty-four years ago.
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocom...) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@NintendoComplete]

Tecmo Bowl was the first must-play 8-bit football cart, and it's amazing how much fun it still is all these years later.

[@Darkstar-rg8ze]

Nice game pick

[@LITTLE1994]

It does hang on well for an NES sports game

[@SoulStreak64]

No joke, this is probably my favorite sports game of all time. So simple and easy to pick up and play.

[@TecmoBowlLeague]

maybe you should join the TBL?? ;)

[@royalgarden18]

This one brings back a lot of memories. My Dad used to play this and Tecmo Super Bowl all the time when I was a little kid. I actually still have the cartridges he passed down to me and they still work to this day!

[@danalong1237]

3:09:48: “It’s been a remarkable year of Tecmo Bowl football, and we have enjoyed our time with you kids all season long! The season is over, the history books have been written, and the Giants are the Tecmo Bowl Champions! Allie LaForce, Lauren Lake, Bianna Golodryga, yours truly, Tracy Wolfson, and the entire Koei Tecmo Sports crew really enjoyed bringing you all the action! Stay well, everyone, take care, kids, and we’ll see all of you right back here next season! So long, everybody!”-Tracy Wolfson.

[@VahanNisanian]

Even if you're not into Football in general, this game is an absolute must for your collection. And Tecmo was fresh off of making "Ninja Gaiden" when they released this.

[@danalong1237]

In fact, Ninja Gaiden, Tecmo Bowl, Tecmo Super Bowl, Monster Rancher and Dead or Alive were, and still are, Tecmo’s best-known titles, even before they merged with Koei!

[@danalong1237]

If ever there was a Tecmo Super Bowl reboot, the gameplay would remain the same, except for the following changes: 1. A season mode would have 18 weeks, just like a regular NFL season. 2. A college football-like overtime format would be used if both teams were tied at the end of regulation, so that there would be many overtime periods until a winner was decided; ties are no longer a possibility. 3. The NFL playoffs would be divided into 4 rounds: Super Wild Card Weekend, Divisional Rounds, Conference Championships and the Super Bowl. 4. The reboot would have a TV-style presentation with a broadcast team consisting of Tracy Wolfson (a.k.a. “The Wolf”) on play-by-play, Wolfson’s longtime friend and protégé Allie LaForce on color, Lauren Lake as rules analyst, Bianna Golodryga as sideline reporter, Randi Thomas as P.A. Announcer/VO Promo Announcer, Cynthia Frelund as NFL Insider, Bonnie Bernstein as studio host and Rachel Riley as studio analyst, with the dialogue recorded at Ocean Studios in Vancouver under the voice direction of Janyse Jaud. 5. Each of the four periods in regulation would be fifteen minutes in length, with unlimited overtime periods until a winner is decided, if need be. …and… 6. The reboot would have both an original score composed, performed and conducted by Bridgit Mendler and a Music Choice-powered soundtrack featuring Poppy, Aerosmith, Alabama, Toby Keith (RIP), Peter Frampton, Nickelback, Rob Zombie, Metallica, Will Roush and Flo Rida, among others.

[@senseicorey9979]

The nostalgia hit is real

[@rcblazer]

Tecmo Bowl (and Tecmo Super Bowl) show that it's totally possible to make a fun game even if you're not a big fan of the sport it's based on.

[@journeymanproject1756]

Truer words have never been spoken. The games work precisely because they take a league that in my opinion intentionally caters itself to fat people (and by extension is at least partially responsible for the obesity epidemic) and makes it 1,000 times more bearable by putting you in a fantasy world where everybody can be an actual athlete in your head. It’s possible my bigger problem is that I bemoan not seeing the Superstars competition (which was still relevant in 1989 and had some great NFL stars of its day take part), but I doubt it.

[@raysage2814]

It has been decades since I played this but watching this vid reminds me how deadly a lot of the RB's are on this game. Bo Jackson & Marcus Allen, Herschel Walker, Walter Payton, Kevin Mack, Curt Warner, Timmy smith(off of his great Super Bowl game), Roger Craig, Joe Morris, Tony Dorsett, and although his not on this version of the game, Eric Dickerson. I had an original copy with Dickerson. He was the only thing to fear on the Colts. You miss a dive tackle on those guys on this game and it's a 40-50 yard run if not a TD.

[@metalpunk7945]

Oh my God the original tecmo bowl! Had to sit back and watch this gem! Such memories playing this game.

[@robertwest9065]

All my 80's kids STAND UP!!!!

[@tamhaswoods9056]

"There ya go Quagmire, you're about to tackle me.... BUT THEN!!!!!" XD

[@thegreatcanadianlumberjack5307]

There is an Arcade/Funpark that still has a Tecmo bowl Arcade cabinet , along with a few others like 1942, Snow bros and Mortal kombat. A few years ago we had a really bad year of Floods and whole main floor was flooded where Arcades where. i went back recently to see if any survived and Luckily they all survived and are now in the 2nd floor of the building instead of the main floor and have there Quarter slots replaced with Swipe terminals for the Play cards. but the Arcade version of Tecmo bowl is i am most famililar with both are easy to pick up and play.

[@tecmoownersleague6849]

I’ve played Tecmo Super Bowl so much I forgot how much fun the original was! And that iconic music. Still remember the day my dad woke me up to surprise me with this game.

[@black2785]

NES can only be played but really never understood unless you had that opportunity during its release

[@danalong1237]

2:53:19: “Well, sports fans, here it is! After months of anticipation, hype and buildup, it’s all come down to this: The Tecmo Bowl Championship Game between the New York Giants and the Cleveland Browns, LIVE from AT&T Stadium in suburban Dallas, Texas! Hello, everyone, I’m Bonnie Bernstein along with Rachel Riley from the Koei Tecmo Sports Studios, and this should be an excellent game, because the winner of this game gets to lift the Tecmo Bowl trophy! Enjoy the final game of the season, and we’ll see you back at halftime and for the postgame show, but right now, for the last time this season, let’s take you to the broadcast booth and the two lovely ladies who’ll call all the action: Tracy Wolfson and Allie LaForce!”-Bonnie Bernstein.

[@cecilrichardson2494]

Brings back memories, for sure. For some reason, I usually liked to use Chicago. Denver was a good alternative, too.

[@Dorian_Scott]

There's a reason why it's available on the NES Mini and Virtual Console for dirt cheap. For many football fans (including myself), this game is an absolute classic that's still loads of fun to play to this day. Sure, the graphics aren't much to write home about. But I *_do_* like how every team is in their respective colors... Something that "John Elway's Quarterback" failed to represent. The music is iconic and the cutscenes add more charm to this *_already_* charming game (10:10). Even someone who isn't knowledgeable about football will get a kick out of this game.

[@LITTLE1994]

My father loves this game dearly.

[@fatcatbat6357]

As a kid this game was always in my NES! More than Mario, more than Tetris, more than anything! I'm never letting this game go.

[@sportsmanz5948]

I really miss this game!

[@FreeCandy.]

Bo Jackson is unstoppable in this game.

[@TecmoBowlLeague]

incorrect!

[@mamertospower4898]

I'm from Spain, I hadn't any idea about american football... until the NES Classic Mini came out. I said first "An american football? Shit, what a waste game". Then I started to play...and now I can't stop! I learned the rules and I saw the Superbowl yesterday. Fantastic game.

[@Leslie-hg6wl]

The memories!!

[@blukmage19typeR]

Here's what I think those teams were like without the licensed teams: *AFC* Indianapolis Marlins Miami Weasels Cleveland Monsters Denver Divas Seattle Knights LA Raiders *NFC* Washington Steed San Francisco Spartans Dallas Wings New York Giants Chicago Emperors Minnesota Hawks

[@MatthiaGryffine]

You won by blocking 5 extra points. That's insane.

[@thebestgame25djhh]

Perfect

[@professors84]

The Indianapolis…Narwahls?

[@cstevens82]

MY CHILD HOOD RIGHT THERE. CLASSIC FOOTBALL GAME

[@ricardohuff8774]

There some good sports games in the day, this is one of them.

[@VanillaLimeCoke]

2:02:34 End of 7 game Regular Season 2:36:40 League Championship 2:52:59 Tecmo Bowl 🥣 Bound 3:09:45 Winners

[@sethbower11]

I’m amazed at how clear the DMC sounds!

[@princessmarlena1359]

“That’s _it,_ I’m hitting ‘reset’!”

[@ChrisVideoNet]

Thank you baby left!!! It was either up, down, left or right. lol

[@DerivativeWorker]

The Denver Elves, a classic team.

[@daviddavenport1485]

Hello everyone, and welcome to Tecmo Stadium for the opening game of the Tecmo Bowl season, and if previous years are any indication, we should be in for a good one! Yours truly, Ian Eagle in the booth along with former Ohio State signal caller Kirk Herbstreit, Kay Adams on the sidelines, rules analyst Mike Pereira and Allie LaForce in the studio...

[@CMmeows]

Another year, another tradition of TSB goodness, or in this case, the OG of the Tecmo Bowl series. Eagles vs Chiefs with half time show The Mighty Bombjacks. Not sponsored by Bepis and The Hut's Big NY style pizza(courtesy of Reggie himself, and I mean "THAT" Reggie whose body is always ready).

[@Baximus]

This is the only football game I ever really cared about, and it'll stay that way.

[@Troyjr2423]

Woot! Just in time for super bowl weekend!

[@JonesDylan874]

BANGER GAME!

[@pureflix8086]

YES.

[@nulltheworm]

Two things: 1. At one point in 1990, I was probably the best player in the world at Tecmo Bowl. If Dr. Disrespect can claim to be the two-time world Blockbuster video game champion, I can certainly claim to be the 1990 Tecmo Bowl World Champion. And so it is. 2. In high school, our quarterback would switch his cadence up from "Ready. Set. Hike!" to "FACE DOWN! Hut-hut-hut. Hike!" Amazing times. lmao

[@nickp6498]

How do you get better at this game. I went in knowing nothing about football, got my ass kicked a lot, studied, got better, but once I hit match 7 the game got completely insane. I lost to the 49ers like 5 times. I’m on match 10 right now but it feels like every game the odds are hugely stacked against me. I feel like my skill is maxed out and I can’t improve because it’s up to the random algorithm of guessing the right plays. Is this correct? Or am I doing something wrong? I feel like even if you play your best, you still have like a 50/50 chance of winning because of the luck element.

[@nulltheworm]

@@nickp6498 lol... Well, some of it is recognizing patterns. For example: on run plays, you will always have three defensive players who are unblocked. It's always 1 D-End, 1 linebacker, and 1 D-back. So, in running situations, play your defense to the strong side of the field. If the opponent is on the top hash mark, choose the run play directed to run at the top half. Take control of the top D-End. A lot of players make the mistake of doing the opposite, and taking the bottom D-End under control. The latter works in Sega games like the Joe Montana games, because you can run away from the block. But that's almost impossible to consistently do in the original Tecmo Bowl. Exceptions would be a team like I think Miami, which has a draw play. On this play, you take control of the outside linebackers. Or the Raiders, who have a dual running back set. In the latter case, you would take control of the free D-Back who never gets blocked. So you just have to look for patterns like that and play as the unblocked player to consistently shut down the other team.

[@DemarcusHamptonBailey-dj8df]

Bo Knows!

[@Detroit-gx5nd]

Got lucky you drew Cleveland for the Superbowl. If it would’ve been SF, Chi, or LA its like 10x harder

[@rockymitsu]

I would like to see you play "Dodge danpei", it is a game for nes similar to tecmo cup soccer Game, but the sport it uses is dodgeball, It has very good graphics

[@danalong1237]

3:09:43: “Kosar takes the snap, he runs… NO!!!!!!! KOSAR DIDN’T MAKE IT!!!!!!! HE DIDN’T MAKE IT!!!!! HE DIDN’T MAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS STOPPED AT THE 45-YARD LINE, 5 YARDS SHORT OF THE FIRST DOWN AND 45 YARDS SHORT OF THE TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND THE GAME IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!! THE NEW YORK GIANTS, IN ONE OF, IF NOT, THE GREATEST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME EVER PLAYED, ARE THE TECMO BOWL CHAMPIONS, AS CLEVELAND COMES UP 45 YARDS SHORT!”-Tracy Wolfson.

[@chibineowing]

I am not a fan of football. But I love playing Tecmo Bowl and

[@derylpina1999]

Hey I heard you played NES Games or Gameboy Games I wish you Played Gameboy Advance I choose Super Mario Advance 100% all Red Aces and Yoshi Eggs challenges next.

[@ElDario99]

In which team is Bo Jackson?

[@hectors8133]

L . A (run# 1)

[@gaffneyrailroading1982]

Los Angeles

[@topfranluis1]

Ffs I don’t know Jack about Football, why does knowing every bit of the rules have to be the requirement for like every old football game?