Tecmo Cup Soccer Game (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Tecmo's 1992 soccer game for the NES, Tecmo Cup Soccer Game.
Tecmo Cup Soccer Game (or Tecmo Cup Football Game, if you're in Europe) isn't your typical soccer game. It's nothing like Goal! or Nintendo World Cup. In fact, the subject matter itself is the only part of the game that resembles a traditional sports game - it's more of a soccer-themed visual novel with RPG trimmings.
The reason for this is that Tecmo Cup Soccer Game is a localized "reinterpretation" of Captain Tsubasa, a 1987 Famicom game based on the popular manga of the same name. The English version, sans license, does away with any references to the comic and replaces Tsubasa with "Robin," an up-and-coming teen superstar chasing his father's legacy.
The game, presented as a faux TV broadcast, is driven by cinematic cutscenes closely resembling the ones that made Ninja Gaiden so famous ( • Ninja Gaiden (NES) Pla... ). You control whoever is in possession, in real time from a top-down map of the pitch, and you can pause the action at any time to pull up a context-sensitive menu that gives you access to things like passing and shooting. These actions play out through short animated skits that, despite the limited tech, make the game legitimately feel like an interactive comic. It's more than a bit strange, but the heavy lifting done by Tecmo's cutscene engine works the same magic here as it did for the Ninja Gaiden and Tecmo Bowl games.
Your team members gain experience with each match, and the skills of each level up based on how much action they see on the field, giving progress a very RPG-like feel. The higher their level, the more likely they are to successfully pull off whatever you might command them to do.
The game has its annoyances - the need to constantly refresh the passing menu being chief among them, and Anne's face terrifies me - but Tecmo Cup is an impressive piece of work, especially for a game that was already five years old at the time of its American release.
The novelty of the presentation, the lengthy campaign, and the stats-based depth of the gameplay made it feel pretty special. It's just too bad that it would be a couple of decades before we'd see another official English release in the series, considering how prolific a series the Captain Tsubasa series had become in Japan.
But even still, if a mash-up of Ninja Gaiden, Princess Tomato in Salad Kingdom, and Soccer sounds in the least bit intriguing to you, I'd recommend giving it a shot. The hours will melt away in a blink.
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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[@aktham]

I used to play this game in mid 90s (born 1985). These themes are burned into my memories.

[@NintendoComplete]

A soccer game made out of Ninja Gaiden cutscenes? Yeah, this is sweet.

[@Dorian_Scott]

Yeah, those *are* some great looking animations.

[@camulodunon]

"soccer" Wait a minute I thought you were Bri'ish.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@camulodunon I'm half-American, but it's not like the English don't know the word soccer.

[@jezhy]

@@NintendoComplete they know and hate it.

[@rockymitsu]

​​@@NintendoComplete Isn't it actually of captain tsubasa?

[@pantarei8382]

I am born in 83 and i rember tricking the staff in game shops and book shops here in norway that I was gonna buy this game I just wanted to try it first(all over norway i did this because it only worked a couple of times in each store) NOSTALGIC

[@JoshAU44]

As soon as I saw Tecmo, I knew I wanted to check this one out. You are obviously doing well, but this looks like it could get really difficult. Thanks for showing us this gem!👍🏻

[@kenrickkahn]

Tecmo is one of the few companies who can take a sport and make it into an action game.. and make it good.. 👍🏿❤️

[@SIMonRACING_]

I had this game when I was a kid 25 years ago, but it was in Japanese (I think) and I don't speak Japanese, but played it so much that I figured out which option meant what. For example if it was a short word starting with an awkward smiley face and had a long horizontal line in the middle that was shoot (if I remember correctly) and so on. I had so much fun with this game!

[@mariusamber3237]

Ah, I remember this one. Captain Tsubasa was sorta popular in some European countries, especially Italy, as far as I'm aware. Though,it honestly made sense for them to localize this game at the time, I'd say (I believe there's a fan-translation (maybe WIP) for this one, too).

[@mielthesquid6536]

very popular in France too and also South America.

[@Rockjesu]

In Spain the anime was a BIG HIT too.

[@RedEyd]

In 🇹🇷 it's pretty famous as well!

[@martinmiloshev241]

1:52:00 I still remember the first time when we reached this stage with my brother. We were thinking that we went over the full game and we restarted the NES console :D After that we realised that there is another part of the game. It was so hard, playing even a whole day to reach to the finals. C'mon guys, I see all the stupid comments. This game is a masterpiece for its time and the possibility to SAVE your game via memo is like another level. Goosebumps whenever I hear the soundtracks.

[@augustoortiz1254]

Captain tsubasa! In fact is an rpg rather than soccer

[@mariokobhmar]

damon drib is danger they are same as hyuga,captain tsubasa 🤣

[@ТимурАров-ъ7ф]

Favorite game❤. it was just refreshing for me when the best players were selected into one team and went to the World Cup Love from Russia

[@PlungerCamEdits44]

this isnt first capitan tsubasa game?

[@darkerfalcon3747]

*The Anti-Tsubasa Edition of the game!*

[@moviemetalhead]

Could never go wrong with a Tecmo NES sports title.

[@jonathanturbide2232]

Particularly Tecmo Wrestling! 👍

[@moviemetalhead]

@@jonathanturbide2232 Yes. Definitely gave Pro Wrestling a run for its money.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@jonathanturbide2232 And Tecmo Super Bowl.

[@jonathanturbide2232]

I like the little commentator at the bottom of the screen, exactly like the great Tecmo Pro Wrestling game. 😀

[@solarflare9078]

2:24 That word as a Mega Drive fan gives me war flashbacks. Yes, you know EXACTLY that word, and thank god the actual MD port didn't use it.

[@camulodunon]

*Look at the edit I made to the first reply

[@solarflare9078]

@@camulodunon Can't see it and I know exactly what you were trying to do. It's just a shame KZbin has to pull such bullshit in the comment section all the time with the stupid censorship it imposes on users. Fuck this website, man

[@das81]

They use the Captain Tsubasa 2's Brazil Cup song for the first segment teams.

[@پاکپاکستان]

How can i get both versions in English

[@kristonoindra752]

Finally found my 1st footbal game. Play in 1998

[@DAEGUKJW]

Robin = Oozora Tsubasa ^^

[@DerivativeWorker]

I only learned about this game from GCCX, it's crazy to present a sports game this way, or rather, a strategy game about playing a sport?

[@edwardboyz1000]

Tsubasa Ozora (Japan Version) vs Robin Field (USA Version)

[@Simonsuryakant]

Such a nostalgic trip to watch this vid😀. Remember when i played this in the earlies/middle 90s with my dad, I was abt 7-9 yo, loved to play this with him, thats was really quality time with my father 😊

[@darkseidomega2585]

There are modern soccer games with similar mechanics?. This was genius design easy to understand and still challenging, loved how the team getting the ball changed the music.

[@固體蛇]

blitz ball from final fantasy X😅

[@NoteimportaNoteimporta-zt9hq]

Someone in Argentina is developing a remake of captain tsubasa 2 with mew graphics.

[@Dorian_Scott]

Okay, so... *_"Tecmo Soccer"_* on NES. Even though I *do* like Soccer, I never played this game as a kid. I played *_"Tecmo Super Bowl"_* . I looked at the thumbnail and went, (🤨 *_"Hey, wait a minute! That guy's stance looks familiar. What Famicom game was it, again?"_* ). Sure enough, it was originally a game based on the hugely popular *_"Captain Tsubasa"_* series in Japan. I personally never looked into that series, but I have seen billions and *billions* of other CT games like this.

[@damocles5047]

I wanted to play this a lot but the nes rom was crashing all the time. (It's been 15 years and this is version still in my mind.)

[@SyedaFaiza-e9m]

The sad part when i used to play this game i didn't know how to change the language from japanese to English,(i was super dumb,i know)and i use my random ideas to play.....but i enjoyed alot...

[@dariuszpiurecki1727]

I remember when I Play this game and loose matches for build up level for players 😅😅😅

[@jimmyjeff1777]

Fun fact! In japan, this is actually a captain tsubasa game

[@Hinshu85]

This is the english version. Since Captain Tsubasa didn't have a Genesis translated game. So Tecmo launched this Game to Genesis with a ripoff protagonist.

[@fusiongaming753]

Cartoon game tsubasa

[@bboyhanvzla]

Robin Field's archnemesis is Bruce Balls

[@NintendoComplete]

Pity. I was hoping for Ronald McDonald. Or maybe Mayor McCheese.

[@anttikristian]

No, dude. It's gk Adolf Post.

[@edwinchenoweth4251]

Damn I never knew a game like this existed.

[@rafastepniak318]

If ball is high on the box you better drib and use blast shot etc, hyper shot etc

[@SolCresta3405]

Give us Captain Tsubasa over this!

[@AlexNona80]

Tsubasa is just a hack lol

[@SolCresta3405]

@@AlexNona80 But instead of localizing the original, we got this instead…

[@AlexNona80]

@@SolCresta3405 welp i cant complain

[@SolCresta3405]

@@AlexNona80 Do you dislike the anime that much?

[@AlexNona80]

@@SolCresta3405 where i said i dislike it?

[@GungKrisna12]

coming from EA Sports FC Tactical

[@islamnasr7504]

My favourite edition ❤

[@SirXtC]

i know this was supposed to be the enlgish version of captain tsubasa, but why change the characters so much?

[@MiskamDowsonPOTTERFACE]

хей Марко окей Поло !!!! как щас помню!!!

[@darkestc1x983]

when i was kid i got arabic version i dont even know what commands said lol

[@whateverreviews3965]

Nigel was the cheat of this game , one you find out this player and get him to the team he was unstoppable forward shooting was off the chart and he did not even have a special shot, just simple shooting with his high shooting stat top scorer !!!

[@AlexNona80]

So his dad returned from shop with milk after all these years

[@RealAlphaMale69]

lol

[@alexisdavidsilva]

0:13 WTF???? 😂

[@gustavocardozo1391]

Que se supone que es esto? Una copia del Captain Tsubasa 1 ?

[@indrachaudhari7874]

You should play the sequal its better and it have an English patch.

[@پاکپاکستان]

I want captain majid 2, in English

[@SeekGrace]

1:45:54 WOWOOOOO !! 🐺

[@chelocheliniXD]

Aka captain Tsubasa aka super campeones

[@capofthink]

YTPBR: Um Jooj De Futebol Europeu - O Jogo.

[@paulonatanaeldossantossana3909]

Oliver Tsubasa:que admiração Robin Field e agora o jogo tecmo cup está disponível no estados unidos Robin Field:obrigado amigo (Eddie:auuuuuuuuuuuuuuu) Oliver Tsubasa:vou dar um pira Eddie imitando um lobo

[@aes330]

Una joya

[@pantarei8382]

you pass way to much... at the 16 line and you pass backwards instead of shooting....

[@emir3861]

nice

[@Darksid3c3]

I remember when I had Captain Tsubasa 1-2 one of my best friend searching for it too and they tricked him with this shitty game he wasn't aware it was not Captain Tsubasa and he gave me . I tried to play couple days I didn't like it and i gave my cassettes

[@RuthlessMetalYT]

I would like to make a game like this in Godot, if anyone who knows coding well and are interested. talk to me. :D

[@rubenalegrete4920]

Yo lo tengo y lo quiero vender

[@SERGEY_LIGHTNING]

V

[@fusiongaming753]

Noob game play ussr not use wolf normalpunching

[@calcio23]

What a horrible game

[@user-ui7iy4vk1e]

I first came across it being in Japanese. That was an experience...

[@lu9167]

HOW DARE YOU???

[@aerofxunme]

For many, their childhoods are attached to this game such a game cannot be horrible.

[@souzalimasouzalima]

This game is very poorly designed and gameplay far below the same game on Megra Drive 🤡

[@puluzu]

This was my favourite game as a kid back in the early 90's. One might say I played quite a bit of it since I haven't played for 20 years and I can still remember the code to the final game against Brazil where it's perfectly leveled characters where it's not too easy or too hard haha. dtg?2f 💗l(lower case L)d ♠V6💗 h+♦63 K♦P ikH -♣♦&x3⬆f