Pee-Wee Pigskin- Family Fun Football Review

Not long after its inception, the sports videogame splintered into two subdivisions. Electronic Arts’ popular Madden, NHL, and NBA Live franchises used the modest power of 16-bit hardware in an effort to recreate each athletic pastime. Meanwhile diversions like NBA Jam and Mutant League Football thumbed their noses at realism, and constructed wonderfully exaggerated competitions with superhuman competitors.

More recently, sports titles have divided even further, reaching out to casual and young players, with titles like Wii Sports and Backyard Sports Baseball. Hoping to connect with these burgeoning audiences, Tecmo has recently published Family Fun Football, a game that updates the simplicity of Tecmo Bowl, with the whimsical 3D character art common to many Wii titles.

Like Tecmo’s popular NES title, Family Fun Football pares the pastime down to its raw essentials. Those intimidated by Madden’s hulking playbook should appreciate the title’s strategic conciseness- two running playing and two passing plays are all gamers will have to contend with. Defensive options safeguard against each of the four plays, with a blitz being a fifth option. Intricacies such as ball placement, penalties, and time-outs have been cleverly excised, leaving the foundational pigskin concepts intact. The title’s one addition to the sport are power-up icons earned after successful plays. Each of these endow players with a short burst of strength, speed, or accuracy when engaged.

A few flaws on the field prohibit Family Fun Football from achieving distinction. Players are required to push a direction on the Wiimote’s d-pad, while simultaneously pressing ‘B’ to select a play, which feels awkward. Since players are already holding the Nunchuck, a tap of the joystick should have been used for an alternative play-calling confirmation. Tackles sporadically result in a button-mashing showdown to decide on an outcome; a meter indicating how close players are to success would have been welcome. Younger players still learning football rules may be confused by the game’s regulations. After intercepting a football in the opponent’s end zone, I was tacked for a safety, resulting in a three-point play for the other team. A more authentic and equitable solution would have been to move the ball twenty yards for a touchback.

More worrisome is the title’s inability to scale complexity for different age groups. Both youngsters and non-gaming adults are forced to learn Family Fun Football’s control scheme. Although the title plays like a light version of the Madden series, with players cycling through defensemen and offering a sprint option for running backs, it might still be a bit too thorny for newcomers. By offering an alternate, simplified control option, the game could have broadened its appeal to all members of the family.

Visually, Family Fun Football is competent. Stadiums are drawn exceptionally well, with a terrific depth-of-field effect that gently blurs the background. Player animation shows flashes of brilliance- from spin kicks when punting the ball, to end-zone celebrations. Occasionally, Football will show its seams- like when players use the same, synchronized animation routine after a play. While the game’s framerate is solid and captures the swift action well, those accustomed to the 60 FPS output of Wii Sports may be disappointed. Still, the game’s unlockable mascots are delightful looking, and are clearly the game’s highlight.