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.

With a budget price of $29.99, a condensed rules set, and ten mini-games, Family Fun Football is certainly an intriguing option for Wii-owning households. Just be aware that the game’s appeal might be greatest for family members who have at least a passing familiarity with games; the title lacks the intuitive real-world mechanics of say, Wii Sports Resort. With a few tweaks to the title’s design, the game could be a contender for next year’s casual sporting game playoffs.

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

29 comments

  1. Have you guys played this year’s Madden for the Wii? The whole All-Sport design allows all levels of gamers to play. I’m sure it better than this.

  2. I remember playing Tecmo Bowl in 2nd grade. We loved that game, glitches and all.

  3. What’s Tecmo’s market? hardcore Ninja Gaiden and kiddie games like this? Not to hate on either, but that a range.

  4. Why are the players invisible in the second pic?

  5. I think Nintendo Power hated on this. Think about that. NINTENDO POWER.

  6. You know you made a good point. My hubbies not a gamer, and when he tried to play with the kids, the controls throw him off. Minigames are about all he can handle.

    Multiple controls methods would help, with some giving more ‘assistance’ to players.

  7. Painless Fragger

    I’ll all for family games, but it seems like when people make games for families, unless they are Nintendo, they usually fail.

  8. How are the minigames?

  9. I would have liked to see a soccer game like this. My kids love soccer more than football.

  10. Yeah, IGN said it was pathetic as well. Looks like Tecmo dropped the ball on this one.

  11. Hey I liked this review better than IGN. I think the other reviewer didn’t state WHY he didn’t like the game, and just 4.0ed it.

  12. Looks like they are trying to get Wii Sports fans to get it. Looking at the screens, I would have though this was Wii Sports Football.

  13. And how many are there?

  14. $30 seems like too much for this. $20 would have been better.

  15. Good review. I’m glad you gave it a fair review, and didn’t just hate it, because it was a kids game.

  16. Review seemed pretty fair. Good job.

  17. So the game lets you use your Wii? That’s cool at least. I wonder if Nintendo is ever going to update the avatars.

  18. Why didn’t Tecmo just call this Wii Tecmo Bowl?

  19. Walker Texas Rapist

    Cause it wasn’t any good, I’m thinking.

  20. Isn’t there already a family football game for the Wii?

  21. and $10 would be best. LOL.

  22. Maybe if it had fatalities 😉

  23. I have a feeling this game isn’t as bad as these reviews are making it sound.

  24. A lot of people are overreacting. A C means average, nothing great but nothing terrible either. I hate when people see a C and they think it’s the end of the world. I enjoy plenty of C games.

  25. My friend got this today used at Gamestop for $19.99. That’s about how much a person should pay. We expected it to be a bit better.

  26. Wow, a used copy already. That makes me worry.

  27. When those ‘special’ lock-up type tackles occur, the surrounding players get translucent in order to focus your attention on the two players in the lock up.

  28. can someone tell me how to get the little avatars to appear in my comments section? thanks!

  29. I will post this story to SocialText account and here I recommend and appreciate your knowledge and effort to write this excellent article. Thanks