Tecmo Bowl kicking off on DS

Retro pigskin series gets revamped in arcade-style game with customizable teams and playbooks; due out this fall.

Nearly a year ago, Tecmo teased gamers with news of a new installment in its original football franchise, Tecmo Bowl. All the publisher said at the time was that the game would arrive in 2008 and that it was "not going to be on the platform you're thinking of right now."

Are you adequately prepared for some American sporting events?

It appears people weren't thinking about the Nintendo DS, as Tecmo today announced Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff for the handheld. Based on the Tecmo Super Bowl games of the 1990s, Kickoff will include series staples like an arcade-style approach to the gridiron and cutscenes to emphasize big plays. The game may not have an NFL license due to Electronic Arts' exclusivity deal with the league, but Kickoff will feature a default 32-team league and customizable squads that allow users to choose colors, emblems, names, and more. Gamers will also be able to create their own playbooks.

The DS debut of Tecmo Bowl will use the system's Wi-Fi abilities for local and online multiplayer matches, and the touch screen can be used to control players. Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff is scheduled for release this fall and has not yet been rated.

33 Comments

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted May 5, 2008 2:18 pm PT

    Why couldn't Tecmo put this on XBL Arcade and/or PSN? I bet this game would do big numbers if available on consoles as well.

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted May 3, 2008 1:23 pm PT

    to NBA_Jammer

    I read story yesterday where the developers said that there will be no legends in the game, including Bo.

    http://kotaku.com/5007663/no-bo-in-new-tecmo-bowl

  • NinjaFoot

    Posted May 3, 2008 1:19 pm PT

    Its about time the best football game ever made got a sequel!

  • nate1222

    Posted May 2, 2008 3:26 pm PT

    I LOVED the Tecmo Bowl games on NES and SNES. Now I'll have a kick-ass version for the DS. I still feel that gaming shouldn't be too technical nor serious. The Madden series sucks. Madden is too hung up on stats and rehashing. Tecmo Bowl is a much needed departure from all of that. Fun simple light-hearted stuff like this saves gaming. Thanks, Nintendo and Tecmo.

  • FallenOneX

    Posted May 2, 2008 9:32 am PT

    This would be the game to embarrass the hell out of EA for its' Madden Crap. Sorry Madden fans, but competition forced improvements on Madden games, not this recycled stuff we've been getting.

  • NBA_Jammer

    Posted May 2, 2008 12:55 am PT

    As long as it's still got Bo and Payton, then I'm all for it! (They can do legends if I remember and I know using them is pretty much cheating)

    Keep the awesome music too!

  • theclaw135

    Posted May 1, 2008 11:23 pm PT

    Wow...

  • BloodMist

    Posted May 1, 2008 9:48 pm PT

    Hmmm, Tecmo Bowl is still like one of the best football games ever.This could be something very good.

  • stziggy

    Posted May 1, 2008 6:08 pm PT

    Wonderful news! Let's show some love for us PS2 folks too.

  • AZisBack

    Posted May 1, 2008 5:24 pm PT

    This is the best game announcement of 2008!

  • crystalsbear

    Posted May 1, 2008 4:02 pm PT

    You can play tecmo super bowl online now! wITH UPDATED ROSTERS,HELMETS AND MORE!http://www.sois.com/tpc/faq.php

  • cheatcommando

    Posted May 1, 2008 3:57 pm PT

    I still play Tecmo Super Bowl... (I still have my Genisis and my NES hooked up and own it for both). I can't wait to get my hands on this, NFL license or not.

  • ocdog45

    Posted May 1, 2008 3:55 pm PT

    OMG. ..... the return on a DS. outstanding. in a sony guy but once again the ds owns the psp.

  • Tranceplant

    Posted May 1, 2008 3:53 pm PT

    Oh yeah!! Good old Tecmo Bowl!!

  • Lord_Artix

    Posted May 1, 2008 3:47 pm PT

    I have the original on my Wii, and if this is even half as fun as that, I will be picking this up without a doubt.

  • viper007e

    Posted May 1, 2008 3:43 pm PT

    What are you talking about Drefullcircle??? Tecmobowl had an NFL License back then too. There were real players from the NFL. Sure it was always fun to make your own Characters but it was also fun to run and be untouchable with Bo Jackson, or to catch almost anything with Jerry Rice.

  • Flat_Line_____

    Posted May 1, 2008 3:28 pm PT

    Petri87 Tecmo Bowl isnt football. Its American Football. Pretty sure real football was first and then americans stole the name. Shame on you!
    Never played Tecmo Bowl(and never will because i dont care about American Football) but for those who have and liked it im sure this is great news, since i have heard that its a great game..

    =================================
    So what's up this guys ass? lol

    Sorry to hear you are holding some kind of grudge about the origins of football..... WHO REALLY GIVES A DAMN? What country are you from? I'm guessing not the U.S. since you seem to be taking such offence to american "Football".

    Anyways, Unlike you,I'll actually make a comment that contributes to the story topic.......

    Tecmo bowl was the only football game back when I was a kid that I would REALLY get into playing..... We used to have play-off games and go through whole seasons against eachother. Man, the memories.... heh. As cheap as the graphics were/are it's a perfect example of a game where gameplay trumps everything else. Gonna have to get this one. Too bad it's not on XBLA though... Maybe someday?

  • DreFullCircle

    Posted May 1, 2008 3:25 pm PT

    gforce007_basic , you are so stupid it that it physically hurts to read your typed words. tecmo bowl has never relied on an nfl license, and blitz: the league prove that it was posssible to sell without familiar logos on the helmets. this game has so much potential, just off of the nostalgia the name invokes. add to that the ability to unluck both tecmo and super tecmo bowls, and DOA/NG players, and that would make the best football game since 2k5, licensed or not.

  • cryofax

    Posted May 1, 2008 3:12 pm PT

    This game CAN succeed without the NFL license because its less complex than console football, and is fully customizable. Which means with little effort you can recreate all the NFL teams yourself. How hard is it to slap the name "Rams" on a custom team and give them blue & gold colors? If roster names are customizable you can even go that far too.

  • jqm1978

    Posted May 1, 2008 2:48 pm PT

    this brings back some great memories of sweetness, bo, and marcus allen jumping in the endzone for a high-five after a touchdown in those classic cutscenes.....anyone else?

  • Petri87 posted May 1, 2008 2:38 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Petri87

    Posted May 1, 2008 2:38 pm PT (hide)

    Tecmo Bowl isnt football. Its American Football. Pretty sure real football was first and then americans stole the name. Shame on you!
    Never played Tecmo Bowl(and never will because i dont care about American Football) but for those who have and liked it im sure this is great news, since i have heard that its a great game..

  • RunnerGunner480

    Posted May 1, 2008 2:24 pm PT

    @gforce007_basic

    looks like someone hasn't played the original....

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted May 1, 2008 2:17 pm PT

    @jmartin1016: I'll second that... Tecmo Bowl pwns all things football, and ALMOST all things bowl.

  • jmartin1016

    Posted May 1, 2008 2:14 pm PT

    Tecmo Bowl > Madden.

  • gforce007_basic posted May 1, 2008 2:02 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    gforce007_basic

    Posted May 1, 2008 2:02 pm PT (hide)

    LMAO lolol, no NFL license? KTHXBAI. Where the hell was Tecmo with a new Tecmo Bowl when it was actually possible to have made a relevant football game with the NFL license, in the last generation? They wait till now to make a new Tecmo Bowl, a game that is destined to fail and meet the same fate that every other non-NFL licensed game has met. Massive PHAIL.

  • Sword-Hunter277

    Posted May 1, 2008 1:48 pm PT

    Hopefully this game receives great reviews. It would be nice to see a good SPORTS game on the DS.

  • X_XSlashX_X

    Posted May 1, 2008 1:37 pm PT

    Woot Woot!!!!Techmo Bowl!!!Love all the games they were so much fun!

  • EPaul

    Posted May 1, 2008 1:27 pm PT

    Cool i love the old tecmo game

  • flazzle

    Posted May 1, 2008 1:23 pm PT

    Hopefully it will have the same structure as Tecmo SuperBowl.
    Killer!

  • Ryuketsu2043

    Posted May 1, 2008 1:19 pm PT

    wow..memories

  • ryo_strife24

    Posted May 1, 2008 1:15 pm PT

    NOT TECMO BOWL! Talk about memories, man. The 100 yard touchdown, Montana to Rice. I'm liking how the customizing is going to go. I'll be picking this up, and I hope it is a success to show EA and the Madden drones. You DON'T need the NFL license to make a good football game. Even though I love my Seattle Seahawks (yeah, I'm a hawks fan =p) I refuse to pay EA $60+ for the same thing every year. Long live Tecmo Bowl!

  • BrandoKool

    Posted May 1, 2008 1:13 pm PT

    i loved all the Tecmo Superbowls!! i can't wait for this!

  • Coheeds_Avatar

    Posted May 1, 2008 1:07 pm PT

    This is awesome. I still have the original NES Tecmo Bowl and break it out from time to time. Hopefully this lives up to the fun of the first. This is definitely going on the tracked list.

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