The game that started it all.
The gameplay was similar to the original Tecmo Bowl, but now there was a field with 22 players on it. TSB had the standard practice of defenses being much faster than offenses, but other than that, it was far more playable and enjoyable than any game up to that point. It was downright cartoonish at points: you could make "popcorn" with guys like Christian Okoye; your offensive line had a suction cup arms a squid would be envious of; you could throw a pass 120 yards; and you'd get bombarded with defenders if the defense called your play (there were no "defensive plays" in TSB). In spite of the cartoonishness, it still had a suitable balance to create a playable, yet challenging game overall.
The cutscenes really put life into a graphically limited presentation of football. If you scored a TD, you'd get a scene of your players celebrating; if you got injured, there was a scene of your player being carted off the field. And who could forget that Super Bowl victory cinema?
To date, it remains a popular game for retro gamers, and there are many online shrines to this classic sports title. Truly a one-of-a-kind gaming experience. Even today's football games could learn a thing or two from this timeless classic.