Super Play Action Football

After months of sneaks, peeks, promises, and delays, Nintendo finally fields its 16-bit edition of Play Action Football for the SNES. Unfortunately, it wasn't entirely worth the wait.

Strong Starters

Super Play Action Football kicks off with some great options to setup the gridiron for possible glory. One or two players choose from Varsity, College, or NFL skill settings. Varsity is simplistic and perfect for beginners, with a limited selection of plays and moves.

At the college level, the 97 teams are based on real teams, with corresponding strengths and weaknesses. However, the names are fake (Moldy Cross instead of Holy Cross, Fluke instead of Duke). With a battery to save season play, you can play a full season and advance through the Top 20 rankings based on the strength of your opponents. End your season ranked in the upper echelon and you'll advance to a post-season bowl, just like the real thing! College's playbook and action moves are significantly expanded over Varsity.

For pros in training, officially-licensed SPAF packs all 28 National Football League clubs with actual names, logos, and power ratings -- but no real players. The season and play-off modes mirror the NFL's system, with three wild card entrants and three division winners qualifying in each conference. Game play here is enhanced with more moves, more audibles, and more massive play books.

Flags on the Play

Super Play Action's game play is good, but not outstanding. The sharp, overhead-view graphics show large player sprites and field details. However, the perspective is narrowly focused on a small cutaway of the field. To judge passing distances, you must refer to radar -- a confusing process. The sound effects and music are minimal.

The control functions adequately, but the array of actions -- run, dive, dash, throw long, throw short, lateral, etc. -- can be complicated to learn and master. Football purists will get psyched by SPAF's play-calling system, which depicts formations as complicated chalkboard-style diagrams. In two-player games, you can hide your selection from opponents by tapping two buttons together & la Tecmo Bowl for the NES.

Play-off Potential

SPAF is a solid football simulation with realistic team stats, an accurate playbook, and skill level options. Unfortunately, it lacks the crisp, understandable control and playability of its competitors. Super Play Action qualifies as an SNES wild-card.

Nintendo is bringing a 16-Bit version of their popular 4-player NES title to the Super NES. Improved graphics and game play as well as more plays make this one of the best football games on the market.

If you're into tossing around the old pigskin, then you'll really be into Super Play Action Football. Choosing from 28 teams, you go on to play a regular NFL season, complete with playoffs for the big daddy of bowl games, the Super Bowl. If you prefer your contact sports at the academic level, there's also a complete set up of teams and schedules, so you can take on a season of College ball. If you really want to go grassroots, you can play a few games of Pee Wee football. No matter which level you choose, and if you're a football fan, you'll be in complete pigskin heaven. Down, set play Super Play Action Football!