Legend Bowl is a new, free to play game that has been in development for over three years. The game is set in the world of ancient China and features turn-based strategy gameplay. Recently released on Steam, Legend Bowl is worth playing if you’re into this type of game or just want to try something new.
Legend Bowl is a new sports game that has been released by the makers of Madden NFL. It’s worth the wait and well worth it.
While Legend Bowl was originally published under the “early access” category on Steam, the developer has been hard at work not just improving the basic gameplay but also making upgrades and adding new content. If you read my early preview, you already know how pleased I was with King Javo and Super Pixel Games’ “simcade”-style offering. I was blown away by the level of depth and football knowledge packed throughout and underneath the adorable 8-bit pixelated tiny football figures. Now that the “early access” designation has been removed, the game is available for purchase on Steam as a full-fledged retail release. Is a year of development effort, however, enough to put the game in a better position? In this Legend Bowl review, we’ll discover out.
Legend Bowl Review – What I Like
Gameplay
Legend Bowl aims to transport you back to the days of Tecmo Super Bowl and Joe Montana Sports Talk Football when you first start it up. Now that I think about it, I’m certainly dating myself with those allusions, but that’s OK with me in this instance. Arcade games were popular in the past, not because gamers preferred them over realistic simulations, but because creators were restricted in what they could create and provide.
Things have obviously evolved over time, and most sports video game enthusiasts now want realism in terms of visuals, players, stadiums, and action.
Legend Bowl is charming because it combines the appearance of the past with an incredibly intelligent football game played underneath those beautifully realistic pixelated tiny football friends. The movement, action, and visuals all scream Nintendo and Sega, but the gameplay delivery and execution on the field are more in line with today’s fan expectations.
In terms of talent, athleticism, and ability, each player is divided into several categories, and the distinctions may be felt on each play depending on who you use on the field. A good offensive line, a quick or powerful running back, or a wide receiver classified as a possession or burner kind of player may all make a difference.
The game constantly showed that highly ranked teams performed that way as I went through many exhibition matches, tournaments, and season mode. So, if you were playing with a weaker squad than your opponent, you’d need to make quick choices and stick to a solid game plan to win.
Authentic gameplay includes everything from rushing to the outside with a quick back to witnessing wayward passes from a low-rated quarterback. Aside from that, secondary players are aware of area and play designations, while offensive linemen are aware of assignment blocking and have a game IQ.
The main reason is that Legend Bowl offers a very good experience on the field when you remove the graphical fidelity disguised as a 1980s throwback recreation. It’s a game that many simulation enthusiasts would like as much as, if not more than, any other presently available title.
Finally, Legend Bowl’s control mechanism supports a PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo controller, as well as a mouse and keyboard. And, speaking of controls, the ones created here are basic and straightforward while yet offering a variety of choices such as audibles, timeouts, juke moves, hurdles, dives, and more.
Mode of the Season
It’s reasonable that most players are used to having a franchise mode. At this time, Legend Bowl does not feature a complete franchise mode, but it does include a season mode that can be customized to seem like a genuine NFL season.
During my time with the game, I decided to play a season mode with the NFL mod loaded, and the season was designed to mimic a genuine NFL season.
I have said how much I love the gameplay in Legend Bowl, and that pleasure is amplified when the NFL mod is used in season mode.
Playing with actual NFL players is a pleasure in Legend Bowl, and season mode offers an incredibly rich and entertaining experience due to the game’s amazingly comprehensive statistics choices. Because of the game’s quick-play style, I’ve played it many times with different teams.
Aside from the gameplay and NFL mod, the creator has included an incredible number of aggregate statistics choices that collect during the season and can be seen with a single click. Finally, you’ll note that actual injuries occur throughout season mode, with some of those injuries being season-ending, forcing me to use players on my depth chart in unexpected ways.
Deep statistical monitoring and real-world injuries are just two additional instances of the developer’s meticulous work and vision from the outset.
Mods
Legend Bowl creates a fictional football universe that can be played precisely as planned right away. NFL fans may recognize the city names and team colors, but that’s where the similarities stop. Multiple game modifications are currently available, and more are being developed as we speak, thanks to a tiny modding community that can be found on the game’s Discord.
I’ve played both the NFL and NCAA mods, and although I like both, the NFL version was more suitable for my requirements since it is intended to accommodate and mimic an actual NFL season. Not only has the modding community done an incredible job of supplying accurate visuals, such as club logos, field art, and realistic uniforms, but they’ve also added a roster set that comes extremely close to duplicating the actual NFL roster.
The modifications are not only rich in detail and complexity, but they are also simple to install. There is a short “read me” setup manual that explains everything quite clearly for people who truly need it. These modifications should not be overlooked since they offer a tremendous amount of replay value to the game and enable players to play in different leagues and periods at any time.
Options
Finally, the sheer amount of choices available to assist in creating an accessible experience for fans of all abilities borders on tiresome, but in a positive way. Legend Bowl may be tweaked as frequently as you like, from AI hardness to gameplay settings to time duration to kicking variation.
You may also select the kind of surface you want to play on, such as a baseball diamond in Legend Bowl. Day or night, quarter length, injuries on or off, and QB Vision are all options. There are many more choices, but the point is that with such a tiny development team, Legend Bowl is trying to fit whatever style you want in whichever period you choose.
Legend Bowl Review: What I Don’t Like
There is no Franchise Mode.
Legend Bowl is still in its infancy in terms of games, which I understand and appreciate. Many people would want a franchise mode and a career mode, but the creator has been quite clear about what Legend Bowl is for now.
The goal is to ensure that the foundation is strong before considering concepts like a franchise mode with many years, trades, and drafts. The addition of a franchise mode in Legend Bowl one day sounds intriguing, but as much as I desire it, patience and knowledge of the game’s current state are required.
Other Concerns
There are a few things I wish could be altered, apart from the lack of a franchise mode. I’ve seen the AI running back become trapped and hesitant beyond the line on occasion, giving for an easy “loss of yards” type play. I also found myself hoping that instead of being a static 8-bit figure, I could move my defensive player around before the snap.
My second hope for the future of this series is for modified stadiums to be allowed, or for other types of stadiums to be included, to help make modifications even better.
The things in Legend Bowl that irritate me are very limited at this moment, and some of the choices on my own “wish list” need time since the development team is essentially a one individual who has produced an outstanding product via hours of devotion and work.
Conclusion
Legend Bowl is an absolute must-buy in every way if you have a Steam account, $20 to spend, and a passion for football. It has a variety of difficulty levels, a comprehensive season mode, and the option to create numerous years, periods, and leagues. Legend Bowl will not only fill a need for PC football enthusiasts, but it will do it in a manner that is both entertaining and genuine.
Related
Legend Bowl is a new game released for the Nintendo Switch. The game has been well worth the wait. Reference: legend bowl nintendo switch.
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