Let’s be real for a second – the Madden NFL franchise isn’t going anywhere any time soon. Like it or not, it is the best example of American football that we get on consoles. A few have tried to compete, but most have been left behind. But now another competitor has arrived in the form of Legend Bowl on Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. How does it fare against the big boys? Well now you can find out.
A new old football experience?
Immediately what hits you is the very different look and feel of Legend Bowl. This isn’t a game that wants to compete with Madden in the graphics department. Legend Bowl instead channels the classic football games, almost as like a spiritual successor to the likes of Tecmo Bowl and others.
But those retro graphics are only surface level. Below, Legend Bowl on Xbox has all the modern features you would expect from a football game: Franchise mode, tournaments, practice drills, stats, drafts, changing weather, multiplayer and more.
The main mode is that of Franchise and you can choose to play it how you want to. Do you simply take on the role of the head coach and nurture your players to glory, or do you want to get in on the action and play the entire 17-week season? Plus playoff bracket, if you make it that far.
Legend Bowl has tons of customisation
Legend Bowl also has an extensive customisation suite where you can modify players right down to the colour of their eyebrows, if that’s your thing. Create you and your friends and unleash them into the draft to see where they end up, or just bump up all your existing players to rank 99 and breeze through all opponents.
With LEGEND BOWL’s launch across console platforms, Top Hat Studios, Inc. Executive Producer Andy Andi Han had the the following comment to offer: “LEGEND BOWL has probably been one of the most challenging games we’ve ever ported, adapted, and optimised for a console release. As a simulator with a huge amount of complexity under the hood, and so many different moving parts, the amount of work it needed is quite definitely deceiving for what looks like a 2d pixel art game. Our team has done incredible work in not just getting the game to work, but work well, and at the end of it all, the project required over 7 million lines of code, split across 2 console generations, and 5 different devices. We’re proud of what we achieved – there really is no in-depth football gaming experience like LEGEND BOWL, and every single ounce of sweat was worth it.”
Take to the field now
Does this sound up your street, or do you need a bit more info? You’re in luck, as our review for Legend Bowl on Xbox delivers all the extra info you could need.
Legend Bowl is on the Xbox Store right now for £20.99, playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S (optimised). It’s also on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
With the new NFL season just around the corner, this could be the perfect way to get back into American Football. We’ll see you on the gridiron.
Game description
LEGEND BOWL brings you back to the glory days of pixel style football games of the past! Enjoy a hybrid of arcade-style football and simulation aspects on and off the field. Fully customize players and teams to create an endless amount of variety in your league. Take to the gridiron, where sim-based controls with challenging gameplay mechanics bring the fight to your doorstep! Legend Bowl includes Exhibition Mode, Tournament Mode, Franchise Mode, Training Camp Mode, and a boat load of customization options. Will you rise to the top of the Legend Bowl?
Pick from any of 32 unique teams in the league, each with unique players with their own stats, abilities, and needs. Instantly jump into a game with exhibition matches, or, live the life of a franchise manager in franchise mode! Create your own coach, sign up with a team, and take your team through a full 17 week schedule. Manage your stadium facilities, team rosters and player’s needs, and face the grilling of the press. There’s also a complete off season where you’ll take your team through retirements, free agency, player progression, and a full 7 round draft. There’s a tournament mode for those who want just constant action!
