NFL Football hits different when it boots instantly in your browser. Released in 1980 on the Super Nintendo, this retro classic from Mattel Electronics is ready the second you press start — no downloads, no setup.
NFL Football is an American football video game developed by Mattel and released for its Intellivision system in 1980. Like Mattel's other sports video games, NFL Football did not use any official National Football League team names or player names, even though Mattel obtained a license from the NFL and used the league's logo in its box art.
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| Action | Keyboard | Controller |
|---|---|---|
| D-Pad Up | ↑ | D-Pad up |
| D-Pad Down | ↓ | D-Pad down |
| D-Pad Left | ← | D-Pad left |
| D-Pad Right | → | D-Pad right |
| B (bottom) | X | Bottom face |
| A (right) | Z | Right face |
| Y (left) | S | Left face |
| X (top) | A | Top face |
| L | Q | Left shoulder |
| R | E | Right shoulder |
| Start | Enter | Start |
| Select | V | Select |
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The Story Behind NFL Football
Similarly, the game appears in the Intellivision Lives compilation game and on Microsoft's Game Room service as Football. NFL Football was sold by Sears for the Super Video Arcade under the title Football, its private-label version of the Intellivision console, without the NFL name or logo. Safeties are possible and are handled in the same manner as regulation football, with the defensive team receiving two points and possession of the ball, although in lieu of a kick-off, the team scoring the safety takes possession on its own 20-yard line.
Touchdowns are worth seven points, with the extra point considered automatic, and no option to attempt a two-point conversion; at the time the game was released, the lack of a two-point conversion was not considered a concession, as the NFL didn't incorporate the rule until 1994. There is also no play clock governing the pace of the game; players may take all the time needed to select plays, although in situations where the game clock would be running (such as after a completed play that did not result in a first down), the game clock will continue to run until another game action stops it. Unlike modern football video games, which use statistics to determine a team's relative strengths and weaknesses, the two teams in the game are of equal strength, with the only significant variable being the player's own abilities.
How NFL Football Plays
The player controls a five-man football team, actively controlling one team member at a time, with the computer controlling the rest. In the former case, control immediately switches to the running back. On defense, the player controls the "captain," roughly in the position of a safety.
All defensive team members are capable of tackling the ball carrier, but only the player-controlled team member may attempt to intercept a pass. The game consists of four quarters, each a simulated 15 minutes in length, and takes place on a horizontally scrolling 100-yard simulated football field. NFL Football is played in the same basic manner as a regulation game of football, with the offense being given four downs to advance the ball a minimum of ten yards before losing possession of the football to the opposing team.
Why Players Still Load It Up
NFL Football has been cited as the first football video game to have a playbook. NFL Football was sold by Sears for the Super Video Arcade under the title Football, its private-label version of the Intellivision console, without the NFL name or logo. Unlike modern football video games, which use statistics to determine a team's relative strengths and weaknesses, the two teams in the game are of equal strength, with the only significant variable being the player's own abilities.
NFL Football made numerous concessions to how a standard game of football is played. In allowing the player a great degree of control over the strategic elements of the game, the reviewers asserted, "NFL Football will make video arcade lovers think they've died and gone to Super Bowl heaven." The game was covered again two years later in Video magazine's 1982 Guide to Electronic Games where reviewers expanded on this, suggesting that "the scrolling playfield and great number of offensive and defensive play possibilities are without peer in the video-game field". Touchdowns are worth seven points, with the extra point considered automatic, and no option to attempt a two-point conversion; at the time the game was released, the lack of a two-point conversion was not considered a concession, as the NFL didn't incorporate the rule until 1994.
NFL Football — Frequently Asked Questions
How many players does NFL Football support?
NFL Football supports 1 player(s) in this browser version.
Can I play NFL Football online for free?
Absolutely. The full game loads in the player at the top of this page and runs right in your browser — no installs, no plugins, no waiting.
Do I need a controller to play NFL Football?
No. Keyboard controls work out of the box (see the controls panel), and any USB or Bluetooth gamepad is detected automatically.
Who developed NFL Football?
Development was handled by Mattel Electronics, with Mattel Electronics publishing the release.