02: 10-yard fight
Playing rules: Difficulty: Factory Default. Timer Speed Between Plays: Normal
Dip switch bank A: 1=ON; 2=OFF [ALWAYS OFF]; 3-8=OFF.
Dip switch bank B: 1=ON/OFF; 2=ON/OFF; 3=OFF; 4=OFF [ALWAYS OFF]; 5=OFF; 6=OFF [ALWAYS OFF].
Current Record holders:
1st: 295,100 - Mike Macy - 1986
....
3rd: 121,500 - Giampaolo Quidacciolo - 1985
Hey! This one is actually quite a good little game as it happens. Best way to describe it is as a very simplified, offence only, version of American football. You control the team running up the screen, and essentially you have to reach the top to score a touchtown without any of the opposing Misters getting your player or the ball along the way. The game is strictly against the clock, and you start with 60 seconds, which is quite harsh to be fair, although you do earn more seconds by gaining 1st downs.
So, off you trundle in the persuit of a 1st down and ultimately a touchdown or two. You have two buttons, one to pass laterally and one to lob it at the guy who has sprinted off up the pitch. All pretty self explanatory so far, and its quite fun running about i have to say. As i’ve mentioned there is no defence part of this game, if you fail on the 4th down for example, pretty much nothing happens – the time taken to fail is punishment enough and you start again seeking those 10 yard gains. If your ball happens to be intercepted, then you simply lose 20 yards and start again. All pretty easy stuff.
So i’ve played it 3 times as seems to be the best way to get a feel.
First go – now, I am no expert on American football, but i *do* know that the players are rarely 20 feet tall, no really, they’re not. They are in this game mind you, certainly on the computer’s side – as i find pretty much all of my long passes are intercepted by players in line even though the ball should be about 20 feet in the air at least. Clever stuff. Needless to say, i refuse to believe this is happening and i get nowhere. GAME OVER.
Score: 2,450
ok, i wont fall for that cheap trick again, oh no. Oh yes i will. arse.
Score: 1,600
Bit more reading needed i think, so i go off to seek some tips, and time well spent let me tell you! I discover:
- Running out of play stops the clock quicker than being tackled, so try to stay near the edges and run out if it looks like you’re about to be twatted.
- Don’t pass the ball to the top guy unless there is a clear line as they will intercept it (the tall bastards)
- You can pass laterally and then pass again up the field
- Look at the CPU’s formation, they usually lean one way or the other so run accordingly
Right! the game is on, and straight away it pays dividends. I manage to get as close as their 10 yard line right near the end, and the game really is quite fun. I can see this being one to play again for sure.
Score: 10,700
As for the records – i’m nowhere near even the bottom place to be fair – i can see why the records have stood so long as it would take some considerable effort to keep this game going – still good fun mind.