Touch Down Fever


Touch Down Fever is a 1987 American football arcade game developed and published by SNK. It was later ported to the NES and was released in North America by SNK on February 1991 and in Japan by K. Amusement Leasing on November 11, 1988, titled as Touch Down Fever: American Football.

Gameplay

At first glance, it resembles Irem's 1983 arcade game 10 Yard Fight, but with rotating joysticks that were previously used in SNK's Ikari Warriors. Most of the official rules are in effect as well as most major running and passing plays. Field goals and punts are also included, but, players cannot make horse collar tackles.

NES Version

This version featured teams that originated from cities that had NFL teams at the time but not the colors or the nicknames. Graphics were toned down as they were for many arcade games ported to the system. The human players could only select 5 basic plays: Long Pass, Short Pass, QB Sneak, Backs or Punt/Field Goal. Field Goals would always go through the uprights unless blocked by the opposing team. Despite the NFL not adopting this rule until the 1994 season, a player could attempt a 2-point conversion if so desired.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Touch Down Fever on their November 1, 1987 issue as being the seventeenth most-successful table arcade unit of the year.