An NES football classic or just another 10-Yard disappointment? 10-Yard Fight kicks off The Quest to Review Every NES Game!
PLAYERS: 1-2 simultaneous
PUBLISHER: Nintendo
DEVELOPER: Irem
GENRE: Sports
RELEASE DATE: October 1985
10 Yard Fight a.k.a the Japanese attempt to sabotage the sport of football. The year is 1985. Two Irem developers walk into a bar. They’re talking about Nintendo’s Famicom, or as it’s about to become known in the states, the “Nintendo Entertainment System.” They’re looking for a way to break into the American market, but how? They order a drink or five to forget their worries, and eventually get on the subject of how inane American football is. “Why would anyone play such a sport? Everyone knows baseball is the sport of kings!” (another shot down the throat). There’s a pause as the liquor burns holes into their stomachs. One of them snaps their fingers: “That’s it!” he says (in Japanese, not English). “We’ll become one of the first Japanese companies to develop a football game for the States. We’ll make a mockery of the sport, but sports fans will buy it anyway, because it will be the only one of its kind!” Cue mirthless laughter, more drinks, and hours of off key, heartfelt karaoke.
The next day, the developers nursed their hangovers with a cold compress and a couple dozen cigarettes. They realized they had already made a crappy football game for the arcades two years prior. That game was 10-Yard Fight. “Good enough,” they muttered, and stuck the code into an awkward grey casing.* Later that year, it would become one of the launch games for the Nintendo, and the world would know not to trust any football games developed outside of America.
D
*(Dramatization may not have happened).
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6 replies on “#001 – 10 Yard Fight”
Kudos on the reviews. I had the same idea tonight, to do exactly what you’re doing. I’m relieved now that I won’t have to! And I wouldn’t have done the great job you’re doing. It’s a challenge but this is a job SOMEBODY needs to do, so keep up the hard work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)))
Thanks Abu! I appreciate the kind words. I’m glad you’re enjoying the reviews. There’s many more to come. Also, might I suggest taking on another retro system like the Genesis, Game Boy or SNES? That is something I would like to see. Thanks again!
I would think this would have been more fun to play in 1986. It’s playable and was the best home console football game at the time. The Tecmo football games surpass it by more than Magellan’s journey, so really no point to play it more than once or twice just to see what it’s like.
I think it’s pretty great you are sitting down to play and review all of the old school NES games. As someone that’s passionate about retro gaming I’m looking forward to sitting down and reading your reviews. Keep up the great work. -Robb K
Thanks Robb! I hope you enjoy them.
Granted this game didn’t have a great deal of depth to it, but looking at strictly as an arcade game rather than a true football Sim, I think it has its merits.