College Bowl, a 16-bit ‘simcade’ game, follows in the footsteps Legend Bowl. I wrote a review on Legend Bowl (PS5) in 2023, so it only felt right to get a chance to test the waters in Super Pixel’s latest attempt at creating a fun and engaging college football video game.
So, let’s get to it. Here’s my review of College Bowl on Steam.
What I Like
Throwback Graphics And Presentation
My favorite thing about Super Pixel Games might be the way they re-imagine the games of old. Nothing reminds me more of playing video games as a child than the old 8 and 16-bit graphics. Those were my earliest memories of sports games, my first true love. So, seeing the care they take with their games is respectable. That said, for a game that looks so simple on the surface, there’s a ton of depth all throughout.
Nearly every player in the game has a unique look, background, and traits. This makes each player feel unique and special. As for the game-day presentation, they do a great job of showcasing the sights and sounds that fans have come to expect — and love — about college football. Bands and cheer squads can be seen along the sideline, and chain gangs will appear during close measurements. Players, refs, and commentators will add fun (text) dialogue throughout the game that adds personality to things. There are even drones that fly around overhead to keep close tabs on the action. Speaking of which, did I mention that College Bowl has REPLAYS!
This may not seem like a big deal, but when I played Legend Bowl, one of my minor gripes was the lack of an efficient replay system. That is no longer the case as we constantly see big plays being replayed throughout a game. This not only adds a big-game feel to College Bowl, but it also allows gamers to bask in the glory of some of their top plays.
Additionally, the graphics and presentation pack a lasting punch for a game that looks so simple on the surface. Furthermore, the game does a great job with the little things, like creating a lively environment with truly unique dialogue from one game to the next.
Menus are sleek-looking and add a special touch to the game.
Familiar Gameplay
In a day and age where some games can be too complicated for the average gamer, College Bowl does a great job of keeping things simple while adding layers of depth that can keep the most diehard sports fans happy. Take the controls, for example. One look at the controller layout and (most) anyone who has ever picked up the sticks should be able to play. X snaps the ball, and if it’s a pass play, the icons will appear as you’ve come to expect.
The most significant learning curve you may see is with the passing system, which utilizes a meter similar to what you’ve come to expect in Madden and other sports video games. How hard you press a WR’s button will change the velocity of the throw. The meter is easy to use but can be thrown off by a pass rush or blitzing cornerback. New this year is the addition of hot routes, which, as you can imagine, add an entirely different element to the offense. Being able to adjust a player’s route is obviously a game-changer.
Ball carriers have an array of moves at their disposal, including vicious stiff arms, jukes, spin moves, and a lateral button that is a game-changer. To nerf these moves and keep things fair, players will fatigue and get gassed out when breaking off big runs, so it never feels overpowered or unstoppable like you may have encountered in other games. Earth-shattering hits can see players lose their helmets or, worse, get injured.
And for those wondering whether star players will play like #elite players (like Joe Flacco), well, you’re in luck because there was absolutely a difference when controlling a star player. Most of all, the game is fun and challenging.
It truly felt satisfying when winning a shootout in dynasty against an in-conference rival or even a meaningless play now game. College Bowl deserves praise, and it starts with the gameplay.
Dynasty Mode
If history has taught us anything, it’s that it’s tough for developers to successfully develop a career mode in sports video games today that can hold gamers’ interest for the long haul. Take Madden, for example. Every year, it seems like a chore to play through franchise mode and multiple seasons of scouting and whatnot. The same can be said for most other sports games, with very few being the exception.
Yes, it’s incredibly early, but I have not felt the slog when playing through a 10-game season of College Bowl, followed by a realistic playoff tournament that eerily resembles the one adopted in college football. Maybe I never got bored because of the shortened season that made each game feel important. Or it’s because I’m just all-in for college football games right now. Whatever the case, dynasty mode kept me interested. Best of all, it was extremely easy to navigate, given my prior history with the series.
For those who played Legend Bowl, the recruiting system feels eerily similar and can almost be considered more like a free agency, which isn’t surprising considering the limited resources. Still, there was enough juice to keep me interested.
As for the recruiting process itself, it wasn’t anything crazy like you might expect from Madden or College Football 25. However, it was still a pleasant five-week process that allowed users to recruit players based on things like playing time, prestige, location, training, academics, and media deals. And it certainly wasn’t easy to scout as I watched many of my top recruits head off to greener pastures. This alone added a layer of replayability for me as I was interested in how the players I liked would develop.
Another nice touch that keeps me eager to continue playing is the constant newspaper clippings and news tracker that kept me updated with the latest happenings around the nation. For example, I saw players around the league getting suspended for various reasons — many of which added humor and depth to the game mode. It was also a nice place to track what was happening with recruiting. For me, these little quirks, coupled with the fun and challenging gameplay, should keep gamers coming back again and again.
Customization
Nowadays, gamers want as many customization options as possible, especially when it’s a game created by a small developer with fictional teams and rosters. The first thing I did when I started to review College Bowl was make sure there was a file that allowed gamers to import real college players and teams into the game. After all, this was a huge selling point for myself and others with Legend Bowl, so to see the same type of commitment from the community and developers is a pleasant surprise. Check out College Bowl‘s official Discord channel for those interested in updating their rosters and teams.
What I Don’t Like
Small Hiccups And Other Minor Gripes
No game is perfect, but I’ll admit I had to use a fine-tooth comb to find issues that genuinely irked me. Minor issues from a broadcast standpoint included inconsistent audio and music during games. As for gameplay, defenders consistently took poor angles, and the computer defensive backs are not good at playing the ball when it’s in the air.
Far too often, I’d throw a deep ball that seemed to hang forever before miraculously being caught by my receiver between two defenders. This would have never happened in Legend Bowl, so perhaps the game needs to be tweaked a little before it becomes genuinely perfect.
Another gripe was how overpowered CPU blocking was. Far too often my offensive lineman would miss blocks or be easily pushed aside by an incoming pass-rusher. That was not the case for the computer, which seemed to have success in pass protection and the run game.
Lastly, the game has crashed on me three times, but I’m starting to think that it may have had more to do with the setup I was playing on than the game itself.
Replay Factor
Like any video game, my biggest concern is whether it can withstand the ever-changing world around it. College Bowl is awesome. In my limited time playing, I could definitely see myself coming back to continue my dynasty — if for no other reason than to see how my recruits are doing. I’d also like to win a championship someday, so there are definitely factors to consider.
Still, with extremely competitive gameplay and a rather in-depth game mode, are gamers really going to pick this over booting up their favorite console and playing the latest iteration of College Football 25? That’s the question I keep going back to. However, even if console gamers don’t come back to continue playing College Bowl, for those on PC, there is no other choice out there.
Bottom Line
For $24.99, College Bowl is the perfect follow-up from Super Pixel Games after their hit Legend Bowl debuted on Steam in 2017. Like its predecessor, the game is a perfect blend of simulation and arcade football. Best of all, it is backed by its beloved 16-bit graphics and presentation, which are a staple of the series and admittedly part of the lore for me.
Sure, there are concerns that the game may become stale over time, but with a deep dynasty mode and balanced AI, there should be plenty to keep gamers returning for more. Top it all off with a deep playbook and unique pregame and postgame interactions, and this could be a fan favorite for PC gamers who unfortunately can’t play CFB25 this year
College Bowl is the real deal. With a relatively deep dynasty mode and quirky 16-bit graphics and presentation, gamers of all ages will appreciate everything that makes Super Pixel’s College Bowl an instant success.
Published: Jul 25, 2024 03:40 pm