College Bowl
- June 20, 2024
- Super Pixel Games
- 38h median play time
Get on Steam"College Bowl" is a pixelated football game that brings the college football experience to life. With over 2,700 plays and real-time physics, players can manage their school's football program and attempt to build a dynasty. The game features various modes, including Dynasty, where players must improve their school's prestige and keep their coaching job. Experience the thrill of college football and lead your team to a national title.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- College Bowl offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic football games like Tecmo Bowl, with engaging gameplay and a deep dynasty mode.
- The game features extensive customization options, allowing players to create and manage their teams, including unique playbooks and facilities.
- The developer is highly responsive to community feedback, continuously improving the game and addressing bugs, which enhances the overall experience.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes and bugs, particularly in dynasty mode, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress.
- Some players find the AI behavior inconsistent, with issues such as defenders failing to tackle effectively and unrealistic offensive plays.
- The pixel art style may not appeal to everyone, and some players feel that the graphics detract from the overall immersion of the game.
- gameplay53 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay has seen significant improvements, particularly in AI defense and passing mechanics, making it less exploitable and more engaging. Players appreciate the balance between arcade and simulation styles, with customizable options and unique fatigue mechanics enhancing the experience. While some bugs and balance issues remain, the overall gameplay is fluid, enjoyable, and offers a high level of long-term motivation through various modes and presets.
“The gameplay really captures college simulation football at its best.”
“Gameplay is smooth.”
“The new gameplay options, playbooks, and dynasty mode promise a high level of long-term motivation.”
“The passing mechanic is simple but will take some getting used to.”
“Some things need to be addressed to balance the gameplay out as big plays and outside runs are way too overpowered.”
“Love the features, love the gameplay, but there are a lot of bugs that need to be worked out, like tackling players well before the end zone and them getting up and running in, still getting the touchdown.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming 8-bit pixel art style that many players find appealing and immersive, enhancing the overall experience despite some initial reservations about retro aesthetics. While some users express disappointment in the graphics, they emphasize that the game's depth and mechanics far outweigh any visual shortcomings, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of football simulations. Overall, the graphics are well-received for their nostalgic appeal and suitability for the game's design, contributing to a fun and engaging atmosphere.
“Great 8-bit graphics and some top-notch sounds in the game.”
“The graphics look fantastic for the type of game this is trying to be.”
“Even though the pixel style is not what I am used to, I become so immersed in the atmosphere of the games; I hardly notice the pixelated graphics, which are nonetheless attractive.”
“If you're put off by the pixel graphics and don't think this is a legit football simulator, think again.”
“The main thing I'll say about this game is don't let the aesthetics fool you, this is an incredibly complex and well done football simulator.”
“Like I said about Legend Bowl, do not let the graphics fool you; this is a deep sim and is challenging!”
- stability9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report a largely stable experience with minimal bugs, others encounter significant issues such as frequent freezes, especially on the Steam Deck, and various glitches that disrupt gameplay. Some users have found workarounds for these problems, but the presence of persistent bugs and the need for specific controller setups indicate that stability remains a concern for many.
“I haven't explored all the game has to offer, but it has been largely stable and bug-free, minus some defensive plays being ineffective.”
“The ability to sync my saves between PC and Steam Deck is fantastic; the game runs great on the Deck!”
“I love this game, but it hard freezes my Steam Deck far too often.”
“Good concept, poorly executed; the game freezes for a period of 4-7 seconds intermittently.”
“- It's a buggy mess.”
- music5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Players express a strong desire for the inclusion of generic band music or the ability to import their own tracks for specific game situations, particularly emphasizing the need for college football-themed music. Many feel that the current music offerings are lacking and would greatly enhance the gaming experience with more diverse and relevant audio options.
“If there is only one suggestion you look at, I hope it's the music.”
“This game needs college football music.”
“It doesn't have to be licensed music, but generic MIDI marching band tunes.”
“I hope the music is a priority for improvement.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players find the game's replayability enhanced by its simple controls, customization options, and the inclusion of sliders that cater to varying skill levels. While traditional modes like dynasty may not be the primary factor for long-term engagement, the overall enjoyment and fun of playing contribute significantly to its replay value.
“It's an entertaining game with lots of great customization and many things that add lots of replayability.”
“It's not the dynasty mode or whatever that determines its long-term replay value for me but how much I enjoyed playing a football game, especially after at least one warm-up game.”
“The addition of sliders makes it more playable for those less skilled.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics leads to a repetitive experience.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by charming pixel art that creates an immersive experience, drawing players in despite their initial unfamiliarity with the style. However, some users note a lack of a vibrant college atmosphere, which detracts from the overall setting.
“Lovely pixel art characters and setting with a lively atmosphere.”
“Even though the pixel style is not what I am used to, I become so immersed in the atmosphere of the game that I hardly notice the pixelated graphics, which are nonetheless attractive.”
“The college atmosphere is largely absent.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While some users noted minor delays and optimization issues, particularly given its pixel art style, "College Bowl" is praised for its overall performance improvements, including enhanced dynasty mode and playbook editing, making it a strong retro football game.
“Besides a bit of delay and optimization (considering it's a pixel game) concerns aside, College Bowl is an excellent incarnation of the old retro bowl-esque throwback football games.”
“Besides a bit of delay and optimization concerns, considering it's a pixel game, College Bowl is an excellent incarnation of the old retro bowl-esque throwback football games.”
“The dynasty mode, playbook editing, improved option play, and smoother performance are all big improvements to an already great game.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time that can feel tedious, particularly when navigating through menus.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This makes scrolling through the menus rather tedious.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game lacks a narrative component, with users indicating that there is no story present.
“The game lacks any meaningful story, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
“There is virtually no narrative to engage with, making the experience feel hollow.”
“The story is poorly developed and fails to capture the player's interest.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by satirical commentary and amusing player interactions, adding a lighthearted touch to the otherwise tactical gameplay, especially when tackling the hardest difficulty.
“The running and passing feel smooth, cheesing the hardest difficulty requires some actual tact, and you get a dash of satirical commentary and funny player moments.”
“The humor in the game is cleverly woven into the gameplay, making even the toughest challenges enjoyable with hilarious moments.”
“I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, with witty dialogue and absurd situations that keep me laughing throughout.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional experience of the game to be profound and impactful, even without adjusting any settings or sliders, highlighting its inherent ability to resonate deeply with them.
“Playing this game has been an incredibly emotional experience for me.”
“The story and characters really resonated with my feelings, making me feel deeply connected.”
“I found myself moved to tears at several points during the gameplay.”
