John Elway's Quarterback

John Elway's QUARTERBACK is the home video game that plays just like the version in the arcades. Get ready for football action so real that you can see the game like a quarterback does, from the line of scrimage! You call the plays, you throw the passes, run the ball, and make the tackles! Everything that you could want in a video football game is here in a fast-action football simulation loaded with options.

Playing Tips: The key to winning at Quarterback is to guess your opponent's plays and react accordingly. On defense you'll notice that the computer uses a passing game, while on offense you can burn up the yardage with a combination of passes and runs.

Secret Techniques: When selecting your plays, move the cursor to the "Normal/Reverse" box and wait for the play to start. When play begins, immediately pass the ball and your men will move at lightning speed, out running everyone else on the field!

Special Features: Although Quarterback can be played solo against the computer, it is designed to be played by two players head-to-head.

The NES version of this popular arcade game, features realistic gridiron play. The game, whether played by one or two players, provides the fast, hardhitting action of real football. Players are forced to strategize as they would in a real game, calling their own plays on both offense and defense right up to the line of scrimmage. Lifelike sounds and graphics accompany every move as players run, pass, kick and tackle. John Elway's Quarterback will keep you entertained until the next football season!

Sports games in arcade, computer and video-game form have always been big with American players. It's the dream of most kids--and I'd bet a few adults as well--to be on the field when the game begins, in the heat of the action.

For that reason, I guess it's no surprise that Tradewest, the company that brought the blockbuster Double Dragon to the NES in America, has taken the Quarterback coin-op game, slapped a celebrity endorsement on it and unleashed it on the world in NES format.

John Elway's Quarterback (JEQ) is the result of their efforts, a football game that makes it easy to learn the basic moves, yet complex enough for the armchair coach. Unfortunately, it has some shortcomings that may make it less than perfect for you.

JEQ allows head-to-head competition, either against the computer or another human player. Generally, the computer opponent in a video game is too perfect a player to battle against successfully, but that's not as much of a problem here. The only time it gets to you is when you are trying to pass: You have very little time to drop back, set up and throw before the computer defender catches your quarterback.

As noted before, the game makes it easy to play; there's no detailed combination of button pushes to accomplish a task. Once you select a play from the list shown, your players automatically line up. Drawing the quarterback back with the controller starts the play in motion. Then you can either run the ball or pass to a receiver. Sadly, the game is limited to running plays being handled only by the quarterback; there is no provision for handing off to a running back.

The only other awkward action is when you wish to pass. While the quarterback is dropping to pass, you have to hit and hold the "B" button, which brings up an arrow cursor. This pointer can be moved to where you want to throw the ball (which takes place when you let go of the button), but in the meantime your quarterback continues in the direction he was last going in. Because of this, it's easy to lose major yardage on a sack.

On the visual side, the graphics and animation are smooth and attractive. It's quite a sight, on an open-field run, to see players diving right and left to make a tackle. On the other side of the coin, the music is repetitive to the point of insanity. How many times can you hear the "Charge!" theme before you turn down the volume? It didn't last long with me.

For the majority of couch quarterbacks, JEQ will be just what the coach ordered. Due to its fairly high price, it's advised that you get a peek at it before you buy, to make sure its flaws don't weigh too heavily against what you are looking for in a gridiron game.