Backyard Football GameCube

The whimsical Backyard Football series makes its GameCube debut with a choice of 32 NFL teams and a total of 40 children to play as or against, ten of whom are based on professional players. Each character is rated five distinct areas: passing, catching, running, blocking/tackling, and kicking. The five-on-five action takes place on one of eight 3D fields featuring varied surfaces such as dirt, grass, sand, and turf.

Weather is also part of the game, with rain, snow, and sunny games all possible with a click of a button in the options screen. Instead of including stadiums found in more traditional renditions of the sport, players will be able to toss the pigskin at such offbeat venues as Cactus Gulch, where cacti populate the sidelines, tumbleweeds periodically roll across the screen, and vultures loom overhead.

Modes of play include a tutorial, an exhibition match, and a complete season with statistical tracking for teams and individual players. Playbooks are designed to be humorous as well as functional, featuring names like Pirate Blitz, Mantis, Leap Frog and Sonic Boom. Special "Power Plays" are also available after winning multiple games. During the action, a fictional announcer named Chuck Downfield offers upbeat play-by-play commentary in between the occasional knock-knock joke.

The ten featured pros (as little tykes) include Donovan McNabb, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Ricky Williams, Terrell Davis, Jerry Rice, Rich Gannon, and Michael Vick. While the athletes are dressed in uniforms, the rest of the children wear whatever makes them feel most comfortable. Receiver Vicki Kawaguchi, for example, appears in a pink leotard and frilly white tutu, while the hard-hitting Tony Delvecchio wears a black T-shirt underneath a silver vest. The four-player Backyard Football is recommended for ages seven and older. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide