Review: "You know, for kids." - The Hudsucker Proxy
The Game Boy Advance has been a blessing for those that have longed for the glory days of 16-bit gaming. Classic role-playing-games and action titles have made a great comeback on Nintendo's portable system. However, there are very few sports games on the GBA that have been worth noticing. Sure, Fire Pro Wrestling was incredibly deep, Super Dodge Ball Advance was nostalgic, and Boxing Fever was original but where are the standout football, baseball, and hockey titles? Playing Sports Illustrated for Kids Football doesn't answer that question.
From the starting gate, Sports Illustrated for Kids Football started behind the pack. The glaring lack of the NFL license immediately leaves a distance between players and the game as there is no emotional attachment to the players or teams. Add to that the indistinguishable graphics and you can hardly tell one team from the next. Also, playing a game is hardly a step forward. The gameplay is very unbalanced as the computer defense is easily defeated with the same play time and time again. There isn't a lot of fun to be had when you know exactly what it takes to score a 90-yard rushing touchdown whenever you want to.
The most notable achievement in SI for Kids Football is in the sound department. The in-game sound effects are all there, right down to the post play whistles and the footsteps in the grass. These sounds are also backed up with an intuitive control scheme that is easy to master. Unfortunately, being able to maneuver around the field doesn't mean you will be able to see where you are going. The GBA screen makes it is very difficult to tell the difference between your players and the opponents. It basically comes down to, "Are they chasing me?" This method of threat detection works for the running game but the passing game really suffers as you can't tell if your man is covered or not. There is a lot to be said for the head-to-head gameplay that is made available with a link cable, but it just isn't enough to make the rest of the game worth wading through.
