With only 18 total players on field, Play Action misses in every category. The
most obvious problem is how slow this thing moves. To run from end zone to end zone, it's
at least a three-minute journey, and that is in no way an exaggeration. Imagine how
unbearable that is each time out onto the field. The playbooks are meager, and even running something as basic as a sweep is a frustrating affair. The players are two circles stacked on top of each other with triangles for feet. The ball carrier is impossible to identify. There's nothing in the way of season play, so every time you play, it's an exhibition game.
Teams are all fictional, so there's no need for the NFL to be embarrassed. Players are nameless and faceless. The AI is hilarious to watch, as each move seems pre-determined based on the play. How someone can get away with coding a football game where the defense actually runs AWAY from the ball carrier (to meet up with other linemen who simply bob up and down) is well beyond any rationale thought.
The audio takes a small page from the competition, including voice work for some plays and
music once the line of scrimmage is passed. It's fair, and it's the only thing keeping
this game from complete silence. The crowd is dead until someone is hit. This is a true example of a miserable video game. It's impossible to enjoy for anyone, sports fan or not. If it weren't for the basic rules, it would hardly even resemble American football. Of all the disappointing and awful sports games for the Game Boy, you won't find any worse than this.
