Customer Reviews

Classic Football Handheld Game from Mattel

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I received my first Mattel hand-held electronic game in the sixth grade (1978-1979). Before to long I had the entire product line of electronic games Mattel introduced. Basketball, football, soccer, baseball and my personal favorite hockey. Anyway, it's been quite a while since I've seen nor heard from my favorite pastime games. This past Christmas I opened a gift from my sister in law Annie, I almost fell over. I was so excited seeing the original football game in my hands. I began playing it immediately, I felt like a kid again. Though a simple game Mattel electronic football is very addictive and lots of fun, especially when played against someone who enjoys it just as much as you do. I was pleased to hear all the same sounds and see the same functionality as the original. I don't know what it is about trying to 'run' past the defenders trying to score a touchdown or get in position for a field goal but I enjoy the game just as much now as I did when I was ten. I hope Mattel electronic games are re-introduced to the market (especially hockey), as I'm sure I will re-collect what I've lost.

Never actually had this model when I was a kid, but I had plenty of others from the Mattel handheld line that came out between '76 and '78 or so. I also remember that those games went for about thirty-five bucks back then. Adjusted for 2002 dollars, that would probably score you a PlayStation or something today!

In any case, this 12 buck imitator can't even hold a candle to the original. And that wouldn't be a problem if this was still meant for ten year olds, but I bet you the average age of the buyer for Classic Football is way over thirty.

And as any thirty-year-old still able retain memories of their youth will recall, this game used to have nice, bright LEDs that were powered by a nine volt battery. The new game is powered by two wimpy 1.5 volters that can barely light up the screen well enough for you to figure out what is happening on the playing field. Note to engineers: an LCD with a red piece of plastic over it looks as ridiculous as it sounds.

In conclusion, I don't know why they had to mess with success. Maybe they save four cents a unit this way, but they are losing a lifetime fan in the process. Glad my originals still work!

When one of my co-workers brought this in we couldn't get enough. Man...I remember this from junior high! This is great and beats having to learn intricate button techniques like all of the modern games. Simple and fun to play. Don't tell anyone that we play it in silent mode during conference calls.

i saw this advertisement and thought it was the vintage page!!!i used to play this game as a kid in the seventies and wore out batteries. it's not like the games of today and the graphics ...but i loved this game!!!!i always wished i had the other games and now i could if wanted to!!! definitely a toy for the over 30 crowd.

It is the orignal! The game the first reviewer is remembering is the dark green Football 2. Football 2 had passing and allowed you to run backwards. Both games were great. Let's just hope they bring out Football 2.

....it's baaack! the electronic football sensation that started it all! what a flood of memories after only the first run with my lil' red dash across the screen! wow....everything from the sound effects to the colored buttons...it's all here!! thank you mattel! please re-release Football II with passing! thank you matell! oh, i gotta go....the familiar sound of "charge" just rang out...my buddy just scored, and i gotta answer back with 7 points!

later

... this game was the bomb! everybody and their brother, even tom-boy sisters, had one of these. I myself also had the basketball one too.., but about two years ago at work somebody decided that they liked it more than i did:( I also had the football 2 (the green one that you can pass with and run in reverse). I remember beging and pleading for that game for sooo long. I was really amazed that i had gotten one. When I found out that it was under the tree i opened it, carefully i might add, almost a wek before X-Mas and played it everyday in front of the livingroom window while moms was at work. I almost got caught one time 'cause i had to go to the bathroom... when i got back to the window my mother was already coming up the sidewalk to come in the house. Fortunately, I had my pilow and blanket on the couch with me and i was able to play sleep. I really miss that FOOTBALL 2 and the BASKETBALL. I still have my original FOOTBALL, but the switch is messed up. However, when i saw it the other day, I had to have another one. I took it to work today, and my buddy and i played it between building trucks on the assembly line. YOU GUYS AT MATEL PLEASE BRING BACK THE CLASSIC FOOTBALL 2 AND BASKETBALL!! PLEEEEASE!!!!!!!:( Hey guys, if ya' do or have already, write me! Sincerely, Terry Henderson Sr

I remember this game in the late 70's, my mom bought the original for me for Christmas the very first year it was out. (...)The original said Mattel Electronics at the top and Football under the football guy. I wish I still had my old one, but the switch didn't work half the time, and I think the forward button was screwed up and the blip would keep running forward. If anybody remembers these, they probally remember they weren't the most reliable things. Hopefully, the modern day electronics are better. As a kid it was one of the first (and a best seller) handheld games, but as a toy for the modern age kids, I think they will get bored with it fast. For (the money), I'm thinking of buying one just for the memories. If you have children, it would also be neat to show them "In my day, this was THE GameBoy". Let's hope Mattel also comes out with the race car one they came out with after this was popular.

This classic football game is great! It's simple but challenging with not all those bells and whistles. I had it 15 years ago and I ordered another one just recently.
I can't wait to share it with my son.

Mattel has taken me back to my childhood. I remember playing this game when I was 10 (I'm 35 right now). My friend owned the game, and everytime I'd visit, I'd ask to play the game or borrow it and take it home to play.

As the title of my review states, "Don't buy this game for your child." Reason is simple. They won't appreciate the simplicity of the game. Children today expect alot for a game. With GameBoy Advance and your various X-Boxes, PlayStations, GameCubes...etc...etc. Electronic Football couldn't even complete. The game is more geared for the 30+ year old boys in your life that wax for the simple days of their childhood.

The controls are pretty much how I remember it for the exception of the game selector switch. I distinctly remember the switch being metal, instead of the black plastic switch Mattel has replaced it with.
Mattel also replaced the power source of the game with AAA batteries instead of a 9-volt battery of yesteryear. I'm not sure if Mattel had struck a deal with battery manufactuers, since AAA don't have half the life expectancy as a more durable 9-volt battery. I've been able to play off and on for 3 weeks with the Football game before I noticed performance degregation with the game.

So, if you want to take your love one back to the days of his/her childhood, by all means, spend a few bucks on this great trip down memory lane.