Mattel Classic Football 2 Game

by Mattel

Product Features

• The next generation of electronic football
• Lets kids compete against each other or the computer
• Just like the original game, it plays like real-life football
• With passing and kicking features, as well as backward movement
• Designed for one or two players

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00007MIBZ
• Item model number: 43567
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 - 12 years
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required.
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,928 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Mattel Classic Football 2 Game: The next generation of electronic football with passing and kicking features, as well as backward movement! Just like the original game, it plays like real-life football. Designed for one or two players, this electronic ball game lets kids compete against each other and the computer.

Product Description

Brand new in factory sealed box

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good game with some key flaws, April 22, 2003

By 

K. A. Young "youngka" (CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mattel Classic Football 2 Game (Toy)

I recently purchased the original 1978 game off of an auction site. So, I can do a true side-by-side comparison without having to rely on memory. So, I'm revising my rating.

The original game had LED display -- discrete red blips. The new game uses LCD with a red filter. No, it's not nearly as good. It's really a shame that Mattel chose not to use LEDs.

In a perfect world, Mattel would have used LED. The LCD does a pretty good job at immitating the old LED display. The red filter does give the entire field a red haze in dark rooms.

The new game has three very annoying programming flaws:

1) There is no longer a kick-off to start the second half. We all know that in football, when the 2nd quarter ends, play is halted for half-time. Then, the second half begins with the team that received the ball to begin the game kicking off. In fact, this is what the old game did. As soon as the 2nd quarter ended, the game immediately ends the current drive and has the Visitors kicking off.

The new version doesn't do this. When the 2nd quarter ends, nothing happens. It's just like when the 1st and 3rd quarter ends: your current drive stays alive, there's no 2nd half kickoff, etc. This flaw really affects gameplay. You don't have to worry about clock managment. If its 1st down on the 18 yard line with 0.1 to play in the 2nd quarter, you don't have to kick the field goal because the drive will stay alive into the 3rd quarter.

2) You can't throw the ball away in the new game. Even in the directions it states that if you pass the ball into a lane with no players (receiver or defensive players), you are supposed to just lose a down. That makes sense. However, in actual game play, if you thow the ball down a lane with no players, it's still an interception! Phantom defensive backs?!

The old game executed this properly -- the ball sails down the length of the field and it's just a simple incomplete pass, loss of down ... just as it should be.

3) The new game is too easy. The game has two settings: Pro 1 and Pro 2. These are about the same, though not identical. However, there was and is an Easter Egg in the game: if you hold down on the Kick button while turning the game on, you have the options of Pro 3 and Pro 4. In the new game, pro 3 and pro 4 are just slightly more challenging than Pro 2. In the old game, there is a much larger gap. Pro 4 is nearly impossible to play as the defense is as fast as you are! Anyway, the old game has a deeper range of difficulty.

Gameplay is nearly identical. I think Pro 1 on the old game is just a tad more "difficult" than Pro 1 on the new game, which helps speed the game up without really affecting difficulty. Finally, though the screen sizes are the same and the button layout is identical, the old unit is physically larger in length (same width and depth). I think the longer unit fits in my hands better.

One big advantage to the new game (perhaps the only one) is that you can turn the sound off. You cannot turn the sound off in the original game, and original game is louder than the new one.

The new game is worth the sales price. It's fun and preserves most of the gameplay of the original. No 2nd half kickoff (lose 0.5 star) and no way to throw an incomplete pass (lose 0.5 star) are the biggest problems with gameplay. LCD instead of LED is the biggest design flaw (lose 1 star).

If you can find one, get an original. Othwerwise, this new release is still lots of fun.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just like the good old days, July 9, 2003

By 

P. Freed (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mattel Classic Football 2 Game (Toy)

I got one of these babies for my Bar Mitzvah, 23 years ago -- and remember fondly playing it for hours when the next best thing was space invaders. When I saw this recently ...I had to have it -- and its definitely taken me back. I play at night after my girlfriend goes to sleep -- the sound off feature is excellent. Everything is the same -- the pass is worth the wait, the run is fun, and sometimes you can go on a long tear. One tip: to kick a field goal, hike the ball and then kick -- otherwise you're just punting. I'd forgotten that. For[this price], if you miss the good old days, its worth the price.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars disappointed that they didn't make it like the original, March 10, 2004

By A Customer

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mattel Classic Football 2 Game (Toy)

I bought this because I was so fond of the original in my youth, but was dismayed to realize it was different than the original. It should have been a no-brainer to make it like the original. To me, no kickoff at the start of the third quarter and a turnover on an incomplete pass are bizarre screw ups. How can you possibly mess this classic up?

Among the other differences are a terrible screen and different sound effects than the original on touchdowns, field goals and safeties, which I can live with.

The only thing I can think that caused Mattel to mess this up is cost. Classic Basketball is way better; the screen is great! If they can get it right on basketball, why not on football 2? Now if Mattel would only recall the football 2 units, fix these things and reissue it. I'll pay more for it if cost is the issue.