Whispers of Tecmo Bowl Throwback made its rounds through the internets a few weeks back, but now the game has crossed over from the realm of rumor to that of reality. Tecmo Bowl Throwback aims to stay true to the Tecmo Super Bowl legacy (except without, you know, the NFL roster–thanks, EA!) by including 8-bit style, 2D sprite-based visuals, full seasons,  Preseason, Season, and Pro Bowl modes, and 1 or 2 player multiplayer (both local and online). Tecmo Bowl Throwback will also nod to the modern gamer by allowing virtual pigskinners to switch to a 3D polygonal mode for extra eye-candy. Righteous.

Tecmo is obviously trying to appeal to both fans of the classic football game that want the retro look, while showing love to those that want a little visual pop. Wise move, I say, but the Tecmo Bowl series  has always been about gameplay and stat tracking. While Tecmo Bowl Kickoff had its moments, the confusing number-keeping turned me away after a while. Still, this new series entry holds promise. Oogle the screens as we suss out more details regarding this title that’s set to hit PSN and XBLA this spring.