Pizza Box Football

Let's look at the specifics:

Game Type: Table Top

Ages: 8 and up (The manufacturer says 12, but a sports minded 8 yr old will have no problem)

Play time: 10 - 90 minutes (depending on scenario)

Number of Players: 1 to 2

Solo Ability: High

I have to start by saying, I really don't, as a rule, enjoy sports games. I enjoy playing just about any sport, I enjoy watching a few sports via TV, more in person, but sports games of any ilk, table-top or electronic, have never really held my interest.

Why the hell then did I have a blast playing Pizza Box Football?

Probably because it plays more like a strategy game than a hardcore statistic based sports game and that, to me, made all the difference in the world. If you are looking to team up Walter Peyton with Donavan McNabb, this game may not be for you. If you are looking to put to the test the best laid plans of that annoying Monday morning quarterback and hear them makes excuses as you whomp their butt, well then, this just may suit. Of course, you have to make certain it's not your butt getting whomped before you can crow victory. The upside of losing, however, is that the game can be played several times in an evening, so you have the chance for revenge or added humiliation.

During Origins my eldest son and I sat down and played one of the scenarios, the Backyard Brawl. This is a 30 minute game that covers the game mechanics but does not include some of the advanced concepts such as punting and the game clock.

The Backyard Brawl scenario consists of six (6) rounds total and has each player try to score once within these rounds. Field position for the Backyard Brawl scenario is predetermined and in place of a play clock there is a limit on the number of plays available in each round.

As an example, during the first round you will put the ball on your own 25 yard line. You now have 18 plays total to move the ball down the field and score points. Succeed or fail, when your 18 plays are up, it's your opponents turn to try to score. They will place the ball on their 25 yard line and try to score in 18 plays. The second round you start mid field but have 12 plays, the last round at your opponent's 25 yard line with six (6) plays. End of first half, time to rinse and repeat.

In the standard box set you have three basic plays, run, short pass, long pass. Your opponent knows this and they will choose to defend against your play. How? Quite simply. The defensive player will select they type of play against which they wish to defend. The offensive player will then announce the play they will run. This does not decide whether or not the play succeeds, however, it just sets up and advantage for the offense or defense.

Both the defensive and offensive player will roll dice to see how their actions affected the outcome of the play and then any loss or gain in yardage is determined. The dice aspect of the game not only adds a bit of randomness it also, and most importantly, prevents Pizza Box Football from being a sports version of rock, paper, scissors. After all, if I defend against a run and you choose a long pass, I still may be able to thwart you. The defense choice and offense choice do not decide the play, they just impact it.

I would relate a blow-by-blow account of my game with my eldest son but, and here I have to be honest, I was having too much fun to take notes. I could also say that I agreed to play the game during a short lull in other activities and never expected to write anything about it since, as I have previously stated, I really don't care for sports games.

You'll have to decide yourself which of these failures to keep good notes is the better endorsement for the game.

Would I play it again? Yes. Would I look forward to playing it again? Yes. Would I trot it out at a party? Yes. Would I expect to find people who are hard core gamers and people who are hard core sports fanatics playing the game together and both having fun? Yes.

There's a theme here folks. It's a great, fun, easily played game you can share with your family and friends. It's something you can play with your dad, your brother, even your boss.

But hell, don't take my word for it; get your own damn game!