ecmo is bringing back one of its most beloved propertes, Tecmo Bowl, in the form of Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff. The DS game looks to be faithful to its NES roots in both spirit and presentation, which should be a relief to players worried about unnecessary updates. Big plays, customizable teams, fast-paced action—it’s all here. Plus, players will be able to use the stylus to create their own plays, square off via wi-fi and wireless and check out all-new cutscenes. We got the scoop on the game from Ryan Gilbo, the game’s executive producer, and we’re kicking it your way.

Game Informer: One of the things players were accustomed to in Tecmo Bowl were the money plays—basically, the can’t-lose picks. Are those going to be included in kickoff, or do players expect a bit more balance in gameplay these days?

Ryan Gilbo: Of course, certain players will excel at certain plays as that is the nature of the game. However, there is a bit more balance in this version of the game over its predecessors. The use of Super Skills will allow for amazing plays and can be the difference between steamrolling the opposition or allowing for a big upset.

GI: Will any classic plays be returning? Will offensive and defensive plays be picked simultaneously, as before?

Gilbo: Yes, the plays will be picked in a very similar fashion as the original Tecmo Super Bowl.

GI: Will players be able to create their own team rosters?

Gilbo: One of the features of this game is the ability to customize your own team – they are 100% customizable.

GI: Will the same made-up teams be returning?

Gilbo: The original team cities from Tecmo Bowl are in Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff. We are adding a few more to bring the total number of teams to 32. The team names are not NFL teams, but we picked names that fit with the original spirit of Tecmo Bowl. If you don’t like the team names, you are free to change them to something that fits your style using the Team Edit feature.

GI: How many players will be on the field at any given time?

Gilbo: 22 players - this is true 11 on 11 football.

GI: Will stat tracking and a season mode be included in the game?

Gilbo: Both Stat Tracking and Season Mode are available in Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff.

GI: What’s been the biggest challenge so far in taking on a game that so many older players are familiar with? Are you making any specific efforts to attract people who might be new to the series, and how do you balance those with pleasing veteran players?

Gilbo: Maintaining the original essence of the game was on the forefront of our minds when re-creating Tecmo Bowl as ‘Kickoff’. Since the announcement of Kickoff a few weeks ago, we’ve seen comments on various forums/boards asking for us to bring back Tecmo Bowl the way they remember it (and to not change a thing), which is essentially what we are doing but adding some new features that are made available by bringing it to the Nintendo DS. Older players will instantly be taken back to the good old days of Tecmo Bowl and younger players will have the opportunity to experience an arcade-style of football that was lost many years ago. Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff is the first step in the evolution of the classic to modern arcade football game.