Football, "the beautiful game" in it's current form, originated in the Highlands of Scotland towards the end of the 1800s.
An almost balletic display of skill and coordination in a fast paced match of two 45 minute halves. A combination of passing, dribbling, shooting and teamwork played with the feet of 22 players and a spherical ball. Thus the name "football" by which the game is known by almost the entire world.... except for America.
Our cousins across the pond play an armoured bastardization of Rugby that labours on, for what feels like days. Played with hands and a modified rugby ball, "hand egg" stops and starts like rush hour traffic. Punctuated by advertising and has-been singers performing various renditions of the national anthem, while their bloated ruddy, botox ridden faces are displayed on a huge screen for the masses to enjoy. The masses who are adorned with the ubiquitous uniform of "beer hat" and large foam hand which cleverly leaves one hand free to stuff fried food into their whooping face sacks.
This is a confusing and alien spectacle to the majority of the outside world and a million miles away from the offensive chanting and Saturday afternoon violence most Europeans know as football.
This "American Football" is what mutant league is based on. The game puts a spin on the game with the inclusion of
Fantasy races such as orcs, elves and goblins (.... Uncannily like Games Workshop's 1986 board game "Blood Bowl").
Ultimately though, despite brief tutorials, unless you are versed in the many convoluted rules of American Football, the majority of content and nuance is probably going to go right over your head. (As it did with me).
The game is currently on sale for all formats with a 50 to 60% discount, so it's worth a look, if this idea whets your appetite. While obviously appealing to fans of the game this might also be of interest to turn based tactical/skirmish fans that want to invest time into a new ruleset and cartoonish gameplay.
For me however, it was like pulling teeth.
Comments