Amazon.com Review

Searching for a pigskin computer game for your football-fanatic child (especially ages 5 to 10)? If you'd rather not opt for the complicated simulation of the Madden series or the intense taunting and tackling of the NFL Blitz series, pick up Humongous Entertainment's Backyard Football.

Combining the Junior Sports Network and the famous football players of the NFL Quarterback Club, Backyard Football features all 31 NFL teams and logos, custom NFL trading cards, and fast-paced five-on-five game play. Complex football play names are simplified for young players, and control couldn't be easier with Backyard Football's simple point-and-click interface, supporting keyboard, mouse, and game pad.

One of Backyard Football's best features is its inclusion of big name NFL players, including John Elway, Barry Sanders, Dan Marino, Steve Young, and Jerry Rice. Though the "backyard bunch" has been shrunk to pint-size form, young football fans should instantly recognize their favorite gridiron stars. A 14-game season satisfies those looking for solo play (the season ends with the Super Colossal Cereal Bowl), and a multiplayer option provides football excitement over the Junior Sports Network Internet site.

While certainly not as deep or dazzling as top-of-the-line football computer games, Backyard Football's colorful graphics and intuitive game play should please all football-crazed youngsters. --Doug Radcliffe ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Great Game!
This game is so cool! I recieved it for christmas and I have barely ever stopped playing it. One of the funnest parts of the game is that you can design your own custom player and make up names for your own plays. The dances players do after scoring a touchdown are hilarious. This game passes standards that other children's football games do not even try to achieve. If you are looking for a enjoyable, funny, and educational game for your child, this is the one.

At the Top of Grade School Kids' Sports Games!
Boys and girls (and their parents--believe me!) will love this fun, exciting football game from Humongous Entertainment. It features characters familiar from other "Jr. Sports League" series: Easy-going Keisha, lightening-fast Pete, and others of different ages, races, sizes, and abilities.

The action is fast and the selection of plays is great fun (you can also create your own plays!). Passing plays are the most difficult; you might want to encourage your child to focus on running, kicking, and defense, and help him or her with passing. (Our 5-year old eventually got the hang of the whole game). You can set 3 difficulty levels, play a league series culminating in a the "Super-Colossal Cereal Bowl" or play single "pick-up" games, play in preset or random weather conditions, and even make up your own player with different skills (it's fun to name this player after yourself)!

A few complaints: Once again, Pete Wheeler is the athletic, but intellectually challenged kid. I found some of his dialogue offensive--but it offers a good chance to talk with your kids about stereotypes. The compilation of player stats is good, but not as complete as the Baseball game offered by Humongous. A creative and fun addition is the inclusion of several NFL players (including Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Randall Cunningham, Barry Sanders, Brett Favre, and John Elway) as kids playing along with the Jr. Sports League cast. Now, not that I ever play this game, but I recommend Keisha on defense, Pete at running back, Barry Sanders at tight end, Annie as kicker.....

(I also recommend highly the Backyard Baseball Game by Humongous.)

Great game in a great series!
This game is magnificent, as is the entire backyard series. You can choose to be an NFL team name or a made-up one. You "draft" your players and can play singles games or entire seasons. The trick plays are great and add even more fun and excitement to the game.

Backyard Football
Backyard Football if virtually one of the best computer games I have ever played. I'm a girl raised to like football and I even love it. At first I always lost the games I played but If you know the basic rules of football like a second nature and you have a little bit of practice with this game you'll surelyn play it non-stop. Great game I highly recommend.

AWESOME!!!!!
This was purchased as a gift for my son. He and his friends have spent many hours playing it. They enjoy being able to pick their own teams. The personal stories related by the football players are extremely funny and entertaining, especially Brett Favre's. Having the football players as kids makes this game appropriate for kids of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Nerf arena blast
I think nerf arena is one of the best game i have eaver played. It has every thing a game should have and you can play it with your friends over the internet.Nerf arena has tones of diffrent levels and there is point blast which is a compatition and a free for all level whicch you can colect balls and points to win your opponants.

I love this game!
I love this non-violent 3d action shooter! I can't stop playing it! I recomend you get this for your children because it's clean, non-gory, quake3 action!

Pretty Good
It's cool, but it has some problems. The graphics aren't that good, but there not the best. One major problem is that it gets boring because of the repetition. All of the repetition makes it boring. The repitition and graphics are its only real problems.

Non-violent, yet exciting
Yes, this is true. This game is almost totally non-violent, except for the idea of shooting guns. However, as we most should know (especially those of us with children) NERF mock-weapons are the highlight of some boys' lives. My six year old will not part with that big gun he has from NERF, called 'Wildfun' or 'Wildfire', or maybe 'Funfire' (I don't particularly pay attention to the name; just that horrible noise it makes). This makes the game particularly appealing, since you can easily turn the volume down. 3-D gaming excites little ones, unless they can't play it well, and a joystick purchase will improve their appeal. Older ones may enjoy the online gaming feature included. The game initially is for kids from six to Middle School, and will be the highlight of your kid's presents.

Oh yeah, and the 'Wildfun' is a gun you can find in the labyrinths available. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

There's no sport like soccer for mud in your cleats, grit in your teeth,and the down-and-dirty thrill of competition. But, on those days between realgames, Humongous Entertainment's Backyard Soccer MLS Edition will satisfyyour soccer cravings with a virtual game that nails soccer's nuances whileadding some fantasy twists that should score big with both players and fans.

Players pick their team from a roster of 45: thirty are neighborhood kids,ranging from Kenny Kawaguchi in his wheelchair (who's like greased lightning onwheels, mind you) to bespectacled Lisa Crockett, a ball-control whiz. One of thefantasy twists is that kids can also appoint pint-sized versions of Major LeagueSoccer players and U.S. Women's National Team members to their own team. SoBrandi Chastain and Carlos Valderrama mix it up with the Backyard gangand whoever is running the mouse.

Each player comes with a complete list of soccer skills and quirks that affecthis or her performance on the field. Some have hot tempers, some have asthma,and some can't stand to play with their little sister on the same team. All ofthis information is initially confusing, but it gives the game depth and realismas players get to know each kid and learn how to put together a great team.

In addition to picking a team, players also choose a team name (all 12 Major League Soccer team names and logos are there for the picking, whilenonconformists can name their own), playing surface, one of three levels of gamedifficulty, and duration. A head-to-head capability lets friends play friends.There are simple Friendly Match games that don't get saved by the computer, andthere's Season Play with statistics, strategy, and playoffs that send victorshome with the Astonishingly Shiny Cup-of-All-Cups Cup.

During play, a mouse, keyboard, or game pad controls the action, and players useevery member of their team. Power-ups add a dimension not seen in real soccerplay; kick an undergrounder or a homing ball and you'll never look at thatbeat-up black-and-white ball in your garage the same way again. Stylistically, thefolks at Humongous have it dialed in as well. All 45 players have distinctpersonalities, the play-by-play is both informative and funny, and there's eveninstant replay to watch that heinous foul close up, in slow motion.

Although a soccer neophyte can play this game, its vast array of choices,strategies, and rules is bound to be confusing at first. But that samecomplexity is what gives this virtual soccer game legs, complete with shinguards. Backyard Soccer truly shines in the hands of a kid who's on asoccer team (and what kid isn't nowadays?), stuck inside with a computer insteadof outside with buddies and a ball. (Ages 5 to 10) --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Loads of fun!
I bought it for my daughter, and she absolutely loves this game. The graphics are excellent, the personalities and quirks of the players are cute, and the MLS and WUSA players add a very nice touch. Remember, this game was designed for kids. If you want the feel of realistic World Cup soccer, don't expect it from this game. If you want the feel of being a kid, rounding up the other neighborhood kids, choosing sides, finding a make-shift soccer field, and playing fun, arcade-style soccer - you will more than enjoy this game!

The hit Christmas gift
All of my kids loved this game. Nothing bad to say about it. It gives soccer lovers a chance to pick teams, coach, learn the rules and have a lot of fun. League or single play option give players a chance to accumulate stats and even progress to the playoffs. Good graphics and lots of audio commentary add to the fun of this game.

My girls (5&6) LOVE it!
Great CD-ROM. My husband even enjoys playing with my daughters. Make sure you get the MLS version though. We've owned it for about 8 months and they still love it.

AWSOME!!!
Okay graphics in this game are very good. Gameplay kept me up all night playing it!!! This game is AWSOME for players who like to play soccer ( I love soccer played it for 6 years) But even those who dont really like soccer will like this game!

All the season in a day
This game isn't all that great. It has a time limit of 2 minutes per half. You can play over 10 games in a day. In backyard baseball you can barely get 1 game in. This is also a very easy game. Occasionaly you get a really good team that beat you in the shootout which is really hard.This game is like beep. Only not. ... Read more

Features

• Pick a team from the backyard kids and play on fields all around the neighborhood
• The rules are a hybrid of Major and Little League rules
• Game modes include: random pick-up, single game, or whole season
• Playoffs and championship games; track game and season statistics
• Multiple skills levels; simple point-and-click controls; practice batting

Amazon.com Product Description

Control your speed using real slot-car controllers with Hot Wheels Slot Car Racing. Race on eight outrageous tracks including Rattlesnake Raceway, Outer Space Speedway, and Haunted Hill Highway. Or build your custom tracks with curves, straightaways, and loops. Race head-to-head against a friend or against the computer. There are 12 authentic Hot Wheels cars to choose from. The package includes two slot-car controllers. (Ages 5 and up) ... Read more