Emmitt Smith Football
A Super NES football game saved by its play editor feature.
Emmitt Smith Football is a Super NES title that came out only in North America, named after the Dallas Cowboys' all-pro running back from 1994. It uses no official licenses beyond Smith's name, so all teams and players are made up. Critics gave it mixed reviews, with many saying the only thing stopping it from being awful is its play editor, which lets players create up to 64 custom plays saved via battery backup. The game offers exhibition and season modes based on the 1994 NFL season, and Smith himself recorded voice clips—praising big gains and complaining about bad plays. Standard NFL rules apply, like 15-minute quarters and a 100-yard field, but some rules can be changed in the options. The November 1995 issue of Nintendo Power mentioned the game. Reviewers were unimpressed overall: GamePro's Slo Mo called it "respectable" but noted it was outshone by better football games, pointing out the missing NFL license, fair sprites with choppy animation, a playbook interface lifted from Madden NFL, and the play editor as the sole highlight. Electronic Gaming Monthly's two reviewers gave it 5.5 and 6.0 out of 10, agreeing the play editor "saves this game from sitting on the bench" but criticizing the choppy animation and lack of fun. Next Generation said the editor is great but that poor graphics and worse gameplay make testing plays no fun, calling it nearly one of the worst football games. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment scored it 4 out of 10 in its October 1995 issue.
- Platform
- Super NES
- Region
- North America
- Namesake
- Emmitt Smith, former all-pro running back of the 1994 Dallas Cowboys
- Licensing
- No official use of any licenses other than the Emmitt Smith name
- Play editor
- Allows up to 64 custom plays saved via battery backup
- Modes
- Exhibition mode and season mode based on the 1994 NFL season
- Voice
- Emmitt Smith provided voice comments on big gains and negative plays
Quick Facts
- Title
- Emmitt Smith Football
- Developer
- NCM Entertainment
- Publisher
- JVC Musical Industries
- Designer
- Nimai C. Malle / Scott Hartin
- Artist
- Rick Helmick
- Composer
- Dan Canary
- Released
- NA · November 1995
- Genre
- Sports (American football)
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Super NES
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Emmitt Smith Football was developed and released exclusively for the Super NES in North America, using the name and likeness of Emmitt Smith, the all-pro running back for the 1994 Dallas Cowboys. The game lacks any official NFL or team licenses, resulting in fictional teams and players. It was mentioned in the November 1995 issue of Nintendo Power.
Gameplay includes exhibition and season modes based on the 1994 NFL season, with standard NFL rules such as four 15-minute quarters and a 100-yard field, though some rules can be altered via options. Players can create up to 64 custom plays saved through a battery backup, a feature similar to that in Troy Aikman NFL Football. Emmitt Smith himself contributed voice recordings, offering positive comments on big gains and negative comments on negative plays.
Critics consistently noted the play editor as the game's sole highlight. Reviews from GamePro, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Next Generation, and VideoGames & Computer Entertainment all described the game as mediocre, citing poor graphics, choppy animation, lack of an NFL license, and unenjoyable gameplay. The play editor was widely regarded as the only element preventing the game from being considered among the worst football games on the market.
Reader's Guide
Emmitt Smith Football holds a minor place in video game history as a licensed but unlicensed football title, notable primarily for its play editor feature. While the game itself received mediocre reviews and was overshadowed by superior football games of its time, the play editor allowed players to design and test up to 64 custom plays, a capability that critics praised as innovative. This feature, however, could not compensate for the game's poor graphics, choppy animation, and lack of official NFL licensing, which made the on-field experience frustrating. The game's significance lies in its demonstration of how a single creative element can be the deciding factor in an otherwise forgettable product. For collectors and historians, it represents a curious example of a star athlete's name being used without broader league or team licenses, and it serves as a benchmark for the importance of gameplay quality over celebrity endorsement in sports video games.
Did You Know?
- The game uses no official licenses other than the Emmitt Smith name, making all teams and players fictional.
- Players can create up to 64 custom plays saved through a battery backup.
- Emmitt Smith provided voice comments, giving positive remarks on big gains and negative remarks on negative plays.
- The game was mentioned in the November 1995 issue of Nintendo Power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Emmitt Smith Football?
It is a Super NES football game released exclusively in North America, named after the Dallas Cowboys' 1994 running back Emmitt Smith. Despite the name, the title carries no official NFL or team licenses, meaning every roster and franchise in the game is entirely fictional.
What makes Emmitt Smith Football stand out from other SNES sports titles?
Its play editor lets you design and store up to 64 custom plays using the console's battery backup. Critics almost universally cited this single tool as the only feature keeping the otherwise weak game from being a complete loss.
What game modes are available in Emmitt Smith Football?
You can play a quick exhibition match or run a full season mode modeled on the 1994 NFL schedule. Both modes use the game's made-up teams rather than real NFL franchises.
Does Emmitt Smith actually appear in the game?
Smith recorded voice clips that fire during play, celebrating big runs and grumbling after poorly executed calls. Beyond those audio lines and his name on the box, no other official licensing was involved.
How was Emmitt Smith Football received by critics?
Reviews were largely mixed, with most outlets calling the core gameplay and presentation underwhelming. The play editor and Smith's vocal commentary were the two elements consistently highlighted as the game's saving graces.
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