Pigskin 621 A.D. - Overview

Overview

The player directly controls one member of a five-man team, with the object of carrying a football over the opposing team's goal line. The playing area is littered with hazards such as pits, bushes and logs. A ball carrier who trips over any of these, or is punched by an opponent, fumbles the ball. The field is also laden with weapons such as swords, torches and ropes. A player can pick up one of these by running over it. It will appear at the top of the screen next to the player's score as a "concealed weapon", several weapons may be carried at once and one may be carried over after a touchdown. The ball carrier can be "grappled", essentially a mass-tackle into which multiple characters can jump. Having a concealed weapon as well as having more characters jump into the grapple greatly increases a team's chance of gaining or retaining possession, although weapons cannot be used if both team captains are in the grapple. A character who is injured by a concealed weapon is out of play until a touchdown is scored.

If one team gets too far behind in score, a troll is added to the losing side to help even the odds, adding more to the cartoonish mayhem. Up to two trolls can be in play at a time during a standard game (one per side or two on one side). During a one player "Pro Pigskin" game, if the CPU team continues to lose heavily even after a troll has been added or falls behind very quickly early on, an option for a Troll Bowl will appear. If selected the player will face an entire team of trolls with only human players on their own side.

Gameplay tips are given between periods and statistics are given at the end of the game. Statistics cover Goals Scored, Injuries Inflicted and Pigskin Possession Time.