HOME vs AWAY

Calling plays. Pick a formation, then a play, like the real playbook. Coach's pick lets the staff decide. Special Teams has field goals, punts, kneels and spikes. At the line, press Q to audible to another play in the same formation.

Offense. Space snaps. Move with W A S D or the arrows. Tap 1 to 5 to throw to the receiver wearing that button, or hold it to lead him with a lob. The ring around each button is your read: green is open, gold is a tight window, red is covered. With a mouse, drag back and let go to throw to a spot. With the ball: Space spin, E juke, F stiff arm, Shift sprint.

Defense. You control the player with the marker. Your zone and blitz assignments show before the snap. Space dives, E is the hit stick (big hits cause fumbles), Q switches to the defender nearest the ball. Interceptions are live: pick it off and take it back the other way for a pick six.

Kicking. Kickoffs, punts, field goals and extra points use the kick meter: lock the power, then the accuracy. Kick and punt returns are live, so break one. Before locking the power on a kickoff, press Q (or tap Onside) for an onside kick: it has to travel 10 yards before your team can recover it. After a touchdown, kick the extra point from Special Teams or call any play from the 2 to go for two.

Game day. Coin toss, timeouts, the two-minute warning, penalties, fumbles, overtime and weather are all in. Press Esc to pause, call a timeout or check stats. After any play press R for the instant replay, and C switches between the behind-the-play camera and the sideline broadcast view. With the behind-the-play camera, up on the stick is always upfield. The Graphics option switches between HD and a chunky retro pixel look. Scoring drives show a drive summary.

Two players. Player 2 uses the arrows, Enter for the action button, , . / ; ' to throw, K juke or hit stick, L stiff arm, M switch or audible, and Right Shift to sprint.

The draft. Before kickoff you and your opponent take turns picking a quarterback, halfback, three receivers, a tight end, an offensive line, a defensive line, a linebacker, two corners, a safety and a kicker. Ratings matter: speed is speed, hands catch the ball and hold onto it, QB accuracy decides where the ball lands, power wins blocks and tackles, awareness keeps coverage tight, and the kicker's leg and accuracy show up on the kick meter. Rematch keeps your roster.

Team identities. Every club has a distinct style that changes CPU play calling and tempo: some lean pass, some pound the run, and defensive blitz rates vary. Hot players get a small boost; hard hits can leave a player shaken up for several plays.

Record book. Your played-for and opponent teams, game results and recent matchups are saved locally between sessions. Career wins, seasons and Alladen Bowl championships are tracked too.

Seasons. The season is a 10-week franchise run followed by playoffs. Your drafted roster develops between games: playing earns development points, and you can train one player each week. Developed players carry into the next season.

Tasks & shop. The task paper gives you a fresh set of daily jobs. Scores, interceptions, sacks, big plays and wins pay cash. The shop sells temporary three-tier bonuses that improve an attribute for a set number of games; bought tiers return to stock after a short restock timer.

The referee. Before kickoff you can slip the referee some cash. A paid ref swallows flags against you and sometimes throws one your opponent's way. Every bribe raises your league heat, and each crooked call is a chance to get caught: a fine, a 15-yard penalty and a momentum swing, or a forfeit if the league was already watching. Clean games cool things down. The other sideline isn't always honest either.