Wild Card Football hands-on preview — Colin an audible

A few weeks ago at Summer Game Fest, we had an interesting invite hit the inbox. There was an arcade-style football game coming from Saber Interactive, and we could be among the first to see it. I jumped at the chance as a long time football fan, especially growing up with NFL Street and Madden NFL Arcade. Little did I know what we would see would not only hit the nostalgia hard, but also boast a flair that has me craving for more.

To start us off, the team showed us what they were trying to build in Wild Card Football. We were sat down in front of a TV and father and son team Matt and Drew McKnight, producer and associate producer respectively. You could immediately tell just how much they loved the concept of what they were making just from their mannerisms and what they had to share.

Most people will look at Wild Card Football and immediately think it’s just a rip-off of NFL Street. Sure, there is shared DNA, but from what I’ve seen and played there is a line dividing them. This is 7-on-7, just like you’ll remember from your street days, and the game of football isn’t going to deviate much. You’ll run, you’ll pass, you’ll defend against both; that’s the game. The identity of the game changes in the power-ups that are available on the field, which is a really cool idea.

Let me explain this further. Each down you earn energy, which is represented by a segmented meter in the top corner. Before you choose your play, you have the option of spending that on wildcards, cards that give a bonus to you or make your opponent’s life tougher. For example, you could choose one that is as simple as giving your quarterback higher accuracy for the play, or save for the crazier card that lets you grow into a giant for a moment and knock away defenders. The defense can also play these wildcards, with things like decreasing speed, or even putting pinball machine bumpers on the field behind them. All of these are available through decks you build as you progress, which means not every card you have will be influential in a game you’re playing.

It’s really cool because none of this felt overpowered. Think Mario Kart in execution, some of them will definitely be better than others, but you aren’t guaranteed those cards will show up when you need them. Sure, there were some moments where my opponent getting a fantastic card was frustrating, but in the same way as if I had a bad play called in general. Both sides have the option to counter, and that’s part of the fun. Something really interesting is that there are no audibles available (I know, my tagline isn’t correct but it is clever). At first I was a little bit worried about it, but I can see why it’s an important aspect. If you could simply change the play at the line, the power-ups would matter a lot less, so making the wildcards the star is a good focus.

Where the team has gone absolutely bonkers is the customization, and I love it. Similar to Madden Ultimate Team, you’ll build a team through card packs (although in our demonstration we weren’t privy to any possible online elements or microtransactions; we DO know you’ll be able to earn them in game). This extends to players (with the likes of Colin Kapernick, Joe Burrow, Aaron Donald, Josh Allen, and many more), logos, uniforms and colors, stadiums, and even playbooks and new wildcards. The intention is to let you build your team your way, and there’s a lot of crazy stuff. For instance, there was a Cthulu uniform, a diver uniform, even a stadium in the middle of the woods (no trees on the field at least). It’s all remarkably simple yet astronomically fun.

Lastly, I want to talk a little more about playing the game, as I managed to get one match in. Something a bit different than most demos, I actually got to play against Colin Kaepernick, a cover athlete for the game. Colin was super nice and cordial, but he definitely didn’t take it easy on me, skunking me 14-0. Next time Kaep, I’m calling for a rematch once I get time to practice like you did.

Playing Wild Card Football brought me back to my teenage years. It’s super easy to grasp what’s going on if you have any previous experience with a football game. I used the Mario Kart reference previously (which both Colin and the McKnights brought up as well), but it meshes with what’s being presented. Madden is going to be more of your “Forza or Gran Turismo”, while this is your Mario Kart.

It nails the arcade feel too. There’s a hectic pace to it, especially when you’re running from the defense as a quarterback. Part of that is because like the NFL Street titles, you’re moving a bit more slowly as a more bulky archetype. I had a few issues with passing, but mainly because I wasn’t used to the more ridiculous wind up time compared to a simulation game. The passing is definitely more straight forward though compared to street, with less wobbly balls coming out of my hands. The tackling is also vicious, matching almost NFL Blitz levels of intensity as you slam players down with ferocity. This is truly arcade football on next-gen.

I’ll probably have to march up and down the field a few times before I can make a definitive statement, but I can say this: Wild Card Football is a blast to play, and I can’t wait to play it again. It’s a part of the past that belongs in the future, a missing puzzle piece of NFL enjoyment that I’m glad to have back. Thankfully, that will be soon, as Wild Card Football arrives on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series consoles, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on October 10th, 2023. Grab your Cthulu helmet and apply your under eye paint, the wacky and bombastic gridiron awaits.

See below for our list of partners and affiliates: