Retro Bowl Game-Day Calls: 2-Point Tries, Audibles and Defense

On the field you only control the offense in Retro Bowl, but the game still asks you to make a handful of coaching calls during a match. These are the choices the browser build puts in front of you, and what the game says about each one.

1 or 2 point conversion

After every touchdown the game asks "1 or 2 point conversion?". The kick is taken by your kicker, whose range and accuracy fall as his stamina runs down during a game. The 2-point try is a normal play from close range, so it depends on your passing and running, not on the kicker. The game does not show you a success rate for either option, so the honest rule is simple: go for 2 when you need the point or when your kicker is tired, and take the kick when you are comfortable.

Fourth down: play it, punt or kick

On fourth down you get "Play 4th down or punt?", or a field goal option once you are close enough. Know your kicker before you decide. Kick range depends on his Strength, and on how much his Stamina lets it drop as the game goes on. The game tracks achievements for 25, 50 and 60 yard field goals, so long kicks are possible with the right player.

Onside kicks

When you kick off you can try an onside kick. The game tells you your chance of recovering the ball in the prompt itself, so read the number before you accept.

Audibles

Your quarterback can change the play formation by calling an audible. The browser build's message says that as he levels up he can call up to 5 audibles per half. A young quarterback has fewer, so save them for downs where the formation you were given clearly does not fit.

Time outs and the clock

When a ball carrier is tackled, the clock keeps running for a few seconds. You get 2 or 3 time outs per half, depending on quarter length. The loading tips add two clock rules: running the ball out of bounds stops the clock, and throwing it out of bounds is a fair way to avoid a sack.

What your defense actually is

You never control defenders, but they still show up in the match commentary and the box score as sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles. The game describes the jobs like this:

• Defensive linemen go after the quarterback and block runs.
• Linebackers either cover receivers or push forward to stop the running back.
• Defensive backs (corner backs and safeties) mainly cover passes.

The defensive coordinator sets the base defense rating before your star defenders are counted. So improving your defense means two things: a better coordinator and better star players at DL, LB and DB. There is an achievement for building a 5 star defense if you want a target.

Difficulty

The Options screen offers Dynamic, Easy, Medium, Hard and Extreme. Dynamic gets harder when you win and easier when you lose. Extreme makes every opponent play with a 5 star rating whatever its real rating is. If your strategy works on Medium and falls apart later, check whether Dynamic has simply caught up with your win streak.