Older gamers might recall a series of video games called NFL Blitz. Basically, these games were more violent versions of American football; you could throw opponents to the ground by their necks and then pound them after the tackle. You know -- for people who find American football not violent enough.


Older gamers probably also remember a period when seemingly every video sports game was like NFL Blitz, back in the days before the Internet taught us that exposing children to violence is wrong. Here are some of greatest moments from those golden years of sports video game violence.


Blades of Steel (1987)


What more fitting game to begin with than one of the manliest games of all time? Seriously, my grandma gave me this game when I was nine years old, and the next day I woke up with a full beard and an overwhelming thirst for blood and whiskey.

Eight-bit video games were evolving to the point where developers could do more with hockey games than just pass-and-shoot. I could go into extensive detail about how the reactive line system made it easy to develop one's own plays in Blades of Steel, but that's not what we're here for. Check out the fight that starts at 3:22 in this video!


To make the violence even more rewarding, the winner got control of the puck, while the loser was sent to the penalty box. It's hard to believe, but Konami made a hockey game that's actually more brutal than real hockey. Blades of Steel's success kicked off a whole wave of violence in video games, from Easter eggs to full-on-thematic brutality.


Bases Loaded (1987)


Bases Loaded is a classic NES game that spawned a host of sequels both in the U.S. and Japan. On both sides of the Pacific, young children were introduced to one of the key fundamentals of baseball: running up to the pitcher and punching them in the face.


Note that -- unlike in Blades of Steel -- the aggressor is punished for their violent outburst. Let it always be known that baseball is a gentlemanly game.


Cyberball (1988)


With full-on violence creeping into several successful titles, game designers decided to merge the concept of violence and games. Enter Cyberball: a robotic futuristic American football game. Cyberball employed robotic players that could explode if hit too hard, and a ball that also doubled as an explosive device.


Cyberball enjoyed a tournament arcade release, and some console ports. However, Cyberball's popularity wasn't great enough to warrant any sequels.