|
 |
DEVELOPER
Midway
PUBLISHER
Midway
AVAILABLE
Now
MEDIUM
Cartridge
PLAYERS
Two
| | |
|
 was getting worried that this year's crop of football games would be nothing to write home about, and while there is yet to be a clear winner in the realistic football arena, we now have a title that can keep us going into August 2000 if need be. Midway's NFL Blitz is a prime example of what gameplay should be about.
First, some background information for those who don't know the score. Blitz is a 7-on-7 football game in the tradition of NBA Jam. Teams are required to gain 30 yards for a first down and 15-20 yards per play is about average. There are no referees, no penalties, and no holds barred. Pass interference is not only allowed, it's encouraged, and further still, an integral part of a solid defense. Each team has the same playbook with 24 offensive plays (which can be "flipped", mirroring the direction of passing routes) and 12 defensive plays. The N64 version features a play editing system that is very nicely implemented, and is compatible with the forthcoming Blitz '99 arcade unit via N64 memory paks. There are three levels of difficulty, and the length of the quarters can be either 2, 4, or 6 minutes.  Other options include adjusting the volume of the crowd/announcer/music/sound effects as well as adjusting screen size and location.
The graphics, overall, are excellent. They're not as crisp as the arcade, but that's to be expected. The animation is quite fluid and looks very realistic (well, as realistic as you can get in Blitz). The same goes for the player models. All the official NFL teams and colors are included, naturally. There are parts in the game, especially after a play is over, where slowdown occurs.  Fortunately, it doesn't take place during any actual gameplay, and therefore is negligable.
Remember the announcer from Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey? Well, if you're one of the 12 people who bought the game you do. He makes a triumphant comeback, and thankfully, is less annoying this time around. While there are some funny lines ("That was uncalled for, but fun to watch!"), he has a tendancy to say inappropriate phrases for the situation. Example: After calling a deep zone defense, "Looks like an all-out blitz!" Annoying, yet forgiveable. Regular sound effects and crowd noises are awesome, especially when cranked all the way up. The in-game music isn't anything special, just an up-tempo beat that kind of blends in with the action.
But the most important part of Blitz is the rapid gameplay. Scaled-down versions of sports games have had mixed results in the past, from the very successful NBA Jam/Hangtime series, to the terribly mediocre Gretzky Hockey. The whole point of these games is to increase the speed and fun factor of the realistic counterpart, while still holding true to the basic fundamentals of the sport. Blitz does this flawlessly. The pace never slows down, and the game is over before you know it. The control is responsive and precise, especially using the analog stick. The 1P game is fun to play, but the true potential of the game is revealed when you play against a friend. It somehow manages to bring out true competitive nature. In the games I've played against my roommate, the room was filled with confident battle cries (blocking a field goal), screams of anguish (having a field goal blocked), and of course, tons and tons of expletives (Jumping out of bounds before breaking the plane on 4th and goal).  Simply said, the game is pure fun. I fear for my GPA this semester because of it.
No question about it, Blitz is an amazing game. However, I do have some minor gripes. While on defense, you aren't able to select a lineman until the ball is snapped. This can make pass rushing difficult if you have to either wait for the snap and then switch players, or bring a player from the secondary up to the line. CPU Assistance is on by default, and needs a code (0-1-2, D) to be turned off. I enjoy a close match, but when things get unfair, it can be a bit frustrating. Midway should have included this as a default menu option. Also, customized options are not saved directly to the cartridge, but to the memory pak.  This wouldn't be that big of a deal except for that you have to load the options from the pak every time you power on the machine. Trivial? Maybe, but an inconvenience nonetheless.
Still, none of these issues really detract from the overall experience that is Blitz. If you're a sports fan, this is a must-own title. If not, this is a good time to start. NFL Blitz takes the best things about the game of football and wraps them up into this neat little cartridge. Good show, Midway.
-- Andrew Pfister
|
