Is it the Cleats?!?!
Action oriented sports games always do pretty well, from the almost historical
NBA Jam to the more recent
Wayne Gretzky 3D Hockey series. In the
arcades, people have pretty much no problem cranking up to two bucks into a machine
to finish a single game. With sneaky little tricks like personal data saving,
these games tend to bring people back, if only to try and better their record.
As a coin-op, NFL Blitz was destined for success. It hauled in a ton of dough as the gridiron equivalent to Jam. Hoping to carry this tradition to the console market, Midway brings us NFL Blitz for both the N64 and the PSX. Subtle differences exist between the two, but both offer just about the same game you'll find at your local Shakeys.
Before I go any further, I need to point out that this is NOT
NFL Xtreme. That game sucked. Go read that review to find out why it sucked, or you can just take my word for it. But either way, please understand that THIS game -
NFL Blitz - is the one you played in the arcades.
The premise is simple: take the game of American football, pare it down to teams of 7 on 7, douse the rulebook in gasoline, light the rulebook on fire, give 'em a ball, and watch as the knuckleheads pound each other senseless in an attempt to play football. Okay, so maybe it's not so simple. But you get the idea.
Unlike other football games on the console market, you won't find much depth here. You don't have to keep track of many options, and there aren't a billion plays to choose from (though the N64 Play Editor allows for more...well, more on that later). You hike the ball and run or pass for a first down, which is every 30 yards. The clock stops after every play, thereby allowing more time to score. You can stiff-arm, hurdle, or turbo your way over, under, and around the enemy. Try and score touchdowns. Try and stop the other team. Kill, Kill, Kill.
Football has never been a game for sissies. NFL Blitz kindly reminds
us that smashing, thumping, and pummeling is the name of the game. Tackles are
wickedly brutal, and the end of the play doesn't signal the end of the violence.
Late hits are common and expected, though not useful in any way other than to
rub your opponent's face in the grass.
There are several play modes, including the standard 'save your progress' Arcade mode. If you're a one team kinda guy/gal, then give the Season mode a shot. You can also play a Tournament in the PSX version, and of course playing a two-player game against a friend is really the best way to go.
The graphics are solid all
around. Oddly, the PSX version runs slightly faster than the N64
version. The textures and smoothness on the N64, however, are unmatched.
Players look good and move well, though realism isn't high on the priority list.
This is a good looking port.
Midway made sure to not just port the exact same product for the two systems. They made sure the games were different by adding elements to each not found in the other. For the PSX, we have loads of FMV. With a long intro sequence of NFL clips and a Theatre option to view sequences opened up during play, this CD is chock full of movies. Though not as impressive as the N64 Play Editor, the FMV still fleshes out the game and adds some flair.
There are a few problems with Blitz that do need to be mentioned. First off, the purely arcade style action, while definitely amusing, eventually wears thin. There's just not enough depth to keep you going for days. You really need to be a fan of NBA Jam style games if you're going to get into this one. Football fans in particular are going to hate the lack of realism they've grown accustomed to with Gameday and Madden.
And while the gameplay and graphics are strong, the sound for both platforms
is a bit weak. Much like in NFL Xtreme, the commentating is obnoxious
and random. It's one thing to bail on realistic gameplay; it's another to ditch
realistic announcing.
Overall, NFL Blitz serves up some pretty wily football action. Fans
of Jam will love it, though you more simulation oriented sports gamers
will have a conniption. If you own both a N64 and a PSX, I'd recommend the 64
version, if only for the Play Editor.
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