Game Description

The two teams line up seven per side. It's a typical first and 30 on the initial play from scrimmage. The quarterback snaps the ball only to be pummeled well after the play is over. But there's no flag on the field -- he doesn't even expect one. Why would he when there's no men in zebra-striped shirts (referees) anywhere near the playing field? It's just another day on the gridiron with NFL Blitz 2000.

Continuing Midway's popular NFL Blitz franchise, this sophomore effort features all of the original's mayhem -- and then some. The unique elements that distinguished the original from "realistic" football games remain intact: fewer players (each with superhuman potential), a faster pace, tougher first down requirements, and bone-crushing, less-than-sportsmanlike (can you say "understatement"?) hits, just to name a few.

There are several new features that highlight this turn-of-the-millennium edition. As many as four players (up from two) can choose from more plays than featured in the original, even developing some of their own with the new Play Editor. Audibles can now be called at the line, and several new fields and stadiums are available. A simple tap of the L2 button on offense activates the Blitz Passing feature, allowing players to throw to a receiver identified by a button symbol instead of just aiming at one blinking target as in standard play.

Also added to this version, a team achieves "on fire" status when the defense sacks the quarterback twice in a row or the offense completes three straight passes to a single receiver. Just as in Midway's NBA Jam, the awesome speed and power of a team in such as state (including unlimited Turbo meter) can often mean the difference in a game. It takes a great play from the temporarily overmatched other team to extinguish the flames.

Keeping consistent with 1999's adjustments to NFL teams, NFL Blitz 2000 replaces the Oilers with the Tennessee Titans and adds the expansion Cleveland Browns. All other 29 teams are included, of course, each featuring players with abilities based upon 1998 statistics. Even highly touted draft picks such as New Orleans' Ricky Williams are included.

As with the previous version, three modes of play are available in NFL Blitz 2000. Try to defeat all 31 teams in Arcade Mode or play through an actual season on your way to the Super Bowl in Season Mode. Meanwhile, gather some friends for the Tournament Mode and guide one of the possible eight teams through the brackets to ultimate victory. ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide

Roots & Influences

NFL Blitz 2000 was developed as a sequel to the wildly successful NFL Blitz, which was created as a football version of the equally rules-defiant NBA Jam. Another possible influence was 1991's Super High Impact. ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide

Review: Enjoyment

Despite the lack of much new content, you just have to love the action in NFL Blitz games. It's also the type of game that you can play for just a few minutes or for hours at a time. ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide

Production Credits

ARCADE TEAM

Original Game Developers: Sal Divita, Mark Turmell

Programmers: Jason Skiles, Mark Turmell, Dan Thompson, Mark Guidaralli, Jeff Johnson

Artists: Sal Divita, Jennifer Hedrick, Jim Gentile, Luis Root

MIDWAY HOME TEAM

Producer/Product Manager: David Schwartz

Programming: David Schwartz, James Justin

Art & FMV: Gary Luecker, Alan O'Brien, Franz Borowitz, Roel Jovellanos, Francisco Garcia

Sound & Music: Aubrey Hodges

Software Development Manager: Brian Johnson

Production Assistance: Michael Gottlieb, Andy Kaffka, Ed Tucker

Product Testing Manager: Rob Sablan

Product Testing Supervisor: John Ublade

Lead Tester: Sheila Julaton

Testers: Scott Lanigan, Edgar Perez, Eric Rose, Malcolm Scott, Casey Bryson

Print Design & Production: Midway Creative Services - San Diego

Product Marketing Manager: Tim Williams

Special Thanks: Deborah Fulton, NFL, NFLPA, Monty Amdursky, Gene Goldberg, LaShun Lawson, Farra D'Orazio, Sal Divita, Mark Turmell, Steve Montano, Jason O'Brien, Alex Salcedo, Nathan Blomberg, Gibert Sandejas, Josh Hutchins ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

When the first NFL Blitz was released for the PlayStation, I was very excited. As an avid fan of NBA Jam who saw great potential in Midway's new similar football title, I found the home version to be very satisfying. While fine football games were still being made by the likes of EA Sports and 989 Studios, this one offered something new. Its unique fast pace, exclusion of penalties and all-out mayhem separated it from the rest as something truly unique.

But things change. With the release of NFL Blitz 2000 a year later, the anticipation I felt toward owning the original just wasn't there. It was more of a feeling of "What can they do to possibly make it better?" After playing this second outing of the franchise, the answer screams back at me as a simple "not much."

There have been attempts to upgrade the original, but none of them offer improvements worthy enough to replace it in your library of games. New four-player mode is nice, but how many people actually have the means (i.e., Multi-Tap and two extra controllers) to take advantage of it on their PlayStation? We also have the opportunity to audible at the line and specify which receiver we want to throw to by holding down the L2 button. I never felt the need to do either. And, of course, we get the new teams and rosters for 1999. But unless you're from Cleveland or prefer the name "Titans" to "Oilers," it's hardly anything to get excited about.

If there's one new feature that I actually found useful, it was something noticeably absent from the original version for any fan of NBA Jam -- the "on fire" mode. After you sack the quarterback twice or complete three consecutive passes to a single player, your whole team -- not just one player -- is on fire, meaning that they have unlimited Turbo meters and their overall performance improves greatly. Destroying your competition while scorching heat emits from the ball every time you touch it is just plain fun. But it's still not enough for me to recommend NFL Blitz 2000 over the original.

In some ways, the game plays a little bit too much like its predecessor as well. Sure, phrases like "That was uncalled for -- but a lot of fun to watch!" are great, but you'd think that they could think up some that we hadn't heard before. While we do get a few new phrases, they just don't have much magic to them (e.g., "Now he knows what grass tastes like").

But you know what? Despite its lack of original content, NFL Blitz 2000 is still one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences -- sports-related or otherwise -- that you'll have on your PlayStation. If you didn't buy the original (or worse, didn't even play it), by all means do pick this one up. (Or at least get the first installment at its new lower price.) ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide

Review: Graphics

The visuals look just like the previous year's (1998) with the occasional (and please do note the word "occasional") new move thrown in. ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide

Review: Sound

The pounding hits sound great, especially if you've got surround sound. ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide

Review: Replay Value

You can always come back to this game. ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide

Review: Documentation

A thorough instruction booklet. ~ Christopher Michael Baker, All Game Guide