NFL Blitz 2003
Score: 55% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Midway Sports Developer: Outlook Entertainment Media: 1/0 Players: 1 - 2 Genre: Sports
Graphics & Sound: In its PC and console incarnations, NFL Blitz utilizes some extremely detailed graphics, creating a football game that is mesmerizing and realistic. Unfortunately, that level of success has not yet hit Blitz's portable versions. Keep in mind, the Game Boy Advance's capabilities are light years away from the matching the abilities of the Game Cube, and many games currently available have been known to mimic that of the Super Nintendo. Nevertheless, NFL Blitz 2003's visuals mimic football games similar to the original 8-bit Nintendo entertainment system (NES). In other versions of Blitz, character faces are recognizable and move athletically. Here, large amounts of pixelation in characters and poor action animation take realism and transforms it into a troubled collection of stick figures running around a green field. Some obvious attempts to recreate the feel of the PC version are noticeable, such as the use of 360-degree cameras for interceptions, sacks, and kickoffs. These are pleasant to watch, but the troubled character graphics sadly diminish this feature's presence. Catch phrases and clich-driven audio swamps the sound throughout NFL Blitz 2003. A stereotypical sports 'theme' plays in the background of the main menu and playbook menus. Players shout numerous phrases, as they are complete downs. Sadly these phrases are often rhetorical, and repeat themselves constantly. In fact, within one single set of downs, the phrase 'We're losin' it out here' was heard every time the play was halted. Surely, football players must be capable of thinking more than one phrase, but in NFL Blitz 2003 there seems to be a shortage on turf driven conversation.
Gameplay: People not familiar with NFL Blitz will first recognize the different style of football Blitz utilizes in respect to rules, brutality, and pace. Blitz throws out all the common NFL rules and replaces them with the ability to play irresponsibly and freely. Most notable is Blitz's feature for post-play bashing between players. You can literally beat on an opponent after a play has finished. Blitz is a nice mesh of NFL, hockey, and the XFL done right. Plays in NFL Blitz 2003 are initiated through the same basic playbook options in other football games. Blitz offers a nice selection of plays, and for the most part, team members initiate these plays with precision. All downs are based on thirty-yard gains instead of ten, and policies relating to roughness or general good sportsmanship are simply thrown out the window. A cavalry of modes are available in Blitz 2003. Obviously Exhibition and Season Play come standard in Blitz. Exhibition allows you to play on game as any team and against any team in the NFL, where Season Play pits your chosen team against other teams in a nine 'week' game season. To help train for games, Blitz allows practice in single down plays, and field goal kicks. The playbook is also available for study. Players can also link up against their friends in Exhibition mode. As an added feature, NFL Blitz 2003 includes a trivia game. This game poses football related questions and is divided into four 'quarters', or rounds of three questions. All of the questions, however, involve events that occurred specifically in the 2001 season. There is not a large range of questions, and repetition occurs frequently.
Difficulty: Given the wide range of plays allotted in Blitz 2003, one would suppose that opponents could react to the different strategies and styles of play. Sadly, the entire game could be played and won using the same exact play every single time. Which play does not matter. Simply choose one, run into the clear zone and pass the ball. When in defense, just try to get to the person holding the ball. Generally, opponents barely make it through all four downs before managing a turnover. The ratings meters associated with each team's skills seem to be useless as well. Choosing a team with the lowest passing ability yielded a perfect 30-yard pass on the first throw of the game. Furthermore, Blitz comes with three different settings for difficulty. However the differences are minute and seldom change the outcome of any game. I noticed an influx in opponent interceptions and speed, but still managed to regain control, prompting victory numerous times.
Game Mechanics: Blitz does not require much skill at all. In offence, you operate the possessor of the ball. Once the ball has left the air, operation reverts to the intended receiver of the ball. In defense, control is given to the player of choice. Switching players or intended receivers can be done effortlessly by pressing the 'B' button. All other commands come rather easily during the progress of the game. In the practice selection of the main menu, a 'tips' feature gives hints at proper exectution of moves and tactics. These tips basically provide an overview of each key as related to the progress of the game. The password based saving option works wonderfully if Blitz is shared between multiple gamers or if you wish to play multiple seasons at the same time. Simply enter the correct password and you will resume the game where you left off. Another password also exists, which apparently unlocks special features in the game. This combination-based password is entered at the team selection screen and does not notify a match or mismatch to combination. NFL Blitz has gained in popularity over the last few years as a successful approach to football in video games. Unfortunately, the original gameplay and decent mechanics of the series is not enough to make up for this version's poor attention to certain details. If you are seeking a die-hard replication of the arcade and console series in a portable version, this is not quite it. The unique aspects of the Blitz lineage are definitely present, but the thick mask of problems and issues hide much of NFL Blitz 2003's individual worth.
-==Boy, GameVortex Communications AKA Kyle Prestenback
FIM Speedway Chessmaster