When Blitz the League arrived on the Xbox and PlayStation 2 last year, it delivered a new take on football games, one that displayed drug use, sex and on the field shenanigans. A year later, Midway put itself in an ideal situation, being given the chance to trump Electronic Arts' best-selling Madden NFL 07 with a stronger version of Blitz. Unfortunately, Blitz the League on the Xbox 360 gets drilled in its own end zone.
Blitz the League is little more than a glorified port of last year's effort, with very little content to recommend paying $50 again (especially when the previous edition currently sells for $20).
The storyline follows the vicious owner of a fictitious football team rearranging the club from scratch after a horrendous loss and promising a championship to the town mayor. Former New York Giants defenseman Lawrence Taylor reprises his role as arrogant player Quentin Davis. (His power play is the reason the owner's team suffers such a horrendous loss.) Midway also enlists former Oakland Raider Bill Romanowski. Unfortunately, his presence isn't nearly as well received, mainly because his past with the NFL is even rockier -- and more tasteless -- than Taylor's.
Blitz involves fast-paced arcade-style gameplay, with long passes being fired off and World Wrestling Entertainment sized tackles, No holds are barred on this field, and players can even resort to taking an opponent's helmet and smacking him in the head with it. It sounds very appealing, but Midway missed the opportunity to include new moves. The story mode is worth a try, but those who have experienced it already know exactly what kind of moral decisions they have to make. Worse yet, the computer opponent has unreliable behavior. One moment, it whiffs a simple three-pointer; the next, it makes an incredible interception that would make Terrell Owens' eyes bulge.
The presentation hasn't changed that much over the previous game. Midway settled on light graphical upgrades. The players animate moderately well, and some of the FHM photo layouts (girls in bikinis) are a pleasure on the eyes.. The audio is acceptable, with players shouting out expletive-filled insults, but it too gets old quick.
At least Blitz has some positives. For those who never played it before, the game provides a few hours of wild plays. Xbox Live play works quite well, allowing players to hop into quick matches to see who dominates the field. Finally, for those who love improving their Gamerscore, there are over forty-plus Achievements to find, including some well-hidden ones,but be warned -- a lot of repetitive play has to be endured to locate most of them.
Blitz the League's best days are behind it, sadly. Its gameplay and story mode haven't changed, and the minimal extras don't justify a purchase. At best, it offers a weekend's worth of fun.
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