Man, isn't the football market crowded enough as it is? We've got the almighty Madden NFL 2004 eating away at the popularity charts, with all the hunger and knowledge of Madden himself; we have the innovative and great-playing ESPN NFL Football from Sega, which is quickly nipping on Madden's enormous heels; and we have NFL GameDay 2004, Sony's latest entry in the series that continues to fall so far behind, thanks to the horribly lacking 2001 entry a few years ago. Oh, and I forgot Blitz. Blitz however, worked on a completely different level than sim games, as it offered the kind of arcade gameplay that defined plenty of humorous antics and a non-serious attitude. Blitz was fine the way it was, but Midway was ready to adapt.

Enter NFL Blitz Pro, the rebirth of their long-running arcade football series. The game remains as violent and gut-busting as ever, with the kind of tackles that make you want to cry for your mother, but it's also got a ton of simulation attributes added to the formula. No longer are you running for first and thirty, it's now first and ten. There are more players on the field to match the required twelve. There are real plays, more challenging AI (more on that in a minute), and the kind of atmosphere that gives you the feeling this is new, but strangely enough, it really isn't.

NHL Hitz Pro, which came out last month, worked because it somehow got the blend of simulation and arcade down smoothly, with very few nags to really get in the way. Here, the formula works for the most part, but the game isn't really as well-oiled a machine as its hockey brethren.

First off, I have real problems with the game's artificial intelligence. Sure, I can understand how you should be challenged in a football game, but things are just off here. The defense overworks in spots, intercepting you or causing dropped passes more often than not. The running game works smoothly, but again, they can eat you alive if you're not careful. Now, on the other side, you have the play calling, which is in need of a bit of improvement. You can easily get away on the same play four times if you know your areas. If you don't, it's no big deal, and the game plays fine.

Blitz looks the part, with the kind of presentation that really comes through for football fans. Good animation, fast-moving graphics, and the kind of atmosphere, complete with lovely modeled cheerleaders, that makes you appreciate the look of football. There are certainly no problems here. There's also something to be mentioned with the commentary, which is a bit cornball but hilarious nonetheless. Think Slugfest's kind of comments and you'll get the idea of what to expect.

NFL Blitz Pro also includes a Franchise mode, which is a nice addition but isn't nearly as complicated as the modes featured in Madden and ESPN. There's still trading and creating to do aplenty, but the lack of finer details may frustrate some looking to be sticklers about their teams. If that doesn't do you good, you can always go online with the game via the PS2 network (which is pretty good, only a few lags here and there), or go scavenging for bonus modes (Butterfingaz!) and hidden goodies, which you can score with the cash you earn.

I still can't shake the feeling that the game could have been fantastic with just a few minor fixes here and there. Some thinking on the part of A.I. and graphic touch-ups would have shot this one into the stratosphere and made it a competitor along the lines of ESPN and Madden. As is, NFL Blitz Pro still comes recommended, and surprised me for being the positive effort it has become overall. Besides, what other game gives you the out and out pleasure of nailing an offensive player in the end zone while he's doing one of those stupid victory dances? That guilty pleasure alone should warrant a good look.