NFL Blitz
Developer(s)Midway Games
Midway Studios San Diego (PlayStation)
Digital Eclipse (GBC)
Publisher(s)Midway Games
SeriesNFL Blitz
Platform(s)Arcade, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Color
ReleaseArcade
  • NA: November 1997
Nintendo 64, PlayStation
Windows
Game Boy Color
  • NA: December 1998
  • EU: 1998
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemMidway Seattle Hardware

NFL Blitz is an American football video game developed and published by Midway Games for the arcade in 1997, the first game in the NFL Blitz series. The development team was headed by Mark Turmell and Sal Divita, who were known for being behind NBA Jam, and NFL Blitz was a deliberate attempt to translate the exaggerated arcade-style approach of NBA Jam to the football realm. The game was ported to the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Windows, and Game Boy Color in 1998. The cover athlete for the game was then Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart.

Gameplay

NFL Blitz is based on seven-on-seven-man American football teams.[4] It also diverges from traditional rules of American football in that there are no penalties, no substitutions, and players can perform illegal attacks on each other such as dropkicks.[5]

The game features a full NFL license, with players and teams from the 1997 season.[6]

Development

The game was in development for two years.[7] The game was developed by a team led by Mark Turmell and Sal Divita, who wanted to "do for the NFL franchise what we did for the NBA franchise [with NBA Jam]" in Turmell's words.[5] In particular, they wanted to create a football game which allows the players to get to the action more quickly than other football games, which they found tended to bog the player down in the play-select screen and other setup menus.[5]

The arcade board is called the Seattle System, which is based on a 3Dfx chipset.[5]

According to Divita, the team decided to make the game support just two players instead of four "because in a football game, there just isn't enough gameplay between the quarterback and the receiver to make it fun. It's not like NBA Jam, where teamwork can really be a factor."[5] The game had a marketing budget of $8 million.[8]

Reception

The Nintendo 64 and PlayStation versions received universal acclaim, while the PC version received favorable reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[9][10][11] Next Generation said in its June 1998 issue that the arcade version "provides an unrealistic but adrenaline-packed experience."[4] The same magazine later said of the PlayStation version in its November 1998 issue, "The only real knock we have on Blitz is that, like the arcade version, the lack of play variety can get stale after a while, especially in single-player mode. Despite that one problem, Blitz offers the most intense game of football you're likely to find at home and makes a worthy purchase."[33] GameFan gave the N64 version a positive review.[20] Computer Games Strategy Plus gave the PC version four stars out of five and said, "After yet another late hit, you're sure to nod in approval when the announcer says, 'That was totally uncalled for, but awfully fun to watch.'"[39] N64 Magazine gave the N64 version 87%.[32] Kevin Cheung of Hyper gave the same console version 83% and stated, "The bottom line is that Blitz is the most offensively oriented football game around, with enough punishment that guarantees pleasure for the masses. Even though it has nowhere near the depth, control, or strategy of Madden or QB Club, it is the most satisfying quick-thrill game I can imagine."[40]

Brad Cook of AllGame gave the arcade version four-and-a-half stars out of five, saying that "it's not football played according to real rules, but it's still a blast. It's more like those pick-up games you played with kids in your neighborhood way back when, when every play was a pass and you needed two completions for a first down. The only difference is that punting is an option in this game, and if you had treated your opponents as a kid the way you can treat them in this game, then you're probably reading this from prison right now."[41] Likewise, Christopher Michael Baker gave the PlayStation version four-and-a-half stars, saying that the game "should satisfy just about anyone looking for a different type of football game. If you're getting tired of the yearly rehashes that most other football games are these days, then give it a try. Besides, who need realism when you can just have lots of fun?"[42] Scott Alan Marriott gave the Nintendo 64 version four stars out of five, calling it "hands-down the system's best playing arcade game for 1998."[43] Gil Alexander Shif gave the PC version three-and-a-half stars out of five, calling it "a simplistic, unrealistic football game that's good at what it does. I detected little or no buggy code and my dissatisfaction from the lack of options was generally offset by the 'turbo' button on my game pad which I pressed and pressed with reckless abandon."[44]

NFL Blitz was "Arcade Game of the Year" at Electronic Gaming Monthly's 1997 Editors' Choice Awards.[45] The PC version won the award for "Best Sports Game of the Year" at IGN's Best of 1998 Awards,[46] and was nominated for the "Sports Game of the Year" award at GameSpot's Best & Worst of 1998 Awards, which ultimately went to FIFA 99.[47] The Nintendo 64 version was a nominee for the AIAS' "Console Sports Game of the Year" award, which was ultimately given to 1080° Snowboarding;[48] it was also nominated for Best Nintendo 64 Game at the 1998 CNET Gamecenter Awards, which ultimately went to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.[49] The PlayStation version won the award for "Most Unrealistic Sports Game" at the 1998 OPM Editors' Awards, and was nominated for the "Best Sports Game", "Best Arcade Conversion", and "Best Multiplayer Game" awards, all of which went to Hot Shots Golf, Tekken 3, and Devil Dice, respectively.[50][51]

Notes

  1. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the Nintendo 64 version, three critics gave it each a score of 9/10, and the other one gave it 9.5/10.
  2. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the PlayStation version, three critics gave it each a score of 8.5/10, and one gave it 9/10.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version two 5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, and two 4.5/5 scores for sound and control.
  4. ↑ GamePro gave the PC version 4.5/5 for graphics, 5/5 for sound, and 3.5/5 for control and fun factor.
  5. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 5/5 scores for graphics and sound, 3.5/5 for control, and 4/5 for fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ "GameSpot: News: Archive". 2002-05-21. Archived from the original on 2002-05-21. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  2. ↑ "NFL Blitz Ships". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  3. ↑ Ocampo, Jason (August 27, 1998). "NFL Blitz for PC in October". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on May 23, 2003. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "NFL Blitz". Next Generation. No. 42. Imagine Media. June 1998. p. 148. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Johnny Ballgame (September 1997). "Hot at the Arcades: NFL Blitz". GamePro. No. 108. IDG. pp. 80–81. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  6. ↑ "NFL Blitz". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 100. Ziff Davis. November 1997. p. 90.
  7. ↑ "NFL Blitz Interview". sports-gaming.com. June 11, 1998. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  8. ↑ IGN Staff (September 11, 1998). "Midway Hypes NFL Blitz". IGN. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  9. 1 2 "NFL Blitz for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  10. 1 2 "NFL Blitz for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "NFL Blitz for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  12. 1 2 Brumley, Doug (October 27, 1998). "NFL Blitz (N64, PS)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  13. ↑ Todd, Brett (March 1999). "Blood Bowl (NFL Blitz Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 176. Ziff Davis. pp. 186–87. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  14. ↑ Hsu, Dan; Ricciardi, John; Boyer, Crispin; Williams, Ken "Sushi-X" (October 1998). "NFL Blitz (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 111. Ziff Davis. p. 259. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  15. ↑ Williams, Ken "Sushi-X"; Hsu, Dan; Boyer, Crispin; Ricciardi, John (October 1998). "NFL Blitz (PS)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 111. Ziff Davis. p. 263. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  16. ↑ "NFL Blitz (GBC)". Game Informer. No. 72. FuncoLand. April 1999.
  17. ↑ Storm, Jon; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (October 1998). "NFL Blitz (N64)". Game Informer. No. 66. FuncoLand. p. 34. Archived from the original on September 9, 1999. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  18. ↑ "NFL Blitz (PC)". Game Informer. No. 68. FuncoLand. December 1998.
  19. ↑ "NFL Blitz (PS)". Game Informer. No. 66. FuncoLand. October 1998. p. 68. Archived from the original on September 13, 1999. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  20. 1 2 "REVIEW for NFL Blitz". GameFan. Metropolis Media. July 22, 1998.
  21. ↑ Dan Elektro (October 1998). "NFL Blitz Hits Home Hard on Nintendo 64". GamePro. No. 121. IDG. p. 180. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  22. ↑ Knibbe, Willem (1999). "NFL Blitz Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on December 11, 2004. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  23. ↑ Boba Fatt (November 1998). "Caught Between Superstardom and 2nd String [author mislabeled as "Air Hendrix"]" (PDF). GamePro. No. 122. IDG. p. 196. Archived from the original on December 16, 2004. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  24. ↑ Dr. Moo (October 1998). "NFL Blitz Review (N64)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  25. ↑ Dr. Moo (October 1998). "NFL Blitz - PSX Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on February 6, 2004. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  26. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (September 16, 1998). "NFL Blitz Review (N64) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  27. ↑ Broady, Vince (October 7, 1998). "NFL Blitz Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  28. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (September 16, 1998). "NFL Blitz Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  29. ↑ Casamassina, Matt (September 11, 1998). "NFL Blitz (N64)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  30. ↑ Bates, Jason (October 6, 1998). "NFL Blitz (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  31. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (September 11, 1998). "NFL Blitz (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  32. 1 2 "NFL Blitz [Import]". N64 Magazine. No. 22. Future Publishing. December 1998.
  33. 1 2 "NFL Blitz (PS)". Next Generation. No. 47. Imagine Media. November 1998. p. 146. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  34. ↑ "[NFL] Blitz (GBC)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 115. Nintendo of America. December 1998. p. 134.
  35. ↑ "[NFL] Blitz (N64)". Nintendo Power. No. 112. Nintendo of America. September 1998. p. 102. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  36. ↑ "NFL Blitz". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 1. Ziff Davis. October 1998.
  37. ↑ PCA staff (January 1999). "NFL Blitz". PC Accelerator. No. 5. Imagine Media. p. 103. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  38. ↑ "NFL Blitz". PC Gamer. Imagine Media. 1999.
  39. ↑ Bauman, Steve (November 24, 1998). "NFL Blitz". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on May 23, 2003. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  40. ↑ "NFL Blitz (N64)". Hyper. No. 61. Next Media Pty Ltd. November 1998. p. 56. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  41. ↑ Cook, Brad. "NFL Blitz (ARC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  42. ↑ Baker, Christopher Michael. "NFL Blitz (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  43. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "NFL Blitz (N64) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  44. ↑ Shif, Gil Alexander. "NFL Blitz (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  45. ↑ "Editors' Choice Awards". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 104. Ziff Davis. March 1998. p. 87.
  46. ↑ IGN staff (January 29, 1999). "IGNPC's Best of 1998 Awards". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 27, 1999. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  47. ↑ GameSpot staff (1999). "The Best & Worst of 1998 (Sports Game of the Year - Nominees)". GameSpot. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 1, 2000. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  48. ↑ "Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Console". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on October 11, 1999. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  49. ↑ Gamecenter staff (January 29, 1999). "The CNET Gamecenter.com Awards for 1998! (Nintendo 64 Nominees 2)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  50. ↑ "1998 OPM Editors' Awards (Best Sports Game; Most Unrealistic Sports Game)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 5. Ziff Davis. February 1999. pp. 94–95. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  51. ↑ "1998 OPM Editors' Awards (Best Arcade Conversion; Best Multiplayer Game)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 5. Ziff Davis. February 1999. pp. 97–98. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
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