Flawed `Blitz 2001' still fun
MATT ORENCHUK
Scene Video Game Reviewer
The old saying goes that if it ain't broke, then don't fix it. Well, maybe the good people at Midway should have remembered that when they came out with "NFL Blitz 2001" for the Playstation.
It is not that "Blitz 2001" is a bad game. But the problem is that it doesn't improve on "Blitz 2000," and in some areas, "2001" is actually a worse game than the original.
Let's start by looking at what is really bad about "NFL Blitz 2001." The most impressive thing about a game when you play it for the first time is the graphics. This is an area where "Blitz 2001" fails miserably.
The players look pixelized. The grass on the playing field is a putrid green color. The logos and names on jerseys aren't clear.
The gameplay is another area that doesn't improve from "NFL Blitz 2000." The Playstation controller is hard to master. This is especially a problem with kickoff returns. When returning a kickoff, it is essential to be able to make razor-sharp jukes and turns.
When playing with "Blitz 2001," it is hard to feel like you are slipping by someone. Instead it feels more like you are going straight ahead, and the defender may tackle you, maybe not. That isn't the way a game like "Blitz 2001" should play. The whole premise of the game is high-powered offense. Thus, the controls need to be precise in order for you to be able to run by your opponent.
One thing that should be mentioned is that "NFL Blitz 2001" is a much better game on Nintendo 64. The gameplay is much sharper, and the players and animations are crisper.
This is not to say that "NFL Blitz 2001" isn't a solid football game on the Playstation. It is a great deal of fun to play, especially if you are competitive with your friends when it comes to video games — the kind of player who spends many a late night sitting around the TV, hoping for one last score to defeat the evil opponent.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one area that makes "NFL Blitz 2001" a lot of fun to play. The AI allows for the weakest of players to take on the greatest player ever.
Basically, the AI will stay off if a game is closely contested. But if one player starts to pull ahead, then the AI kicks in, making it easier for the behind team to score, while making it harder for the winning team to score.
This makes "Blitz 2001" a fun game for everyone to enjoy. The Artificial Intelligence means that every game will probably go down to the fourth quarter, and that someone will have to make a big play to win. This is a staple of "Blitz 2001," and is the reason why the game is so popular.
"NFL Blitz 2001" is not a bad game, but the bottom line is this: if you don't own it, then you need to go pick it up. "Blitz 2001" is in the same must-have category as "Bond" and "Mario Cart." It is a fun game that brings out the competitiveness in everyone.
However, if you already own an earlier copy of "Blitz," then there is no need to go out and pick up this game. The only thing that this new version could possibly offer is an updated roster.
If you desperately need to play with Kurt Warner and the Rams, then go right ahead. But for $49.99, you'd be better off to save your money and play an older version of "NFL Blitz."
All Scene Stories for Wednesday, October 25, 2000
