Gaming Target - Dreamcast: NFL Blitz 2000

Written by Mark Timbs on June 22, 2000

Review: Midway bring the beast out in football....even more!

Midway brings us NFL Blitz 2000, the way NFL should be played, from powerbombs to slams, break your opponents leg or just smash the hell outta him, its all here in this beefy game.

The visuals might not be as good realistic as NFL2K but they are just as clear, smooth. Especially on a VGA box. From the first kick off to the last tackle, the frame rate stays at 60, no slowdown, no matter what happens. The only problem is there is a little clipping when you go to do those fantastic, but late tackles. And the crowd? What crowd? Its just a flat bitmap. Mind you the stadiums are very big, almost life like.The ball is a little oversized, but so is the players helmets when they get knocked on the ground. It is very easy to see the players numbers and names, unlike madden games, you needed glasses to see the players.

As for the controls, they can be a mixed bag, compared to the sound. At the menu and when you type your initials in it is recommended that you use the digital pad not the analog, as it is very hard to go left to right, you usually end up going diagonal left or diagonal right. As for in game, well you can use either the Digital pad or analog, but if you want get the most outta your custom plays its recommended that you use the analog. All controls are very responsive, you press pass it passes, you press spin it spins. The only problem is that when you go to get that second, cheap tackle in, sometimes it doesn't work, for some unknown reason, other then that the controls are beautiful.

The audio is great, everything is the way it should be from the kicking of the ball to the crunch of your opponents bones, the only real let down would be the crowd effects, not much there but it is high quality none the less. The commentary is very clear as well.

Was I really satisfied with what the second round of NFL Blitz presented? Indeed, as i said it isn't a graphic marvel like NFL2k but it isn't too far behind, and the sound is also great.

This game has replay written all over it. If you have 1 to 3 other friends then this game would last you for an entire year, where as if you only have one controller it would probably only last 1 month before the novelty runs out.