Games for Lunch: Blitz: The League II
In a nutshell: FUMBLE!
2/19/2009 6:00 PM | 2 Comments | Page 1 of 4
Developer: Midway
Publisher: Midway
Release Date: Oct. 13, 2008
Systems: Xbox 360 (reviewed), PS3
ESRB Rating: M
Official Web site
0:00 I was a huge Blitz fan back in high school, but haven't touched the series since
NFL Blitz 2000, and I've heard the series has changed quite a bit since then. The Crispy game room has an unopened copy, though, so I figure it's worth checking out.
0:01 I'm not counting the literally FIVE MINUTES it took to open the shrink wrap on this game in the running count. What is wrong with me today?
0:02 A quick downloaded update, some animated logos and some loading and then some truly awful rap plays over the menu screen. The Campaign option is kind of intriguing, but this is the type of game that was always meant for "Quick Play," which is what I choose to start with.
0:04 The Philadelphia Brawlers? The Houston Riders? The New York Nightmare? What the hell is this? I guess I forgot that the game no longer has the NFL license ... I go with the Washington Redhawks, which is surprisingly less offensive than Washington's real team name.
0:05 "You think you know how to play football? If you don't know how to use Clash, you don't know a thing!" says a voiceover for a video tutorial. Basically, holding the left trigger and tapping a button does super-cool moves like jukes, perfect catches and "dirty hits" in super-slow motion. This drains your clash meter, which gets built up by other good plays. You can also earn "Clash Icons" for big moves and build up an "Unleashed Meter" for a one-time ultra-mega-super-duper move.
0:07 This minute spent reading about Clayton Wescott, the Redhawks quarterback, during a loading screen. They made a whole fake history for the guy. Impressive!
0:08 "Good evening everyone," says the announcer. "Well, there was no rain in the forecast, but I guess even a weatherman can be wrong occasionally." Uh, weathermen are wrong all the time. Was that supposed to be sarcastic? Because it sure didn't sound it...
0:09 I totally botched the kickoff because I didn't pick up on the on-screen cues for button presses in time. It's OK, though ... I immediately force a fumble and pick up the ball on the opposing 30-yard line. YEAH! I am AWESOME!
0:10 The first play from scrimmage is an easy pass for 26 yards, short of the 30 you need for a first down (appropriate, since one step is approximately 3 yards in this game.) So far it feels very familiar, with similar controls and rhythms to the old Blitz, and a much shinier look.
0:11 A quarterback sneak on my second play leads to a quick fumble, which Houston recovers on their own 4-yard line. Man, I hope these fumbles slow down a bit...
0:12 After scoring a "late hit" on defense (totally encouraged in this game), the screen tells me to tap A for a "beat down." I do just that, making my guy kick the downed runner repeatedly IN THE FACE. No wonder the NFL didn't want to be associated with this game...
0:13 After a few missed tackles on the quarterback, I intercept a long pass that was just hanging there. For those keeping track, that's three turnovers on four plays from scrimmage.
