Remasters are a great opportunity for today's gamers to experience the classics, and NFL Blitz Legends is a prime example. After revamping the defunct franchise, Arcade1Up's efforts shouldn't be relegated to only arcade cabinets. The remasters deserve a modern console release so that a larger collection of fans can dive into the wild, over-the-top gameplay that made NFL Blitz so beloved.
The NFL Blitz Legends lineup features three different versions of the game: the original 1997 arcade release NFL Blitz, NFL Blitz '99, and NFL Blitz 2000 Gold Edition. All three were first released as arcade-only machines, with NFL Blitz and NFL Blitz '99 poised for releases on consoles after their arcade debuts. Arcade1Up is shipping its new cabinets as of mid-October, but once stock begins to run dry there it would make sense for the games to have more accessible releases.
NFL Blitz Legends Keeps the Classic Franchise Alive
During its run from 1997 to 2006, the NFL Blitz series by Midway Games - of Mortal Kombat and Rampage fame - offered players a fun, arcade-style experience modeled off NBA Jam's take on professional basketball. NFL Blitz incorporated real teams and players in the league, but using a more cartoonish atmosphere complete with ridiculous showboating, flaming footballs, and violent takedowns akin to WWE finishing moves. After Midway folded in 2009, EA Sports picked up the rights and published NFL Blitz in 2012, marking the current end of the series.
In many respects, Arcade1Up's new rendition of NFL Blitz is a fusion of the old and the new. By grabbing a 49-way joystick, players can return to a time when football was laid-back fun, more campy than the simulation-style gameplay that typifies its Madden counterparts. With Arcade1Up's adding online ranking and matchmaking, NFL Blitz gets a second wind that offers hours of gameplay. The result is an experience that isn't just riding old-school arcade nostalgia; Arcade1Up's creation is a competitive experience with long-term value.
While online matchmaking may veer closer to Madden, it also illustrates what makes NFL Blitz Legends distinct, and why console players need other options for pro-football games than EA Sports' monopolistic franchise. Many feel EA Sports' exclusive rights to NFL games has produced stale, uninspired Madden products more concerned with yearly roster updates and pay-to-play additions like Madden Ultimate Team than with crafting a compelling football simulator.
One criticism leveled at Madden is that it tries to be both an arcade game and simulation football, ultimately failing to accomplish either. By comparison, NFL Blitz knows exactly what it is: an enthusiastic, over-the-top football game where the rules take a back seat to the joy of beating the other team into submission with a well-timed suplex.
While the NFL Blitz Legends games were well received, there is a notable lack of violent tackles and late-hits that were common in the franchise during its original 1997-to-2006 run. Arcade1Up's renditions lack these elements, just as the 2012 NFL Blitz did per the league's request, and online criticism often centers around a lack of cartoonish violence. If NFL Blitz remasters are going to forge a new path without the violence of their predecessors, they need a wider canvas than arcade cabinets can offer.
The NFL Blitz Legends arcade cabinet is available now through Arcade1Up.