NFL Blitz
| Company type | Video game franchise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Midway Games |
| Products | NFL Blitz series, Blitz: The League series, Kurt Warner's Arena Football Unleashed |
| Parent | Midway Games (original), Electronic Arts (current) |
NFL Blitz is a collection of American football-inspired video games initially launched by Midway, showcasing teams from the National Football League (NFL). The franchise debuted in 1997 with the arcade title NFL Blitz, which was subsequently adapted for home gaming consoles and led to numerous sequels. Unlike authentic football simulators like Madden NFL or NFL 2K, the Blitz franchise delivers a highly stylized, exaggerated take on the sport, drawing influence from Midway’s NBA Jam basketball series.
Following Electronic Arts obtaining exclusive NFL video game rights in 2005, Midway revamped the franchise under the name Blitz: The League. This iteration introduced fictional teams and players, emphasizing off-field narratives while incorporating somewhat more realistic gameplay mechanics.
After Midway ceased operations, EA Sports took ownership of the Blitz intellectual property and revived the series with a 2012 release on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, simply titled NFL Blitz. This version returned to the arcade-style roots but eliminated late hits in compliance with NFL regulations. The 2022 reissue by Arcade1Up of earlier titles also excluded late hits along with certain tackling moves.
Gameplay
The Blitz games adhere broadly to standard American football rules, but introduce significant alterations designed to accelerate gameplay and increase physicality. Initial editions featured seven players per team rather than the NFL’s eleven, with versatile roles—wide receivers could run or throw passes, and defensive players combined coverage duties with pass rushing. The 2002 installment expanded rosters to eight players per side, while NFL Blitz Pro (2003) adopted full eleven-player teams.
Unlike official NFL rules, the game permits pass interference, late hits, flamboyant showboating, and extravagant celebrations. There are no timeouts; instead, the clock pauses after each play. Extra points are generally automatic with occasional misses; field goals and two-point attempts follow conventional rules. Game quarters are shortened to two minutes with an accelerated clock; overtime is not sudden death. First downs require advancing 30 yards instead of the usual ten. Signature moves such as "Da Bomb" allow quarterbacks to launch deep passes, while defenders can perform remarkable jumps and dives to intercept or halt plays.
A hallmark of the series is its distinctive animations: defensive tackles are dramatized with moves resembling professional wrestling maneuvers like the German suplex, elbow drop, and leg drop, often executed after the whistle.[1] To maintain competitive balance, teams leading in score receive kickoffs from deeper in their territory and face increased likelihoods of turnovers such as fumbles or interceptions.
Over time, the NFL exerted pressure on Midway to moderate violent and exaggerated content. Subsequent editions curtailed excessive celebrations and late hits, shifting closer toward simulation-style gameplay.[2] Nevertheless, the franchise preserved its exaggerated tone featuring humorously censored profanity. Additionally, characters from Midway's Mortal Kombat franchise—like Raiden and Shinnok—were included as unlockable extras in certain versions.
Development
Midway Games was responsible for creating the game, with lead artist Sal DiVita and lead programmer Mark Turmell spearheading the development team.
Initially, the NFL showed minimal interest until shortly before the game's release. After a scrimmage demonstration, league officials raised concerns about the game's violent content and proposed reimbursing Midway for the licensing fee. Determined to maintain the NFL's endorsement, Midway agreed to tone down the graphic violence and reduce instances of "late hits."
Games
Beginning in 1997, Midway launched new installments in the series on an annual basis. Nevertheless, following the poor commercial performance of the more simulation-oriented Blitz Pro, no Blitz titles were released in 2004.
Once Midway lost the NFL license to Electronic Arts, it brought back the original Blitz gameplay style with 2005's Blitz: The League. This edition amplified both celebrations and violent elements beyond what was allowed by the NFL, featuring fictional teams such as the New York Nightmare and Minnesota Reapers. While current NFL players were not included, retired legends Lawrence Taylor and Bill Romanowski provided voice work and promotional support. The game incorporated mature themes like anabolic steroid use and player "juicing," along with a comprehensive story mode developed in collaboration with a writer from ESPN's Playmakers. Due to its adult content, The League earned an ESRB rating of "Mature"—making it the only professional football video game with this classification—and was prohibited in Australia. Its follow-up, Blitz: The League II, debuted on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in October 2008.
After Midway declared bankruptcy in 2009, EA Sports—publisher of the dominant NFL simulation franchise Madden NFL and exclusive rights holder for NFL video games—acquired the NFL Blitz intellectual property. On October 19, 2011, EA Sports revealed via Electronic Gaming Monthly that the series would be revived, marketing the new release as an arcade-style alternative to Madden's simulation approach. This announcement led to the 2012 launch of a title simply named NFL Blitz.
In addition to the main series, Midway released a spinoff in 2000 based on the Arena Football League, called Kurt Warner's Arena Football Unleashed, exclusively for PlayStation.
Installments
| Title | Release | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| NFL Blitz | 1997 (arcade), 1998 (home) | Arcade, Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64, PlayStation |
| NFL Blitz '99 | 1998 | Arcade |
| NFL Blitz 2000 (home version of Blitz '99) | 1999 | Dreamcast, Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64, PlayStation |
| NFL Blitz 2000 Gold Edition | 1999 | Arcade |
| NFL Blitz 2001 (home port of Blitz 2000 Gold) | 2000 | Dreamcast, Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, PlayStation |
| NFL Blitz Special Edition | 2001 | Nintendo 64 |
| NFL Blitz 2002 | 2001 | Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox |
| NFL Blitz 2003 | 2002 | Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox |
| NFL Blitz Pro | 2003 | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox |
| Blitz: The League | 2005 | PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360 |
| Blitz: The League II | 2008 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
| NFL Blitz | 2012 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
Spinoffs
| Title | Release Year | Available Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Kurt Warner's Arena Football Unleashed | 2000 | PlayStation |
Reception
Blitz: The League received mostly favorable reviews from critics. On Gamerankings.com, the PlayStation 2 edition earned a 75% rating, while the Xbox version achieved a 77% score. Additionally, GameSpot.com awarded both editions an 8.6 out of 10.