NFL Blitz 2000

Midway Games

Industry	Video games
Headquarters	United States
Products	NFL Blitz 2000

NFL Blitz 2000 is a video game released in 1999, originally launched in arcades before being adapted for PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Windows, and Game Boy Color. It represents the third entry in the NFL Blitz franchise.

Development

The Dreamcast version was announced in December 1998 and later presented at E3 1999, illustrating Midway Games' deliberate effort to broaden their audience by targeting multiple gaming systems.

Reception

The Nintendo 64 edition garnered "favorable" feedback on the review aggregator Metacritic. Hugh Norton-Smith from Hyper awarded it a 91% score, describing it as a "5-star title deserving of any player's investment." Steve Bauman of Computer Games Strategy Plus rated the PC version four out of five stars, highlighting its engaging nature despite cautioning about its intense gameplay. Michael Lafferty from GameZone gave the PC release a 6.9/10 rating, referring to it as "an enjoyable break from titles aimed at hardcore enthusiasts." Tom Russo of Next Generation found the Dreamcast adaptation quick and entertaining, though he remarked it lacked the depth found in Sega's NFL 2K.

Christopher Michael Baker from AllGame assigned four stars to the PlayStation version, calling it one of the most entertaining experiences on that platform despite minimal new features. Anthony Baize rated the Nintendo 64 version three-and-a-half stars, pointing out its limited enhancements over the original and suggesting it mainly attracted players interested in updated team rosters. Scott Alan Marriott gave the Dreamcast edition three stars, emphasizing its rapid gameplay and strong multiplayer options while noting a deficiency in complexity. In contrast, Brad Cook rated the PC version two stars, criticizing it as a faithful yet uninspired arcade conversion that demanded high system requirements; he also rated the Game Boy Color release one-and-a-half stars, arguing it was poorly suited for handheld play.

Scary Larry of GamePro praised the Dreamcast version as a significant upgrade and essential for Dreamcast owners, though he admitted that NFL 2K provided a more authentic football experience. Boba Fatt commended the Nintendo 64 edition for its chaotic multiplayer action despite limited single-player longevity and observed that the PlayStation version was best enjoyed with others due to AI shortcomings. Additionally, Scary Larry described the Nintendo 64 iteration as perfect for fans of arcade-style sports games like NBA Hangtime, labeling the PlayStation release a "season ticket to fun." Overall, critiques highlighted robust multiplayer excitement and fast-paced gameplay across all platforms while noting some shortcomings in depth and solo play modes.