Blitz: The League

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Blitz: The League

Developer(s) Midway Games
Publisher(s) Midway Games
Platform(s) PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable
Release date October 17, 2005 (PS2, Xbox)
October 30, 2006 (Xbox 360)
December 12, 2006 (PSP)
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: M
OFLC: RC
Media DVD, Universal Media Disc

Blitz: The League is an American football game by Midway as an unlicensed extension of their NFL Blitz series. Released after the NFL signed an exclusive licensing deal with Electronic Arts, it was released in October 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Lawrence Taylor, who provides voice acting for the game, serves as its official spokesman. In 2006. A second version of the game was released on the Xbox 360 in October. In December 2006, a portable version was released on the PlayStation Portable (under the title Blitz: Overtime). These versions included the voicework and likeness of former pro linebacker Bill Romanowski. The game is also set to come to the Wii[1] in 2008. It was originally intended to be a Wii launch title, but has since been delayed.[2]

On 22 January 2007, the game was refused classification[1] by the Office of Film and Literature Classification in Australia, effectively banning the game there. The game was banned as the use of drugs was related to incentives and rewards.

Contents

[edit] Changes

Since Midway Games no longer has an NFL license, Blitz: The League focuses on a fictional league consisting of 18 teams known simply as "The League"[3], whose history is written as a tongue-in-cheek parallel of the NFL's. (The League consists of 3 divisions, using a system of promotion and relegation.) The game also brings back the hard-hitting and violent gameplay of earlier Blitz games in a ramped-up manner. Former NFL star Lawrence Taylor is in the game as Quentin Sands, captain of the New York Nightmare. In the next iteration released in 2006, former NFL star Bill Romanowski joined the roster as Bruno Battaglia, the captain of the Baltimore Bearcats.

[edit] Gameplay

Blitz: The League is very similar to previous installments in the Blitz series, as it depicts a hyperviolent version of gridiron football. Like previous games in the series, first downs are awarded at 30 yards, not 10; there are eight men to a side (not 11, à la arena football); penalties and referees do not exist (although players are somehow prohibited from going offsides); and overly vicious tackles and blocking are the norm. On gaining yards, making tackles for a loss, scoring, or forcing turnovers, players are rewarded with an increased "Clash" meter. When the "Clash" meter is charged up, players may perform "dirty" stiff-arms, dodges, rush avoidance (for quarterbacks), or, most importantly, "dirty hits" on defense. Performing a "dirty" hit or stiff-arm causes opposing players to lose stamina (in essence, reducing their effectiveness) and occasionally become injured (An image of an x-ray would zoom into a specific bone and snap). After successfully performing a number of "Clash" moves (or forcing turnovers and scoring touchdowns), players can perform "Unleash" moves which are nearly unstoppable.

When an injury occurs, the player may choose to "treat" the injury normally, or "juice" the injury (inject an athlete with painkillers). "Juicing" causes an injury to be ignored, but increases the risk of more severe injuries. However some injuries are so serious (kneecap fracture, torn ACL), that juicing is not a possible option.

[edit] "Campaign Mode"

In single-player "Campaign" mode, the player is challenged to win championships in all three divisions of the fictitious League. The player begins by creating a new team, designing its uniforms and choosing a team name, then picks one of three defensive veterans and one of three offensive rookies as team captains.

The player must win seven of ten regular-season games in each division, followed by a division championship. Players need to decide on a training program for each athlete, which gradually increases the athlete's skills. Players also earn money for each game based on performance, "dirty hits" performed, etc., and can also earn additional money for "gambling" on the results of a game. With this money, players may purchase superior equipment, training facilities, and drugs (some legal, some not) that can be used to augment performance. Occasionally, players may be asked if they would like to spend money to send prostitutes to the opposing team's room before a game (an option based on the supposed real-life exploits of game spokesman Lawrence Taylor), which greatly reduces their strength on game day.

In "Campaign" mode, the player is also periodically shown cutscenes illustrating a variety of subplots involving the team. The game begins at the end of the previous season, when Quentin Sands of the New York Nightmare lands a devastating, career-ending hit on your team's star quarterback (not unlike Taylor's infamous sack of Washington Redskins QB Joe Theismann), as the team is demoted to Division 3. As the game progresses, the player learns that the veteran captain returned to the game as a result of financial troubles, while the rookie is portrayed as a naive yet talented individual whom Sands has targeted as the next player whose career he'll end on the field.

The story of "Campaign" mode was partially written by former writers of Playmakers, a controversial show on the ESPN network that was canceled due to the NFL's objections to its portrayal of professional football players.

[edit] Reception and criticism

Critical reception for Blitz: The League was mostly positive. Gamerankings.com gives the Playstation 2 release a score of 75% and the Xbox release a score of 77%.

The most common critical complaints with Blitz revolved around allegations of "rubberband AI"; that is, in single-player mode, the computer opponent becomes nearly unbeatable late in games with the human player leading. However, many critics also pointed out that "rubberband AI" is also an undocumented feature of more "legitimate" football titles such as the Madden NFL series (however, this feature can be easily disabled in Madden with the CPU AI's ability completely drained).

Blitz: The League's Lead Designer, Kraig Kujawa, said on website operationsports.com that there was actually no "rubberband AI" and that it was just people's perception based on past Blitz games that had it.

The PlayStation 2 and PSP releases of Blitz have also been criticized for their very long delays and load times.

As reported by Game Politics, the government of Australia has officially banned the game due to steroid use. The game is region free so the NTSC version of the game can be played on Australian PAL Xbox 360 consoles. [4]

[edit] Differences

  • PS2/Xbox: These two games are exactly the same as they are the initial iteration of Blitz: The League.
  • PSP: The PSP version is dubbed Blitz: Overtime and features extra unique helmet logos, new cities, & unique coordinators to choose from in team creation mode. It also features 3 exclusive All Division teams for the 3 divisions.
  • Xbox 360: Still called Blitz: The League this version features Bill Romanowski as Bruno "Brutal" Battaglia, as well as unique helmet logos and extra cities. Unlike the PSP version it features the same offensive & defensive coordinators as the original PS2 & Xbox versions. However the 360 does feature its own 3 exclusive teams representing All-West, All-East, & All-American.

[edit] Team listing & team captains

[edit] Division 1

  • New York Nightmare: Quentin Sands LB #56, voiced by Lawrence Taylor he is named after San Quentin State Prison. Despite some obvious personality defects, he is considered "the Face of the League." After winning the Division 2 championship, they are promoted to Division 1 when the game starts. They play at the Nightmare Cathedral.
  • Dallas Aztecs: Julius Williams QB #7, brother of Washington DE Jacob Williams and one of The League's best and most heavily marketed players. The reigning League MVP and the only QB in League history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Arguably based on Michael Vick or Donovan McNabb. The Aztecs are the reigning Division 1 champions when the game starts. They play at the Aztec Dome.
  • Denver Grizzlies: Kevin Donaldson DE #91, a 25-year-old former soldier who boasts of outstanding conditioning. They play at the Rocky Mountain Stadium.
  • Detroit Devils: Cookie "Game Breaker" Wallace WR #80, an outstanding kick returner who has the ability to score every time he touches the ball. Makes excuses when things don't go his way. They play at The Fire Pit.
  • New England Regulars: Vonnie Treonday CB #24, a trash talker who has a knack for getting into opponents' heads, which makes it even worse. Led the League in interceptions last year, so he backs it up on the field. They play at the Charles River Stadium.
  • Seattle Reign: Chad Longstreet DE #92, a talented veteran who's lost some strength as he's aged. Tough to outrun, and can even pick off a pass or two. Inflated ego makes him think he's better than he really is. They play at the Ranier Field.

[edit] Division 2

  • Carolina Copperheads: Grant Tanner QB #12, the Draft's #1 pick and thus, the League's premier Rookie of the Year candidate after a brilliant college career. Rumored to get happy feet under heavy defensive pressure. After winning the Division 3 championship, they are promoted to Division 2 when the game starts. They play at The Snake Pit.
  • Las Vegas Aces: Kelvin Diggs HB #34, a bombastic running back who expects 25 carries per game and goes insane if he doesn't get them. They play at the Vegas Stadium.
  • Orlando Hammerheads: Chris James FS #36. They play at The Shark Cage.
  • Minnesota Reapers: Tony Forbes HB #42, considered to be one of, if not the, best running backs in the League. He has never been injured despite taking a beating each week, creating a rumor that he has a death wish. They play at the Twin Cities Field.
  • San Diego Cyclones: Ezekiel Freeman CB #23, an ultra-religious individual who uses trash talk as if he is preaching to his opponents. He is based on San Diego Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer. After finishing last in Division 1, they are demoted to Division 2 when the game starts. They play at the Cyclone Stadium.

[edit] Division 3

  • Chicago Marauders: Shane Spain QB #9, a record-setting two-time League MVP. A little older now, but he still finds ways to win and is tough as nails. They play at The Asylum.
  • Baltimore Bearcats: "Brutal" Bruno Battaglia LB #53, a highly intense, dirty, and widely hated player who loves a good party. Bruno joins the player-created team before the Division 2 season, and thus takes his rightful place as team captain of the player-created team. Voiced by Bill Romanowski in the Wii, Xbox 360, & PlayStation Portable versions. They play at Harbor Park.
  • Arizona Outlaws: Tito "Mighty" Maas WR #80, a short speedster who is easy to underestimate. He joins the player-created team before the Division 1 season in the Wii, Xbox 360, & PlayStation Portable versions. They play at the Camelback Stadium.
  • Cincinnati Crusaders: Kwazi Mbutabe HB #30, a Nigerian-American who approaches the game as a "warrior." They play at the Crusader Stadium.
  • Washington Redhawks: Jacob Williams DE #94, brother of Dallas QB Julius Williams and a relentless force to be reckoned with. They play at the Redhawk Stadium.
  • Player Created Team: Kurt Shock DE #92, Darryl Kinsman FS #30, or Ted Lawless LB #52. When creating team, the player chooses a veteran for the defense. That veteran will become the captain. They play at Dobbs Colosseum, Four Falls Field, or Memorial Stadium.

It is implied that The League promotes and demotes teams between divisions, similar to the English football league system. The three divisions play their seasons consecutively, not simultaneously. At the end of Division 3's season, the champion moves up to Division 2, taking the place of the last year's last-place team, then playing another full season in Division 2. At the end of Division 2's season, its champion replaces the last-place team in Division 1.

It is revealed in the first week of gameplay that the previous season's Division 1, 2, and 3 champions are the Dallas Aztecs, New York Nightmare, and the Carolina Copperheads, respectively. The last-place teams that are bumped down are the San Diego Cyclones from Division 1 and the player-created team from Division 2.

[edit] Music soundtrack listing

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • There is a quarterback called "Mike Mexico" on the Washington Redhawks, a reference to Michael Vick, who allegedly went under the alias "Ron Mexico" to hide his identity while receiving medical treatment for genital herpes. The quarterback is also left-handed, wears #7, and is known for his scrambling ability, all traits shared with Vick. His team also refers to Vick's (Atlanta Falcons) and Julius Williams on the Dallas Aztecs is just like Mike Vick.
  • The League's Divisional relegation system is similar to that of Japan's X-League.
  • The Arizona Outlaws' logo is not the same as the original USFL team, but it is similar to the one used by the Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL.
  • Vonnie Treonday is named after Vonnie Holliday, a defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins.
  • The Washington Redhawks name is similar to the name of the city's NFL team, the Washington Redskins.
  • The New York Nightmare name stems from a fictional plane crash that killed all but three members of the New York Shamrocks team in 1967. The crash was described in the news as a "New York Nightmare", and New York's replacement franchise chose its current name to honor the Shamrocks. The crash is a likely reference to the real-life Southern Airways Flight 932, a deadly crash that killed the entire Marshall University football team.
  • The Carolina Copperheads cheerleading squad is infamous for being involved in a scandal, an incident that closely parallels a 2005 scandal involving the Carolina Panthers' own squad.
  • In the movie North Dallas Forty, one of the opponets of the North Dallas Bulls are also called the Chicago Marauders. Link: http://www.misterhabs.com/helmets.htm

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Office of Film and Literature Classification, 22 January 2007, http://www.oflc.gov.au/resource.html?resource=944&filename=944.pdf

[edit] External links

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