Blitz: The League
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| Blitz: The League | |
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| Developer(s) | Midway Games |
| Publisher(s) | Midway Games |
| Release date(s) | October 17, 2005 (NA) October 30, 2006 (Xbox 360) November 2006 (PSP) 2007 (Wii) |
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Mature (M) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, Xbox, Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable |
| Media | DVD, UMD |
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 and is currently available for purchase for 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 is being released which includes former pro linebacker Bill Romanowski and is set for a Xbox 360 in October and a PSP release in November (with the title "Blitz: The League Overtime"), and is also set to come to the Wii. It was originally intended to be a Wii launch title, but has since been delayed.[1]
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[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"[2]. 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 set to release in 2006, former NFL bad boy 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); 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. When the "Clash" meter is full, 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.
[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 widely denounced by NFL players as being inaccurate and over-the-top.
[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 "rubber band 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 "rubber band AI" is also an undocumented feature of more "legitimate" football titles such as the Madden NFL series.
The Playstation 2 release of Blitz has also been criticized for its very long delays and load times.
[edit] Team Listing & Team Captains
[edit] Division 1
- New York Nightmare: Quentin Sands LB #56, voiced by Lawrence Taylor. Despite some obvious personality defects, he is considered "the Face of The League."
- 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.
- Denver Grizzlies: Kevin Donaldson DE #91, a 25-year-old former soldier who boasts outstanding conditioning.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
[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. Known to get happy feet under heavy defensive pressure.
- Kansas City Crossfire: Tyrell Price DE #90, a hulking presence described as having an "anger management problem."
- 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. If he scores a touchdown, he'll call defenders' parents to tell them about it.
- Minnesota Reapers: Tony Forbes HB #42, an extremely durable and versatile offensive threat. He is extremely lucky to not have been injured once at all.
- Orlando Hammerheads: Chris James FS #36, considered one of the best safeties in League history.
- San Diego Cyclones: Ezekiel Freeman CB #23, a religious individual who preaches to opponents during the game.
[edit] Division 3
- Chicago Marauders: Shane Spain QB #9, a two-time League MVP. A little older now, but he still finds ways to win and is tough as nails.
- Baltimore Bearcats: "Brutal" Bruno Battaglia LB #51, a highly intense, dirty, and widely hated player who loves a good party. Bruno joins the player-created team before the Division 2 season. Voiced by Bill Romanowski in the Wii, Xbox 360, & PSP versions.
- Arizona Outlaws: Tito "Mighty" Maas WR #80, a short speedster who is easy to underestimate.
- Cincinnati Crusaders: Kwazi Mbutabe HB #30, a Nigerian-American who approaches the game as a "warrior."
- Washington Redhawks: Jacob Williams DE #94, brother of Dallas QB Julius Williams and a relentless force to be reckoned with.
- Player Created Team: When creating team, the player chooses a veteran for the defense. That veteran will become the captain.
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 champs are the Dallas Aztecs, New York Nightmare, and 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
- B-Real and DJ Lethal - Play At Your Own Risk
- B-Real and DJ Lethal - Play At Your Own Risk [Remix]
- B-Real and Killing Zone - All My Life [Remix]
- B-Real and No Tomorrow - All My Life
- The Beatnuts - No Escapin' This
- Buck - My Team
- Buck - Blitz My Team [Remix]
- Buck - The Streets
- A-Trak - Felonious Funk [A-Trak Remix]
- El Pus - Suburb Thuggin'
- Fat Lip and Chali 2na - Today's Your Day
- Heavy Mojo - Radio
- Heavy Mojo - So You Say
- HED P.E. - Represent
- Non Phixion - Rock Stars
- Obscure Disorder and Non Phixion - 2004
- Rascalz - Hit 'Em Up
- Rascalz - Jungle
- Raskal - Cross The Line
- Shadow - Play Dirty
- SonDooble - Full Moon
- SonDooble - U Wit Dat
- Skindred - Bruises
- Skindred - Pressure
- Swollen Members - Too Hot
- The Visionaries - If You Can't Say Love
- The Visionaries - Pangaea
[edit] Trivia
- Anti-gaming lawyer Jack Thompson pointed to the game's lack of an NFL license as an indicator of the game's ultra violent nature. In reality, Electronic Arts have an exclusive deal to the NFL brand.
- There is a quarterback called "Mike Mexico" on the Washington Redhawks, a reference to Michael Vick, who 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.
- "League History" "facts" are displayed on loading screens, and are also viewable on the game's official website. In the game universe, the League takes the place of the NFL, and its history is written as a tongue-in-cheek rough parallel of the NFL's. As an example, in the real-life NFL a popular offense oriented around short passes is called the West Coast Offense; the League has the "Wes Coates Offense", named after a former quarterback.
- In one of the touchdown celebrations, the scorer is seen pulling a cell phone from behind a goalpost; a reference to one of Joe Horn's more famous moments.
- In another celebration, when on the road, sometimes the scorer will pretend to pull down his pants and moon the crowd, then follow up by wiping his rear end on the goalpost. This is reminiscint of former Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss' actions in a 2004 NFC Wild Card game in which he did something similar to Green Bay Packer fans.
- In the "official" League history, Orlando Hammerheads HB Willie Rhodes' storyline says he is famous for a banned commercial in which he meets a cheerleader in the locker room before the game with the cheerleader only wearing a bath towel. This is a spoof of Cowboys WR Terrell Owens, who took part in a similar Monday Night Football commercial with Desperate Housewives' Nicolette Sheridan. (Owens had played with the Philadelphia Eagles when he was involved in the real incident.)
- The New York Nightmare's uniforms have a shamrock on the collar. In the "official" League history, it is revealed that a previous team, the New York Shamrocks, was forced to disband after all of its players were killed in a plane crash.
- The New England Regulars are inspired by the New England Patriots with similar colors (red, white, and blue), players (QB Clyde Rowlins wears #12 like QB Tom Brady), and nicknames.
- The Carolina Copperheads are loosely based on the Carolina Panthers, and their cheerleading squad is notorious for having fraternized with one of their own players. This incident spoofs a similar one in which two Panthers cheerleaders were involved. The nickname "Copperheads" and team colors are similar to a former AFL team, the Carolina Cobras.
- In each division, there is a team with a running QB. In division 3, the Washington Redhawks have Mike Mexico; In Division 2, the Kansas City Crossfire have Donavon McDaniels; In Division 1, the Dallas Aztecs have Julius Williams.
- The Arizona Outlaws were an actual professional football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s.
[edit] External Links
- Wii Resource Centre: Wii: Blitz: The League
