NFL Blitz 2001 on the N64 was released in 2000. This is a port of the arcade game NFL Blitz 2000 Gold. It is a similar situation to what Midway did with the ports of NFL Blitz 1999. This is an odd way of doing things, and it can make things a little confusing.
This is just a roster update from the last game. That is really how these games are at this point. Midway isn’t the only arcade company to release upgraded versions of their games; this is how the arcade industry worked back in the 1980s and 1990s. It is also similar to how EA and other companies released “new” sports games every year.
This can make for some annoying situations when you’re collecting games. I mean, do you really need to own every version of Madden released on a console, let alone one for each console it was released on? If I wasn’t going through a series like this, I definitely wouldn’t be doing so. I just look for the cheapest option for each game.
I think I’ve reached the point with this series that things have become a little repetitive. When you cover a series like this, you look for the changes from game to game. There isn’t much of that in this game, as it is a roster update and some minor tweaks to the gameplay.
TLDR: A solid game, but NFL Blitz 2001 is more of the same.
Narrative
Much like other sports games from the 1990s and early 2000s, there isn’t a story here. The more that I play the Blitz games, the more I wish that there was a career mode. It would just be fun to be a player in this game’s world. Maybe I’m the only person who thinks that.
Gameplay
NFL Blitz 2001 maintains the same fast arcade action that I’ve come to expect from the games in this series. The controls are decent, the rules are relaxed, and the gameplay is fun. I simply wish there was some attempt at putting a new feature in the game.
The game modes are basically the same. You can play a single game, season, or a tournament. One new feature is the Party games. While I like that it is here, I would rather have a career mode or a franchise mode.
I know that some of these features would move this in the direction of the Madden and 2K football games. If it were set in the Blitz world, then I wouldn’t care. It is something that would’ve added value to a game like this.
There are no penalties, and the controls are solid. You have to move the ball 30 yards for a first down, which encourages you to pass the ball. The quarters are also two minutes. This is designed to be a quick arcade game.
This is an arcade football game, much like the others in the series. Midway didn’t do a good job of making improvements to their games. While they did try some things with other games, that wasn’t the case with NFL Blitz. This entry is good, but it is basically the same as the previous entry.
I like the gameplay in the other NFL Blitz games, and this is more of the same. There isn’t anything wrong with games like this. The controls are always good, and I like how they look different from the other games on the system. I also really enjoy arcade sports games.
Visuals
I could cut and paste what I said about the previous game here. NFL Blitz 2001 looks good for the time it was released. The graphics are bright, but it isn’t all that different from the previous game. I do like the animations and over-the-top tackles and touchdown celebrations.
The character models aren’t too different from the previous game. They’re quite blocky and a little exaggerated. It looks like there are a few models for the linemen and other players. WRs, QBs, and RBs have smaller midsections. This is something I like as it makes some players stand out. The models don’t look as detailed as some of the earlier games.
The game is bright and colorful. Most N64 games, especially the early ones, have a muddy look to them. NFL Blitz 2001 and the other games in the series on the N64 don’t look like this. They are much brighter, but not as detailed as other games.
NFL Blitz 2001 has great animations. The game is an over-the-top game, and the tackles reflect that. At times it looks like a professional wrestling game. It is a little jerky at times because the game is so fast. It isn’t a huge problem, but it is noticeable.
NFL Blitz 2001 is a good looking game on the N64. I’m sure the other versions of the game are better looking, but that doesn’t make this bad. The graphics are pretty good for the console and time period.
Reviews for NFL Blitz 2000 at the Time
The scores were pretty good for the N64 version of NFL Blitz 2000. They were between 6 and 8.4/10 and were higher than the PS1 version of the game. I’m going to focus on four publications for this.
GameSpot gave the game an 8.4/10. They really liked this version of the game and praised what Midway did with this port. The reviewer called this a “rock-solid” version of the game that was “equaling the PlayStation” and “shoulder-to-shoulder with the Dreamcast in a number of key areas.”
IGN gave the game a 7.4/10. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is the quote used by the reviewer to describe this game. They recommend trading in the old game if you’re planning on getting NFL Blitz 2001, which is something you could say about most sports games.
N64 Magazine gave the game a 78/100. They liked the game overall, but didn’t like the graphics. This is a UK publication, and I’m really glad that they reviewed it because it provides a different perspective on it. While the reviewer called it “the most out-and-out fun” football game, it is a shame that it isn’t “better-looking by now.”
Nintendo Power had five people review this game. Their scores were 7.2, 7.8, 8, 8.1, and 8.7. Like many of the other reviews from this publication that I’ve read from this time, it is short, and there isn’t much to gain from it as to why each person gave it the score that they did.
I notice a lot of things when I look back at these reviews. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, reviewers seemed to put more weight behind the graphics in a game. Some reviews were getting shorter and less useful. Not all of them, but some publications were changing formats.
8.5/10. The only thing I can really fault NFL Blitz 2001 for is being the same as the previous game. While there is one new game mode, it isn’t enough for me to say that this is better. There isn’t anything wrong with a game like this; I just wish that Midway had done more when bringing it to the home console.
Pros
- Decent Graphics
- Good Animations
- Solid Controls
Cons
- No significant improvement over the last game
- Repetitive
Conclusion
The NFL Blitz games have been fun to look at. These are games that I didn’t play when I was a kid, but I do remember hearing about them and seeing some other people play them. I was the only one of my friends who played sports, and when we got together, we didn’t play sports games.
Much like other sports games, I can’t really see a reason to upgrade from one to another. If anything, I think I would rather downgrade to the first game. At most, these would’ve been fun weekend rentals instead of purchases. I could also see myself buying them once they were discounted.
From a collector’s standpoint, I don’t think you need to pick up all of them. There is one N64 exclusive, which is really for those who want a full set of N64 games. I don’t own it, and I’m not planning on going out of my way to get a copy.
There are still a few games that I want to cover for the NBA Jam and NFL QB Club series. Once those are done, I’ll write up something for those series. Eventually, I’ll do something on Midway and Acclaim.
Since we’re getting closer to October, expect to see some spooky games. I have a few I want to do, but I’m always open to suggestions. Feel free to put those in the comments.
If you liked this post, check out my other posts on the NFL Blitz games. Such as NFL Blitz and NFL Blitz 2000.