The king of football has returned!  No, I'm not talking about Madden, I'm talking about NFL Blitz.  Blitz, in my opinion plays better than every other football game.  I don't care what the competition has in store for us this August because Blitz 20-02 is the only one I need. On the outside, Blitz 20-02 may look like it followed Madden's lead, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

I love everything about this game, but the thing that really stood out to me was how much faster, smoother and more refined the game played.  Not that it wasn't great before, but Blitz 20-02 is so good that I honestly wonder how much further they can go.  Beyond online support, which is almost guaranteed to be included with Blitz 20-03, what else can be done?  Every play, every stiff arm and every tackle blends perfectly together.  Passing accuracy has been greatly increased, and the opponent AI is sharper than ever.  Winning makes you feel like you've really accomplished something, especially when the final score is 57-28.  I've always been a doer, not a watcher, so this is kind of like my own version of the Super Bowl.  There are no boring half-time shows; no game delays; no penalties; and no commercials -- just me, my friends and four game controllers.  We control the outcome, and we decide how long each game will last.  Better yet, we're the ones playing the game.

The new player animations are hilarious.  Sometimes the players will dance and cheer when they score a touchdown.  Other times they'll try to throw down the ball, but it won't budge because it's stuck to their hand!  Hilarious moments like these really add to the overall experience of the game.

For years, it was easy for Madden loyalists to put down NFL Blitz because the players were too small and it didn't feel very realistic.  Now that has changed.  Everything about Blitz is better.  It has transformed into a realistic football game similar to Madden, but has retained its arcade-style gameplay.  Everyone knows that Madden is good, however, I am not so sure that everyone is aware of how great Blitz 20-02 is.  I am not exaggerating here.  Before writing this review, I spent a lot of time playing the PlayStation 2 and GameCube versions of Blitz 20-02 and I am 100% convinced that it is the best football game of the year.  I'd call it the best sports game of the year, but I'm anticipating the release of Redcard Soccer, MLB Slugfest and NHL Hitz 2003 (it hasn't been confirmed, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed), so I'll wait until I play those games before making a final decision.

When all is said and done...oh wait, Blitz 20-02 is never said and done!  You could beat it five times and still want more.  The replay value is by far the greatest selling point of this game.  In many ways, Blitz 20-02 is like a fighting game -- it's fast, action-packed, hard-hitting entertainment that can't be found in any other sports game.  Come to think of it, this kind of experience can't be found in any other game, period.  I can't imagine anyone not loving Blitz 20-02.  It's unbelievably likable.  Blitz 20-02 combines the great, classic gameplay of the original with a ton of new elements that helped rise its replay value to new heights.  I love it, and I'm sure you'll love it too.

Reviewer's Scoring Details

 

Gameplay: 9.1
Blitz 20-02 is extremely addictive.  No matter how many times I score a touchdown, it never gets old.  I always find myself coming back for more, and that's just one of the reasons why I love this series so much.

Graphics: 8.5 
The GameCube version of Blitz 20-02 is slightly better looking than the PS2 version, but the differences are so small that I doubt most people will notice.  There are a few more particle effects used, and the players look a tad better, but that's about it.

Sound: 7
There isn't much music in Blitz 20-02, but I'm glad.  The classic jingles return, and the sound effects are better than ever.

Difficulty: 6.5
Improved passing/intercepting accuracy and improved AI make for one challenging experience.

Concept: 8 

Multiplayer: 9.3
Nintendo fans should get on their hands and knees and thank Midway for bringing another great multiplayer game to their favorite console.  And Nintendo should thank Midway for giving GameCube owners another excuse to buy a few extra controllers.  Actually, Blitz 20-02 is not an "excuse" to buy extra controllers, it's an excellent reason.

Overall: 9.2
I have never loved any football game as much as NFL Blitz, and I have never loved a Blitz game as much as Blitz 20-02.  No GameCube owner should be without this game.  It is very enjoyable, providing you and your friends with several hours of entertainment.