The original NFL Blitz took arcades by storm in 1996, with its combination of fast gameplay and emphasis on violence both during and after plays. The series made a successful transition to home consoles, where just like every other sports game out there, it comes out once a year. Except for this year - because the game has come out for the second time in just six months! Blitz 20-02 was a big update for the series but 20-03 is nothing more than a tweaked version of that title with updated rosters.

Back in the day, the Blitz series was visually impressive, but the years have not been kind to the game, even with updated visuals a part of every update. The player models are huge, but they are extremely blocky, even when compared to the uglier football games currently available. Since this is an arcade-style game, the bodies are oversized and more muscular than the real thing, but they still dont look great.

One of the key additions to the game every year is updated animations. There are several new tackles, hits after the play, and even some new moves for the offense. The animation is done well, but the transition from move to move could have been smoother. Plus, how many different ways can you show a lineman plopping his fat ass onto a downed player anyway?

Also new this year is the addition of an instant replay mode. This allows you to check out big hits to your hearts content, but it also gives you an opportunity to witness some of the games clipping issues. Its a nice touch, but the games so reliant on its fast pace that allowing you to slow things down with replays all the time is a little self defeating.

Theres almost nothing noticeably new in 20-03s audio. The two man both is still here and they basically say the same things they always have. However, He just stood there like a freshman at his first keg party is a classic line.

The players will taunt each other with various insults after the plays. Again, its nothing new. The grunts and groans that you hear after the enormous hits sound like the same ones that have been in the game for the last five years.

Blitz 20-03 is as over-the-top representation of a sport thats ever been done. The game begins with an automatic kickoff, it takes 30 yards for a first down, you can hit after the whistle, and extra points are truly automatic - you dont even have to kick them. A key element of the game is mastering the lateral, as youll often throw as many touchdown passes with a receiver as you will with your QB.

As the series has matured certain sim elements have crept into the game, but not enough to confuse anyone that this is trying to compete with Madden. There are now eight players on each side, one an impact player who can be used to perform special tasks like blocking and blitzing. Also more sim-like is the amount of statistics made available at half time and after the game. Youre not going to study these to see where your offense is deficient, but it is fun to see how many times your running back passed in a game.

The classic plays from back in the day have returned, so those of you that spent all of your allowance in the arcades when you were younger will be glad to see that your favorite plays are back once again. There are tons of plays to chose from, but most of the time it boils down to heaving the ball downfield to whomever you can before you get sacked.

As is the case with all of Midways games, theres a bunch of stuff that can be unlocked in Blitz 20-03. Big heads, secret teams, CPU assistance disable - its all here. Theres a create-a-player mode that allows you to put yourself in the game, but its not enough to warrant purchasing the game.

If you own 20-02 there is absolutely NO reason to buy this game. While 20-03 is a good game, its disappointing that Midway would release two games so close to each other, especially when theres so little different between the two.