Xbox review: 'NFL Blitz 20-02' stays true

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By Dan Elektro

(IDG) -- "NFL Blitz 20-02" stays true to its arcade roots, but it's slowly evolving into a deeper, console-worthy experience. This time around, "Blitz" adds an Impact Player, who can be reassigned on the fly for any offensive or defensive play and is the ultimate wild card. Player models and animations have been improved upon, and even the simple things like field textures look very good -- even if the camera occasionally gets lost after the play.

The two-man commentary is goofy but entertaining -- "Bill" likes being argumentative for no reason, which is part of the joke -- and the grunts and comments get repetitive. The controls handle just fine; making the Impact Player a factor is easy with the out-of-the-way Black and White buttons.

That said, there isn't all that much new here, except for a crazy 16-player mode -- which you'll need Ethernet cables and a hub to enjoy -- but even that, like the season mode, just extends the basic gameplay that "Blitz" fans know and enjoy. The series hallmarks -- flaming hot streaks, brutal late hits and no penalties -- are still here and fundamentally unchanged.

Never a favorite of pigskin purists, "NFL Blitz" is still a ridiculously fun pick-up-and-pummel kind of game. Just don't buy it expecting a revolution.