Midway Games’ NFL Blitz is back!

As you can see from the above trailer, the bad-ass, in-your-face football game that captivated the hearts of many nearly ten years ago is making a return, this time under EA Sports.

Now, if you’ve never played this before, we’re going to assume two things: 1) You’re not a gamer, which just makes your life not worth living just yet, and 2) You suffered a game-less childhood.

NFL Blitz combines the swagger of an NBA Jam-type game with official licensing from the NFL. The players, hits and movements are exaggerated as hell, but that’s the fun of it all — it’s an arcade-style game that includes power-ups and hyperbolic action that only the Baltimore Ravens and 2007 New England Patriots can give us.

I grew up playing NBA Showtime on NBC, which was the NBA version of NFL Blitz, also from Midway Games. The premise of these types of sports games is that it’ll appeal to the younger group of gamers that need to see a bit more than serious, legitimate football. And flames around basketballs and footballs will do just that.

Of course, this doesn’t let EA Sports off the hook in my book. This whole Madden mess still irks me, considering NBA 2K5 was way better than Madden 2005, and considering NBA 2K11 and NBA 2k12 have revolutionized basketball gaming. Can you imagine a Joe Montana-branded football game with the game engine and A.I. on par with NBA 2K11? Oh. My. Goodness.

Until EA’s contract with the NFL runs out, let’s just enjoy (finally) an alternative to Madden 12.