A special edition of NFL Blitz with bonus content, hidden teams and beefed-up cheat codes. No revolution, but a love letter to anyone who wore out the original cart. The over-the-top arcade vibe still hits hard, especially in multiplayer, and the extras are real fun.
Your verdict
Category
Sports4 players12+
Description
Special edition of NFL Blitz with bonus content and expanded gameplay options. Published by Midway, released in 1999 in North America. Bonus content, extra teams and cheat codes, rule customization options, and the series' signature unbridled arcade gameplay.
NFL Blitz - Special Edition review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
NFL Blitz stylizes American football to arcade extremes: exaggerated player proportions, superhuman tackles and flashy Midway staging. The art direction favors action readability and spectacular energy, far from any simulation. A nervy, fun art direction, a hallmark of late-1990s Midway arcade sports.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
American football stripped of its weighty rules: seven on seven, devastating tackles after the whistle and superhuman plays. Everything is fast, everything hits, and scoring a spectacular touchdown delivers an instant jolt. Arcade excess takes over from simulation, for an explosive, hilarious blow-off, ideal with several players.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
American Midway Special Edition from September 1998, an extended version of NFL Blitz including new teams and a tournament mode exclusive to this edition. The US cartridge ships in a particular box format bearing the Special Edition wording in gold, an immediate identification cue. The limited run and absence of an equivalent PAL release make it a precise target for late-1990s American Midway sports collectors.
Better with friends
Super-charged American football that sweeps the rules aside to keep only big hits, long bombs and spectacular tackles for four. The fun rests on the breakneck pace and the embraced excess, where any play can turn into a circus. The competition stays readable and good-natured, punctuated by hilarious cheap shots and improbable touchdowns that set off howls of joy.
Is NFL Blitz - Special Edition still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 1999 on Nintendo 64, Midway's project transposes American football into an over the top, supercharged arcade game, a world away from simulation. The teams cut to seven players, the near total absence of penalties and the spectacular tackles, allowed even after the whistle, make for a brutal and hilarious spectacle. The frantic pace, the passing combos and the uninhibited humour make it an excellent couch game, cut for multiplayer matches. The tactical superficiality and the absence of an up to date licence show. A delightful thrill ride, recommended for fans of arcade sports and of nervous fun.
