From there, it's on to the field as the league's newest star and his squad try to rise up through the ranks, from Division 3 up to Division 1, The League. Along the way, you'll be able to train your team to improve their stats, upgrade the training facilities and equipment, and turn your team from chumps to champs. Your character also picks up sponsorships, which give bonuses for the whole team, and girlfriends, who can bring certain bonuses to the team as well. On top of all that, there's juicing, which returns from the first Blitz, but this time around, is a bit more complex. While juicing can benefit your players, it costs money and your players can get caught, which is of course, not a good thing. There are a number of ways to play through the game and customize your team to your desire.
Then there are the injuries. Halfway through my run with the Columbus Rage - my customized Franchise Mode team led by its stud quarterback/linebacker - I planted a huge low hit on the opposing running back in a big game. As a result of the force of my blow, I was treated to a nice little cutscene in which I watched my opponent's testicles erupt.
For the first time in my recent memory, I cringed. At a video game. Not even Resident Evil 4 got me to do that.
There's plenty more than just exploding testicles, though. Legs snap in half, muscles rip, skulls crack open, spines shatter and sever. It's bloody and violent in every sense of the word, but it's also what most people wish the NFL was really like. That's the beauty of Blitz's satire: while it mocks the NFL for what it is, it also mocks the NFL for what it isn't.
For those wanting a bit more, Blitz II has a few modes outside of Franchise Mode. Alongside a training mode and quick play mode are several bonus games, each more brutal and different than the next. Lucky 7s, for example, takes away points from a touchdown score for each play that doesn't result in a touchdown. Meanwhile, Prison Ball takes away field goals, helmets, and first downs while cranking up the injury rate at a tremendous pace. There's enough diversity here to keep things pretty interesting, though these games are better suited for party-style atmospheres where there are multiple players.
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