Core gameplay remains relatively unchanged from the past Blitz games, featuring over-the-top hits and big yard-gaining plays. The biggest real game play change is in the injuries department, where you can now set injuries or juice players back to health on the sidelines if the injury isn't too serious. The setting mini-game uses the two analog sticks to pop in shoulders and set broken limbs back in place, which is actually a pretty creative idea. It can be hard to line things up just right, especially since the mini-game is picky when it comes to precision, but doing so gives the player a stamina boost and allows them back into the game sooner.
The juicing mini-game is similar, except that you use the analog stick to move a cursor over the injured area. Like the first mini-game, the more precise you are in your injection, the more stamina is recovered and the sooner the player can return. The game also adds in an improved tackling system that lets you target body parts for injury and a touchdown dance option, in which you can input button combinations after scoring a touchdown for one of at least 20 different dances. Some are kind of lame and generic, but others are crude and hilarious. All are welcome additions that add to the satire of the NFL's strictness and cleanliness.
The beatdown system, all the way from the earlier NFL Blitz games, makes a grand return, allowing you to chip away at an opponent's health after a dirty hit. This becomes invaluable when you're going up against some of the monsters in the league, because it makes them more vulnerable to injury as each game progresses. And heck, it's pretty fun to see your guy rip the opponent's helmet off and smack him in the side of the head with it.
The only bad news is the A.I. While not as rubber-bandy as in the first Blitz game, it still likes to play catch-up too easily, even on easy settings, and is a bit too eager to pick the ball off for an interception on passing plays. I don't mind that it plays smart, but it still needs a bit of tweaking in future Blitz installments.
Controlling your team in Blitz II comes pretty easy, even if you don't walk through the tutorial. One trigger is used for sprinting, while the other is used to toggle the game's turbo equivalent. Turbo can be used in conjunction with juke moves to evade tackles and cause injuries; on defense, it can be used to add more punch to a huge hit and potentially cause injury. Passing, running, catching and tackling are all handled by the face buttons and movement by the left analog stick. The right analog stick is for freeform juke moves, which come in handy when you need to quickly evade opponents. All in all, the game handles pretty impressively, but it does take some time to learn all of the controls properly.
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