"We are living a lie, Chris, by naming our game football!" an exasperated Gator says. "We should name our game, uh, hand-throwing-across-the-field ... "

You want attitude? You want football? You want NFL Blitz Pro.

Midway Sports marches into the red zone with the release of NHL Hitz Pro for the PlayStation2 console system. This is a game that is significantly different from previous releases in the franchise, but is a major step forward for Midway into the ranks of competitive football gaming.

Oh, for those fans of the series, don’t fret, this game still has the oversized powerful players, the body-slams and players that burst into flames that have been a hallmark of the series. But this is a title that is also markedly different in terms of gameplay.

New features include 11-on-11 play on a 100-yard field with real NFL-style play (i.e., 10 yards earns you a first down), a new running game, interactive sidelines, update rosters and downloadable weather, a new franchise mode, fantasy stadiums and characters.

The game will allow you to track the stats of players as you progress.

And then there is the game play, itself - always a bonus when dealing with Midway titles. Granted, this is not a game that will appeal to all people, because the game has a taken the pounding action of the NFL and expanded to include high-flying body slams and extracurricular action after the plays. As an offensive player, you can hammer an opposing defender if you didn’t like the hit. As a defender, you can step on the quarterbacks arm if you take offense with his passing attack.

The play-by-play and color commentary are a lot of fun as well. These guys (Chris Morgan and Gator Jones) call the action as they see it. If something smells rotten, expect them to say so, but to do so with a flair for the comedic.

"Hey, I got you a present ..."

"Aww, just what I always wanted - good field position!"

Of course, there is a lot of "he catches it," and "he runs with it" type of banter without naming the players, but that is to be expected.

The franchise mode allows up to 32 gamers to manage 10 seasons of game play. You can draft, trade, release or retire players, or sign free agents. Other game modes include quickplay, exhibition, season, tournament and online.

Each game has a series of formations you can access, including plays from the team’s special playbook.

When it comes to the controls, Blitz Pro is very simple and player friendly. The game has a relatively small learning curve.

Graphically the game is very good. The ball dynamics are a little dead, and the players are all over-buffed, but the latter keeps the game’s rough and tumble style rather well. While some animations are a little jerky, the motion-capture technology really makes other movement sparkle.

Give Midway a lot of credit for really taking their game to another level. This game still is not in the same league as some of the top games, but it does carve out its own niche, and plays to its brand of football fans. This is a game that is a lot of fun simply because it does not tread the same old ground, but dares to step outside the realm of traditional football games, flash a little attitude, and tackle fun head on.

Gameplay: 8
The games do drag but this is typical of most NFL games. You have a play that lasts 10 seconds, then take the next 20-25 seconds to figure out the next play you are going to run.

Graphics: 8.4
This was a tough category. Player movements are not really smooth. A quarterback rolling out is a little jerky. But the overall look of the players, the environments and the general hitting and smashmouth football is superb. Some of the tackling dynamics are a little soft, with players just lunging at others, and the cloud of dust or mini explosion every time a player is slammed into the turf is fine - for a while.

Sound: 9
The announcers are entertaining, and the music is terrific.

Difficulty: Medium
This is a tough game to master. Tweaks to the AI though make it a better product in that there is no overwhelming come-from-behind catch-up that can turn a certain victory into an agonizing defeat inside two minutes.

Concept: 9
Welcome to the big time! Midway has significantly revamped this title to make it on a par with other NFL titles. Maintaining some of the arcade attitude (body slams, players catching on fire) is a terrific bonus.

Multiplayer: 8.9
Don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk. The online game is dynamic and fun to play. This game is a good solo effort, but really gets fun and challenging against another player.

Overall: 8.9
There are some minor graphical missteps, but this is a title that is a whole lot of fun to play. Midway has managed to create a game that will appeal to NFL fans who like their game with a little something extra, even if that extra is akin to pro wrestling. But consider this, you can play the game almost anyway you wish, with strict rules or with the attitude. This is a game that is highly entertaining to play and watch.