Game Room: January Roundup

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jan 30, 2012

Game Room: January Roundup

NFL Blitz

Midway's NFL Blitz started off in the late `90s as an arcade hit and then enjoyed plenty of success on various consoles. Now EA has resurrected Blitz as a downloadable game via Xbox Live and the Playstation Network. Blitz has been upgraded with HD graphics, current teams and rosters, and an amusing in-game commentary track. Gameplay is pretty similar to what you remember with seven-on-seven action, 30 yards for a first down and over-the-top player and tackling animations. Blitz has plenty of unlockable codes that enhance replay, and there's a decent amount of multiplayer options to explore once you start beating the game's single player modes. Blitz doesn't offer alternate uniforms, and don't expect to see every member of your favorite team on the roster. Blitz also bails on some fundamental accuracy, for instance Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow throws right-handed in the game. Score: 7 out of 10

Grand Slam Tennis 2

The cover of Grand Slam Tennis 2 features 2012 Australian Open finalist Maria Sharapova, tennis legend John McEnroe and 2012 Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic. The game features Xbox Kinect and Sony Move functionality. But if you don't like to play with motion controllers, EA's new Total Racquet Control is designed to use both sticks of a controller to move and return without the need for button commands. Grand Slam Tennis 2 retains an exclusive license to Wimbeldon, so if you want to try for a legit slam in HD, this is the ticket. Grand Slam Tennis 2 is scheduled to be released February 14.

MLB 12 The Show

With amazing graphics and gameplay MLB The Show has held the title of best baseball game -- on any platform -- for many years. Now The Show has tabbed Red Sox All-Star first baseman as the cover athlete for this year's game. Gonzalez joined the Red Sox in 2011 and notched an impressive season with a .338 batting average, 27 home runs, 117 RBIs and a .410 OBP. MLB 12 The Show is scheduled to be released March 6 on the PS3 and March 27 on the Vita.

MLB 2K12

It's tough to beat the season Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander put together in 2011. He was an All-Star, he won the American League MVP and AL Cy Young Award, and he got the Tigers into the AL Championship Series before the Texas Rangers bounced them. With that impressive season in hand, 2K has named Verlander the cover athlete for its latest baseball game. For the third year in a row 2K is offering gamers a chance to win $1 million if they can throw a perfect game. 2K expects several people to complete a perfect game, so this year there's going to be a leaderboard that ranks all attempts. When the window for attempts stops at the end of April, the top eight will be given a chance to compete in a live tournament for the money. MLB 2K12 is scheduled to be released March 6.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13

Tiger Woods is joined on the North American cover of PGA Tour 13 by Rickie Fowler. The European release of the game pairs Tiger with Rory McIlroy. PGA Tour 13 is optimized to work with the Xbox Kinect and Sony Move, though you can still play it with standard controllers. The game features more than 20 courses including Augusta National, St. Andrews and Pebble Beach, though some courses will only be available in the collectors' edition, through pre-sale promotions and via download on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is scheduled to be released March 27.