Score: 86
Overall User Average: 8.59 / 10 (86.1%)
Gameplay User Average: 8.93 / 10
Graphics User Average: 8.33 / 10
Sound User Average: 8.30 / 10
lllSmokelll
Date reviewed: November 2, 2002.
Overall: Nhl 2002 is simply the best hockey game this year,it has every team, player along with season mode, exsibition, season, shootout and franchise modes.
Gameplay: Nhl 2002 is a hockey simulator. playing this game like playin nhl hitz wont work, shooting at the net all the time will get you nowhere, you gotta use strategy, use positional shooting, and one timers work best. the basic options are season, francise, tourniment, shootout, and exibition. EA really needs to make better francise on there games, because they are just not deep enough. the shootout lets you pick 2 teams and put them in a shootout. tourniment lets you pick teams and put them in a tournemt, you can pick international teams in this option, and exibition lets you pick 2 teams and play a game.
Only thing id like is icon passing, i miss it.
Graphics: Visualy the game looks like a ps2 game, which isnt a bad thing, there are some minor issues like when in a replay the textures look crappy. theres also some annimation problems ive noticed, when your on a breakaway, and you try and do a wristshot, the annimation isnt very fluid, other than that and a few goalie animations there are no major problems.
Sound: The commentary at first is funny, the commentary guys say stuff like "when in doubt stick a glove out", and the announcer guy says, "attention everybody, im 2 days it will be tommorow", at first its funny but it gets annoying. the music is weak, but all the sound affects, checks, post shots, sound good.
Suggestions: Icon passing!
Overall: 80 %
Gameplay: 80 %
Graphics: 70 %
Sound: 50 %
BlindSniper
Date reviewed: September 8, 2002.
Overall: Its a pretty cool fun realistic game! I mean it's a really cool game to those wh olove realistic games. Well for me I prefer action or twisted sport games like nhl hitz but this is a cool game.
Gameplay: It has many modes for the cup and just plain old exibition quick starts....All the controls are cool and eays to learn which is a bonus and personally I thin kit has good replay value.
Graphics: Visuals are great! all the players skating around and the rink and puck as well with the crowd...Its all coooooooooo
Sound: Some commentary and all the sound of skating around checking other guys stealing the puck its all pretty cool. This is a nice part of the game.
Suggestions: Make sure 03 is xbl compatile...wait it is...
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 90 %
Graphics: 90 %
Sound: 90 %
The Source
Date reviewed: July 24, 2002.
Overall: NHL 2002 is a great game to play and is definitely one to buy, has a great replay value, since you can keep playing your season after the first year is finished. Even gamers who don't enjoy hockey will find this game enjoyable to play, one of my favorite games for the X Box so far.
Gameplay: The NHL series goes back a long way, since it's debut on the Super Nintendo the gameplay has always been a lot of fun. And NHL 2002 is no exception. The game includes a Play Now option that lets you get right into the game without having to do anything other then pick your team. It also has a great season mode, which allows you to pick your favorite team and take them all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, and after you get to draft and sign players like in a real off-season. Or you can skip the season and go straight to the playoffs where you can pick teams to battle for the Stanley Cup. If you rather play with countries there is a tournament mode, which allows you to pick a country and face-off against other countries. There is also a shoot out mode where you take 5 players and involve yourself in the most exciting part of hockey. There is a in depth Create a Player option that allows you to create any player you desire. The game is very realistic and involves all the parts of hockey, unlike NHL Hitz 2002.
Graphics: On the X Box console one would expect NHL 2002 to have good graphics, which it does. Although they aren't mind blowing they are exceptional. All players' faces are almost identical to the real thing and you can see a player's reflection on a freshly cleaned ice. All arenas are identical to their real life counterpart. Each team has a coach alongside them on the bench, although they are nothing like their real life counterpart. The graphics are not as good as they could be, but you will be to busy playing the game to care.
Sound: Jim Huston and Don Taylor are the commentators for the game and Huston calls the game as it's being played, the names will be said after a player makes a save or takes a shot, but they will not say their name when they talk about them, they will refer to him as ''he'' not ''Mario Lemieux'' or whichever player. The comments made by Taylor are highly repetitive and will begin to annoy you as they are so stupid. They have announcements made during the game and are quite humorous. There is real sound of players hitting each other and the crowds' cheers sound very good.
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 90 %
Graphics: 90 %
Sound: 90 %
hockeydude
Date reviewed: July 22, 2002.
Overall: I have to admit I was incredibly excited to see how great NHL 2002 would be on the XBOX, and made sure I was there to get it on day one.
I don't know what it is about EA Sports. They used to make the best games, and have sucked me in for the past several years, but now I find myself playing them without really having any FUN.
Suffice it to say, my enthusiasm was quickly curbed after realizing there is absolutely nothing "spec
ia
l"
about the Xbox version, which fully lacks any redeeming qualities whatsoever. The game is merely a port of the PS2 version featuring an unrealistic hockey experience, stale gameplay, poor player models and washed out graphic colors.
Granted, this quarandry may be due to the fact that EA Sports doesn't know if it wants to be a true hockey sim or an arcade game. They appear to be caught smack dab in the middle, however that is quite arguable if you've read EA spinmaster Dave Warfield's comments that they don't want to reproduce the breakout, defensive pinning of players against the boards, or other essential parts of the game because EA deems that they are not fun. The result is a mediocre product, and that's exactly what we've got here.
Gameplay: What can I say? The gameplay is nearly identical to every EA hockey title on any platform since 1998. In fact they share the exact same core game engine with annually tweaked animation routines and updated rosters.
It's not that it's so much a bad game, just that EA Canada is capable of so much more, and they've lost that magic FUN Formula.
Hockey fights have progressively gotten worse each year. Not fully realized how fun they should be until you play NHL HITZ 2002/2003.
Realistic puck physics, including deflections as seen in NHL 2k3 certainly wouldn't hurt either.
Graphics: Poor at best. The players uniform colors are so washed out it's pathetic. There is no excuse for such shoddy work on a powerful system capable of so much more.
I suggest incorporating player models of various sizes that include actual faces, and yes, that includes rookie playmaker and stickhandling phenom Pavel Datsyuk, who must be created manually. While I'm on the Red Wings, there's NO excuse to include retired Larry Murphy and Doug Brown on the roster.
Sound: This is an area that EA has needed a lot of work for some time. Gone are the authentic organ tunes and customized soundtracks from past PC products. The game does utilize (to a small degree) the Xbox Dolby Digital 5.1 capabilities, but only for computer generated crowd and occasional PA system effects. No use of the subwoofer during menacing body checks into the boards, no ting as the puck ricochets off the post/crossbar, and a dull thud as the puck caroms off the glass behind the net.
EA should be embarassed by the attempted comedic and often repetitive commentary. Suggestion: get broadcast teams who work well together, guys like Mike Emerick and John Davidson, Mickey Redmond and Ken Daniels, Thorne, Clement, Dave Strader, Panger (forget Steve Levy *yawn*)
I also question where the Custom Soundtracks are that have been part of the PC game for the past few years. It won't take much to grab Xbox song clips from the hard drive, cache them in memory and stream out when the puck is out of play.
I do commend you for the reworked on-ice audio said to be in 2003, but I need to hear it for myself before commenting any further and judging it's authenticity and realistic hockey atmosphere.
Suggestions: It's time to lose the Sony 2nd party developer status.
Take a lead from Sega Sports NHL 2k3 series, or even Midway Hitz 2003. Their games look much nicer, feature better and more fun gameplay, and the developers (Treyarch) actually listen to their fan base to see what we want in a hockey title.
It's time for a major overhaul boys, and if you're not going to support native Xbox features and particularly Xbox Live online play (with downloadable in-game real NHL highlights) there's no reason to do it at all.
Sure, the EA corporation will still make a lot of money selling ports and rehashed goods to the hockey-starved gaming public that's been deprived of fresh innovation year in and year out. I just know my gaming dollars will be invested with newcomers trying to advance video hockey, including Sega Sports, Midway, and soon-to-be Microsoft Studios.
It's no wonder that EA consumers including myself have started to turn on you, and will continue to do so until you get a clue.
******
****
******
**
***
http://
ww
w.
peti
tion
online
.com/m
od_per
l/si
gned
.c
gi
?BoycotE
A
Superior hockey products NHL 2k3 and Hitz 2003 for me. If I decide to buy NHL 2003 it will be a used title from Funcoland or eBay.
Overall: 40 %
Gameplay: 50 %
Graphics: 30 %
Sound: 40 %
Marc
Date reviewed: May 13, 2002.
Overall: This is by far the best hocky game that I have ever played. It is so addictive that I have spent man nights up when I should be sleeping playing hockey games to try to finish a season.
Gameplay: The gameplay is wonderful. Once you get the controls down, you will be scoring on wrist shoits, breakaways, and one-timers likw you are an NHL all star. I have ten xbox games, this one is the most fun to play.
Graphics: Visually, the game is stunning. The only complaint I have is that the camera angles keep ou just a little too far away to see the puck clearly when you score. I guess that's what the red light is for.
Sound: The sound is totally unbelievable. You feel like you are actually in an arena at a hockey game. The soundtrack is amazing as well. The music is well chosen and sounds excellent in 5.1. 5.1 also enhances the gameplay, but I don't need to tell you that. Any fan of 5.1 knows that it rules, but it does so especially in this game.
Suggestions: Try to keep the rosters updated a little better and make it easier to trade players. Move the view JUST A LITTLE closer, not much, so you can see the action better.
Overall: 100 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 100 %
Sound: 100 %
Rochey69r
Date reviewed: May 13, 2002.
Overall: overall worth the money if you like any of their past nhl games. but still very disapointing that its a port.
Gameplay: great gameplay as always! nothing dissapoints in this area. i love the gamestory cut scenes!! they make this the best nhl game yet!! however nothing big is new in this version of the game.
Graphics: I was amazed at the visual appeal of this game at first. when i found out it was a port and played it on a ps2 and could barely notice a differance i was pissed! so therefor i am not buying nhl 2003 if it is just a port with slightly upgraded graphics. i was going to buy FIFA 2002 and saw it was just a port so im not going to now. i think if xbox gamers all did this we would get better looking titles than we already have! imagine if no one bought nhl 2002 and fifa 2002 and nba live 2002 then EA SPORTS would stop making ports!!
Sound: The sound in this game is average. i like it how when your team first enter the ice Sum 41 - Fat Lip plays and sounds like its being played in an actual arena, (it echos). the commentating is great! always fresh material e.g. Eric Lindros, batterys not included. some of the hits sounds poor. and the crowd let me down. they look so good, why shouldnt they sound so good? they need to be loud when a goal is scored!!
Suggestions: Make the puck actually spin through the air! Sega sports nhl 2k does this perfect. the puck dosnt stay flat while travelling through the air. it curves slightly to give a very realistic feel!
DONT JUST PORT FROM PS2!!
im not going to buy another game from EA SPORTS if its just a port from ps2!
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 90 %
Graphics: 80 %
Sound: 70 %
DZNUTZ
Date reviewed: May 6, 2002.
Overall: this is hands down the best realalistic hockey game to date. this game is so good that it not only taught me more about hockey..ie rules and players...but made me more interested in the sport.
Gameplay: loads of fun ...wether its against your friends or the comp.plenty of moves, great replays...and nice break-away fish-eyed lens feature
Graphics: pretty decent...deffenately better then then ps2 version..i don't personally know of another hockey game with better graphics.
Sound: well i would give the commentary alone a 5....its by far the funniest and non repeditive commentary i've heard...their are some Minor ..semi-confusing commentary comments (but nothing to suggest a big prob) and i'm not a huge fan of bare naked ladies (who covers the backround music) so i had to give it a 4.5
Suggestions: !!!!!!
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 80 %
Sound: 90 %
Hangnaround
Date reviewed: April 13, 2002.
Overall: As are all of my reviews this comes from the perspective of a dad and his son. This game is for the hockey addict. If you want to play hockey on the Xbox this is the best title on the market today. There are things there for the arcade type player an the franchise builder. It is easy enough for kids or adults to master in a matter of an hour or so of play.
Gameplay: The game is great to play. Like many of the EA titles you can change difficulties easily to match your skill. Some moves (dekes and things like this) take a little time to get used to but it is just the matter of a little time till you get the idea. The franchise mode adds a little bit for the true hockey addict. The NHL cards are either something you like or hate - if you like Madden cards you will like them as they work the same.
Graphics: Visually this is a decent game. Every once in a while you get a two dimensional image pop up which takes away from the game but it is infrequent and not usually in normal game play. As with many of the EA games, the visuals are good but not Halo like yet.
Sound: The sounds are good on this game. Cheering when there should be cheering and announcers that seem to have decent comments during the game. In comparison to the NBA 2002 commentary NHL wins hands down.
Suggestions: Improve the fighting. While this isn't the reason for buying the game, fighting is a part of hockey. There is only a little that happens differently from one fight to the next so either improve it or get rid of the code.
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 90 %
Graphics: 80 %
Sound: 80 %
adamw19
Date reviewed: March 3, 2002.
Overall: Very good game with great graphics, great sounds. You won't get bored after playing this game lots. It's one of them games where it's not the same thing that happens over and over again. Lots of options to choose from in the game. EA Keep up the good work. Looking forward to NHL 2003. :)
Gameplay: This game was very very fun. I have the same game on my computer. But I have to say the xbox version is better. First off there is tonnes of options you can choose in the game for your settings. The create a player had lots of options for your guy. The cool thing about create a player is when your setting his skills such as puck handling, awareness, defesiveness, etc. You can make him a full out perfect guy unlike other games where you'll have a certain ammount of skill points that you can use. The guy you are controlling handles just like that as in real life. Also it goes in to slow motion modes if you are on a breakaway or if you check someone really hard it will replay it back automaticly. The pregame intro was very cool to.
Graphics: The graphics very pretty impressive. Nice lighting on the ice and the arena. I liked how the ice would wear out as the period progresses and there is skate marks all over. There were a few jaggies in a couple of places. It was cool how when you check someone very hard how the replay would automaticly come on showing your guy check the other guy in a slowmotion type way.
Sound: Great sounds. The sound are like as they would be in real life. Like when your guy hammers another guy the big sound it makes. The soundtrack was awesome. It had songs by Sum 41, Barenaked Ladies, Treble Charger and a whole bunch of others. The sounds very very good. :)
Suggestions: None that I can think of. Keep em' comin'. ;)
Overall: 100 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 90 %
Sound: 100 %
jschelm
Date reviewed: March 2, 2002.
Overall: If you have any interest in hockey this is a great game to get for XBox. Right from the start the graphics and sound get you interested and the gameplay and various modes will really keep you playing for many many hours.
Gameplay: The gameplay is excellent. When you first start playing you can make it really easy, then as you get better and better you can make it more and more realistic. I also really like the task list in order to unlock secret features in the game. This is a lot better than just using cheat codes. Another excellent feature is the various franchise modes and the create a player. The create a player offers many different choices so that you can almost make a player that looks just like you do. Another great feature is how the players will actually protect each other. I hit a guy after the whistle and about 4 of his team mates came after me!
Graphics: The graphics on this game are great. I especially like it when you get a replay of a huge hit and see the person spinning around and slamming into the ground.
Sound: Well as in all sports games there can be just so much commentary, but I tell you what really cinches it for me. After creating my own player, and of course giving him my name, the announcers actually use my name when I get the puck, shoot, etc... It is great!!!!!!!
Suggestions: The only thing that I don't like is the fighting. Another thing that I haven't found, but maybe am missing, is goalie control. It would be great to take control of the goalie and dive after the puck.
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 90 %
Sound: 100 %
aliaga61
Date reviewed: March 2, 2002.
Overall: by far, the best hockey game yet. basically the same for ps2, but a bit smoother. also, no brett hull for detroit on ps2! must have been released before the rosters were updated. i've played this for hours on end with my buddies. its a fantastic game.
Gameplay: the game play is great. i love utilizing all of the moves (haven't quite gotten the deke down when it comes to one on one) to get around players and fake them out. the task for the player cards are tough to get, which is good. i can't seem to get the goal of less than 2 penalties in a game! i don't know why. one draw back is the fact that it is relatively easy to score by lobbing a shot from the blue line over the goalies head. i hate how it doesn't look like they make an effort sometimes.
Graphics: the graphics are pretty good. i don't know what is up with the guys looking like they just got the crap beat out of their faces all the time, no matter if they've been in a fight or not. also...what is with the coaches? im assuming its a licensing issue, but if you could get all, or most, of the players faces, how hard could it have been to get the coaches? i miss seeing scottie behind the bench. :(
Sound: great sound. everything is realistic from the slap shots, to the hits, to the puck hitting the cross bar (i hate it when it does that...especially when im taking the shot).
Suggestions: if its a licensing issue for the coaches faces, get it straightened out! get rid of the easy of making the lob shots. maybe put in an extra function for switching from forward to backward skating. i don't like having to wait for the computer to decide when the player will switch.
Overall: 100 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 90 %
Sound: 100 %
Caspel
Date reviewed: January 27, 2002.
Overall: Are you into simulation or arcade style gameplay? Well NHL 2002 holds down the simulation style down very well. NHL 2002 brought back some features and added a whole big load of new modes and features. From being graphically impressive, to having great gameplay, to having some good music, NHL 2002 is really what the NHL is all about. What else could you really ask for? Well I actually was very delighted by NHL 2002.
Gameplay: NHL 2002 shines most definitely in the gameplay category. Sure its pretty much a straight up port since you can't tell the difference between the Xbox version and the PS2 version. When are you are playing, players have attributes such as 'snipers', 'heroes', 'hard hitters', and 'great shooters'. All of them are presented with little emblems under the players as they are being used. 'Hitters' are the ones you want to be the ones who check, 'shooters' are the most likely ones who will score for you, 'heroes' are the ones that are a combination of sorts that you want in the end of the game, and 'snipers' are those whom have deadly shots to kill. EA also had added new features to the NHL series with a breakaway camera and ability to hold on to the puck after getting checked. The breakaway camera is kind of self-explanatory. When your player has it one on one with the goalie, the camera zooms and turns bluish with the sound of a heart pounding until you try to out sly the goalie by trying to score. When you do finally score, your player will celebrate to some extent, and you have the ability to control which celebration he will use. By pressing one of the 4 buttons,(A,B,X,Y) the player will perform a certain taunt/celebration. One of the most intriguing features for NHL is it's in-depth franchise mode, accumulating over 10 years. Having the ability to draft 2 players, sign free-agents, trade and make sure you have quality players, the franchise mode sure is satisfying. Of course there is more to NHL 2002 then the franchise mode. Having a tourney up to 16 teams, exhibition mode with 4 player capability, shoot-out mode to train for those rare breakaways, and also a card like system. The card like system is that like of the Madden series where you do certain goals, earn points and then buy packages to see your players. Lastly, the create-a-player feature is of course in NHL 2002, even though it slags a little.
Graphics: Of course, graphics are impressive. Do they take advantage of the Xbox's power? Absolutely not. While they did go retouch some of the animations for the XBox version and graphics, that only seemed to be the only change really. All the players look identical to their real life counterparts even though some seem blocky. The players go through various emotions that you can see through their facial expressions. Nearly over 700 faces are included from stats I heard for all the players in the game. The gamestory ordeal shows many high poly-count players that are very good for eye candy I might add. Crowd is usually interactive and when the action stops for a second, they will sometimes show crowd member dancing. Actually the first couple rows are really all polygonal and look great. Cuts on the ice are shown even though from the view you are at in the game, you will hardly notice.
Sound: The commentary in NHL 2002 is one of the better for any sports game. Including Jim Hughson for play-by-play commentary and also brought in Canadian announcer Don Taylor for the color commentary. Taylor tries to be humorous a lot, making jokes of the players and sometimes even the game itself. Even the public announcer in the stadium throws in jokes between plays and periods. Not much repeating from the announcers to make the commentary go bad, but after awhile you will find that it will get to you sooner or later. Team chants are heard in the home stadiums cheering on for a team with some emotion. When playing, some unusual effects are heard when you check somebody
Suggestions: Fighting in this game is dismal and sometimes embarrassing. Tweak up the fighting system so we can have some fun knocking around our computer foes when playing. Add a couple of years to the franchise mode, along with making the computer AI smarter when it comes to trading so its just not based on equality, but also based on needs. The breakaway camera is of course a nice feature but rarely ever are we able to have this feature being used or even scoring when we are able to get a breakaway. I say fix it up and make sure we have more chances in the future. The audio part of the game with commentary, isn't perfect and needs a little more work, even though it was better then most of all sport games. The gameplay would certainly be a lot better if it didn't have to be a port.
Overall: 80 %
Gameplay: 80 %
Graphics: 90 %
Sound: 90 %
undertow
Date reviewed: January 14, 2002.
Overall: EA Canada and EA Sports brings Hockey to the Xbox with such appeal and detail that you can't help but to play this game's season mode to see all the little details that make this a truly great hockey experience. EA sports has truly set the bar for simulation in this version of their great game. Playing through an entire season will yield realistic stats and scores throughout the year. Jerome Ignilia was 3rd in the NHL scoring in the seaon I played through (Only 3rd to 2 people on my team.) Columbus and Atlanta retained their spots on the basement floor of the NHL standings while Detroit dominated most of the season only to lose in the Divsion finals to the Colorado Avalanche (My team). Want to enjoy a very realistic hockey experience, or maybe just tired of arcadey feel of Midway's NHL Hitz 20-02? Lace up the skates, grab your favorite easton stick and head out for some good competition in EA Sports Lastest and Greatest version of their classic game.
Gameplay: Grabbing a controller and heading to the ice is very quick, precise and easy to do. The cinematic intro is great and the stadium music sets the mood and hype for this great title. As soon as the puck drops the speed and movements in the game are exceptional, anyone familar with previous versions of NHL will instantly feel at home and be competing for Lord Stanely's Cup in no time. The use of NHL Cards is amazing they went into so much detail and it really adds so much more playtime to this aleady deep game.
Graphics: After you've exhuasted all the gameplay possible and have sifted through all the menus and their options that leaves you with one of the games greatest achievements, and thats the visuals. Completely capturing the essence of the NHL is one of EA sports talents, and they don't fail here. The players and coaches all move, look and react like their NHL counterpart. From the goal scoring celebrations, to the referee's throwing you into the pentaly box and your reactions of it, this game brings you closer to the chills and spills than even before.
Sound: Jim Hughson and Don Taylor are back and on the top of their game. They bring the game to life and only enhance the wonderful experience you have everytime you get onto the ice. The play-by-play is real and constant, no stutters and always accurate and detailed. The color commentary is funny at times, and the interaction between the two of them is unique and makes for nice ear candy. One small detail that I really enjoyed is the fact that they will actually say your name if you create a player, that is one feature I have been waiting for, for some time. All the NHL sounds you'd expect from a Hockey game are here, everything is precise and fits well into this gem of a game.
Suggestions: Utilize the Xbox! Perhaps using CG cinematic scenes would imerse the player into a more realistic game than ever before. The Goalie needs more options.. I still dont think it's possible to cover-up on the puck, Why not?
Overall: 100 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 100 %
Sound: 100 %
NemisisX
Date reviewed: January 8, 2002.
Overall: Over all the game is a good buy. I like to buy my hockey games every 2 or 3 years so I haven't seen what other systems have put out in the last 2 years. The game's graphics are crisp, but are nothing really spectacular to look at. As for EA sports, I have always loved their games but they could have done a much better job on NHL 2002 taking the time to look over some major details of the game. All and all it's a good game to buy though if you like hockey, and if you don't you may like it also.
Gameplay: The game play is superb. That is the 1 thing I can gladly say is the best about the game. It's easy to learn the controls, and once you do it's really fun. One major flaw is the Fighting. Hocky isnt fun without a good fight, and the fighting is very cheesy. I would have liked to see much more fighting options. Another flaw that they could have fixed is the realism. It's hard to really get into the game cause you don't feel like your there. But the over all game play other then those flaws is very good.
Graphics: Visual appeal. EA sports need to a better job. The graphics are fluid, but are no where near to the X-Box's potential. One thing I noticed, it's hard to make a good audience, and although it looks good, the people are flat at times. I wish there were more camera options to choose from too that take you closer to the players and maybe a first person mode you can unlock would be interesting. The visual appeal is one of the major flaws of the game. It's alright, if you like the game for the gameplay like I do.
Sound: Sound.. The game's sound is pretty good but some of the commentary can be very annoying and stupid at times, but you can turn that off so it's no big issue. Music is nice. Sum 41, Barenaked Ladies, and a couple others. Would have like to have seen more songs put into it, and maybe a little better sound.. maybe dolby surround. Othen then these minor things, the game's sound is good.
Suggestions: Again.. a graphics upgrade is needed... the fighting is horrible, needs a major fix. They might need to spice up the options menu a little add some more camera angles.
Also, fix some of the commentary. Add a few more tracks and sounds.
The game would be exellent.
Overall: 60 %
Gameplay: 80 %
Graphics: 50 %
Sound: 70 %
kappaknight
Date reviewed: January 1, 2002.
Overall: I loved old school Blades of Steel so I wanted to try this hockey game. The graphics have definately improved over the years but it's the game play that we're concentrating here. At first play, this game was fun. It finished pretty quick, but it was still fun.
Gameplay: Gameplay was easy to understand. After a few misfires, I managed to control the team pretty well. The first game had tutorials along the way, which is always a good thing.
Graphics: Compared with NFL Fever, I think the visuals can use some work. The camera angle doesn't change too much and the faces on the audiences are pretty simple. They could have done more with the attention to the hockey puck. Sometimes it was hard to tell where it is. Graphics was good, but not amazing.
Sound: Sound wise, it's pretty simple. I can't say that I've watched a hockey game so it's hard to compare how real it is. The correct sounds are all there, but I'm not sure if it "makes" you feel like you're there. Maybe a 5.1 surround would change it, I'm not sure...
Suggestions: Fighting sucks and it can definately be improved upon. If it's realism we're aiming for here then more should be done with it. Unlocking fantasy teams like NFL FEVER may be cool too.
Overall: 80 %
Gameplay: 80 %
Graphics: 80 %
Sound: 60 %
rezno
Date reviewed: December 28, 2001.
Overall: NHL 2002 is by far the best hockey game that you can get on any system right now. It is a perfect mix of simulation and arcade to make the game addictive and fun.
Gameplay: Once you start playing this game and trying to earn all the cards, you will not want to stop. The controls are perfect, you will have precise control over your player at all times. The fighting in the game is a little weak, it goes very quickly and is just button mashing.
Graphics: This is the best looking version of NHL 2002 that you can buy on any console, but it does not utilize the Xbox as much as it could of. Players could definitely use some more detail. Overall the game is silky smooth and looks great.
Sound: The sound is great, it really gets you into the game and energizes the game. Like everyone else says the announcers are somewhat annoying, not so bad that it really affeted the game though - sometimes it can be funny.
Suggestions: Better fighting, more celebrations, higher ploy count on the players.
Overall: 100 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 90 %
Sound: 90 %
jhop69
Date reviewed: December 28, 2001.
Overall: Overall I think it is a great game. I am a hockey fan and has always been a big fan of EA hockey games. Although EA left out a lot of options for the xbox version comapared to the pc version. Oh and I actually lose a few games, which makes playing a season alot more interesting and fun then totally dominating like previos EA hockey games of the past
Gameplay: The game play is great. Fast and full of action. It is probably the best simulation hockey game there is to date. unlike nhl hitz which is more geared toward arcade play, which is fine for those who like that type of game. But those who like to play a real game of hockey nhl 2002 is the only way to go!
Graphics: Like many others had said it seems to be a little faded compared to the pc version, the breakaway cam was a good idea. I could do with out the hit/save replay just gets anoying after the first game, but that is why you can turn that function off.
Fighting is just too quick.
Sound: I agree with the others that the commetary is real corny. Come on EA I hope you can do better than this on the nhl 2003 and what happen to importing ditties which is a feature that I enjoy on the pc version.
Suggestions: Blood? Please put blood in the next version. Fighting needs to be improved, more like nhl hitz fighting, which is the best hockey fighting game I have seen yet. update rosters with current trades in the nhl. make trading with cpu a little less one sided. over all great game guys but it's not perfect
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 80 %
Sound: 70 %
Whisper
Date reviewed: December 27, 2001.
Overall: For the Hockey fan, and Non-Hockey fans, this game is great either way, myself, I'm a hockey fan, so it was easier to score it high, but go play for yourself! I must admit, it doesn't use all of the XBOX's immense power, but it uses enough to please me, and any other gamer. The graphics are smoothed and well detailed, the facial expressions are immaculate, the movements are swift and angelic, the crowd is full 3-D, lots of things are done right in this game. On the flipside, a few minor things are done wrong, very, very wrong. After you're finished a game, for the love of god, don't just turn of your system. Why? Because the editors didn't put in an auto-save! Leaving out an auto-save doesn't seem like much, but when you play 5 games in a row, and forget to save the game manually, you will want to kick the XBOX out the window... I almost did. A longer introduction movie would be appreciated. Another small problem is the manual deking ability, but I'll get into detail later on. Overall, this game is great for everybody, as long as you can put up with some minor little blotches here and there. You will play this game until NHL 2003 comes out if you are a hockey fan, otherwise... you will be selling it for whatever it's worth in about six months.
Gameplay: Pretty much all you can do in a Hockey game. Create-A-Player, run seasons, manage teams, manage rosters, trade, and all the stuff that was in hockey games 5 years ago. On top of all this is a great interface, very easy to edit lines and do all the work you need to do before the game. The lettering is a little small in some areas, but we should all be able to read it nicely without much strain. Playing the actual hockey game is great, unlike NHL 2001, the game is well balanced when it comes to skill. In 2001, you could have it on rookie and score 20 goals, but then goto pro and get scored on 20 times. Well, they must have made some major changes, because now all my hockey games are 3-2, 2-1, 4-3, all the normal hockey scores you would expect to see. The ideal setting would have to be pro, and then play with player boosts abit. The break-a-way cam is a great feature, it really throws you into the game, but it can get a bit annoying if the game is wide open and lots of break-a-ways are occuring. Lots of people would say that sports games only appeal to people who like the sport, well I invited a friend over to play who hated hockey, and he loved playing the game. This game deserves a perfect score for ease of play, and overall enjoyability, and it gets what it deserves.
Graphics: Wow! The graphics in this game are so smooth, so crisp, and so well detailed, your jaw will drop to the floor, and your will have to get a towel to dry off the drool on your controller. The pre-game skate reminds me of when I used to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, well, I didn't but when you see this, you will think you are playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, or any other team for that matter. Unlike in 2001, when replays of goals are shown from the in-net camera, you can actually see the puck going into the net, instead of just a quick flash then a buzzer. When you're actually skating around passing, shooting, hitting, and slashing, everything is quick, and the frame-rate will never stumble, great work on the in-game graphics. There was only one noticable blotch in the graphics, when you are manually deking (moving the puck from side to side on your stick), it seems like every stick posistion is one frame, it looks like its teleporting from one spot to another. This really doesn't hurt the game because usually the action is too fast-paced for you to notice, you shouldn't be staring at the puck anyway, we all know what happens when your head is down, ask Eric Lindros. EA Sports always does well with the graphics in their sports games, and this is the best looking game on the XBOX... and yes, it's even better than Halo.
Sound: Well, what can I say about the sound, I said earlier that this game overall is a great game, but if you were ever to want to crush the CD into little pieces, it would be because of the sound. Not so much the music, the music is great, Canadian bands like Barenaked Ladies and Sum 41 play songs during the game. It's the commentary that will really cheese you off, annoying and repetative one-liners that want to make you throw up. One of the two commentators seems to enjoy telling cheesy jokes which just make me embarassed when other people are in the room with me and I'm playing. On top of that, the announcer is ALWAYS saying something stupid, he even hits on girls in the crowd... well, actually, he uses the same line over and over, you will probably hear it twice per game. It goes something like... "If you are single, tall, blonde, and make over 75 thousand dollars, I'm very available", need I say more? The only redeeming factor is the songs performed by Canadian bands... thank god...
Suggestions: Fix the manual deking, implement an auto-save like you did last year, and change the commentating and announcing, then everything will be fine.
Overall: 80 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 100 %
Sound: 60 %
Salo_Fan
Date reviewed: December 27, 2001.
Overall: The gameplay if fun but it is
basically just a PS2 port. Manual
saving? Too many negatives on this
game. The PC version is far superior.
Gameplay: The commentating is annoying and not
realistic. I do like the feather
pass though. Can't save highlights.
No user stats. Have to save your
profi
le?
Nex
t time make it up to Xbox
capibilities.
Graphics: The graphics are just fine. Of
course they are just PS2 graphics.
No where near it's capibilities.
This is a Xbox game guys.
Sound: The Canadian music rocks in this
game. It makes the game a lot more
fun to play. Bare Naked Ladies, Jet
Set Satelitte, and Sum 41 are great
bands.
Suggestions: Remember your making a game for the
Xbox, not for a PS2.
Overall: 60 %
Gameplay: 60 %
Graphics: 60 %
Sound: 80 %
yall
Date reviewed: December 27, 2001.
Overall: Great fun! EA has continually improved upon this game and this is the best version yet! Buy this product with confidence.
Gameplay: If you have ever enjoyed video game hockey, then the gameplay should feel quite natural and appeal to you.
Graphics: It seems EA has toned down the color of the graphics but the frame rates are very high, and player models are more realistic than ever.
Sound: The hits, the puck sounds, voice-overs, and the soundtrack are all easily worthy of a perfect score.
Suggestions: The only main problem with this game is the steep curve between easy and medium. But that is easily remedied by using the game setting sliders to customize youe experience. Nice job EA.
Overall: 90 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 90 %
Sound: 100 %
Docks84
Date reviewed: December 15, 2001.
Overall: The overall appeal of this game is great. I am not a huge hockey fan but when I started to play I just got hooked. I love the instant replay and everything about the game. Another great aspect of this game is the create a player mode. You have so many options you don't know what to do with all of them. You can change eye brows, eyes, nose, mouth, facial hair, skin tone, and mouth. You really have total control of creating your player. It is really great.
Gameplay: The gameplay is very easy to grasp. It won't take long for someone to get hitched to it like I did. Even if you are not a hockey fan you need to try this game. It is simply electrifying...
Graphics: The visuals for this game are great. If you have ever played NHL 2001 or 2002 for the PS2 the Xbox version will blow you away. The graphics are so much better. This is really something to see for yourself. Everyone looks so good.
Sound: The sounds is great. The hits sound real. I am truly a fan of this game now. You will really like playing this game once you get your hands on the controller.
Suggestions: I can't think of any at this moment...
Overall: 100 %
Gameplay: 100 %
Graphics: 100 %
Sound: 100 %
This major free update, which has already been successfully launched on Steam, brings a new layer of depth, strategy, and innovative gameplay mechanics to the immersive world of Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles.
Thrustmaster’s best-seller is back with a new look featuring the official license of Microsoft Flight Simulator. This complete, precise and easy-to-use hands- on throttle and stick (HOTAS) is the ideal companion for Microsoft Flight Sim 2024
Amazon Games released a new trailer on what players can expect when they first experience New World: Aeternum, including background on the history of the game.
