NHL 2002

"A little of this, a little of that."

Visuals- 8/10

The players are very well modelled. Though I wouldn't go so far as to say they are spitting images of their real life counterparts, most of them should be recognizable to the casual player. The animations are a mixed bag-- while some animations and transitions are virtually seamless (such as players skating backwards, doing crossovers, and making a wrong-footed wrist shot), there are still many niggles that I doubt will ever be ironed out of hockey games. Goalie saves still look phony and herky jerky. Check animations run on a rail and repeat endlessly-- if it isn't the mctwist backflip, it's the simple drop like a sack of potatoes, with little inbetween. Also, NHL needs to take a lesson from the Fifa franchise which has the wisdom to include idle animations for players during stoppages of play. After an offsides call, players still stand at attention, hands clutching the sticks, blade to the ice. Occasionally the goalie will do some stretches, but generally the players just skate around and check each other between stoppages. It would add a great flare of realism if players just sort of put their elbows on their knees and glided over to the next face off. The game also ignores several details that I have been waiting for and waiting for since the genesis days, the first being the single referee on the ice. It's time to put the linesmen out there. Modern CPU's can handle two extra characters on the ice. It's time to put them in the game. Another is how the game handles sticks. It is a reality of ice hockey that players break sticks or lose their sticks. I think it's time to put this in the game as well. And on a lesser note, how about a true broadcast camera, one that cuts to a view from the corner when the puck goes into the boards. I think the developers need to pay just a shade closer attention to televised games when putting their sequels together. The franchise still has a ways to go.

Sounds 6/10

Turn the commentary off. The crowd will do, the rink announcer will make you want to shoot yourself. A hard slapshot sounds like a cannon blast. Passes and skating sound fair-- checks sound like someone dropping a grand piano from the top of the Chrysler Building. So it's up to you if you like that sort of thing-- I certainly don't.

Gameplay- 5/10

The breakdown-- players play as if they are desperate to get rid of the puck. Compare an NHL 2002 game to an actual ice hockey game. The players in reality behave as if they are in control of themselves. The players in NHL 2002 scramble without grace or elegance. They pass with the frequency of weasels on methamphetamines. They never hold the puck, bring it out to the point, wait for a play to form. The never pull up behind their own goal. They never bear down slowly, waiting for the goalie to commit. They never allow themselves down time to set up. they are just go go go, and it detracts from the realism.

Also, it would appear that scoring goals is not the result of hard work, good planning, and seizing an opportunity. To be honest, it seems quite arbitrary. For every beautifully executed three on one situation that results in a goal, you'll score two from behind the red line. The game does not really reward careful or intelligent playing. The more you shoot, the more you'll score. The goalies have been souped up far too much. they are now un-fake-out-able. They won't commit to a save if you deke. They won't lag after a pass to the point. They won't give up to the wrap around. None of the scoring opportunities generated in actual hockey are successful in NHL 2002. The only successful strategy is to overload the goalie with shot after shot after shot after shot after shot after shot after rebound after rebound after rebound after rebound.

In short, Nhl 2002 reflects none of the finesse required to succeed in actual hockey, and this really detracts from the fun level. I don't really see how someone might call themselves ''good''at NHL 2002. As far as I can tell, as long as you mash the buttons, one player is just as good as the next. It's one step away from a button masher. Which is a shame, being that Hockey is one of the more graceful sports in America today.

The deke button is virtually useless.

Buy or Rent--

Well, you can't rent PC games, and it's not worth a purchase.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 05/07/03, Updated 05/07/03