NHL 2003

"Better than 2002, but still lacking..."

A little background, I've been playing EA's NHL games since the very first one back on the Genesis. Over the years they've continued to innovate the game series, and I've been there, most years playing a full 82 game season (once the season mode was added that is :-) at 60 minute game lengths.

With this history, I feel safe saying that NHL on the PS2, though improved mildly in this incarnation, is still far, far below the pinnacles that were set with the late PSX versions.

A detailed breakdown:

Starting up the game in years past, one was treated to a highlight reel of great plays from the previous season, with some appropriate music playing in the background, and so forth. This served to set the tone for the game, and build up excitement. When I play my old PSX NHL games I still feel the need to sit through the intros every time I kick them up, because they were just that good; sadly, this tradition has gone by the wayside in recent years, and the intro to NHL 2003 is the worst yet, with just a few NHL players doing the ''If it's in the game...'' bit...not an impressive prelude.

Kicking up the game initially I was also annoyed with the little advertisements for the licensed rock music, and by the music itself, so I made a point of turning it off, though the boxes still kick up, even though I can't hear the music any more.

Starting up a quick game the visuals are as impressive as all the PS2 NHL games, unfortunately, that's where the impressive factor ends. The intro, showing your star players walking out of the locker room thinking about the great plays they'll be making against the opposition is entertaining the first time, but after 10 games or so it gets incredibly repetitive, as it's always the same players, making the same moves.

The in game graphics are a slight improvement on 2002, with more animations for the new deke option as controlled by the right analog stick, and definite improvements have been made to the arenas. One of my biggest gripes in years past about the visual look, was that EA didn't seem to pay very much attention to the little details that give arenas their flavor. As a Toronto Maple Leafs fan I was annoyed to see the old banners that still hang in Maple Leaf Gardens hung up in the new Air Canada Centre, thankfully, this transgression has finally been fixed. I noticed several other arenas with more true to life detailing this time around as well, so kudos to EA on that front.

The game play though...the game play is what will make or break a sports game, and, NHL 2003 is broken by it, just like it's other PS2 brethern were. The initial settings for the game as hideous, very slow and clunky. With some fiddling you can speed the game up to a more ''classic'' EA speed, but the physics are still horribly off, players can start and stop on a dime, and inertia and momentum never seem to enter the equation, a far cry from the last PSX games that has beautifully done momentum, where you could almost feel the skates digging into the ice when you made a turn at full tilt.

The new deke feature is well and good if you have the game set at slow pace, but at faster speed it's nigh impossible to use it for any constructive purpose, and there's way too much focus on one on one breakaway cams and special angles. Again, you can shut these special cameras/features off, and I heartily recommend it, as I found them incredibly annoying and flat out unfair one on one because they restrict the view of the ice and make it very difficult for your opponent to make a defensive play.

Fights also continue the PS2 tradition of being zero skill ''Rock Em' Sock Em' Robots'' style mash-a-thons. Oh for the days of the PSX where you could actually block, back off, and use some skill to win fights with your friends. The new ones are so badly done that I choose to turn the fights option off as well...a sad day indeed.

The one thing I do like about the new version is that one timers have been restored to their former glory. The number one complaint I had with 2002 was that the slapshot seemed to be the only way to score, 2003 rectifies this to a large extent, if you take good one timers, they'll start going in, I was very glad to see EA fixing this huge gameplay issue.

I finally have to continue the oft voiced complaint about lack of historical teams, arenas, and players. EA has had this included in their Madden and NBA games for years, so why not the hockey franchise? As a fan of the classic jersey option (my friend Scott also loves this, since he can play with his beloved Winnipeg Jets again!) I don't understand why it would be difficult to render the old original 6 arenas, Le Colisee in Quebec City, and other now gone homes. Additionally, why not classic players? Why not take Maurice the Rocket Richard out for another season? Have Johnny Bower manning the net? Have Gordie Howe grinding out another 10 seasons? Hockey fans love classic options like this just as much as other sports fans, and I'm at a loss to understand why EA can't include these kinds of details.

In summary, NHL 2003 mildly improves on 2002, but for my money NHL 99 is still the pinnacle of this franchise. The PS2 NHL series badly needs an infusion of real-world physics, and classic options, with a lot less focus on fancy cameras and such.

Improvements:
- One Timers restored to former glory
- Some arenas improved

Issues (On-Going or New)
- Real World Physics lacking
- Too many special cameras, ''arcade'' style focus
- New deke feature relatively useless except at slowest game speed
- Fighting reduced to button mashing
- Intro hideous
- Omnipresent advertisements for in-game music
- Classic players, arenas, teams still missing

5/10

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 12/06/02, Updated 12/06/02