"Out of the five NHL games I own, this is the bomb!"

This is, simply put, one of the best NHL games out there. ...Yes, it's true, I own 5 hockey games. 2 on SNES and 3 on N64. Anyway, this game has fairly updated rosters, good gameplay, good animation, fair commentary, a PA announcer with a sense of humor, (''Hey, fans. Want to be like your favorite NHL stars? Well, you can't. So there.'') and great sounds. ...Enough with the intro...

Gameplay: 10/10
EA Sports always has been focusing on gameplay, rather than graphics. The controls are easy to know, but unlike NHL 96, you can no longer score from the side of the goal, which really bites, but it ain't easy in hockey to score. They have a feature that I'm brand new to, which you can earn (!!!) GOLD MEDALS ni! ...In. Sorry. Anyway, the Shootout mode is the mode I use for head-to-head games against my sister (We're both sore losers, so she really gets ticked when I win.) and the special Beginner mode is a swell idea. Instead of the Practice mode that I'm used to in NHL 99, I can now actually practice my fighting. Speaking of fighting, it's a real tough feature. Before, in NHL 96, in order to win, you had to hang back and charge your opponent and just keep tapping Y. Now, ya gotta back off and time your punch just right. Of course, I'm not complaining. Try playing NHL Blades of Steel 99 and get in a fight. Then you'll see what I'm talking about! Anyway, you can do trades, create players, and change line-ups in between games. You still have injuries, but now, no penalties are handed out... The codes are useless (Too bad there aren't any secret teams...) but have funny effects. The players do Spin-o-ramas, as do, of all things, the goalies. (?!) And finally, you can see your wether your opponent is on a hot streak, no streak, or a cold streak.

Graphics: 8/10
The logos are right on, the size makes a difference, and there are actual visors! Plus, they look real, but... They all look like Eric Lindros or Chris Pronger. Change the face a bit!

Animation: 9/10
There are always some glitches. But not too many as far as the animation goes. The frame rate never decreases or increases, and the animation is crisp and fluid. No much else to say.

Sound: 8/10
Glitches galore! Bill, the commentator, sometimes will say things at the wrong time or say the wrong things. I've scored a goal and have him say ''Nice try! No goal.'' Weird. Well, at least they got the sound effects down pat, and the music is good.

Replay value: 4/5
The fact that you don't have to worry about losing your rosters is great, and you can set up your own tourney, really adds to the replay value. Could've worked on the Stanley Cup celebration a bit, though.

Final Judgement: 9.999/10
Excellent, thorough (spelling for sure) game. With 26 NHL teams, 2 All Star teams, and 18 International teams, you got a lot of teams to play. Shootout will take forever if you have Team USA against Team Canada, though, so try that if you feel like watching the TV for an hour or so. The major annoying factor here is the fact that you need a clear Controller Pak to save a darn season, which really bites. Still, it's an excellent game, and one I play a ton.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/22/03