NHL 2004
- July 29, 2003 17:29 PM PST
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Can a new developer get EA's hockey series out of the penalty box?
After flopping last season with a gameplay style that can best be described as jumbled, EA Sports signed a new developer for its NHL series and took a fresh approach. The focus is now authentic hockey, and it?s backed by the coolest Dynasty mode yet seen at the rink. Alongside the usual player management and trades, you set the length of practice and the ticket prices while also leveling up your organization?s ?skills? at scouting, equipment, medical, and much more. Other cool new features include the top three European leagues, better and more realistic fighting, and PS2-only online play.But the ice is where the action is, and new schemes for passing, skating, checking, and deking give the game a whole new feel. Such substantial changes naturally mean that it takes time to get comfortable with the controls. The innovation behind the changes is clear, but whether they?re successful or just a finger-twister will depend on the last few months of tuning.
Both the PS2 and Xbox versions looked sharp (a GameCube previewable wasn?t yet available), and the new, more serious commentary was a relief. With the ESPN series coming on strong, NHL 2004 seems to have the advantage in features and graphics, but until the success or failure of its controls overhaul becomes clear, it remains the dark-horse pick this season.
