ESPN NHL Hockey
- August 11, 2003 00:00 AM PST
A new brand name hasn�t squelched Sega�s flair for hockey�ESPN NHL Hockey is the preseason pick.
NHL 2K3 swept to the forefront of hockey last season, and ESPN NHL Hockey, its freshly re-named successor, seems primed to continue the streak. The ESPN presence plays a much bigger role, right down to top announcers Bill Clement and Gary Thorne calling the action. As in ESPN�s NFL game, a crib-like Skybox tracks your stats, unlocks old-time jerseys and teams, showcases your trophies, and even offers mini-games. First-person gameplay won�t be making its debut this season, but online action will be available in both the PS2 and Xbox versions.The developer�s aim this season was to make the game more accessible by building in a few more action/arcade elements while still retaining the sim-style realism that earned the series its reputation. Leading the charge is the a solid Franchise mode and the new All-Star Challenge events, which are available as engaging mini-games. The on-ice action also benefits from some slick tuning, including making the goalies less perfect and goals a bit more frequent. Overall, the scouting report shows that ESPN will probably be the top pick this season. It may not have as many whiz-bang new features as NHL 2004, but the graphics got a solid facelift, and the action feels comfortable and well-tuned.
