NHL Hitz 20-03

Even if Midway?s sports games aren?t usually your bag, NHL Hitz 20-03 definitely packs a surprise or two under its shoulder pads.

NBA Jam first showed that setting a sport ?on fire? with over-the-top attitude and style can be an absolute blast, but too often, those flames are more of a flash in the pan than a roaring blaze. Surprisingly, NHL Hitz 20-03 bucks this trend with an impressively deep arcade hockey game. For the uninitiated, Hitz? three-on-three hockey games have more in common with the WWE than the NHL?the action is jammed with everything from cartwheeling checks to turbo-boosted shots to, naturally, players catching on fire. You?ll score in intervals shorter than the heartbeat it?d take The Rock to stomp Mario Lemieux, and the only rule is no checking the goalie.

It?s a very familiar formula for a Midway sports game, but what elevates Hitz 20-03 above, for example, this year?s vanilla edition of Blitz, is its impressive depth on the features side. A truly intriguing Franchise mode lets you form a hockey squad from scratch and battle up through the ranks to eventually earn a berth in the NHL. You can pick your captain, assign skill points, choose your logo and equipment, and much more.

A slew of mini-games?some fun, some lame?follow the Virtua Tennis vibe and provide some refreshing alternatives, while a helpful Hockey School mode gives newbies all the lessons they?ll need. A full Season mode, a 16-player (not simultaneous) Tournament mode that?s perfect for party-game moments, and a slew of seriously deep customization options round out the roster. And of course, you?ll find the usual wacky extras ranging from rinks set on the moon to alien players. In short, there?s a whole lot of game here; the only thing missing is online play.

Hitz? colorful rinks and dramatic special effects, like the fountaining ice sprays, are its strong points. Although the player models are reasonably sharp, they suffer from a chunky look. The star-studded soundtrack, though, is a blast, offering choice tunes from top bands like Staind, Incubus, Moby, Rob Zombie, and more. Familiar Midway announcer Tim Kitzrow's workmanlike commentary does the job without wowing the crowd.

The controls almost feel like they?re borrowed from hockey?s heyday on the Genesis, which ain?t a bad thing. They?re fast, easy, and not particularly realistic, but they?re a fitting match for Hitz? style of game. Extra props go to the game?s complete roster of on-ice moves, including cool touches like guarding the puck and a fake shot that converts into a rapid-fire pass.

If you take hockey seriously, no need to apply here. But if you?re looking for rowdy, raucous action backed by unusual staying power and that familiar Midway gameplay, you?ll savor the smell of what Hitz is cooking.

Comments [0]

post a comment

Post a Comment