ESPN NHL Hockey 2K4

If you know all the words to ?I Wanna Drive the Zamboni,? ESPN NHL Hockey is your game.

In recent seasons, Sega?s 2K series swept to the forefront as the ?game to get? for hockey purists. Along with a freshly minted name, this year?s edition comes with some fun mini-games, sharper graphics, and an impressive use of the ESPN license. But at its core, ESPN NHL Hockey 2K4 still remains focused on what it has delivered so beautifully over the past few years: challenging, highly realistic action.

Do You Play Hockey?
ESPN NHL isn?t really for casual hockey gamers. It?s geared toward players who have the sport mastered and deploy that knowledge to score?so not surprisingly, it?s a tough game. Banging the puck down any open lane to the net will not light the lamp?you have to know how to set up a shot and when to take it. If you do, the game?s deep authenticity is immensely rewarding. If you don?t, it can be frustratingly hard.

The most noticeable change in this edition is how the ESPN presence is felt everywhere without being cloying. The menus, scores, and stats are all presented in the trademark ESPN style, and best of all, Bill Clement and Gary Thorne call the action. With two of the most famous voices in hockey commentating, every game feels big, and they do their job well with lively, well-varied remarks.

The game also takes a step toward the more mainstream by re-creating the All-Star Skills Competition as mini-games. User profiles are tracked in the Skybox, which, much like the Crib in its NFL counterpart, displays all your stats, unlockables, trophies, and more in a luxury suite.

Alongside the usual modes and features, the series? Franchise mode continues to be one of the best. It has a glossier interface than last season?s, but you still mainly focus on haggling player contracts and developing a pool of talent in the minors. It?s fun and deep without getting wrapped up in the RPG-like contortions of EA?s Dynasty mode.

Well, I Play Air Hockey, Ball Hockey...
Another high point of this series is that it?s the only one to support online play on both the Xbox and PS2. The catch is that there?s no GameCube version, and unlike ESPN?s NFL and NBA games, the online play (mini-games included) is limited to mere single-game matches. Beyond that, you?d be hard-pressed to spot any differences between the nearly identical PS2 and Xbox versions.

The feel of this game will also be appealing to experienced hockey gamers?the only downside is that its line-change and strategy menus should be easier to employ. Once the action?s underway, however, ESPN NHL is old school all the way in its approach to passing and skating, but it offers the most extensive array of moves, and everything just handles butter-smooth. For sheer playability, its controls rule.

On the graphics side, ESPN NHL supplies a solid upgrade, though it won?t leave you dazzled. The player faces are pretty close to the real thing, though at times their movements seem a bit stiff and robotic.

?Hockey All the Time. Fake Shots!
When the whistle blows, the rink has three solid teams from which to choose. ESPN NHL will score biggest with hardcore fans who dig its technical feel and realism, even though EA?s new passing and skating schemes are one of the year?s coolest innovations. Hitz is its polar opposite, focusing on the joy of hockey?s rougher side and scoring goals hand over fist, while EA?s game nicely occupies the middle ground. But if you?re passionate and knowledgeable about the sport, ESPN NHL is a first-round pick you won?t regret making.

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