NHL 2004
- September 22, 2003 15:21 PM PST
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A great overhaul puts NHL 2004 back in the game.
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Sharpened Skates
Fans of the series will recognize that this edition represents a fresh start right from the drop of the puck. Everything about how the action controls and plays feels different, mostly in a good way. The innovative approach to skating and passing breaks clever new ground. Passes no longer rubber-band automatically between players?instead, the puck flies in the direction you aim with the analog joystick. It sounds simple and it is (especially with help of crafty tuning implemented since the preview version), but it really opens up what you can do with the puck. The best part is how players are smart enough to extend their stick to their physical limits to collect passes.
When skating, if you release the joystick, your player stops in a spray of ice, rather than drifting forward, which makes for nimble maneuvering. And instead of strategy-intensive play-calling, quick taps of the directional pad let you increase or decrease your offensive and defensive intensity. Even the fighting improves with a system that?s oriented around the tugging and clutching of real-life tussles.
Patched-Up Pads
The new checking system, however, is the game?s biggest flaw. You use the right analog stick to aim the hit or tap [T] to do it automatically. Unfortunately, the whole process has a spastic feel and a jerky look. Checks connect unreliably at best, which hampers a key element of the game. Switching between players also feels a bit finicky at times, occasionally not allowing you to control the player in the thick of the action.
An array of tuning sliders let you fiddle with all of these elements, and between that and a little practice, these issues can be worked around. Overall, the game is much more authentic than it used to be: Teammates play their positions more intelligently (even setting up for powerplays), the puck collides with what it should, players pin each other along the boards, and so on.
Tightly Taped Sticks
The roster of features performs strongly. An intriguing Dynasty mode puts you in the GM?s shoes as you set ticket prices, practice lengths, and player contracts while amassing points that let you upgrade everything from the team bus to the legal staff. It?s very dense and challenging in an RPG-like way, but it should appeal to fantasy-league enthusiasts. The more accessible Season mode strips away the GM?s duties, and you can also dive into some of the top European leagues.
When comparing the three versions head-to-head, the PS2 edition gets the nod largely because it alone supports online play. The only other differences are minor graphical flourishes: The Xbox game looks best by a hair, while the GameCube version is the least lovely by a smidgen.
Visually, NHL 2004 is the prettiest hockey game this season. The player faces aren?t the best, but the fluid animations, bright colors, and rich details win the beauty pageant. The audio isn?t nearly as strong, though. While the on-ice sounds, such as coaches bellowing for line changes, are cool, the two-man commentary is forced and lifeless.
The playing field is pretty level for hockey games this season, so it?s a matter of finding the flavor that suits your taste. NHL 2004 hits a nice middle ground between realism and action. The ESPN game controls more smoothly, but its technical, realistic gameplay is far more demanding, while Hitz is all about mayhem. If you were a fan of this series before it went south in recent times, you?ll be thrilled with this return to form.
