Good, but not quite great.

I find myself basing my reviews more on fun factor than anything else. Let's face it, we "play" video games because we want to have fun, right? Having said that, NHL 2k3, while a fairly accurate assessment of real hockey, isn't all that fun. Why? Simply put, too much clutching and grabbing, and the goalie AI is actually too good. Real? Yeah. Fun? Nah. Honestly, 2k2 for the Dreamcast was better IMO. At least you could score with a little work. GRAPHICS: 3.5 I'm not a graphics wonk, so to speak, but I expect more from the X-box. OPTIONS: 5.0 Tons of options and a deep franchise mode. You can customize just about anything on the game, including goalie AI. Still, you need 65 shots a game to score 3 goals. GAMEPLAY: 4.0 You feel like you're skating on ice at least (unlike EA NHL). Fluid movements and solid animations are definite pluses. Advanced control options are neat as well (pinning, etc.) However, even the best skaters with great puck control get knocked off the puck with regularity. I know the NHL has regressed from its heyday of the late 80's (Gretzky, Messier, the Oilers) and early 90's (Lemieux, Jagr, the Pens), but how about a little more open-ice passing and actually having time to set up all the strategies you're given to work with? FUN FACTOR: 3.5 Just because it's real doesn't make it all that fun. If you like spending hours with the nuances of the left-wing lock, this is your game.