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.

The best hockey sim to be made in the U.S.NHL 2K2 was good but not as good as NHL 2K3.Its the most relistic one also

At last, the world of hockey has been portrayed as a simulation, rather than a slugfest. Up until now EA had been the leader in hockey, delivering a game in which you often spill over into double digits. Never before has there been a game involving a stick, a puck, and a cup that tried to be realistic. Sega felt it was time for one, so they brought up their finest star from the minors, and it has packed a punch. NHL 2K3 is jam-packed with game modes such as Quick Play, Season, Playoffs, and a Franchise mode that's deeper than the Detroit Red Wings. The controls are a real advancement for all three systems. There are three difficulty levels which allow you to gradually get used to the game. EA has scored in two sections, however. The graphics are... decent, for lack of a nicer sounding insult. The sound is ferociously terrible, as two no-name announcers take you through the game. However, the newly acquired ESPN look goes five-hole and evens the score. Everything seems as though you are watching National Hockey Night. The XBox version is the only one of the three that provides online play, through XBOX Live. Unfortunately, EA has brain-washed many hockey fans so they may not realize what a good simulation looks like, but for the few that are still out there, they deserve a copy of NHL 2K3. The Final Verdict: Sega Sports comes in on a breakaway, and scores! A game that has what it takes to overcome the EA powerhouse. Mike Salerno NYYankezrlz@aol.com

For years I have played EA Sports' yearly NHL games (since NHL '95 on the Genesis) and was satisfied for a while but as the years passed NHL became ho-hum, while the whole time being NOTHING like the real NHL. I was easily reaching double goals by the middle of the second period on All-Pro mode, there was no reference to the infamous neutral zone trap, and the spins and dekes looked like they belonged in a basketball game, nobody on skates could do what their video game counterparts were doing. I longed for a hockey game that would challenge me with the hardnose defense one-goal-margin, tie games aplenty brand of hockey that is on our television almost every night from mid-October to early June. NHL 2K3 was like a gift from the hockey gods. The graphics are right up there with NHL 2003 and the controls go much deeper than it's EA Sports counterpart. This is real NHL hockey. The only glaring problem with this and any other hockey game out there is the camera. While you can play comfortably with most of the camera angles offered, none of them are truly perfect. The ESPN presentation as with the other 2K3 games this year is excellent and while not commanding all your attention, you definitely know it's there and it gives the TV style presentation that much more oomph. The commentary at times can be a little sparse but for the most part is on top of things and the color commentator definitely does his job pointing things out to those "watching at home" while not the comedy act from NHL 2003 (loved by some hated by others) it fits it's niche very nicely. Overall this is the best hockey experience that 50 bucks can buy. Unless you live in an NHL town then that's the best hockey experience you can buy. But this is about as close as you can get to being there without having to pick your teeth up off the ice.

This game dissapointed me. I know that the other nhl 2k games sucked, but this one I thought would be much better. First off, the graphics for this game are fairly good. Um.. the graphics seem to get a tad bit better during gameplay when you change the camera a bit. So 3.5 for the graphics. The sound for this game I do have to say is one of the best. The crowd makes the right noise just at the right time, and i like that. though the comentary is pretty bad. There is one guy doing the commentary and it just gets really boring really fast. So 4.0 for the sound. The controls for this game I found easy to learn, were repsponsive and felt comfortable. So 4.5 for the controls. This game is pretty fun, but man it still needs some work. So i have to say rent this game first to see if you like it. Also don't forget this game is Live enabled, I can't tell you how that is because i don't have xbox live. So just give it a rent and see if you like it.