You have to hand
it to Sega Sports, they sure know how to make really enjoyable sports titles as it has been seen
this year with the stellar NBA 2K3 as well as the excellent NFL 2K3. And not to leave hockey fans
behind, NHL 2K3 brings intense hockey action to the mix with plenty of teams and–go ahead and let
out a loud cheer–you can play this one on the Xbox Live service . . . so trash talk is definitely
encouraged.
For those gamers
unfamiliar with the Sega Sports series from the days of the Sega Dreamcast, NHL 2K3 plays a bit more
like an arcade-styled sports game than a true hockey simulator like the kind released by EA Sports.
This game also offers plenty of modes (Quick Game, Exhibition, Season, Playoffs and Tournament) plus
the inclusion of a much-appreciated Franchise Mode. And, of course, Network (for online play).
The game’s
Franchise Mode allows gamers to take their favorite team through the trials that all teams in real
life go through. You are put in charge of everything from signing free agents and drafting new
players to the team–you also have to manage your budget carefully. There’s a calendar filled with
games for every season and nothing is more satisfying than seeing your team play all the way through
to the playoffs for the Stanley Cup. Or gamers can simply skip the seasons and go straight to the
playoffs with the Playoffs mode.
The controls are
also quite solid and are a joy to handle. Body checks can send opponents against the boards and pin
them there or you can perform a number of passes and sidesteps. There are plenty of offensive and
defensive moves and your goalkeeper is now free to move beyond his usual place directly in front of
the net. You can also make line changes if your current playing strategy doesn’t seem to be
working. The game also moves on a steady frame rate for a fast and smooth game so the game really
keeps you on your toes.
The Xbox has got a
better-looking game in comparison to the PS2 version, but the difference isn’t completely all that
different. For starters, the player models are a bit smoother with details that stand out more when
it comes to facial features and player uniforms (e.g. creases on player jerseys and helmets that
reflect stadium floodlights). The player movements are neatly natural during replays and close ups
of them. Arenas look authentic and true to the actual locations and are filled with fans wearing
the jerseys of their favorite teams.
Sound-wise, the
game has amazingly rich background sounds that are composed of cheering fans that boo the rival team
and shout out words of encouragement to their home team heroes. The PA system comes to life with
the announcer calling out the name of the players that scored a goal or to announce that the fan
sitting in a certain row and seat has just one a prize. You’ll also hear bits and pieces of music
played to get the fans all pumped up. Meanwhile, the two-man commentary team does a great job of
keeping up with the game . . . although it does tend to falter at times.
The game has just
enough multiplayer fun for up to four players on a single Xbox using most of the modes available.
The highlight of the multiplayer mode, though, is the fact that you can take the game online through
the Xbox Live service. With chat enabled, you can talk trash using your Voice Communicator while
playing a Quick Match (quickly puts you into the game with an opponent) game or an OptiMatch game
(complete with game types such as Scrimmage, Street Scrimmage or Ranked). I had no trouble finding
challengers who are eager to play and because you can add players to a Friend List, you can find
them and offer rematches.
Sega Sports has
done it again, NHL 2K3 is an exhilarating and challenging hockey game with enough action to keep
sports fans on the ice for hours. And Xbox Live subscribers will be in for a real treat when they
see how many hockey gamers are waiting to challenge them. This is the hockey game to buy if you’re
shopping around for the ultimate hockey game.
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Gameplay: 9.5
You couldn’t ask for a more solid
control design and, thanks to the arcade quality of the gameplay, the game is more focused on the
action itself rather than trying to keep the game on a strict by-the-book simulator. From the very
start the game’s arcade feel will have sports gamers hooked with the fluid and fast paced action
that only calls you out for things like icing, hooking and offsides. You can, through the options
menu, change the rules so the referee would not call any infractions at all.
Dekes, body checks
and flip passes are done with great ease and now you can pin other players to the boards the same
way it is done in real life. You can also change your teams playing style for a more aggressive
offensive and defensive approach.
Graphics: 8.8
Visually sharper than the PS2
version, NHL 2K3 is actually a great looking game. The player models, especially their faces, have
been enhanced to give them individual personalities (e.g. Philadelphia’s own Jeremy Roenick now
looks something like the real Roenick). Aside from their facial features, there is just so much
more details on a player’s uniforms and natural movements.
And just like NBA
2K3, the game has been given a ESPN televised presentation facelift, anyone that watches Sports
Center will surely be pleasantly surprised how accurately the game captures the whole thing from the
replays to the match statistics in the end. The arenas also look amazing with the ice that reflects
everything from the players themselves and the scoreboard hanging overhead. The cheering folks also
look better now that they’re slightly blurred.
Sound: 8.6
The backgrounds sounds are among
the best heard in the series, there is just so much to draw a person’s attention such as the PA
announcer and the crowd reactions. The sound goes beyond the fans just calling out for defense,
they cheer loudly and boo loudly and even shout a few remarks of their own. When players clash, you
can hear the sharp slap of the sticks or the puck as a wild shots makes it slam against barrier.
While the game
visually resembles an ESPN presentation, the sound also plays a role in completing the effect by the
manner in which the two-man team of Michael A. Carlucci (play-by-play) and Danny Mann (color) call
the game. Their commentary is usually on the money but they occasionally fall into a repetitive
cycle when it comes to certain phrases. Still, there is something magical about the way the
play-by-play guy would cut in on a comment the color guy is making when something worth mentioning
just occurs.
Difficulty:
Medium
The game offers four difficulty
settings (Amateur, Pro, All Star and Hall of Famer) and each presents its own set of challenges.
Still, it’s the opponent AI of the computer-controlled team that makes the game a worthy challenge.
The goalie is intelligent enough to rotate his position and makes desperate attempts to reach for
the puck anyway he can. Your opponents can move from passive to aggressive depending on your own
style of playing. They’re also smart enough to take advantage of you during Power Plays.
Concept: 9.5
The Xbox certainly has the better
version since the PS2 did not get online accesses (which are odd since NBA 2K3 is online for both
consoles). With so many game modes for single player action, this is definitely one of the better
hockey titles to come out. EA Sport’s NHL 2003 and Midway’s NHL Hitz 20-03 are great hockey games,
but the Sega Sports delivers a game that’s the best of both worlds: arcade action with a light dash
of a sports simulator.
The entire NHL
lineup is also available so fans of every national team will be able to play using their favorites.
And, as an added bonus, you also have the ability to select through a few jerseys worn today and
those used in the past. The best part is that you can also choose from a lineup of international
teams such as Sweden or Russia . . . just to name a few.
Multiplayer:
9.8
NHL 2K3 is even more gratifying
playing it with a group of friends since up to four players can join in on the fun in modes like
Tournament (where you can set up a tournament and have friends choose their favorite teams to play
for a tournament cup.
However, while the
multiplayer mode is really good, its the online multiplayer feature that is king. With Xbox Live
support enabled, gamers can play against literally hundreds of hockey fans ready to meet the
challenge. You can use the Voice Communicator to talk to other players (the trash talk really flies
in this one, trust me) and even place players on a Friend List to challenge them again. And you can
also post your stats too see how well you stack up with other players. This is a great way to seek
out top players and challenge them.
Overall: 9.0
Far from being a serious hockey
sim, NHL 2K3 is arcade hockey to the most satisfying extreme. With great looking graphics, solid
controls and Xbox Live support, this is the game hockey fans should be buying.
