Eski33
09-13-2003, 10:15 PM
Since ESPN NHL Hockey is not listed in the review page, I wanted to share my thoughts on this game for those that may be interested.
I don't know how Sega does it and why EA can't, but ESPN Hockey is improved so much over last year's game that you wouldn't even know it was made by the same company. I have broken down the game in the following:
GAMEPLAY: The gameplay is incredible. It plays similar to last year's title in terms of control, so those familiar will fit right in. Of course, having played football the past two months I had to get used to the hockey controls again. The difficulty level is challenging and plays for a great simulation hockey experience. Sure, you are going to get plenty of shots on goal, depending on how you adjust the difficulty sliders. This game fells, looks and sounds like hockey.
PRESENTATION: If you have played ESPN NFL Football, expect the same ESPN presence in this game. Although I haven't played a season game to see if highlights are shown of other games, the voice talent of Bill Clement and Gary Thorne instantly transform your system into an evening of ESPN hockey. The menus are exactly like the NFL game, which is nice so you are not having to learn, or deal with, an entirely different system.
GRAPHICS: With as well as last year's game played, the biggest gripe was with the graphics. Although they weren't horrible, they could have been improved. Well, let me say that the graphics are incredible. The arenas are much lighter so you can see the colors of the jerseys, the sheen of the ice and the excellent player faces. Major leaps over last year. The animations are fast and smooth and the arenas are incredible with working Jumbotrons and animated scoreboards along the balconies. Awesome.
EXTRAS: NHL has the Skybox. It is similar to the Crib in NFL but it works more like NCAA Football and Madden cards where you earn points for each accomplishment (win a faceoff, score a goal, etc.) and you can buy unlockable items with these points. Your Skybox can be customized with your favorite team apparel and comes with an air hockey table. A great addition that adds some fun to playing an already sweet game.
FINAL: This is the best hockey game I have played. I haven't tried EAs game so the real test will come when NHL 2004 is released. I believe that both Sega and EA are moving in the right direction but it seems, in the early going, that Sega is making bigger leaps. This is money well spent.
I don't know how Sega does it and why EA can't, but ESPN Hockey is improved so much over last year's game that you wouldn't even know it was made by the same company. I have broken down the game in the following:
GAMEPLAY: The gameplay is incredible. It plays similar to last year's title in terms of control, so those familiar will fit right in. Of course, having played football the past two months I had to get used to the hockey controls again. The difficulty level is challenging and plays for a great simulation hockey experience. Sure, you are going to get plenty of shots on goal, depending on how you adjust the difficulty sliders. This game fells, looks and sounds like hockey.
PRESENTATION: If you have played ESPN NFL Football, expect the same ESPN presence in this game. Although I haven't played a season game to see if highlights are shown of other games, the voice talent of Bill Clement and Gary Thorne instantly transform your system into an evening of ESPN hockey. The menus are exactly like the NFL game, which is nice so you are not having to learn, or deal with, an entirely different system.
GRAPHICS: With as well as last year's game played, the biggest gripe was with the graphics. Although they weren't horrible, they could have been improved. Well, let me say that the graphics are incredible. The arenas are much lighter so you can see the colors of the jerseys, the sheen of the ice and the excellent player faces. Major leaps over last year. The animations are fast and smooth and the arenas are incredible with working Jumbotrons and animated scoreboards along the balconies. Awesome.
EXTRAS: NHL has the Skybox. It is similar to the Crib in NFL but it works more like NCAA Football and Madden cards where you earn points for each accomplishment (win a faceoff, score a goal, etc.) and you can buy unlockable items with these points. Your Skybox can be customized with your favorite team apparel and comes with an air hockey table. A great addition that adds some fun to playing an already sweet game.
FINAL: This is the best hockey game I have played. I haven't tried EAs game so the real test will come when NHL 2004 is released. I believe that both Sega and EA are moving in the right direction but it seems, in the early going, that Sega is making bigger leaps. This is money well spent.