Ever wonder why sports games year after year always seem to have different improvements in the same areas but, never really get it all together? Personally I think that is on purpose so they can keep getting you to buy the next years version year after year. Well, they got me hooked on that system year after year and I'm still enjoying the games. A few improvements have made this the better game of the series but, I still think they need to do a little improving in some areas. For those of you that are true hockey nuts they have the new rule of one point awarded to the losing team of an overtime game. The biggest changes in 2001 is being able to tweak the game settings to your liking and playing your own music from your computer in the game.
GAME PLAY AND GRAPHICS The game play is even better then the earlier versions which I'm impressed with considering how real the game looked and played already. The flow of the game will greatly depend on your 3D card in 2001 where this demand was not so emphasized in the earlier games. They do accommodate this with the ability of changing the level of graphics to a higher level. I have 2 computers that I always place my games that I purchase on before writing an Epinion to get a better feel for other users. One of course is much faster than the other with a better 3D card. I could play the game with the same smoothness on both systems, but of course with a definite downgrade in graphics on the slower system. You will still be impressed with the graphics on a slower system but, it will make you itch to see it with a better 3D card. You will have a problem on the pause settings while playing a game running slow with the graphics set high with an ok 3D card but, no trouble moving around the menus of NHL 2001. All together what ever system you have you will be very impressed with the game play in this game!
The graphics are improved but, again you need a good 3D card to fully enjoy them. Seeing the player expressions and even blinking makes the feel of the game more real. I'm still waiting to see the ice not cut up when the players come onto the ice at the beginning of the game or after an intermission then slowly getting cut up but, that's ok. You have 4 options to play with for the graphics and they are; the players and the arena while the game is being played and the players and arena while there is a break in the actions. I recommend, on average 3D cards, turning the graphics to half on the in game settings and all the way up on the intermission settings. There are many new cut scenes which you should have no trouble seeing them with full graphics on any computer and they are quite amazing. During the game cutting the graphics down on the players and the arena you won't really even notice. Heck, you will be playing not looking at the ice and stands. The 2001 version will make you feel like you are at the real thing better then ever!
AI SETTINGS This is the best improvement in NHL 2001. You can change the settings on skating options, checking options, pass and shoot options, and puck options. In the skating options you can set the speed of the game to faster or slower, how much of a speed burst you get, how long that a speed burst will last, and how fast a player will fatigue. In the checking options you set how aggressive the players are, how frequent injuries accrue, and the hitting power of the players. The pass and shoot option include how easy it is to intercept passes, how accurate the passes are, the speed of the passes, and of course shot accuracy. And finally, in a more playful manner, you can adjust the puck electricity and puck friction. Also, in this option you can adjust retain puck, and goalie rebounds. All of these are set higher or lower or more or less. A very nice change in that you won't find it so easy to score after the first few days you play. Try out all of these a little at a time to get the feel for each one and you should have no trouble finding the settings to make the game play exactly as you wish.
COMMENTARY & SOUNDS The next best improvement, or add on, in the game is the sounds and music. For those not familiar with the NHL series of EA. Sports well, this is what makes the hockey series stand out from the other sports games. The commentary is as good as ever giving you non stop play-by-play, player reports, and with your basic slam on someone. Unfortunately there are some bugs in here that were never here before. Such as your team and your opponents team are always coming off a grueling road trip even if both teams played at home there last game. Another is, a lot of the times your last game was tie no matter what the score was (sometimes the commentators get this one right). With all the things that they still get right (everything else) it is no problem to look away from this. The commentary is still the best in the sporting game business!
The sound is as good as ever. Hearing every bone crunching hit, slap shot, the glass shaking for the puck or a body (no more glass breaking), or just down to the crowd chanting your team name. Not really any improvements here compared to earlier versions of the game but, again if you are not familiar with the game, some of the best of any sport game. There are some little add-on's you will notice after a couple of games such as the coach yelling at the players, players talking to one another in the penalty box, and more people talking from the stands. You can still import your own taunts. Anyone that doesn't have a headset or good speakers I suggest purchasing one or the other. You will miss some of the sounds without.
DITTY IMPORTER The music is good like always but, the big difference with this game from previous versions (and any other game out there) you can import your own music to play. I couldn't believe this when I saw this. You can actually import your own MP3 files, wavs, and a few more files into the game. These can be used for the music while you are in the menus picking what kind of game you want to play or just looking at stats or your team. You can also change the music when there is a break in the action, end of a period, during a fight, when the home team scores a goal, when the home team or the away team has a penalty called on them, when the puck goes over the glass, if the time is running out for the visiting team and they are loosing, and when a team wins the Stanley Cup. You need to go to www.easports.com to get the Ditty Importer (Their name for this) in order to do this. It's a small download to get the importer that can import your files into the game. There is even an option to adjust the echo of the music or wave that you want to make it truly sound as if you were in a stadium atmosphere. Also, you can have the music fade in and out like they do at the actual games. There is a very nice help section included with this to make it really easy to use (unlike importing your own faces). This feature gives you a chance to really make the game fit you. I sure hope other games take this idea and use it as well!
MOMENTUM Another nice added feature is the momentum meter. The more big plays your players perform the more momentum your team will get. Some ways of getting the momentum is with big hits, great saves, or just lots of quick shots. With a higher momentum your team will be slightly enhanced until the momentum switches. Of course if you don't find this feature to your liking you can turn it off.
THE CONTROLS The basic control buttons are the same for shooting, passing, winning face-offs, hooking, changing players, body checking, dishing out a big hit, and faking out your opponent with a nice deke. However, they have added a couple of new options that you can customize into your controller if you wish. Here are all the additional mappable controls; coaching strategy, coaching pressure, spin left or right, dump shot, goalie control, and pull goalie. The new spin moves actually will work and look pretty damn cool when you get one to work. The defender will be faked out of his skates. All together the controls are as easy as ever to learn and master. Being the goalie is (to me) the most fun part of the game and as in 2000 it is pretty hard but, with all the AL settings in 2001 you can adjust the game to make it possible to be the goalie. NHL 99 was the easiest version to be the goalie in my book.
COACHING AND GM MODE The GM mode is where the improvements need to made. Very little difference made in 2001 compared to the earlier games. You have your basic rookie draft and free agent signings, but still no salary cap. Why EA. Sports has salary caps in their basketball and football games and not hockey is beyond me. Trading from player to computer controlled teams and computer to computer trades are good but, computer to player trades are awful. Not only does the computer offer you ridiculous trades but, they offer the same trade over and over again. The rookie draft is the same however there is one thing different about free agent signings. When you click on a player to talk to and try and sign there will be a happy face in the player box. This will tell you how likely it is that you will sign the player (a nice addition). Also, you can trade for or away your draft picks. Another thing I like. In all the GM mode needs improvements but, they seem to be getting closer.
The coaching options are the same where you can set the formation of your players on offense, defense, on the power play, and on penalty killing. You can also change the offense and defensive pressure. They still have the diagrams and the explanations about each formation so you can understand them better. Nothing different here at all but, still in depth enough.
CUSTOM TEAMS You can still build 2 teams any way you want to but, there is more jersey options than before. You can also import your own logo for the jersey. Being able to rename the teams' city is also nice. The rest is the same but, I liked the changes that they have made. Just wish there was more teams you could play with rather than just 2.
MULTIPLAYER Playing the game on the Internet is as easy as 1-2-3. All you need to do is, get on-line, load the game, hit multiplayer, and you're off. If you can get a few people that you know or like playing the game with then you really should make your own on-line league. It really is a blast. Of course, your Internet connection will have a say on how the game looks and plays in multiplayer action but, just turn down the graphics and you should be just fine.
BOTTOM LINE There is enough of a change in the 2001 version of EA. Sports NHL Hockey to make it a worthy purchase. Missing the boat on a few things but, with the new features and additions they added more than well makes up for it. I can't stress enough how sweet it is to put your own music into the game and hearing them all the time during the game. And the new AL settings is a very welcome addition stopping the game from getting too easy after the first few days.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.