I have been a fan of EA Sports NHL series since NHL 96. I have watched them improve the series a little every year and I always look forward to the next release.
In the past, the NHL series has been more arcade-like than a simulation of real hockey. The play was incredibly fast paced with totally unrealistic stats and certain moves that you could use to score at will. While this was all very entertaining, it didn't give the feel of watching/participating in an actual hockey game. NHL 2001 changes that.
The first thing I noticed when I started the game is the absence of the live footage set to a pulse-pounding song that has been the mark of the series in the last few years. Instead, the intro is completely rendered. I was impressed by the quality of the graphics and hoped the rest of the game measured up.
The navigation screens have not changed too much and it only took me a moment to familiarize myself with the new icons at the bottom of the screen that replaces the old sidebar menu in NHL 2000. I also took a few minutes to play with the new custom sweater/logo feature. This allows you to create a team, complete with the sweater and logo. There is a decent selection of sweater designs to choose from along with 6-8 preloaded logos. You can also import your own logo. I quickly created a team for use in a Fantasy draft, but was unable to figure out how to use it. (Will research later)
I started up a game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche to see how it played. The graphics certainly measured up to the expectations set by the opening sequence! You follow the players out of the tunnel and watch them do a short warm-up skate while the goalie roughs up the crease. The off play detail for both players and arena is incredible. The fans actually move and react, the coach is seen giving advice to the players, and the players bump and shove each other after a stoppage of play. Some of the textures are a bit strange. The players helmets are entirely too shiny and there are some other minor graphic details that detract from a realistic look, but overall, the graphics are excellent. The actual gameplay is pretty good on the default settings, but it can be made even better by customizing them! You can make the game as realistic or as arcade as your personal preferences allow by tweaking things like puck elasticity, shooting accuracy, passing accuracy, and speed burst length.
The AI is much better than previous years and the players you are not controlling actually react in a semi-intelligent manner. I won't say that there are no "sure goal" moves, but the ones that I am familiar with did not produce results. There is also a new feature called a "momentum meter". Basically, when a team scores, makes a big hit or a big save, they gain momentum. The more momentum a team has, the easier it is to MAKE big saves or goals.
The play-by-play sounds pretty much the same as it did in NHL 2000 and is ultimately forgettable (Bring back DARRYL "RAZOR" REAUGH!). The music is ok, but not great and there is a feature that allows you to import your own music. The arena sounds are pretty good and add atmosphere to the game.
In my opinion, this is the best of the series and really surpassed my expectations. If you are any degree of hockey fan, I recommend getting NHL 2001.
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