Pros: Still has the solid physics and gameplay from NHL 2001
Cons: Got too cartoony, annoying unfunny color commentary, Old rosters and no updates yet
The Bottom Line: If you need to have the latest version because Mario is on the box or whatever then buy it, otherwise get NHL 2001 and know you're not missing much.
EASports has a near impeccable record when it comes to hockey games. Ever since I played NHLPA 95 for the Sega Genesis I was hooked. NHL 2001 was a the undisputed king of all sports games. It didn't hurt it had Owen Nolan on the cover(GO SHARKS!). It was a beautiful game with terrific play mechanics and the ever so magnificent sliders to adjust settings so when NHL 2002 came out I knew I had to get my hands on it. Electronic Arts, how could you do this to me?!
Although the graphics and gameplay are still good and the physics are there they went a little too cartoonish on the game. Right off the bat the announcers annoyed me. The jokes were so horrible they should've been in Batman and Robin(Clooney what were you thinking?!). I clearly turned color commentary off but somehow it still appears from time to time. The breakaway camera could be cool but when you're skating in on a breakaway there's not much time to appreciate in the perspective so it too was turned off. The basics are still there, different game modes, trade/waive a player, create a mutant that is supposed to be you as a hockey player, etc...
I expected this to be a large improvement over NHL 2k1 but I think it may have actually taken a step backwards. The commentary provides no interesting hockey facts or insights and gets more annoying than regular commentary. The new features to focus in on things such as great saves and breakaways leave something to be desired. It was just a major letdown as a followup to a landmark game.
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