NHL 2002 Review

Let me start by saying I started playing the NHL series when it was way back in 93\' I think, but this game, by far has to be the best in the series.

GAMEPLAY
Now must complants from NHL 2001 was easily the horrid goalies!  Games ending up 32-0 21-1 27-0 ect. But this time around it seems that not only the goalies have gotten better but the over CPU is very smart.  My first 3 games in the season ended up 3-0, 2-1, and 4-3.  Very tough games, and I was only playing on Easy, (second setting).  The new saucer passes are a neat feature and can help in a lot of situations, but it does tend to get annoying when you try for a normal pass.  This time around the one-timers which are in reality about 60mph, dont seem like the 112mph shots they did in the pervous game.  The manual deke is a ton of fun to do expecially when you are on a breakaway and the breakaway cam gets turned on.  You will get used to this feature very quickly, but like most things in the game, you can turn it off you you dont like it.

SOUND
The commentary in my opinion is quite funny.  You will either love it or hate it, it has many puns and cheesey remarks to things that has happened on the ice.  But NHL 2002 has the best music a hockey game has ever had!!  Barenaked Ladies have the opening music which is Superb.  Sum 41 makes 2 apperences on the game also.  Now you can actually hear it during the actual game, and the menu music is great!

SPECIAL FEATURES
Now of course we have the breakaway cam, which is so much fun and helps a lot in finding the openings in the net.  Then they have EA Story mode which is fantastic.  The hard hit cam is fun to, you will make a hard check and the play will stop and zoom in and replay it 3 times for different angles, very cool.  Then you have the EA cards that can unlock a newer feature yet, the celebrations.  You have about 20 or so celebrations to unlock, such as the windmil, or the hero.  Those are always nice.

CLOSING
All in all, if you are a hockey fan this is a definate buy for you, no doubt.  Or if you kinda like the game, still it would be a good thing to try this one out.

Gameplay: 9.1
Sound: 10.0
Presentation: 9.0
Features: 9.5
Overall:9.4

That\'s really good to hear about the increased difficulty. That was my main complaint about the 2001 version. I\'m hesitant about this Breakaway camera, but I\'ll wait to see how it turns out.

Thanks for the review!  This is definitely on my "To Buy" list!

Thanks for the review!! It sounds great!!

It is true that the game features DTS in-game? Have you try it?

Yes it does, but i havent changed it yet, i was too much into the game.

Originally posted by square_marker
Yes it does, but i havent changed it yet, i was too much into the game.

Thanks Square. I\'m think i\'m going to the mall tonight after work to grab this one:bounce: