Customer Reviews

ESPN NHL Hockey

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been playing the EA Sports NHL series since 2000. With both user and critic reviews for NHL 2k3 and now NHL 2k4 (a.k.a. ESPN NHL Hockey) outpacing EA Sports, this was the year I made the switch. I am very happy.

I can sum up the difference between the two games with one sentence: the more you enjoy playing video game hockey true to the actual game of hockey, the more you will enjoy ESPN NHL hockey. Let me illustrate with a few examples. Passes will bounce of defender's skate and do so quite often if you don't learn to create passing lanes. You won't reverse skating directions instantaneously, so don't miss that body check on the guy with the puck or you won't catch back up to him. You won't be able to score on a spinning slap shot from the point with two defenders on you, so dump the puck instead. If it doesn't happen in real hockey, it won't happen in ESPN NHL hockey. And this is one of the greatest things about this game.

I can't really compare to NHL 2004 because I haven't played the game, but here are some things that I love about ESPN NHL hockey over NHL 2003:

1. Compete with others and download updates to roster information via Xbox live.
2. Pin a guy against the boards. This is essential to the game of hockey.
3. Puck and players can hit and interfere with refs. Very cool.
4. Penalties seem more accurate and justified. The game correctly identifies when I've personally charged a guy into the boards.
5. In general, gameplay just feels better. I can try to take a slapshot without really having the puck on my stick. You can't shoot a backhander nearly as hard as a shot from the forehand. Each time I ram into the boards, they give and there is a loud bang. Again, more realistic to the actual game of hockey.
6. Gameplay sliders allow you to adjust the game as necessary. Increase or decrease puck friction, pass completion, game speed, etc. I always love video games where the game developers realize that sliders/options give gamers customizable freedom.

Here are the two disadvantages I have found:

1. Rookie and Beginner are incredibly easy. I started winning 7-0, 8-0, 6-1, doing tons of scoring with my third and fourth lines. Then I upped the level to Pro. I'm losing 3-1, 4-0, 3-0. So there is a very big difference between these two settings. Hopefully as I become more skilled I can compete on the Pro level. But I'm still waiting for my first tie or "breakout" game on Pro.
2. The commentators are okay, comments do get repetitive and I'm not exactly sold on Gary Thorne. Sometimes he sounds like a drone. The comments beat EA Sports attempt at color commentary but I liked the announcers of EA Sports better. Sounded more natural.

Compared to EA Sports NHL 2003 offering, I'm very, VERY happy that I made the switch.

I love NHL 2k3 last year and I was so excited for this year's edition. In general I think everything bad about last year's game was fixed in this one. The new added features are a lot of fun and give you something new to try. The commentary is just amazing and is the biggest upgrade. Slicker graphics also make this game amazing. The gameplay was HARDLEY touched, but there is still one major problem (see below).
However, I still feel as if there are a few huge things missing. The online play is horrible. Every game I play seems to have a bad connection,and I'm on a good broadband connection. Also, the goalies are impossible in the higher skill levels. In 2k3 I would win about 75% of the games on Hall of Famer level and now I struggle to get a goal on All-Star. The goalies are too good as you can rattle off amazing shot after amazing shot and still fall short. Even turning down the CPU goalie skill doesn't do much. They have to fix this for next year as the skill levels offer to much of a jump.
Overall I like this game a lot and it's a good improvement from 2k3. Also, ENOUGH WITH THE SHOULDER!!

I waited with high anticipation for this game, especially after I found out that they got Gary Thorne and Bill Clement to do the play-by-play and commentary. though very pleased with the final product, there are some things that dissapointed me greatly. Some of the uniform graphics are not as smooth or as good as last year's game. But Gary Thorne and Bill Clement make for that in a big way. Thorne's play-by-play is enthusiastic and involved, and consistant. He doesn't repeat himself and comments on even the little details going on. Even commenting on the fact that the team I was playing against was changing its defensive pairings. Bill Clement is just as enthused and smooth.
I was dissapointed by a few things. Puck control. Sorry, but it is frustrating to watch my players skate round and round trying to pick up a lose puck or even ignore it when it's sitting right in front of them. The player will just sit there completely immoble staring at it!!!!! They could have done without the skybox feature. I think it was a great idea to put some of the old uniforms from even defunct teams in the game, BUT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD just let me have 'em. Don't make me go through unlocking them with endless challenges that I have to complete to get to 'em. Ok, that was my rant. In short; Keep Thorne and Clement(greatest play-by-play and commentary in hockey or any hockey game ever!) go back to last years puck control and passing, dump sky box and the challenge features and just give me the past teams and or uniforms. Yea, it's not as good as last years, but still worth when held up to NHL Face Off and NHL 2004.

I was very excited to get this game because I thought last years version was outstanding. The graphics in this years version are incredible, unfortunately the game play is not. Getting to collect a loose puck is time consuming after skating circles around the puck which is right at your feet. Your teammates' player AI is terrible and you might as well not ever try to pass out with the goaltender as most passes miss intended receivers and go directly to the other team. Ref interference is also idiotic. Keep last years version or wait to see if nhl2004 is actually good.

I have never found a hockey game for the PS2 that I've liked, I've instead opted for PC versions which are more full featured and the player controls more realistic. This is the first hockey game I've found for the consoles that gives you all the control of the PC versions and gives you the player controls that make the game playable. This game has everything from excellent graphics, excellent in-game commentary by ESPN's Gary Thorne and Bill Clement to game level tweaks that make the game more realistic to the individual user. This is by far the best hockey console game yet.

This game is by far the<--- best hockey game out right now. Graphics are unbelieveable player stamina and characteristics are so true to life. Its like watching it on tv but only im in control!!

Sega's ESPN NHL Hockey (2K4) isn't the great hockey game that it was last year. Where it has some good options and unlockables (great teams from the past), the gameplay really hurts one's ability to fully enjoy the game.

Graphically, the game looks a tad bit better than EA's NHL 2004. The sounds in the game aren't that great as well as the horrible crowd chants and rink announcer. The only good sounds comes from the play-by-play/color commentating by Gary Thorne and Bill Clement--which is the best I have ever heard (they could mention the "shoulder" a bit less, though).

The gameplay is where this game falls behind EA's NHL 2004. The animation is smooth, but very slow. Trying to perform a hook, poke check, block shot, etc. are animated so slow, that by the time the move is done--it's too late. Minor things like fighting and watching the player skate around can look really bad and silly. Other than that, the action is fierce and quick--which can be good and bad.

Where this game has an advantage over EA's NHL 2004 is in it's roster updates via online. EA's NHL 2004 updates have trades, but never includes rookies or call-ups (I play as the New York Rangers and they have a rookie, Jed Ortmeyer, who has been with the team pretty much the entire season, and isn't on any EA updates. Granted, he isn't an impact player, but that is just an example of how poorly EA's roster updates are). Sega's ESPN Hockey updates are true to the game. Every player that has played on an NHL team this season, is in the roster updates--from one game call-ups, to rookie skaters.

So, if you want a hockey game to hold you over until the next hockey season or until the World Cup of Hockey this summer, I would recommend EA's NHL 2004 over Sega's ESPN NHL 2K4 Hockey if you want a more realistic game of hockey.

At the beginning oft he year when I was deciding which hockey title to buy (choices were NHL 2004 & ESPN Hockey) I regrettably bought NHL 2004. Then after countless awesome reviews on this game it made me get this game as well. A week ago I bought it and it blew my head away. I mean this is reality hockey at your finger tips. Everything from the commentators to the sounds of the ice, this stuff is real. My dream was to one day experienced a hockey game like this. I actually have to shake my head to realize whether I'm watching a real game or playing one. Even though I did find one or two flaws, like the fights seem too unemotional, and no post game celebrations, overall the feel of this game is superb. If you are still deciding which one hockey title to buy, take it from someone who has both of them. BUY ESPN HOCKEY 2K4!!!!!!!!!!!

I usually dont like hockey games but when i read the reviews of NHL 2004 and ESPN NHL ESPN sounded way way better than nhl 2004.EVEN though espn nhl didnt have any fighting. but nhl 2004 did the fighting terribly. and when i got the game it was the best game i had ever experinced with the yells of the crowd and the boom of the hockey sticks Every thing is good about this game.So if you are a real catious shopper and are looking for the best hockey game GET ESPN NHL

This game has some of the best graphics I've seen on PS2 yet. I do however dislike the way the controller is set up. I hate having to use the analog to play. They don't even let you change all the features on the controller only the buttons. They do allow you to manage a team and hire, fire, trade and draft players which is really cool. Plus they have an air hockey game you can play, also in analog :(