Customer Reviews

NHL 2001

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This review is divided in to two parts -- those new to the game and those who are questioning whether to upgrade from NHL 2000.

NEW: My recommendation is without a doubt to purchase this game. It has cutting-edge, realistic graphics (shapes are not perfect but players faces are), very advanced commentary (immediately after something happens), and every possible statistic is covered. All teams are included and rosters are current. Stadiums are exactly as they are in real life. You can create players, import faces from a picture on to hockey players, and also create game jerseys.

NHL 2000 USERS: I'm in this category, and I lived off NHL 2000 for a year. I bought 2001 and started on Pro level expecting to pick up where I left off. Not the case. The game plays more like NHL 1999 (harder to score). I was the master of the wrap-around the net and it is extremely hard in 2001. 2001 includes several more camera angles, similar commentary (Huson & Clement), improved player detail, improved face importing, jersey creation, and the "momentum shift" attribute where it's easier to score if you have the momentum (I like this addition). To me, it was worth the upgrade alone because of the two new expansion teams and to get the rosters current. It's frustrating to get beat 11-1 on Pro the first time I play this, expecting to cruise like I did in NHL 2000. But I figure my interest in the game will last longer if I have to learn how to win all over again. And it will keep my season record realistic.

I didn't think EA could do much to improve on NHL 2000, but my recent purchase of NHL 2001 has shown me just how limited my thinking was. 2000's graphics were fantastic, but they pale beside 2001's, which are more fluid, more detailed, and sharper. I am amazed at how improved the graphics are over a game that blew my mind a year ago. The off play sequences (players chatting, coaches instructing their lines, etc.) are pretty cool, and they combine with great arena sounds and visuals to present ipmressive realism. So far, I have found the game more difficult than 2000 (players complained universally about how easy 2000 was), the AI seems improved, the computer players are more aggressive and smarter, and the goalies are good.

Also on the plus side, the game is MUCH more customizable than 2000. Virtually every game option (period length, skills, fighting, penalties, game speed, speed burst, etc.) works on a slider, so that should keep the game challenging. 'Face in the Game' is back, as well as some cool third jerseys and all of the GM options that were available on 2000. The online option has been given special attention, too, so that should be more stable than it was with 2000.

My major complaint (the reason why I only give it four stars) is the new 'create a jersey' option. I assumed, mistakenly, that I could invent a franchise and insert it into my league play. This doesn't appear to be the case. Unless you import a logo, you are limited to nine or ten default logos that you can place on jerseys that already exist for NHL teams. You can't insert these teams into your season. Very disappointing.

Anyway, this game is a genuine improvement on NHL 2000, and is certainly worth picking up if 2000 has become too easy or if you're interested in fast hockey action with beautiful graphics and loads of gameplay options. Highly recommended.

I never watch hockey and I never play hockey but this game is still appealing to me. The graphics are the best I have ever seen in any game ever made. You may think that this game only looks great on the PS2 but it actually looks better on my computer than on a PS2 (but then again my computer is much faster than the PS2). The graphics will make you start playing this game and the gameplay with keep you playing it.

If you have never played any of the games in the NHL series, I suggest you run out and grab this game, because you are missing one heck of a title. As for many people they have played many of the older versions of this game, and the first thing you will notice about 2001 when you install it, is that there was no fancy install sequence like pretty much every previous version has had. Not to sure why this was left out, too much space? Ran out of production time? Who knows. Once you get into it, the menus are kind of plain, but the graphics are a bit better, and the movement is a little smoother. One direction I don't like, is the use of streaks behind the pucks, and some other "arcade" like features. Sure they want to make the games more fun, but what I have loved about these games are how relistic they are. Oh well, got to make some trade offs I guess. All in all, I think it is quite a bit better than 2000, and I'm glad I have it!

Last year's EA NHL game was the best looking one to that point. This year, they've gone a step further. I won't go into a lot of detail here but let me say this: you will not find a better looking hockey game anywhere. Players talk to each other between faceoffs, lights are reflected in the helmets and the skating animations are better than last year.

As for game play, it's not really a whole lot different than we've seen before. Simple button use is customizable if you want more options than 4 and the learning curve is fairly small.

Neat new features include a momentum meter to show how the game is flowing, a custom jersey creator (which is much more limited than the name implies) and a shootout mode.

Overall, if you are looking to be blown away by the next generation of NHL by EASports, you WILL be disapointed. If you've never played one of EA's hockey entries, you will be mightily impressed. If you can't decide which hockey game to play, this is the one.

Well, another year, another hockey game. After my hockey game crase started on NHL 98 - 2000, I've been craving more. This is what I was wating for. One of the things that caught my eye was Nolan on the front of the box. And then, playing the demo from pc game world, I was downright amazed. Some of the improvements in the in-game area are the people in the arena. They are all individually and fully animated. Woah. The coaches and managers all talk to their benched players, on-ice conversation is common, and the motions are 100000 times as realistic as any other. "As a gamer, it is your duty to own this game." -Greg Vederman, PC Gamer

I first got NHL 2000 from a free software giveaway, and I was hooked from the start! So when I got the chance, I grabbed NHL 2001 and played it quick. A lot of things are different. First, there's the addition of Minnesota and Columbus, as well as the International teams (It felt great to lead the Blue Jackets to the Stanley cup in their first year, and to make the U.S. team world champions!) There has also been a lot more detail added. My favorite feature is at the beginning of every game--You see the players walk out from the locker room with determined looks on their faces and go flying out onto the ice. The detail is just amazing, and the facial expressions on the players is the best part. It's great to deliver a crushing body check to Marty McSorley and watch his grimace close-up on slow-mo replay as he goes tail over teakettle onto the ice! Three things I miss from 2000: 1) No video replay (too many times I've been scored on by players in the goal crease 2) No helmet-popping hits (it was so much fun to check a guy so hard his helmet went flying) 3) No checking players through the glass--At least, I've never been able to do it. I also don't care for how slow the gameplay is on my primitive computer--I ache to try it out on a faster machine.

Get ready to cross check people into the boards. Prepare yourself for hard hitting hockey action. This has to be the best Hockey game of all time. The graphics are unbelievable and the game play never gets boring. Instead of a one year season there are franchises. With the franchise mode you can start your own power house dynasty. There are so many features to this game. You can even create your own jerseys and upload your own logos. It also brought back its old friend, the face uploader. They added many features to the game itself, such as the momentum bar, which can turn the game around. Plus there is also a hard hit feature which will make opponents flip all over the place. The game is so realistic and is just a blast to play. You'll feel good when you fling the puck behind the goalie and watch the red light go on. This game has everything a hockey fan can want. So buy this game and start on your way to the Stanley Cup.

I really haven't checked out earlier or later (due to system requirements being too high) versions of EA Sport's NHL games for the PC, but this will do quite nicely for a long time, even if I do get that faster, better computer someday. As it is, on my Pentium III 600mhz, with 10g hard drive, 256ram, and 4mb 3d video card (pretty low specs these days, but good enough for now), this runs perfectly, and is the ONLY hockey game you really need for the price. I even find it hard to imagine you CAN get a much more realistic hockey game on the PC, at any price.

The graphics in this game are excellent. They rival anything I've ever seen on any PC or console. Some of the cinematic scenes, like at the beginning of a game when both teams take the ice, almost look like a real TV game. Those used during the game itself aren't too shabby either. As one who sharpened his ice skates on previous incarnations of NHL games such as those on the old Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Genesis, and even PSOne, the graphics here blow all the rest off the ice by a long shot.

The opening little "movie" scene itself is a joy to watch again and again, with great music and visuals and even after playing the game so many times, I still love to watch it. It will really "pump" you up for some NHL hockey.

The sound effects, crowd noise (and reactions), and announcers are all great too. Customization galore here. You can play not only all the NHL teams but various international ones as well. You can even create your own team, customize jerseys, and even paste your own picture (or any other) as a face on a player. You can make the game hard or easy and everything in between, there are numerous camera angles you can try, and a great replay system. You can play a quick game, tournament, season, try shoot outs, and before or during play you can try different coaching strategies, shuffle lines, substitute players, the works.

I use a basic digital PC gamepad like the playstation one and it works great, however I wouldn't recommend playing this or many other PC games without one. They are really cheap AND well made however these days (search Amazon for gamepad and you'll have a big choice), so if you're going to buy this, buy a gamepad of some sort also if you don't already have one.

If you are a hockey fan of any sort, you're going to love this. And like playing Madden or NFL Fever and so forth during "off season," you'll be glad you have this game when about the only pro sport available is baseball. The controls are easy once you get the hang of it, and I really can't think of anything negative to say about this title at all. It's not only a great (and fantastic looking and sounding) PC game, but it's a hockey fan's dream come true.

If your system meets the system requirements and you have a gamepad or controller of some sort, and you enjoy the greatest game on earth (NHL HOCKEY), place this in your wish list, go check out some reviews and search for and download the DEMO on the net to play, and soon enough, I'd bet this quickly winds up in your shopping cart. This is a great 3D hockey simulation for the PC and for the price, a true must buy for any sports and/or hockey fan. EA Sports has done it again. Wonderful...

In order to decide whether or not you will like this game, you have to decide what you're looking for in a Hockey game.

If your looking for realism, you might want to try a newer version, for instance NHL 2002 or '03. The scoring in this game is very unrealistic. I have played many a Pro level game where I scored over 10 goals, while my opponent scored around 8 or 9 also. To add to that, the Rookie and Beginner level games are way too easy, in a Beginner game, expect the score to come out around 18 to 2, in your favor. In a Rookie game, expect the score to be around 15 to 5, once again, in your favor.

If you're looking for good graphics, you've come to the right place. The graphics are awesome, especially on the players themselves. Each player looks like he might be a real person, not some sort of ape-man. Also, the faces on each player actually make different expressions, and the mouth actualy says things. To add to this, the crowd actually cheers, and you can see different people in the crowd cheering in a different way. And all of this is done eceptionally well.

so, here's my overview:

Pros:
-Awesome graphics
-Realistic penalties
-Realistic player actions

Cons:
-Unrealistic scoring
-Difficulty levels too easy
-Unrealistic announcing